Waterbury Promise Scholars Gain Hands-On Experience at Saint Mary’s Hospital

WATERBURY, Conn. – On January 14, Saint Mary’s Hospital welcomed Waterbury Promise Scholars for the inaugural “Waterbury Promise Shadow Program,” an initiative designed to provide firsthand exposure to health care careers. Nine scholars currently enrolled in colleges across Connecticut participated in the program, gaining insight into the medical field.

Students shadowed professionals in various hospital departments, including the Laboratory, Emergency Room, Clinical Engineering, Radiology, and Nursing Education. The students’ academic backgrounds include health care studies, health science, nursing, allied health sciences, physiology and neurobiology, and radiology. One of the hands-on experiences featured the Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System (LUCAS), an automated CPR device that performs continuous chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Before the shadowing sessions, students attended a networking lunch with Shawna Edwards, DNP, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, and Husnain Kermalli, MD, Chief Medical Officer. Both leaders shared career insights and practical advice for navigating the health care industry. Edwards emphasized communication skills, stating, “Being a good communicator is an important part of your journey. Listen to understand and be open to feedback, because that will help make you better.” Dr. Kermalli highlighted teamwork and patient care, noting, “It is important that we put the patient experience along with safety at the forefront of what we do. The reality of health care is that we work as a team.”