Yale New Haven Hospital was established in 1826 as a 13-bed facility to care for the poor. One hundred and ninety years later we find ourselves seeking new ways to address the needs of our patients, friends and neighbors in an increasingly complex world. It can be a challenge to harness our advances in medicine and our resources in efficient ways to serve the people and neighborhoods that surround us. Much careful consideration and study went into the development of our community programs ...
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Priscilla was accepted into the School-to-Career internship program at Yale New Haven Hospital, while a junior in high school, just two blocks from the hospital. She had always been interested in nursing and midwifery and learned more about this during a job shadow. During her senior year, Priscilla’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and the family endured ongoing hardships. The team Priscilla was working with took her under its wings doing everything they could to help, even ensuring that she could still go to prom that year.
By the time Priscilla graduated, she had completed a certified nursing assistant course and was hired as a patient care associate, working in Yale New Haven Hospital’s Women’s Center. She has since begun coursework at a local community college working towards her associate’s degree in nursing where a number of her instructors are veteran nurses from Yale New Haven Hospital who also teach at the college. Priscilla has co-authored two research papers, presenting one of them at an international meeting in Capetown, South Africa. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career as a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
In the photo: Priscilla with her School-to-Career mentor and current supervisor at Yale New Haven Women’s Center, Nancy Busch, Patient Services Manager.
Ana Rodriguez always dreamed of a home of her own for family. As a single mother taking care of a son with special needs while working full time she was daunted by the process. As a transition coordinator for oncology patients at YNHH, Ana is constantly on the move and always helping others, however she was not aware of the best ways in which to help herself in realizing her dreams.
When Ana heard about YNHH’s H.O.M.E. program, she learned how she could get help and navigate all the steps involved in purchasing a home. Further, she learned about how Habitat for Humanity was building high quality, affordable homes in New Haven. It seemed like a perfect match. After a rigorous application and interview process Ana was approved as a buyer for a Habitat home. She was interested in a Habitat build taking place on Vernon Street, in New Haven’s Hill neighborhood, just one block from her employer. Ana invested over 400 hours of sweat equity helping to build her dream home, and she was joined by more than 130 YNHH employees, many from her own department, as well as her father and other family members. Ana is financing her new home through the H.O.M.E. program and, after five months of construction, moved into her home in January 2017.
In the photo: Ana Rodriguez (second from right) works as a transition coordinator at YNHH, helping patients navigate the healthcare system and offer best access to the resources needed to fulfill their individual care plans. Also in the photo (left to right): Ana’s son Jerrell Rodriguez; William Casey, executive director, Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven and Michael Holmes, senior vice president, Operations and Saint Raphael Campus chief integration officer.
Jason was born and raised in New Haven and always knew he wanted the best that life had to offer. From a young age he felt the pressures of those around him who turned to negative behavior and even crime as a means to get by. However Jason always looked for positive role models and knew that faith and hard work would lead to success. After graduating from high school, Jason held a number of different jobs, most notably as a security officer in some of New Haven’s public housing buildings. Although he enjoyed the work, he felt stuck in a role that was not providing greater opportunities.
One day in 2016, while visiting a friend he enrolled in a local training program through the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT), he looked around and “just felt right.” Jason spoke to the staff at ConnCAT and learned about the phlebotomy training program. He applied, was accepted and fell in love with the program right away, inspired by the staff at ConnCAT and the promise of a new career. Faith and hard work have paid off for Jason. He is working as a phlebotomist in a suburban hospital and has since moved his family to the area. Jason and his wife are living in their first home in a peaceful town, growing their family as he grows in his career.
Learn more about the ConnCAT program >
