Now finishing its third year, the partnership provides opportunities for students to explore health care careers by connecting with professionals actively working in the field. It serves as a vital resource for students as they plan their next steps after high school and fosters meaningful connections between Vanderbilt Health employees and the communities they serve.
Sophomore Lamya Robertson, a varsity basketball player and photography enthusiast, is focused on building a plan for her future and is considering her direction.
“Right now, I’m interested in mental health and psychiatric nursing — being able to help people’s lives and be a safe spot in the hospital — but I don’t know my exact path yet,” she said.
Robertson’s mentor, Ebony Israel-Grover, RN, began her Vanderbilt career in 2008 as a care partner, transitioning to roles in research, then working as a COVID-19 response nurse. She’s now a registered nurse at Vanderbilt Children’s Urgent Care Murfreesboro.
Reflecting on the opportunity to mentor, Israel-Grover shared, “I thought 1,000% yes. I love working with young adults; they’re so open to all of life’s possibilities.”
The two regularly connect through calls and texts, discussing scholarship opportunities, career options and college plans.
“When I start my senior year, I want my scholarships lined up and school chosen, and she’s really been helping me figure it all out and explore different programs,” Robertson said.
Israel-Grover also supports Robertson by cheering courtside at her basketball home games.
“Watching and working with her toward her goals inspires me,” Israel-Grover said.
With two years in the Health Sciences Academy remaining for Robertson, the mentoring relationship will continue, helping refine her plans to achieve all her goals.
Senior Jennifer Gomez Ceba, a crafter and aspiring gardener, is in her second year of the program. She became interested in nursing at age 15 after observing a lack of representation among health care professionals and language barriers during family hospital visits.
“I thought if I became a nurse and could make someone more comfortable in a place that’s unfamiliar, it’s something I would want to do,” she explained.
Gomez Ceba’s mentor, Che Curtis, MBA, MSN, RN, provides unwavering encouragement during their weekly calls.
“Every time I felt discouraged and hit an obstacle, she always encouraged me,” Gomez Ceba shared. “She’s given me so many tips about nursing — the realities, challenges, and how to surpass them.”
Curtis has been with Vanderbilt for 16 years. She has worked in cardiology and orthopaedics and is currently a nurse in neurological surgery at Vanderbilt University Hospital. Curtis was exploring an initiative to recruit high school students to the profession to combat the national nursing shortage when her supervisor introduced her to the program.
Curtis described the multifaceted nature of mentorship, saying, “Sometimes it’s about exploring educational resources and discussing career options after college, but it’s also sharing in the everyday highs and lows of her life.”
Gomez Ceba’s dedication will be honored as she is celebrated as the valedictorian of her graduating class. Her hard work has earned her a full scholarship to Belmont University. There she plans to pursue a nursing degree, with her sights set on pediatrics.
Tyler Welch, academy coach at Pearl-Cohn, is dedicated to creating meaningful career exposure opportunities for students.
“Hearing mentors share their stories helps students understand how careers take shape one step at a time,” he said. “Seeing students recognize their own potential is the most rewarding part. My hope is that one day, they’ll come back as mentors to share their own experiences.”
In addition to mentoring students, on May 1 employees from Vanderbilt Health held a career fair spotlighting professions such as nursing, health IT, social work, EMS and more. During the event students were able to ask questions about day-to-day responsibilities and education requirements.
Mamie Williams, PhD, MPH, MSN, APRN, senior director with VUMC Nursing and MNPS Health Care Academies partnership, noted, “I’ve seen the deeper purpose our nurses have discovered through empowering these students and showing them how many opportunities there are in health care.”
Vanderbilt Health’s long-term goal is to develop a network that nurtures and supports the next generation of nursing professionals who will play a vital role in fulfilling the need for high-quality patient care.
“We’re looking forward to deepening our partnership with MNPS to create impactful opportunities that strengthen engagement and accessibility within our communities and cultivate a culturally rich health care workforce,” said Williams.
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