Dartmouth Health's Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) announces the application period for the 2024 Daring to Care program is now open. Daring to Care is a seven-week student volunteer program offered throughout the summer for high school juniors and seniors in the Upper Valley area who are interested in a career in healthcare.
Applications for summer 2024 will be accepted until Thursday, May 2, 2024; applicants will receive a decision on May 13, 2024. MAHHC recently recognized three high school students for graduating from the program. This year's graduates included Keronie Jones of Putney, VT, Kieren Giejda of South Londonderry, VT, and Seamus Powers of Woodstock, VT. Each were presented with certificates of completion in August.
"Daring to Care was a great opportunity to boost my knowledge of healthcare work, and I particularly enjoyed job shadowing to get hands-on experience with patients," said Jones. "I am passionate about being a contributing member of the medical field, and I am eager to keep learning to achieve that goal."
Giejda is a National Honor Society member who has volunteered for many other community-based organizations, such as her local food bank as well as organizations that donate clothes and build housing.
"Daring to Care gave me the opportunity to gain valuable experience," said Giejda. "I have learned a lot about the hospital and the great work it's doing from Rosalind Klezos (Specialty Practice Manager at MAHHC)."
Powers said he has already been working for Vermont EMS for two years and is preparing to enter a career in medicine.
"I want to further my education and learn in a hospital environment," said Powers. "The majority of my schoolwork consists of classes directly related to medicine; Bioethics, Anatomy and Physiology, Advanced Placement Chemistry and Biology."
Daring to Care volunteers learn firsthand what it's like to work in the hospital environment by helping patients every day. Following 15 hours of classroom work, students then have the opportunity to volunteer for rotations in different departments throughout MAHHC. The experience and skills student volunteers gain are great additions to their resumes and college applications.
For more information about Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center's Daring to Care program and to apply online, visit our Daring to Care web page.
About Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center
Founded in 1933, Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) is a not-for-profit community hospital network in Vermont, including the critical access-designated Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Historic Homes of Runnemede, a senior residential care campus, in Windsor, as well as the Ottauquechee Health Center in Woodstock. A member of the Dartmouth Health system, MAHHC provides primary care and a comprehensive suite of specialty services, along with 25 inpatient beds, a therapeutic pool and an acclaimed, fully modernized 10-bed Acute Rehabilitation Center. Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center is dedicated to improving the lives of those it serves and is at the hub of a wide network of community resources that have partnered to cover gaps in services and improve overall population health. One of the largest employers in the area, MAHHC acknowledges its employees as its greatest asset and has been recognized by the Governor's Office with an Excellence in Worksite Wellness award.
Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), is a recent recipient of Best Practice recognition by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) for health care quality, and is recognized by the American Hospital Association (AHA) as one of the "Most Wired" hospitals for integration of technology to boost clinical performance. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has awarded MAHHC with Level 3 status, the highest level of medical home designation.