Mentorship & Workforce Development

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Mission: To help students discover the unlimited possibilities in healthcare at Lurie Children’s.

08/03/2026

"It all started with a summer internship." — Dr. W. Zeh Wellington

Those words perfectly captured the spirit of our 2026 Discovering Healthcare Careers (DHC) End of Program Celebration.

This year, we celebrated not only an incredible group of 50 interns but also 25 years of Discovering Healthcare Careers, a program that has inspired and prepared hundreds of young people to pursue careers in healthcare.

Over the past six weeks, our interns explored the many pathways within healthcare through hands-on shadowing experiences, leadership development, professional networking, skills workshops, and meaningful mentorship. They asked bold questions, embraced new challenges, and discovered what is possible when opportunity meets purpose.

We were honored to celebrate alongside extraordinary leaders and champions of healthcare, education, and advocacy, including U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Dr. Tom Shanley, President & CEO of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Mary Kate Daly, Senior Vice President & Chief of Community Health, Deputy Chief Armando Rodriguez of Chicago Public Schools, Dr. Mariana Glusman, and Dr. W. Zeh Wellington, whose own journey began with a summer internship and serves as an inspiration to every student who walked across the stage.

To our interns: Congratulations. Your curiosity, resilience, and commitment to serving others give us great hope for the future of healthcare.

To our department hosts, guest speakers, mentors, families, community partners, and everyone who has supported DHC over the past 25 years, thank you. Your investment continues to open doors, transform lives, and strengthen the future healthcare workforce.

Here's to the next 25 years of inspiring the next generation of healthcare leaders. 💙

07/21/2026

Have you discovered The CEO Beat?

The CEO Beat is a blog where Lurie Children's President & CEO, Dr. Tom Shanley, shares reflections on the people, programs, and moments that shape our organization and advance our mission.

In the latest edition, Dr. Shanley celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Discovering Healthcare Careers (DHC), reflecting on the program's lasting impact on students, alumni, and the future of healthcare.

We invite you to read his reflections and celebrate this milestone with us.

🔗 Visit our Linktree to read the full article.

07/20/2026

Some weeks remind us exactly why Discovering Healthcare Careers has continued to thrive for 25 years.

This week was filled with moments our interns will remember.

Our cohort had the incredible opportunity to spend the afternoon with Dr. Tom Shanley, President & CEO of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Students heard about his journey through medicine and healthcare leadership, asked thoughtful questions about his career, connected with him one-on-one, and even captured a memorable group photo together. Experiences like these give students a rare opportunity to learn directly from leaders who are helping shape the future of healthcare.

The learning continued as our interns met with our Human Resources Recruitment Team, where they explored the job application process, received resume-building advice, and learned practical strategies for pursuing careers in healthcare.

Students also participated in what is becoming a favorite annual tradition, our Nursing Speed Networking Event. They rotated through conversations with Lurie Children's nurses, learning about diverse nursing specialties, asking meaningful questions, and expanding their professional networks with individuals who are making a difference every day.

Throughout the week, our interns continued shadowing healthcare professionals across departments at Lurie Children's, gaining firsthand insight into the many careers that work together to provide exceptional care for children and families. They also heard from hospital leaders, clinicians, and professionals representing a wide range of healthcare disciplines, each sharing their unique career journeys and words of encouragement.

As we head into our final weeks, it's incredible to see how much these students have grown. Their confidence, curiosity, and professionalism continue to shine, and we're grateful to every mentor, department, speaker, and team member who has invested their time in making this experience so meaningful.

Here's to another unforgettable week and to continuing our celebration of 25 years of Discovering Healthcare Careers! 💙

07/11/2026

Halfway there! 🎉 Week 3 of DHC is officially complete!

It's hard to believe we're already halfway through our 2026 Discovering Healthcare Careers (DHC) program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

This week was another incredible reminder of what makes DHC so special—bringing together hands-on learning, career exploration, mentorship, and opportunities for our students to build meaningful connections with one another.

Our students had the opportunity to:

🩺 Learn and practice suturing techniques alongside physicians from our Emergency Department, gaining hands-on exposure to clinical skills and learning directly from healthcare professionals.

🧲 Participate in an MRI safety demonstration led by our Medical Imaging department, seeing firsthand the power of MRI technology and learning why safety is so critical in the imaging environment.

🎤 Hear from amazing guest speakers who generously shared their career journeys, experiences, challenges, and advice with our students.

🌳 Step outside the hospital for an afternoon of team building in the park, giving our students an opportunity to connect, recharge, laugh, and continue building the friendships that make the DHC experience so memorable.

And, of course, our students continued their department shadowing experiences throughout Lurie Children's—exploring different healthcare careers, connecting with professionals across the hospital, and seeing firsthand the many people and roles it takes to care for children and families.

Three weeks down, three to go!

To our students: continue asking questions, trying new things, building relationships, and taking advantage of every opportunity. The growth we've already seen in just three weeks has been incredible, and there's still so much more ahead.

A heartfelt thank you to our speakers, physicians, departments, staff, Summer Mentors, and everyone who continues to invest their time and energy into making this experience possible.

On to Week 4! 💙

07/07/2026

A little late, but Week 2 was too good not to celebrate! 😊

Another incredible week with our 2026 Discovering Healthcare Careers (DHC) cohort at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

This week was filled with learning, service, and hands-on experiences that continued to inspire our future healthcare professionals.

Our students had the opportunity to:
❤️ Earn their CPR Certification, gaining a valuable lifesaving skill they'll carry with them throughout their personal and professional journeys.
🦷 Visit the UIC College of Dentistry and explore careers in oral health while learning from outstanding faculty, staff, and students.
💙 Give back to the community by volunteering at Cradles to Crayons Chicago, helping provide essential items to children and families throughout the Chicagoland area.
🎤 Hear from incredible guest speakers who shared their personal journeys, career insights, and words of encouragement, reminding our students that there are many pathways into healthcare.

Every experience continues to reinforce that there isn't just one path into healthcare. Whether through clinical care, research, public health, education, advocacy, or community service, our students are discovering the many ways they can make a meaningful impact.

A heartfelt thank you to our partners, guest speakers, and everyone who continues to invest in our students. Your generosity, expertise, and encouragement help make experiences like these possible.

To our DHC students, congratulations on another successful week! Your curiosity, professionalism, and willingness to embrace every opportunity continue to impress us. We can't wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store.

Now... back to Week 3! 😊

06/27/2026

One week down. Countless possibilities ahead.

Our 2026 Discovering Healthcare Careers (DHC) cohort has officially completed their first week at Lurie Children's.

Throughout the week, students explored healthcare careers through department rotations, connected with professionals across the hospital, and began developing the skills and confidence that will support them throughout their educational and professional journeys.

We're incredibly proud of this year's cohort and grateful to our staff, mentors, departments, and guest speakers who helped make Week 1 such a meaningful experience.

Here's to the next five weeks of learning, growth, and discovery.

06/19/2026

Today, we recognize Juneteenth, a day that commemorates an important moment in our nation's history and serves as an opportunity to reflect on the values of freedom, perseverance, and progress.

At Mentorship & Workforce Development, we remain committed to supporting students and young professionals as they explore their interests, develop new skills, and pursue their educational and career goals.

As we observe this day, we encourage continued learning, reflection, and appreciation for the many individuals whose contributions have helped shape our communities.

Happy Juneteenth from the MWD Team.

05/08/2026

🚨 It's Career Friday! 🚨

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is currently hiring for several exciting roles across nursing, behavioral health, patient care, and cardiac services!

📍 Open Positions (as of May 8th, 2026):
• Nursing Assistant (Full-Time) – Streeterville
• Psychiatric Social Worker, Austin HOPE Center (Part-Time) – Chicago
• Registered Nurse I, Development and Behavior (Full-Time) – River North
• ECG Technician (Full-Time) – Streeterville & Lincoln Park

🔗 Apply here: https://jobs.luriechildrens.org/

💡 MWD Alumni Reminder:
If you apply, be sure to email [email protected]
and select:
“Mentorship & Workforce Development” under How Did You Hear About Us?

Take the next step in your healthcare career. We’re excited to see where you go! 💙

04/25/2026

Join us in wishing a very Happy Birthday to Adriana! 🎉

As our Program Assistant and a proud CHAMP alum, Adriana has been such a great addition to the MWD team. Since joining us in December 2025, she hit the ground running and continues to play a key role in keeping our programs running smoothly.

Her attention to detail, teamwork, and commitment to our students do not go unnoticed. It’s always special to see our alumni come back and continue pouring into the work in such a meaningful way.

Wishing you a day full of celebration and a year ahead filled with continued growth and success! 🎂

Help us celebrate Adriana by dropping a 🎉 in the comments!

03/30/2026

Happy National Doctors’ Day 🩺

Today we recognize and thank the physicians who care for our communities with compassion and dedication.

We’re especially grateful for those who support our Mentorship & Workforce Development programs, serving as mentors, educators, and role models for our students.

Your impact goes far beyond patient care. Thank you for helping shape the future of healthcare.

Address

225 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL
60611

Telephone

+13122274000

Website

https://linktr.ee/LurieWorkforce

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