PATERSON AND PASSAIC TEENS EXPLORE CAREERS IN HEALTHCARE
Paramus NJ – This summer, Paterson and Passaic teens participated in a Career Exploration Exhibition event at The Valley Hospital located in Paramus, New Jersey, where they learned about different career paths in healthcare and a hospital setting. The event was created via a partnership between the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic (BGCPP) and Valley Health System.
Career exploration and readiness is a key element of the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic’s Teen Center programming. This is the second summer in which Valley Health System partnered with the Club to present the workshop to 35 teens ages 14-17. Kaitlyn Moceri, Manager of Volunteer Resources at The Valley Hospital, coordinated the half-day program which was held on August 21st. “We were so excited to welcome Club teens back to Valley for a second year and continue to grow our special partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic. This relationship is so special because it provides Valley with the unique opportunity to share information about the variety of careers in healthcare and provide students with a hands-on understanding of what their future careers may look like,” states Moceri.“ Teens explored several different areas of healthcare during demonstrations, including surgery, emergency medicine, laboratory services, , cardiology, patient simulations, sleep medicine, emergency services, child life, home care, and more.”
Hospital staff provided educational information at each station and guided teens through interactive and hands-on activities, such as learning basic suturing techniques, how to insert an IV or how to provide first aid. Valley Health System staff, including Maggie Pogorelec, Assistant Vice President of Women’s, Children’s and Emergency Services for Valley Health System, and BGCPP Board member, also met with students to share valuable information about her own career journey, and answer questions about high school courses and college majors that could serve as pathways to a career in healthcare. “It’s so important for teens to be able to envision all of the possibilities for the future,” states Pogorelec, who also attended the BGCPP in her youth. “Through career exploration and with the support and guidance of the Boys & Girls Club, teens can set goals and achieve them.”
The teens who participated are members of the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic’s Future Leaders Club, which is made up of teen Club members who are interested in pursuing post-secondary education and are focused on preparing for their future careers. Last summer, Future Leaders Club member Nelsie Abreu participated in the Teen Career Exploration Exhibition event hosted by Valley Health System. She credits this experience in her decision to pursue a career in the medical field. As a recent high school graduate, Abreu will head to Rutgers University this fall, with support from scholarships secured through the Boys & Girls Club.
The Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic’s Teen Center is offered at no cost to teens ages 13-18 in both cities and is a safe, welcoming place for socialization, recreation and academic support. The program prepares teens for high school graduation and beyond through college readiness, college tours, application assistance and assistance in applying for financial aid. Teens prepare for their Great Futures through career exploration including field trips to local corporations and businesses, mentoring, resume-building, mock interviews and workplace readiness skill-building. Support for the Teen Center and career exploration is provided by the ADP Foundation, Bank of America Charitable Foundation and the MLB at Work Grant provided by Major League Baseball in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. To learn more about the BGCPP Teen Center visit https://bgcppnj.org/teen-center/
ABOUT VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM
Valley Health System is a regional healthcare system serving northern New Jersey and southern New York. It includes The Valley Hospital, a 385-bed, not-for-profit, acute-care hospital; Valley Home Care, a home care and hospice agency; and Valley Medical Group, a multispecialty group practice of more than 300 physicians practicing in some 50 specialties across 90 locations, including The Valley Hospital, Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care, seven primary and walk-in care centers in New Jersey, and many community-based physician practices throughout the region.
Valley Health System is one of the most honored healthcare organizations in New Jersey. Our awards and recognitions are a testament to the exceptional, distinctive care our providers and staff deliver every day.
The Valley Hospital has been named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for 2024 by Healthgrades – one of three hospitals in New Jersey and the only hospital in Bergen County to receive the distinction – and Valley has been named one of the world’s best hospitals by Newsweek in its World’s Best Hospitals 2024 list.
ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PATERSON AND PASSAIC
The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic is to inspire and enable young people, especially those who need it most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Club provides a safe after-school environment for more than 1,700 kids ages 5-18 to have fun and learn each day. During summer months, a day camp is offered for youth to stay active, engaged, and learning when school is out of session. Their professional staff and dedicated community partners deliver a comprehensive array of high quality educational, social, and recreational programs. For more information, visit www.bgcppnj.org.
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