A group of ten lucky students represented CHAH this week on a visit to the Kravis Children's Hospital at Mt. Sinai to present them with a donation and learn more about careers in health care.

In December, the CHAH community raised $275 in a week, simply by donating pocket change upon entering the building. The senior class raised the most money and voted to send our donation to an organization that supports children with cancer. Based on its excellent service to New York City, we knew that Mt. Sinai's Blau Center for Children's Cancer and Blood Disease would be the perfect recipient.

Our gracious hosts from Mt. Sinai spent the afternoon with us in the bright, cheerful playroom of the Blau Center. where we met a pediatrician, nurse practitioner, child-life specialist, a medical resident, two representatives from the development office, and two members of the diversity office. Immediately, we were introduced to the wide variety of careers available in the healthcare field.

We learned about the experience of families affected by cancer, the ways that the hospital staff works together to support and treat the child and their family, and the opportunities available for high school and college students interested in the medical or science fields.

We also got to test out a vein finder, a piece of equipment that the Blau Center plans to purchase with the help of our donation. We learned that finding a vein is an essential part of helping children with cancer, whether it is to insert an IV, draw blood, or provide chemotherapy. However, it is difficult to see or feel many young children's veins. With the help of a vein finder, the doctors can see the veins easily, making the process of inserting a needle much faster and easier for the patient.

We are appreciative of the time that the Mt. Sinai staff took to educate us about their valuable work!

Students who are interested in learning more about the internships, summer opportunities, and professional development that were shared with us can follow the links below:

Center for Excellence in Youth Education (programs for grade 7 through college):

icahn.mssm.edu/about/diversity/ceye

All Stars Project, Inc. (multiple fields, ages 16-21):

allstars.org/dsy

America Needs You Fellows Program (multiple fields, for college students):

americaneedsyou.org

Greater New York Hospital Association Summer Enrichment Program (health care management field, for college students):

https://www.gnyha.org/whatwedo/diversity-communityhealth/diversity/gnyha-summer-enrichment-program