Pilot program led to 100% of students gaining increased information about career pathways, increased social capital connections, stronger durable skills, and renewed motivation for their future 

“This experience changed how I think about the future,” shared Tristen Williams (he/him), a student from Summit Public Schools: Tamalpais, after participating in a three-day, paid hands-on learning program put on through a partnership between Making Waves Education Foundation and Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences.

“The young people that we work with want to find a career that they love. They are looking for purpose and they want financial security,” shared Patrick O’Donnell (he/him), CEO of Making Waves.

“And at the same time, we know that there are employers like Kaiser who are looking to build a talented and qualified pool of workers.”

Unfortunately, it’s challenging to navigate the transition between high school and college and career, especially for students from low-income backgrounds. According to the Talented Disrupted report, nearly half of college graduates from low-income backgrounds are underemployed in their first job and two-thirds are still underemployed five years later.

“Too many young people fall off that path from high school to college and career and they’re not positioned for economic mobility. That’s what we’re working to change at Making Waves,” shared O’Donnell.

High-demand for high-wage jobs 

More than 100 students from over 20 high schools and colleges across the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County applied for the 25 spots available for this pilot program called Hands-On Health: Paid Career Exploration Fellowship. 

“We created this three-day earn-and-learn program in partnership with Kaiser to see if we can create accelerated and supportive education and career pathways – ones that ultimately help young people land high-wage jobs that they are passionate about and that help create a thriving workforce in our community,” shared O’Donnell. 

Held in April, the program focused on nuclear medicine, a high-wage field that blends patient care, science, and technology. It’s a field that offers entry-level roles with pay starting above $70 per hour, including jobs that require certification and a two- or four-year degree, but not medical school. 

“We were interested in this project because so many people do not know that we exist. The allied health profession is in great need,” shared Karen Wilson (she/her), community relations specialist at Kaiser.   

“Making Waves made it easy. They had the blueprint and they were very good partners. I’m looking forward to working with them again,” shared Wilson.

Real-world learning, real-world skills 

Through the Making Waves and Kaiser partnership, students didn’t just get to learn about careers in healthcare – they got to experience those jobs first-hand. 

“We embedded four program design pillars across the program: immersive career-connected learning, durable skills development, professional networking, and structured reflection,” said Aiyana Mourtos (she/her), chief program officer at Making Waves.  

Over the course of three days, participants: 

• Operated imaging devices, practiced patient transport, and learned to draw blood under the supervision of Kaiser professionals. 
• Worked in teams to solve a real patient case study, simulating a nuclear medicine challenge and presenting their findings to a professional panel. 
• Built relationships and social capital with healthcare professionals and mentors, gaining insights into diverse careers and pathways. 

“Through the content lectures, the hands-on learning stations, their own presentations, and a panel, students had the opportunity to engage with healthcare professionals, which exposes them to different career pathways and life experiences,” shared Mourtos. 

Immediate and lasting impact in just three days 

In just three days, students operated medical devices, performed simulated patient care, presented their work, and connected with healthcare professionals – many getting exposure to healthcare environments for the first time. 

In a post-program survey, 100% of students said they would highly recommend the fellowship to a peer. 

“This experience helped me think about my future in a different way,” shared Yadira Moreno (she/her), a student from Summit Public Schools: Tamalpais. 

“I do see myself exploring careers in healthcare now. I always have but now after this experience, it really boosted my confidence even more,” shared Moreno.

100% of students also left with increased information about career pathways, increased social capital connections, stronger durable skills, and renewed motivation for their future. 

“This experience changed me,” shared Giselle Rosas (she/her), a student from Making Waves Academy. “It really does help me keep an open mind of what I want in the future.”

A model for the future 

The pilot program is a part of Making Waves’ strategic planning process, which is reimagining what’s possible in expanding educational and career opportunity for our students. 

“This program exceeded our expectations,” Mourtos said. “Students walked away with clarity, confidence, and connections.”

“Imagine what could happen if every young person had access to these types of experiences throughout high school and college?” shared Mourtos.

Learnings from the Hands-On Health pilot are shaping the organization’s efforts to expand access to high-wage career pathways. 

“This pilot with Making Waves and Kaiser was an incredible affirmation and proof of concept. The aim is that we build out accelerated education and career pathways that really bridge the gap between education and employment and help to scale economic mobility in our community,” shared O’Donnell. 

“These pathways are a win for students, a win for employers, and a win for our communities. If you are interested in getting involved, let’s connect!” 

We’re looking to fundamentally change how education connects to economic opportunity. Are you ready to get involved?