South San Francisco, CA July 29, 2015 Submitted by Joe Fragola Kaiser Permanente 
KP SM Area Summer Youth Employment Program/SYEP
Developing the Healthcare Leaders of Tomorrow at Kaiser Permanente
It’s mid-summer and for many students it is a time away from the classroom and a chance to recharge. For many it means going to the beach or lake and enjoying outdoor activities. But, for a small group of students it is a time to begin working for their future careers.
The Kaiser Permanente Summer Youth Leadership program places high school and college students in various departments at either the South San Francisco or Redwood City Medical Centers for an 8 week program. This allows the students to get on the job experience and better understand health care related work.
This year’s program has 8 interns ranging in age from 16 to 19, who were selected out of more than one hundred applicants. Each of them has an interest in the medical field such as becoming a pharmacist, nurse, or physician and one young lady is interested in the political side of medicine.
While working in their assigned departments, the interns complete organizational projects, give presentations, and shadow Kaiser Permanente employees to learn about their jobs first hand. In addition to their work at the medical facilities each student participates in an educational day giving back to their communities which is the core to the Kaiser Permanente mission.
“I have enjoyed my experience, and being exposed to various careers in the medical field. I have been able to interview many employees at Kaiser Permanente and from the experience I have received an inside look at Kaiser Permanente. Being a member here I could only see so much, but by being part of this program I have gotten a behind the scenes look at Kaiser.”Alejandra Andrade (16, Senior at Cappuccino High School, Department: Public Affairs)
“This program provides these teens with opportunities normally out of their reach. I am a prime example. I started off as an intern in the Public Affairs department. I was wary at first, my interests were primarily clinical (becoming a nurse), however the experience so opened me to new opportunities that when Kaiser Permanente offered me a position as the intern coordinator this summer I accepted without hesitation and am enjoying the opportunity to be a positive influence to this summer’s interns.”Chelsea Lollar, Intern Coordinator, Kaiser Permanente San Mateo Area
The program, started in 1968, has benefited more than 18,000 students in San Mateo County. Over the years, many of the interns have found success in their chosen careers. A perfect example is Bernard Tyson, Kaiser Permanente’s Chairman and CEO, began his career as an intern at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center. When the program wraps up, all the interns will be returning to school.
“There’s honestly nothing better than this program I could’ve done this summer. I learned so much from the work I did and the education days. I’m so thankful for this opportunity and I hope that next year’s interns enjoy it as much as I did. I will definitely be coming back to Kaiser.” Alma Navarro (16, Senior at El Camino High School, Department: SSF Quality)
Contributors to this article:
Chelsea Lollar, Intern Coordinator, Kaiser Permanente San Mateo Area
Matt Jacobs, Community & Gov’t Relations Mgr., Kaiser Permanente San Mateo Area
Above SYEP Interns at Kaiser Permanente Cancer Treatment Center
Left to Right: Yvonne Hamel, Kelsey Guevara, Staja Edwards, Chelsea Lollar, Jennifer La, Alma Navarro, Alejandra Andrade, and Farah Hakim (not pictured above: Abrahim Katout)
Tour of RWC Hospital SYEP Interns with Stacey Wagner Public Affairs Director, Kim Seitz, and Reena Narayan-Nand Left to Right: Stacey Wagner, Kelsey Guevara, Chelsea Lollar, Abrahim Katout, Kimberly Seitz, Alma Navarro, Alejandra Andrade, Yvonne Heml, Jennifer La, and Reena Narayan-Nand (not pictured above, Farah Hakim and Staja Edwards)
Left to Right: Kelsey Guevara, Abrahim Katout, Yvonne Hamel, Jennifer La, Staja Edwards, Alma Navarro, Alejandra Andrade, Chelsea Lollar (Intern Coordinator), Farah Hakim