Richmond Hill High School partners with St. Joseph’s Candler for healthcare career program

BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - More than 100 Richmond Hill High School students are getting real-world experience in healthcare through a partnership with St. Joseph’s Candler.

The career discovery program, which started in 2023, has more than doubled in student engagement. Students have the opportunity to learn directly from healthcare professionals and gain experience before graduating high school.

“It was a really cool opportunity because I’ve never been like backstage like in a hospital and seeing everything work, seeing what different people do, how important the jobs are,” said Ashlyn Addison, a student at Richmond Hill High School. “I mean, like everyone’s life is like in your hands.”

Hands-on learning in hospital departments

Students are not only being taught by professionals but get to see what happens when a patient enters the hospital doors.

“We let them shadow and observe procedures in the cardiac cath lab, electro physiology lab, and radiology,” said Betty Brooks, a cardiac and imaging educator at St. Joseph’s Candler Hospital.

Hope Brooks, a CTAE healthcare educator at Richmond Hill High School, said the program gives students a head start when applying for college or jobs.

“By them already having their foot in the door, they can get those entry-level jobs and have experience to add onto their resume,” Brooks said. “And then when they apply to a college of nursing, they already have so many hours working in healthcare.”

Educators and healthcare professionals said the opportunity is one of a kind for students and a good way to keep students interested in staying in local healthcare.