Saint Mary’s Hospital Summer Shadowing Program Celebrates Five Years of Inspiring Future Health Care Professionals
July 27, 2026WATERBURY, Conn. -- Saint Mary’s Hospital recently marked the fifth consecutive year of its Summer Shadowing Program, welcoming middle school and high school students for an immersive experience designed to introduce them to the many careers in health care.
Students learn how to look under a microscope in the Saint Mary's Hospital Lab.
Students learn from Department of Surgery residents proper suturing techniques.
Over the course of two weeks, students explored a wide range of clinical and non-clinical roles throughout the hospital. Both the middle school and high school students completed certified STOP THE BLEED® and CPR training, equipping them with valuable lifesaving skills.
Throughout the program, students rotated through several hospital departments, including the Women and Infants Center (WIC), Emergency Department, Cardiology, Radiology, Laboratory, Department of Surgery Simulation Lab, Internal Medicine, Command Center and Hand Hygiene. During their Internal Medicine visit, Rebecca O. Newell, MD, Saint Mary’s Hospital Internal Medicine, demonstrated how to perform a physical examination, giving students an up-close look at their reflexes as well as the sounds of their lungs and heartbeats.
High School Students Gain Career Insights
Sixteen high school students from Brass City Charter School and the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board (NRWIB) Program participated in the week-long experience. Students enrolled through the NRWIB program completed an application process and received a $500 stipend through grant funding upon successful completion of the program.
The students were welcomed by Robert Roose, MD, MPH, President of Saint Mary’s. The program concluded with a career panel featuring hospital leaders and professionals from a variety of disciplines, including Cheryl Costa, Quality Safety Risk Manager; Stephanie Nelson, MSN, RN, Director of Clinical Quality and Patient Safety; Amber Borden, Communications Specialist; and Shawnette Alston, MD, Saint Mary’s Residency Program Director.
Middle School Students Explore Health Care Careers
Fifteen students entering seventh and eighth grade from schools across the Greater Waterbury region participated in a three-day shadowing experience. In addition to exploring key hospital departments, students learned about Spiritual Care and the important role support services play in promoting patient well-being.
Developed in partnership with the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board (NRWIB), the Summer Shadowing Program continues to inspire the next generation of caregivers and health care leaders by providing meaningful, hands-on learning experiences and highlighting the broad range of opportunities available within the health care field.