News Releases

550 High School Students Shadow Healthcare Professionals at Northeast Ohio Hospitals

The Center's workforce initiative, NEONI, has wrapped up its Healthcare Career Shadowing 2010-2011 academic year. During the school year, 550 high school students from 10 Northeast Ohio counties shadowed in 24 hospitals throughout the region. Students had the opportunity to shadow in the nursing field, as well as in seven allied health professions.

Based on a NEONI survey of 181 senior students who participated in shadowing, 91.1 percent of students who participated in the shadowing program are still planning on pursuing a career in healthcare. Additionally, 91.2 percent said their shadowing experience had an impact on their decision to pursue a career in healthcare.

One student from Buchtel High School in the Akron City School District said, "I enjoyed my experience. This opportunity has helped me decide how I would like to pursue my career."

Beginning in the fall of 2011, hospitals, schools and students participating in NEONI's Shadowing Program will see many new updates and enhancements made to the online scheduling system. These changes will help streamline and make scheduling easier and more efficient. Documents and reports containing shadowing data will now be available in real time, and students and hospitals will have access to online schedules, student lists, hospital/counselor contact information, and more.

Summary reports for the 2010-2011 academic year, segmented by county, will be distributed to participating hospitals and schools later this summer. If you have any questions regarding NEONI's Healthcare Career Shadowing Program, please contact Sandra Touschner at sandra.touschner@chanet.org or at 216.255.3661.