NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Hosts Career Day for Local High School Students in Brooklyn
North Brooklyn students learned about diverse career paths in clinical, administrative, ancillary, and support services in healthcare at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull’s First Career Day event
Jan 17, 2025
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull hosted an engaging Career Day on Tuesday designed to introduce local high school students to the wide array of clinical and administrative career opportunities within the healthcare industry. The event, which attracted students from several schools across Brooklyn, featured staff from clinical, administrative, ancillary, and support services departments who were actively involved, providing students with resources, insightful presentations, and hands-on demonstrations. The staff also answered students’ questions and shared their personal experiences, giving students a clear understanding of the wide variety of healthcare careers available at Woodhull Hospital.
“We are proud to have hosted our first annual Career Day event, marking the beginning of what will be a transformative initiative designed to inspire and cultivate the next generation of healthcare professionals in our community,” said Gregory Calliste, Chief Executive Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
The day kicked off with an inspiring Leadership Welcome video, followed by an I Work at Woodhull video, that offered students a glimpse into the daily work at Woodhull Hospital. Dr. Lisa Scott-McKenzie, Chief Operating Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, delivered a special message, inspiring students to pursue careers in healthcare and highlighting the many opportunities within the field. Corey Morris, Budget Director at NYC Health + Hospitals, spoke about his personal career journey, addressing key questions such as, “How did I develop my short-term goals?” and “What obstacles did I face, and how did I overcome them?” He emphasized, “Be patient. Building trust and being confident that we are all in this together will help you overcome challenges.”
Dr. Lisa Scott-McKenzie, Chief Operating Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, who delivered a special message encouraging students to pursue careers in the ever-growing healthcare field. “It was such a privilege to support and participate in this first-ever career day at Woodhull. The high school attendees will graduate in June, so they were very interested in preparing themselves to continue their growth. They were so attentive and eager to share their thoughts and goals towards a potential future in healthcare that they have inspired us as well. Kudos to the school and community leaders as well as the Woodhull staff who collaborated so well to provide this program. We are hoping for an annual event so that we can do our part to shape the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Lisa Scott-McKenzie, Chief Operating Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
“Career Day allows Woodhull to give back by showing young people pathways to meaningful, lifelong employment in healthcare. We hope to share the inspiration we feel in our work as part of a helping profession, and we lay the groundwork for the compassionate, skilled workforce that healthcare needs for the future,” said Dr. Ross MacDonald, Chief Medical Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
A Career Mapping Session allowed students to learn how to set and achieve their career goals. Additionally, a Brief Talk on How to Self-Promote and Identify Skills offered students valuable tools for building their personal brand and advancing in their careers. Interactive workshops featured sessions on the “Wrong Way / Right Way to Interview, Candidates’ Attire and Interview Prep, and making a strong first impression.
“Career Day for local high school students, provided an exciting opportunity to explore a wide range of healthcare careers. Students were able to engage with industry professionals, participate in hands-on demonstrations, and gain valuable insights into various healthcare fields, including nursing, trades, and administration. This event aimed to inspire the next generation of healthcare leaders and provide students with the tools to pursue successful careers in the ever-growing healthcare industry,” said Gwendolyn Murph, Director, Volunteer Services, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
In addition to the sessions, students had the chance to hear from employees who started their careers at Woodhull. These employees shared their personal journeys and how their careers have grown over time, offering students invaluable insights into the potential for advancement within the organization. Students also learned about entry-level career opportunities available within healthcare.
To conclude the day, students enjoyed a lunch and received goodie bags filled with career resources and tools to support their future career exploration.
Building on the success of this event, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull is committed to making Career Day an ongoing initiative. Future events will aim to engage, inspire, and empower the next generation of healthcare professionals in Brooklyn. The next Career Day is already planned for October 2025. For more details about our upcoming Career Day, please call 718-963-8022.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Julissa Herrera, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, 718-963-8629
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, part of the NYC Health + Hospitals health care system, is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Brooklyn. It is a premiere health care organization for key specialties, including surgery, cardiology, women’s health, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, renal services, and behavioral health services. Last year, the hospital received close to 300,000 ambulatory care visits and close to 100,000 emergency room visits. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation, serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.