Students chosen for mentorship program

Submitted by Kate Stephens

Cabinet Peaks Medical Center continues to partner with Libby and Troy High Schools to begin the fifth semester of their Medical Mentorship Program. The program has been successful for four semesters and has helped 20 local students earn a course credit, as well as real world experience in the healthcare arena.

The hope for the program was that this experience would foster student’s interest in a health related career field. The mentorship is an 18-week, semester long opportunity for high school seniors. Interested students are required to submit an application and go through a formal interview process.

“Four students successfully completed the Mentorship for fall semester, and many of them reported that the experience exceeded their expectations. Some of them were able to observe live surgeries, a rare experience for high school seniors. The students really appreciated Dr. Ercanbrack taking the time to teach them and described their time in the operating room as awesome and sepctacular,” stated Ahyoung Huff, Medical Mentorship Coordinator at Cabinet Peaks.

She continued, “This program would not be possible without the great managers and staff at CPMC who are willing to invest extra time and effort in sharing their knowledge and expertise with the students. We feel privileged to provide a forum where students can gain invaluable experience that will further develop their interest in the medical field. We hope that our program will continue to engage and inspire future students to consider a career in healthcare.”

The four students who were chosen for this semester will spend two class periods per day at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in a combination of four divisions – nursing, imaging, rehabilitative services, and revenue cycle/finance.

While at CPMC, students will be evaluated on a list of qualities that are important for anyone who wants to succeed in the workplace such as organization, flexibility, attitude, following directions and the importance of punctuality in the workplace.

The students chosen and the divisions they will serve in for the program this semester are Libby High School seniors Giovanni Cano in nursing, Lexy Camen in imaging, and Braydan Thom in revenue cycle/finance. Additionally, Alyssa Lewis from Troy High School will be mentoring in the Troy Rehabilitative Services Department.

April Rewerts, program coordinator for Libby High School is thrilled to be continuing the program once again this year. “The Medical Mentorship program at Cabinet Peaks makes an incredeible impact on Libby High School students every semester. A unique, incomparable experience takes place when a student in a particular field is paired with a professional in that field who is passionate about what they do for a living. Cabinet Peaks does an exceptional job of exposing students to medical careers and encouraging them to pursue their interests.

An extermely high number of Libby students who have participated in this program have continued their education in the medical field after high school due to the ecouragement and inspiration they receive in the Medical Mentorship.”

Troy Superintendent, Jacob Francom has similar sentiments. “The medical mentorship is a great opportunity for our schools and students to get some first-rate training and exposure to a field students are intersted in. We have been invovled in the medical mentorship in the past and are excited in continuing this partnership.

We have students who are excited about their mentorship placement; they are starting to think more about their educational and career plans. Students are building some great relationships with adults who can guide them not just in educational and career planning, but on how to be a better employee, and person.”

This semester’s program officially kicked off with students going through orientation at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2016.