New Program Prepares Hispanic Youth for Healthcare Careers

Industry leaders of three major Long Island organizations representing Hispanic business, healthcare, and education are stepping into classrooms to prepare Hispanic youth for careers in healthcare, and, at the same time, fill the region?s growing need for more nurses and healthcare professionals.

The Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (LIHCC),North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System?s Center for Learning and Innovation, and the State University of New York at Farmingdale have teamed up to develop the Partnership for Academic Success and Opportunity for our Students, or PASOS, which means ?steps? in Spanish. The program was unveiled by the partner organizations at LIHCC's recent 18th Annual Gala at the Long Island Marriott. With the LIHCC participating in the selection process of students, mentoring and engaging the parents, PASOS will follow students from middle school through college.

First, the students will be introduced to healthcare careers, and then they will be prepared for college and admission. Later, program representatives will assist students in choosing healthcare majors in college, which will prepare them for jobs in the healthcare industry.

As part of PASOS, high school and college students also will have the opportunity to participate in summer internships at some of North Shore-LIJ's 15 hospitals to gain hands-on experience in the healthcare field. "The Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recognizes that as a community, we need to arm the next Hispanic generation with the education needed in order to find rewarding careers, manage their lives, and be productive members in society. This need is not only vital to our community, it is essential to the public and private sectors as they look to serve the fastest growing segment in the country with qualified Hispanic candidates," said Ernest Gonzalez, Board Member of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the gala's Co-Chairman.

"At North Shore-LIJ, we understand that education is critically important to the future of healthcare and that we have a responsibility to help young people succeed in a professional career on Long Island," said Michael J. Dowling, North Shore-LIJ's President and Chief Executive Officer, who was among honorees at LIHCC's gala recognized for building a healthy community. "The partnership between North Shore-LIJ, Farmingdale State, and the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce creates a three-way commitment to address far-reaching community issues. By meeting the economic needs of young Hispanic adults and providing good paying jobs that make Long Island a more attractive place to live and work, we can take major strides toward resolving workforce shortages in healthcare and reversing Long Island's `brain drain."

"By 2014, it is estimated that New York State will need more than 40,000 additional registered nurses. Creating an 'education pipeline' helps supply the North Shore-LIJ Health System - Long Island's largest employer with a workforce of about 37,500 - and other healthcare providers with a supply of educated, qualified employees.In addition, PASOS will fill a need to provide more bilingual healthcare workers to care for the growing Hispanic population on Long Island."

"Farmingdale State's partnership with the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and North Shore-LIJ is particularly exciting because middle and high school students will now be introduced to the healthcare profession at an early age; they will experience the professional guidance necessary to ensure their success as college students, and will receive the education that will give them the opportunity to enjoy productive careers in the ever expanding healthcare industry as employees of one of the largest health systems in the nation," said Dr. Henry Sikorski, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Farmingdale State University of New York.

Farmingdale State and the North Shore-LIJ Health System have a history of working together for mutual benefit. Faculty from the College's School of Health Science assist North Shore-LIJ by providing its employees with training in technology used to diagnose brain abnormalities, as well as in phlebotomy, and Spanish for healthcare workers. As a result of this customized on-site instruction, Farmingdale faculty members become better informed about the specialized needs of the health care industry. This allows for the development of specific curricula that address the needs of future employers, creating a nearly seamless transition from the classroom to the workplace for graduates.

Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (LIHCC) is a not-for-profit organization serving the business communities of Suffolk and Nassau counties. The LIHCC was founded in 1988 to advance the commercial, financial industry, and civic interests of the Hispanic community on Long Island.

Farmingdale State University of New York

Located on over 380 acres on the Nassau/Suffolk border, Farmingdale State is a four-year, coeducational, public college with over 6,000 undergraduate students. The College is dedicated to educating students in the areas of business, applied arts and sciences, health science, and engineering technology. A rich history of over 80,000 graduates makes Farmingdale State a college with a legacy of excellence.

Farmingdale State students enjoy small, personalized classes with exceptional faculty who provide individual attention.We prepare students for successful futures by providing real life applications of knowledge, critical thinking, and a sound liberal arts education to help them pursue rewarding and successful careers.

North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System

The nation's third largest, non-profit, secular healthcare system, the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System cares for people of all ages throughout Long Island, Queens and Staten Island - a service area encompassing more than five million people. The health system includes 15 hospitals, four long-term care facilities, a medical research institute, four trauma centers, five home health agencies, and dozens of outpatient centers. North Shore-LIJ facilities house more than 6,000 beds, and are staffed by over 8,000 physicians, 10,500 nurses; the System employs a total workforce of about 37,500, and is the largest employer on Long Island and the ninth largest in New York City.

Media Contact:
Celeste Hernandez
(516) 256-2483 / (917) 428-7928
lihcc@optonline.net