Teens volunteer, learn about health care careers during summer program

Before COVID, the Summer Youth Volunteer Program enlisted teens as volunteers, who then performed various tasks around the facility and grounds, according to Torrie Hutchison, Fisher House manager and adviser to the group.

But the program was suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic. It retuned on a small scale in 2022, though the participants still weren’t allowed in the hospital due to COVID restrictions. This year, it took on a new form, emphasizing education and exposure to health care careers along with volunteering.

“It’s kind of a hybrid from what we did pre-COVID and last year,” Hutchison said. “Last year we did service projects and learned about different job opportunities at the VA,” meshing that with the students’ career interests.

This summer, eight high school students took part in the program, where they got hands-on experience in a variety of areas, learned about careers in health care from VA providers and performed tasks to benefit the hospital.

“A lot of the students were interested in the medical field, so I took what they were interested in and found guest speakers to talk about their positions, including anesthesiology, dermatology and police service.”

The students also visited the Simulation Center, where they learned CPR and worked with an ultrasound machine. And in the Spinal Cord Injury Center, the students were put in sports wheelchairs and navigated an obstacle course, thus experiencing firsthand “the new normal” for Veterans with spinal cord injuries.

They also performed service projects, such as cleaning headstones in Wood National Cemetery and calling bingo for Veterans in the Community Living Centers. The students also volunteered in patient transportation, the Emergency Department, physical therapy and Voluntary Services.

“I thought this would be a good way to spend my summer, and it was great,” said participant Sophia Alberti, 17, a senior Franklin High School. “I liked talking with the Veterans and making their day.”

Brandon Watkins, 16, a junior at Menomonee Falls High School, agreed.

“I enjoyed communicating with all the Veterans. They taught us lessons about what to do and what not to do,” he said.

The students were at the Milwaukee VA typically once a week, from mid-June to late July. They were required to log 40 hours, Hutchison said.

A typical day had the students spending the morning doing volunteer work. In the afternoon, they would do service projects, listen to guest speakers and engage in hands-on learning activities.

“All the staff were really nice and welcoming, and everyone was really open to showing us places,” Alberti said.

“I’ve been to every single part of the hospital, and it’s been really fun getting to see all the areas and knowing what I could get myself into in the future,” said Sanvrit Mohany, 14, a sophomore at Menomonee Falls. “There are so many cool areas.”

“This gives them a lot of hands-on experience, and they get to see what goes on throughout the whole medical center,” Hutchison said. “We’re trying to educate students about the medical center so that one day they’ll want to come work for us.

Only two of the students hailed from the same school, and Hutchison said she was impressed with how the students quickly came together and worked as a team. They also weren’t shy about questioning the guest speakers and learning what they liked about their jobs and what type of schooling was needed.

Hutchison said she kept the group small this summer to see how the new structure would work. Before COVID, there would be 30-plus students, but those students only volunteered in their designated area; they didn’t take part in educational and career-awareness programs.

“We feel this is a very beneficial program,” Hutchison said, noting it helps students who are required to do volunteer work for graduation. “I think the students really enjoyed it. They looked forward to helping out around the hospital, and some are looking forward to coming back next year.

“Moving forward, it would be amazing to have (the program) grow,” she said. “I’m very proud to work at the VA, and to be able to showcase what we do is a wonderful opportunity.”

To learn more about the Summer Youth Volunteer Program, contact Voluntary Services at the Milwaukee VA: 414-384-2000, ext. 41803.