Program Offers Teens Opportunity to Gain Experience in Healthcare

Eskenazi Health is now accepting applications for its 2019 VolunTEEN Summer Program. The annual VolunTEEN program allows teenagers to experience professional service and shadowing for students on a path to becoming health care professionals.

Teenagers 14 to 19 years old who are interested in a career in health care and are in good academic standing are invited to sign up for the program. All applicants must turn 14 years old by Friday, April 12, 2019 to be eligible.

“Participants in our VolunTEEN program receive the precious opportunity to work with Eskenazi Health professionals and serve the community while accruing service hours that positively impact their education and scholarship goals,” said Scott Lawson, manager of Eskenazi Health Volunteer Services. “Our Eskenazi Health VolunTEEN Summer Program gives us the opportunity to inspire future generations of health care professionals and contribute to the lives of many extraordinary young people.”

This year’s program is once again placing a special emphasis on mentoring youth and preparing them for the future of health care in nursing, therapy, medicine and other health care professions. The teens accepted into the program will complete “mock rotations” throughout the clinical and business offices, providing them with the opportunity to gain a greater knowledge of health care and its operations.

Participants may choose from two four-week summer sessions – either June 3 – June 28 or July 8 – Aug. 2, based on availability, space is limited.  Once enrolled, each participant will commit to one full week of training, the first week of the session and two days a week the remaining three weeks of the program. Participants will rotate through many clinical and non-clinical settings, observing and serving with Eskenazi Health staff and Volunteer Services.

The first week of the program will be spent in leadership development and training sessions. All program participants must also attend a mandatory program orientation on Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., doors open at 8:30 a.m., at the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital, 720 Eskenazi Ave. in Indianapolis.

Program-specific information will be posted online. All interested applicants must fill out an online application. The application for the 2019 summer VolunTEEN program will be available beginning Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 and must be submitted no later than Friday, April 12, 2019 by 5 pm.