Saint Mary’s Hospital Launches First-of-its-Kind Waterbury Promise Plus Mentorship Program
February 26, 2026WATERBURY, Conn. – Saint Mary’s Hospital is proud to announce the launch of its Waterbury Promise Plus Program, a mentorship initiative designed to provide hands-on experience and individualized guidance to aspiring health care professionals. Saint Mary’s participation in the Promise Plus Program builds on the many ways it has partnered with Waterbury Promise over the years, including job shadowing, financial and program support, and leadership engagement.
Photo (left to right): Hedy Ayers, Waterbury Promise's Director of Development and Community Engagement, Kelonda Maull, Waterbury Promise’s Executive Director, Hauwa Mahe, Waterbury Promise Plus Program mentee, Shawna Edwards, DNP, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer of Saint Mary's Hospital, and Robert Roose, MD, MPH, President of Saint Mary’s Hospital
Saint Mary’s is pleased to welcome Hauwa Mahe as the program’s inaugural participant. Hauwa, a Waterbury Promise Scholar and rising senior nursing student at Southern Connecticut State University, will join the hospital this summer to gain firsthand exposure across multiple clinical areas. She will work closely with our teams throughout the year to build knowledge and confidence as she continues her journey in health care. This opportunity will help shape her understanding of patient care, clinical teamwork and the specialty she is passionate about, Labor and Delivery.
“The mission of this mentorship is to tailor the experience to the student’s journey,” said Robert Roose, MD, MPH, President of Saint Mary’s Hospital. “There are different pieces that connect to different types of care.”
Echoing this personalized approach, Shawna Edwards, DNP, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, noted, “This mentorship program is an individualized experience, like a dress rehearsal for a job. It is important to learn as many aspects of health care as possible, with a focus on each student’s interest. It’s a way for them to learn the intricacies of what they are going into.”
Waterbury Promise’s Executive Director, Kelonda Maull, added, “We are thrilled to launch this exciting new initiative in partnership with Saint Mary’s Hospital to provide our scholars invaluable access to critical mentorships and experiential learning opportunities that will position them to secure high-demand health care jobs post-graduation. Collaborations like this are essential for relationship building and keeping Waterbury’s best and brightest right here in Connecticut so they can give back to the community that’s invested in their future. It’s a win-win.”
Saint Mary’s Hospital continues its commitment to fostering the next generation of medical professionals and supporting students on the path toward health care careers.