Indianapolis, Feb. 6, 2018 – Eskenazi Health is now accepting applications for its 2018 VolunTEEN Summer Program. The annual VolunTEEN program allows teenagers to experience professional service and shadowing for students on a path to becoming health care professionals.

Teenagers 14 to 19 years old who are interested in a career in health care and are in good academic standing are invited to sign up for the program. All applicants must turn 14 years old by Friday, April 13, 2018 to be eligible.

“We believe the Eskenazi Health VolunTEEN Summer Program is a great way to positively impact the lives of teenagers in our community, while providing Eskenazi Health with an opportunity to inspire the next generation of health care professionals,” said Scott Lawson, manager of Eskenazi Health Volunteer Services. “Our program provides participants with an invaluable opportunity to meet and work with health care professionals and accumulate community service hours to aid in their school and scholarship endeavors.”

This year’s program is once again placing a special emphasis on mentoring youth and preparing them for the future of health care in nursing, therapy, medicine and other health care professions. The teens accepted into the program will complete “mock rotations” throughout the clinical and business offices, providing them with the opportunity to gain a greater knowledge of health care and its operations.

Participants may choose from two four-week summer sessions – either June 4 – June 29 or July 9 – Aug. 3, based on availability because space is limited. Once enrolled, each participant will commit to one full week of training, the first week of the session and two days a week the remaining three weeks of the program. Participants will rotate through many clinical and non-clinical settings, observing and serving with Eskenazi Health staff and Volunteer Services.

The first week of the program will be spent in leadership development and training sessions. All program participants must also attend a mandatory program orientation on Saturday, May 12 from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital, 720 Eskenazi Ave. in Indianapolis.

Program-specific information along with application requirements are now posted online at http://bit.ly/2npxx9A. All interested applicants must submit an online application by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 13. Instructions for completing the application are available online at http://bit.ly/2GpdAHz, using the keyword “VolunTEEN” in the search.

Teens will also be required to submit a minimum 500-word essay explaining why they aspire to work in health care, their plans to achieve their goals and how participating in the program will help them in their quest.

Applications, including essays and a current transcript of grades, must be received by Eskenazi Health Volunteer Services no later than Friday, April 13 by 5 p.m. to be considered. Applications received after this date will not be considered for the 2018 program. Please send essays and transcripts to: Eskenazi Health, Attn.: Scott Lawson, 720 Eskenazi Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46202.

Please note that, with a parental permission form, all applicants will receive a free, mandatory health screening by Eskenazi Health Occupational Health. The health screening includes two separate tuberculosis skin tests and an immunization verification (all teens must provide copies of their immunization records). A background check will also be completed on all VolunTEENs who are 18 or 19 years old. The mandatory volunteer certification process must be completed before beginning the VolunTEEN program.

If you have any questions about the 2018 Eskenazi Health VolunTEEN Summer Program, please contact Scott Lawson at 317.880.3311 or scott.lawson@eskenazihealth.edu.

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