Saint Mary’s Hospital Summer Shadowing Program Celebrates Five Years of Impact
July 21, 2026Categories: Events
For the fifth consecutive year, Saint Mary’s Hospital welcomed middle school and high school students to its Summer Shadowing Program. This unique opportunity allowed students to explore the many careers that support patient care. Over the course of two weeks, students gained firsthand exposure to both clinical and non-clinical hospital roles while learning about the importance of teamwork, safety, compassion and innovation in health care. Students visited a variety of departments and completed certified STOP THE BLEED® and CPR training, equipping them with practical lifesaving skills.
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.
Throughout the program, students rotated through the Women and Infants Center (WIC), Emergency Department, Cardiology, Radiology, Laboratory, the 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 and the sound of their lungs and heartbeats.
The High School Students Experience
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 in the NRWIB program completed an application process and received a $500 stipend through grant funding upon completion of the program.
The students were welcomed by Robert Roose, MD, MPH, Saint Mary’s Hospital President. At the end of the week they participated in a career panel featuring 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 Hospital Residency Program Director.
The Middle School Students Experience
Fifteen students entering the seventh and eighth grades from schools across the Greater Waterbury region participated in a three-day shadowing experience. In addition to visiting key hospital departments, students learned about Spiritual Care and the many ways support services contribute to patient well-being.
Developed in partnership with the NRWIB, the Summer Shadowing Program continues to inspire the next generation of caregivers and health care leaders by providing meaningful, hands-on experiences that showcase the wide range of opportunities available within the health care field.
