Reading Hospital’s future healthcare professionals got a behind-the-scenes look at hospital operations through “Take Your Child to Work Day.” The team welcomed 120 new team members on Thursday, April 24.
While on campus, the students gave checkups at the Teddy Bear Clinic with TowerDIRECT, snuggled with the therapy dogs, participated in teamwork challenges to learn the value of collaboration, explored various departments, discovered how medical instruments work and whipped up tasty parfaits with nutrition services.
Elementary school children then read a story with Charles F. Barbera, MD, Reading Hospital president and CEO, while high school students toured the operating room (OR).
“We share so much about our families with each other,” said Keri Shingleton, Director of Total Rewards and HR Operations, who led the event coordination. “It was a special opportunity to bring the children on campus and for our team to bring this event to fruition was personal for so many.”
Shingleton’s daughter, Mia, participated in the event as a high school freshman interested in a nursing career. Her focus is pediatrics, but after meeting the OR nursing team and touring the facility, she could also see herself there. “The event was ten out of ten,” Mia said. “I’d recommend it to any student so they can learn more.”
In partnership with Community Wellness, the hospital's Employee Engagement Committee organized the event to provide children of hospital employees the opportunity to experience their parents' workplace in a fun and engaging way. Throughout the day, students learned from hospital experts and various departments, including human resources, nutrition services, TowerDIRECT, trauma services, security, nursing, respiratory, radiology and the operating room.
The event this year included a full day of activities, and children were divided into three age groups: elementary school (grades K - 5), middle school (grades 6 - 8), and high school (grades 9 - 12). Each group had a curated set of activities tailored to their age and interests.
Children of all ages were inspired by the variety of healthcare careers available. Eva, a first-grade student and daughter of Kimberly Blatt, Surgery Education Coordinator, loved spending the day where her mom works. She learned that everyone at the hospital works hard and does their best to help patients heal and feel better. She shared that she might become a medical librarian or research education teacher one day.
“It was a joy to see the children exploring the hospital and meeting our colleagues,” said Dr. Barbera. “Seeing the excitement on their faces was contagious and it brightened my day.”