It's Not Just a Job, It's an Experience

Twenty-four students from the Stafford, Missouri City and Rosenberg areas spent six weeks of their summer reviewing science skills in the classroom, then putting their skills to work gaining practical work experience.

Participants explored careers at several Texas Medical Center institutions, including the Museum of Health & Medical Science, Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Prairie View A&M College of Nursing, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, and the Harris County Psychiatric Center. Students performed duties such as clerical tasks and computer data input in offices, and volunteering to help with exhibits at the museum.

The program, which began in 1995, was established to use occupational interests as the basis for an educational-enrichment program for students ages 15 to 21. The program assists students with the development of intellectual, social and career-life skills, enabling them to successfully function in their educational, occupational and personal lives.

Dr. Launey F. Roberts Jr., president and executive director of EES Allied Health Careers, and the program's coordinator, said the program is beneficial to participants, as the group primarily comes from a more rural area, and are afforded the opportunity to not only work on their academic and social skills, but are introduced to the working world.

"Each student receives $5.15 per hour of work," he said. "The money assists many of them with school expenses, and they are exposed to what good work habits are about. It's not just a job, it's an experience."

Students in the program are employees of EES Allied Health Careers, and are paid through the program, funded by the Harris County Community Development Department through the U.S. Department of Labor's Work Investment Act, not the institution where the student is employed.

Dr. Richard Hajek, instructor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology at M. D. Anderson, said students sometimes are offered full-time employment as a result of this program.

"What they talked about in their classes, and what they discovered with the hands-on learning in our lab are two very different things," said Dr. Lovell Jones, professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology at M. D. Anderson, as well as adjunct professor in the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and director of the Center for Research in Minority Health at M. D. Anderson. "They discovered that there is a lot of research going on in our office, and that many more people than just doctors and nurses are on the research staff."

"I get a sense of fulfillment by helping some young people prepare themselves for not only this time in life, but for the future," said Dr. Roberts.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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