BIDMC Summer Interns
Students speak about their experiences working at BIDMC this summer and what they learned about both health care and themselves.
Date: 8/21/2009
First jobs have a way of shaping and molding people in unexpected ways — just ask any of the 36 summer interns who took positions throughout the medical center thanks to BIDMC’s Office or Workforce Development. Many of the self-admittedly “shy” students found the immersion into real office work a groundbreaking life event.
(For information about or to apply for 2010 summer internships, please visit BIDMC's Volunteer Services page).
“Answering the hospital phone was one of the scariest things I’ve ever had to do, but Liz forced me to do it,” Mercedes Ferguson, who worked on Farr 9, said in referring to Elizabeth Carvelli, RN. “Now I do it all the time and it’s really easy for me. I learned what a day in the life is like for people who work in a hospital. I learned that while it is a very serious place to work, nurses make it a lot of fun.”
Allison Ching, who worked in the Pharmacy, said the summer job helped her narrow her career options down “from about a bazillion” choices. “Now I’m leaning toward going to pharmacy school, and if I do I hope that I am as happy and passionate about what I’ll be doing as the people who I worked with this summer,” she said.
BIDMC has welcomed summer interns, both high school and college students, for the past 15 years, doubling the number of students to 36 two years ago. The program is organized with help from a number of sponsoring organizations, including the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC); Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD); Get Off the Corner Hangin’ Around (GOTCHA); Brookline Public School Work Connections for Youth, and Gateway.
At a graduation breakfast for the interns held Aug. 20, the students each spoke about their experiences working at BIDMC this summer and what they learned about both health care and themselves. After working preventative maintenance in Information Technology Systems and getting exposed to work in the NICU, Jesse Chambers now wants to pursue a career as a neonatologist. “I got the chance to meet and talk with Dr. DeWayne Pursely, who is amazing, and I was like a little fan kid. I wanted to ask him for his autograph.”
Keynote speaker State Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry, a Democrat whose 12th Suffolk District includes Dorchester, Hyde Park and Mattapan where many of the interns reside, spoke of the importance of being open to new opportunities. “This is a wonderful chance for you, whether you are interested in the health care field as a career or not,” said Forry, who also sits on BIDMC’s Board of Overseers. “You’re learning about what it’s like to work in a professional environment, how to interview, how to write a resume, how to dress, how to act, how to advance.”
Echoing Forry’s observations, Cydne Apperwhite, a fashionable young woman who worked in Cardiac Medicine, said she learned an important lesson early on that helped her adapt to her new job. “The first couple of days I came to work wearing my cute shoes and all that, but I soon changed to sneakers and scrubs because I realized I’d be spending a lot of time on my feet,” she said.
Many spoke of how well-received they were in their respective departments and by staff throughout the medical center. “Everyday I got off the elevator people were smiling at me, which meant a lot,” said Lesly Suriel, who worked in the Contracting Department.
Terry Allyne, from the Boston Private Industry Council, thanked the students and managers present for making the summer program such a successful venture. “To the students, I want to say thank you because you’ve all done such a fantastic job that next year your managers might be likely to take even more students,” she said. “To the managers, I just want to say that it means so much that you give so freely of your time and talents to help young people succeed.”
Emily Beck, Program Administrator, Workforce Development, said she enjoys running the program as much as the students. "The summer intern program is important for the students because they get first hand experience of working in a professional healthcare setting,” she said. “During their speeches the students talked about how much they appreciated their wonderful co-workers, the interesting work experiences, and the opportunity to try something new. I am already looking forward to next year’s program!"
In closing the celebration ceremony, Lisa Zankman, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, thanked all the students for their hard work over the summer and said she hoped this won’t be the last we see of them at BIDMC. “I hope that when you are finished high school or college that you will consider coming to work here at BIDMC,” she said.
