Lexington Medical Center Welcomes High School Students for Partners Program
June 15, 2009
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – June 15, 2009 – Lexington Medical Center is openings its doors to some of the brightest high school students in Lexington County for an intensive summer internship inside the hospital called the Partners Program.
“The goal is to give them an inside look at what they can expect in a health care career,” said Kelli Bennett, Workforce Coordinator at Lexington Medical Center. “It’s a glimpse into our world.”
More than 300 students applied to be part of the program. Sixty-five received spots. The students will focus on clinical training around the hospital and assist health care workers in areas including checking blood pressure, taking temperatures and feeding patients. In addition, they will tour hospital departments and attend classes where health professionals will speak with them about careers in medicine.
The Partners Program is divided into three, two-week sessions: June 15th – June 26th, July 6th – July 17th and July 20th – July 31st. For some students, it’s a first summer job. Each student will receive a stipend upon completion of the program.
The Partners Program is in its 19th year. One accomplished graduate of the program is Dr. Brandon Brown, a cardiologist with Columbia Cardiology in West Columbia. Brown was in the Partners Program in 1991 as a Lexington High School student. A short time later, he decided he wanted to be a doctor. “It confirmed what would be a good career choice for me.”
Participants this year are from Airport High School – Yajiara Ramirez; from Batesburg-Leesville High School – Jeffrey Caughman, Rodney Price; from Brookland Cayce High School – Kirsten Roof, Kaitlyn Salak; from Chapin High School – Barrett Bradham, Alainah Farrell, Alexandra Lopez, Peyton Player, Alexis Powlas and Haley Spearman; from Dutch Fork High School – Marc-Olivier Blais, Brittney Oliver, Nidah Rizvi, Benjamin Wagner and Gloria Wang; from Gilbert High School — Amber Anderson, Brittany Burgess, Amanda Cochcroft, Marla Cotterman, Anne, Renalds and Anna Thompson; from Irmo High School – Erica Baskin, Amanda Boyeson, Blanche Chisholm, Korynn Duke, Miriam Gadjiko, Annisyah Hand, Martha Hutchinson, Nidha Khan, Chemere Kimpson, Madison Owens, Priya Purohit, Krysten Simpson; from Lexington High School – Kaitlyn Bretz, Brianna Byrd, Danielle Callari, Chelsea Dupree, Haleigh Fox, Caroline Halferty, Heather Hiltz, Jennifer Hydrick, William Moore, Rebekah Rush, Nathan Sairam, Emily Shull, Alexandra Smith, Spencer Sox, Courtney Stoltz, Garrett Webb, Sarah Wynne and Genevieve Wyrick; from Pelion High School – Andrea Beason, Crystal Caine, Cheyenne Crim, Kayla Dooley and Courtney Shumpert; from Swansea High School – Nicole Sturkie and Alexis Tankersley; from White Knoll High School – Kali Bishop, Kenneth Cox, Christina Doty, Jordan Ellis and Morgan Pittman; and home schooler Grace Stonecypher.
Kelli Bennett, Workforce Coordinator at Lexington Medical Center, conducts the Partners Program.
About Lexington Medical Center
Lexington Medical Center, in West Columbia, S.C., anchors a county-wide health care network that includes six community medical centers throughout Lexington County and employs a staff of 5,100 health care professionals. The network also includes the largest extended care facility in the state, an occupational health center and physician practices. At its heart is the 384-bed state-of-the-art Lexington Medical Center, with a reputation for the highest quality care. Lexington Medical Center was voted one of the “Best Places to Work” by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, “Best Hospital” by readers of The State for nine years in a row, “Best Hospital” by readers of the Free Times and “Best Place to Have a Baby” by readers of Palmetto Parent. Visit www.lexmed.com or www.lexmed.tv.
