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Health unit providing unique opportunity for youth to be a part of history
This year has been different in every way. COVID-19 has forced us all to adapt and transform the way we live our lives. The pandemic has changed our world and challenged individuals, businesses and organizations each step of the way. But, the pandemic has also provided many opportunities.
This year, Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) is providing valuable work experience to dozens of students at the mass immunization clinics (MIC). Since January, the health unit has hired more than triple the number of students than in previous years.
Currently, SWPH employs 52 students, 46 of whom work at our community vaccination clinics in St. Thomas, Woodstock or Tillsonburg. This growth has been a benefit to both our organization and the students themselves.
“These staff have been essential to augment the full-time non-clinical workforce at the MICs for the summer period. The non-clinical support that they have provided is critical to meeting our immunization capacity over the summer and providing coverage for colleagues,” says Sonya Lobsinger, human resources consultant at SWPH.
Students are trained in a variety of roles at the clinics, including registration and check-out, flow monitoring and cleaning. They have also learned how to use internal databases used to track and schedule appointments. In addition, about half-a-dozen other students are supporting health informatics, the call centre, vaccine re-booking and many other areas of public health.
Mary Van Den Neuker, clinic manager of the Woodstock site, says students have adapted quickly to an ever-changing environment and bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to their roles.
“The students have been a welcome addition to our clinics, as they have provided excellent client service and much-needed assistance in the non-clinical aspects of our operations,” she says.
A chance at being a part of history
“What drew me to working here is I figured the best way to study history is to be a part of it and what better way to be a part of it than to work in a big historical event,” says Abby Walters, of Woodstock.
Walters is returning to Brescia University at Western in the fall to continue her major in history.
Positive social interaction
After months of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, it was a welcome change for many students to be around people again.
“I definitely love seeing friends or people I haven’t seen in a very long time, like teachers from a decade ago,” says Claire Nettleton, a University of Waterloo student studying psychology.
She says the best part has been seeing all the happy faces after they get the vaccine.
“It definitely brightens my day,” she says. “The best is seeing the really happy people cheer and fist pump through the glass. It’s refreshing to see, especially if you have been at home for the past 1.5 years.”
Building skills for the future
“I had good organizational skills before, but I feel like this has increased them and made them a lot better and more efficient,” says Emma Boyle, of Tillsonburg.
She is returning to Western University for a master’s degree in physiotherapy in September.
Of all the students interviewed, the skill most honed during their experience was… communication.
“I learned so much about how to communicate best with different age groups and realizing there are different skills needed for each,” says Boyle.
“We hope that we have been able to provide students with a meaningful and memorable work experience as they help our community from the frontlines of the pandemic response and perhaps pique their interest for a future career with SWPH,” adds Lobsinger.
Southwestern Public Health provides engaging opportunities for students every summer. If interested in applying for a position, please visit www.swpublichealth.ca/careers
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