New program offers internship for all types of Tri-Cities health care jobs

Tri-Cities high school students are being introduced to the wide array of jobs available in health care and getting paid while they try some of them out.

An investment of $100,000 from Gesa Credit Union has created the Kadlec Health Care Academy, providing entry-level experience for juniors and seniors from Kennewick, Pasco and Richland who are enrolled in the Tri-Tech Skills Center.

Initially, the students are performing internships and being reimbursed for their work with at least minimum wage for work in information technology, security or nutrition services or involvement as emergency department, respiratory therapy or equipment technicians, getting introductions to fields with jobs in high demand.

“We desperately need more folks in health care” in all types of jobs, Perry said.

If they go through the program and want a full-time job, they are eligible to be immediately hired when they graduate from high school, said Lacey Perry, Kadlec chief philanthropy officer.

The jobs can be a springboard to other positions, such as a start toward becoming a respiratory therapist, with the help of workforce scholarships, Perry said.

Students who are interested in becoming police officers can try a security department internship and then a possible full-time job at Kadlec and get experience before they are eligible for law enforcement jobs, which usually require a minimum age of 21.

Three dozen students are participating in the first round of the health care academy, with another academy program to follow for students interested in nursing.

The Kadlec Health Care Academy is prioritizing those who are underrepresented in health care to foster a diverse talent pipeline to deliver high quality and culturally responsive care, according to Kadlec.

The academy is modeled after a program in Spokane that had a retention rate of 90%.

“The Kadlec Health Care Academy is exactly the kind of investment we believe in,” said Brandon Allison, Gesa vice president of Community Impact. “When local organizations work together, we can open real doors for students, connecting them to careers that matter while helping address a genuine need in our community.”