Reading Hospital will recognize 30 high school seniors from across Berks County who have completed the Reading Hospital High School Internship Program at an end-of-year celebration. The reception will be held on Thursday, May 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Thun/Janssen Auditorium at Reading Hospital. The program is scheduled for 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The following individuals are scheduled to speak:

  • Desha Dickson, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Wellness at Tower Health
  • Charles F. Barbera, MD, President and CEO of Reading Hospital
  • Rebecca Orischak, Coordinator, Professional Development and Education, Reading Hospital Therapy Continuum
  • Sergei Szortyka, President of Quaker Maid Meats
  • Pamela Hernandez, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, and Chief People Officer at Tower Health
  • P. Sue Perrotty, President and CEO of Tower Health
  • Jake Fox, Program Intern, Senior at Conrad Weiser High School
  • Hanna Labrin, Program Intern, Senior at Governor Mifflin High School

The High School Internship Program is designed to enhance students’ academic, professional, and personal development through non-clinical practice experience within the work environment at Reading Hospital, as part of the Pathways programs.

During the academic year, each student worked approximately 300 hours in areas including Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Children’s Health Center, Podiatry, Emergency Department, Labor and Delivery, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Center for Public Health, Procedure Prep and Recovery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Radiation Oncology, and Genetic Counseling. Students were also exposed to other aspects of career development through a variety of educational workshops such as resume writing and mock interviews, financial literacy training, and healthcare career roundtables.

Of all 30 interns, 29 plan to pursue higher education and a healthcare career. This is the first year that the program was open to all school districts in Berks County, boosting enrollment numbers from 8 to 30 interns, and hosting students from Conrad Weiser, Exeter, Fleetwood, Governor Mifflin, Muhlenberg, Oley, Reading, Twin Valley, and Wilson school districts.

Desha Dickson said, “We are extremely proud of all the graduates of our internship program. This program allows Reading Hospital to engage with young learners in our community, while providing insight and guidance on the various career pathways the healthcare industry has to offer.”

Reading Hospital began the Internship Program in 2014 to introduce local high school students to the vast array of careers in healthcare. Since its inaugural year in 2014, 81 students have participated in the program, with 10 having returned to Reading Hospital for employment.

“Tower Health has always made healthcare education a top priority,” said Charles F. Barbera, MD, Reading Hospital President and CEO. “It is essential that we are part of the conversation for tomorrow’s healthcare providers. Through our program, we can expose students to real-world scenarios and offer them an exclusive, hands-on learning opportunity within our top-tier facility. We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to all the departments involved in helping to make the internship program a success. We also thank the participating interns for their diligent work and commitment to our community's health."

 

About Reading Hospital

Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 697-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across service lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for four consecutive years (and moving up to America’s 50 Best Hospitals in 2022) and received a 5-Star Rating from CMS two years in a row. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.