As health systems feel the weight of staff shortages more than ever, association member Jefferson Health, in Philadelphia, is helping meet staffing demand while offering life-changing employment to young Philadelphians.
Launched in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and Esperanza College, the Jefferson Workforce Development Program offers clinical shadow opportunities for high school students as patient care technicians, medical assistants, and surgical technicians at no expense during their regular school hours. This provides students with the ability to experience how these important roles support the nursing care team in real life settings.
“Jefferson Health gets to live our mission by supporting community members as they pursue life-changing career opportunities,” says Theresa Fortner, associate chief nursing officer of ambulatory nursing and workforce administration at Jefferson.
Students enroll in the health-related technology program during their sophomore year of high school, where they complete 1,000 hours of didactic and skills training. During the spring semester of their senior year, students in good academic standing who have matriculated into Esperanza College can complete the Jefferson Workforce Development Program. There, they complete clinical shadow experiences, professional development lectures with the human resources team, and resume building and interview training, as well as an in-person skills boot camp. Upon completion, students are eligible to apply for full-time positions across the Jefferson Health system.
Increasing training for these entry-level positions is crucial, as they face high turnover rates.
“Often, these staff members are going on to higher education,” Fortner says. “They’re going on to become nurses, CRNAs or nurse practitioners, so we need to constantly be innovative [in] how we engage new workforce staff members.”
Students can shadow staff throughout different hospital departments, which Fortner says demystifies what students learn from a didactic and lab perspective. Jefferson human resources and talent acquisition teams work with students to discuss interviewing skills, what it means to enter the workforce, and what it means to be a Jefferson employee.
“They teach us important skills, such as communication, participation, and practice, which are all qualities needed for the medical field,” says Ashley Perez, a current high school senior enrolled in the medical assistant track.
Jefferson also offers students funding for workforce expenses, such as shoes, uniforms, stethoscopes, and more.
“We have a responsibility to take care of our community, and we’re doing it through employment opportunities and advancing their training,” Fortner says.
Antoinette Smith-Bethea graduated from the Workforce Development Program in 2024. She currently works as a patient care technician for Jefferson Health while enrolled at Esperanza.
“The program has helped me a lot. I can do a lot more than I ever could,” she says. “Meeting new people, meeting new patients, it opened up my eyes a lot more about the world.”
Smith-Bethea is working toward her associate’s degree in health science and plans to enter a medical sonography program following graduation.
“While it’s incredibly rewarding to work with young people and help connect them to meaningful health care career opportunities, what makes it even more impactful is being part of an organization that truly values innovation and actively invests in community-based programs,” says Fortner.
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