Phoenixville, PA – On March 5, 2019 at the Renaissance Academy Charter School, Career Connection Academy held a White Coat Ceremony for students participating in their program. The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage, welcoming students into the medical profession and emphasizing compassionate patient care at the very start of training.
During the ceremony, students came forward to be cloaked by Claire Mooney – Interim President and CEO of Jennersville Hospital along with Greg Gershkovich, MD and Charlene Burkholder, CRNP of Phoenixville Hospital in the iconic white coat that signifies their future goals as healthcare professionals.
An after-school program, Career Connection Academy provides students with an opportunity to explore health care and technology, as well as access life skills which ensure future success.
Since January, students have been attending weekly two-hour workshops after school to explore and learn about the medical profession and its business components. Highlights include a visiting educator with artifacts from the Mutter Museum and a trip to Harrisburg to witness a live surgery and discussion with the surgeons.
Renaissance Academy student participants include Imani Brant, Autumn Calabrese, Peter (PJ) Casalena, Alyssa Cekic, Jada Howard, Victoria Jenerette, Theresa Kolter, AbuBakr Sangare, Alexis Smith, Lauren Stauch, and Job Zeisz.
AbuBakr Sangare, 12th grade participant from Renaissance Academy Charter School, shared a personal reflection on the importance of this opportunity. “Being just high school students now, we are at the forefront of tomorrow. We are equipping ourselves with the knowledge that will help us determine what we want to do with our lives.”
Career Connection Academy is an initiative of the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC), produced in partnership with Health Care Connect (a CCEDC Industry Partnership) and CEO Academy for Youth. The inaugural year of the program is being held at Renaissance Academy Charter School in Phoenixville and the Coatesville 9/10 Grade Center and is made possible through funding provided by the Chester County Workforce Development Board.
The Chester County Economic Development Council is a private, non-profit economic development organization promoting smart growth in Chester County and the surrounding region for more than 50 years. The CCEDC provides proven financing solutions, cultivates workforce talent, leverages business partnerships, and fosters entrepreneurial collaboration. With the support of the private and public sectors, CCEDC initiates, implements and innovates programs that improve the business community and enhance the quality of life in Chester County. For more information, visit https://ccedcpa.com/