CHELAN HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR EXPLORES HEALTHCARE CAREER THROUGH HOSPITAL INTERNSHIP

Melissa Anaya, a senior at Lake Chelan High School, is gaining valuable real-world experience through her Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career Connections class. As part of the program, Melissa applied for and was selected for a competitive internship at Lake Chelan Health (LCH), giving her the opportunity to shadow healthcare professionals, ask questions, and explore potential career paths. With aspirations of becoming a labor and delivery nurse, this hands-on exposure has been instrumental in shaping her future goals.

The internship was made possible through the coordination of Dave Dawson, LCH Clinical Coordinator, and Jeff Pearl, CTE Career Connections teacher at Chelan High School. Internships at LCH are highly competitive—currently, only one position is available—and the application process mirrors that of hiring a new healthcare staff member. However, unlike full-time employees, high school interns strictly observe and do not provide hands-on patient care.

Applicants must complete a formal application, attend an interview, and once selected, go through a thorough onboarding process. This includes a background check and comprehensive training in patient privacy, safety, infection control, and hospital procedures.

Melissa began her internship in January and has since had the opportunity to shadow professionals across several departments, including rehabilitation, radiology, emergency, laboratory, the medical-surgical unit, and the Lake Chelan Health Clinic located downtown at 219 E. Johnson Avenue.

One of the most impactful moments of Melissa’s internship came with patient consent—she was able to observe a cesarean section, a powerful experience that further solidified her passion for becoming a labor and delivery nurse.

Lake Chelan Health has long been committed to supporting educational opportunities and is proud to help inspire and guide the next generation of healthcare professionals.