Earn While You Learn: Oswego Health Invests in the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals

OSWEGO – Building a stronger healthcare workforce starts with investing in the people who make exceptional care possible. At Oswego Health, that investment means creating opportunities for employees to gain valuable skills, advance their careers and build a future in healthcare—often while earning a paycheck from day one.

That commitment was recently celebrated at The Manor at Seneca Hill, where five new Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) graduated from Oswego Health’s paid CNA training program.

The five-week, 240-hour program combines classroom instruction, hands-on skills training and supervised clinical experience to prepare participants for a career caring for patients and residents. Unlike traditional training programs, participants are paid throughout the program, allowing them to gain valuable healthcare experience while earning an income.

Oswego Health is proud to be the only provider in Oswego County offering this type of paid CNA training opportunity.

The newest graduates include:

• Samantha Hull of Hannibal, who was inspired to pursue a CNA career by her mother, who is also a CNA.
• Sonya Gates of Parish, who previously worked in the food industry and saw the program as an opportunity to begin a new career in healthcare.
• Taylor Woodruff of Oswego, who previously worked for Davis Cleaning and was drawn to healthcare because of her compassion for caring for others.
• Naomi Roberts of Fulton, who joined Oswego Health from Oswego County Opportunities and views the program as the first step toward a long-term healthcare career.
• Gabriella Greenleaf of Hannibal, who already had healthcare experience and wanted to become a CNA to expand her ability to support and care for others.

All five graduates have accepted full-time CNA positions at The Manor, where they will continue building their skills while providing compassionate care to residents.

Andrea Doviak, RN, Executive Director of The Manor, knows firsthand that a healthcare career can begin in many different ways. During the graduates’ pinning ceremony, she reflected on her own journey, which began as a volunteer candy striper before she became a CNA and continued advancing throughout her healthcare career.

“A CNA position is such a meaningful way to begin a career in healthcare. You have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of residents and their families every day,” said Doviak. “I started my own healthcare career as a candy striper and then became a CNA, so I know firsthand where this first step can lead. We’re so happy these five graduates chose Oswego Health as the place to begin their journey.”

The CNA program is one of several ways Oswego Health invests in the growth of its workforce. Employees have access to opportunities including tuition assistance, mentorship and career development programs designed to help them build on their experience and pursue their next professional goal.

For some employees, that next step may mean advancing from CNA to Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse. Others may pursue opportunities as a Phlebotomist, Certified Medical Assistant or in other clinical and non-clinical roles throughout the organization.

“Healthcare careers don’t always follow a straight line, and we want to make sure our employees have opportunities to keep moving forward,” Doviak added “When we invest in our employees, we’re not only helping them grow—we’re strengthening the workforce and ultimately improving the care we provide to our patients and residents.”

By removing barriers to entering the healthcare field and creating pathways for continued growth, Oswego Health is helping employees turn an opportunity into a career.

Enrollment is now open for the next CNA training session at The Manor at Seneca Hill. For more information or to register, call 315-349-5300 or visit CNA Program.

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About Oswego Health:
The mission of Oswego Health is to provide accessible, quality care and improve the health of residents throughout Central New York. As a nonprofit healthcare system established in 1881, Oswego Health is proud to be one of Oswego County’s largest private employers. More than 1,500+ employees spread throughout its 25 campuses, work for the Oswego Health system, which includes the 132-bed community Oswego Hospital, a 32-bed psychiatric acute-care facility with multiple outpatient behavioral health service locations, The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility, and Springside at Seneca Hill, an independent retirement community.  The health system also operates Oswego Health Home Care, the only hospital-based certified home healthcare agency in the County, as well as two outpatient centers, including the Fulton Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, physical therapy, and occupational health services, and the Central Square Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, and physical therapy services. In addition, the healthcare system includes Oswego Health Medical Practice, a multi-specialty medical group offering the community accessible, high-quality healthcare. 300+ physicians and advanced practice providers offer an extensive array of services across CNY, including primary care and specialty care in orthopedics, cardiology, ENT, gastroenterology, breast care, general surgery, urology, pulmonology, and bariatrics; for more information about Oswego Health, visit www.oswegohealth.org.