Reaching lives through Project Hope

The MUSC Health Career Exploration Program recently partnered with Project HOPE, a statewide medical scholarship program that provides on-site, clinical job shadowing opportunities for student participants. The Project HOPE program is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families and provides an intensive five-week boot camp, based on the National Healthcare Foundations Standards and Accountability Criteria, to prepare students for occupations in health care. HOPE is an acronym for health occupations preparation for employment.

The partnership allowed students to spend three full days experiencing MUSC’s organizational culture, innovation in the workplace, health care and professional development and also determine future career paths. The students were able to observe nursing staff in outpatient and inpatient settings, laboratory processes and clinical-based patient care. Susan Barrett, Laboratory Services Medical Technologist Program coordinator, noted that the Project HOPE students seemed very interested in processes observed in the clinical labs. She emphasized that these experiences should pique the students’ interest in possible careers in the health care field and dynamics, allowing them to develop lifelong friendships.

Additionally, the students were required to obtain their CPR certification; learn about medical math, anatomy and physiology; and work on resume building and interviewing techniques for employment readiness.

Perette Sabatino, RN, 9West nurse manager, said, “Project HOPE was a wonderful experience for the 9West staff. They felt that they were doing something positive for the community and also for the future of the nursing profession. The students were eager to engage and learn.”

Mary Basnillo, Project HOPE coordinator, explained that after successful completion of the program, students will transition immediately to the South Carolina Technical College System. This program has a great succession rate, according to Basnillo. “For the students, completing the program is a huge turning point in their lives. It boosts their confidence,” she explained.