Two Programs, One Partnership: LBUSD Students Explore Careers at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center

At MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center, a growing partnership with Long Beach Unified School District is giving high school students opportunities to explore healthcare careers through a combination of job shadowing, mentorship, and hands-on simulation.

One option available to students is a summer internship with MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center where they are assigned to a hospital department and can assist with daily operations. While not directly involved in patient care, interns are exposed to the workflows of health professionals who are available to answer their questions about what it’s really like to work in healthcare.

The internship program, run by Christina Campos, Manager, PFA & Volunteer Engagement, has helped spark several healthcare careers. “Many students say the internship gives them clarity in confirming an interest in healthcare,” said Campos. “Students value seeing behind the scenes, learning how departments collaborate and work together as a team.” 

Now in her third year leading the program, Campos is helping expand opportunities for LBUSD students. “When I first started, there were five interns, and now we're hosting ten," she said. "My goal is to exceed that number next year.”

She’s also expanding what types of careers students are exposed to. Students are assigned to one department for the duration of their internship, and she’s actively recruiting new departments to open their doors to interns, including non-clinical departments like human resources and administration.

To expand access to diverse career pathways, students are also given opportunities to translate their observations into hands-on learning. During the school year, students are able to participate in an after-school healthcare simulation program led by Allison McCloskey, Program Manager of Epilepsy and Neurodiagnostics, where students take what they observe and begin to apply it in realistic scenarios.

Divided into eight sections, students are assigned healthcare roles to enact in live simulations led by teachers and healthcare mentors. One of the highlights of the program is their trauma simulation, where students are tasked with responding to multiple scenarios they might encounter as professionals in an emergency room. Working closely with doctors, nurses and other healthcare mentors, they run through scenarios in real time, hoping to achieve the best outcome for their “patients”.

“It’s a living, breathing class,” McClosky said. “Each simulation is different, even if it’s identical to one we’ve done in the past. We never know where we’ll end up.”

McCloskey also takes the students on tours of the hospital, where they visit the neurology center, the GI laboratory, and trauma bays. Students are encouraged to talk to healthcare professionals and ask them questions about their jobs and the lifestyles they afford.

“We're very open so I always prep them, like, ‘Ask anything you want,’” said McCloskey. “Do you want to know how much their college loans were? Do you want to know how much money they make? How long have they been doing it? Where are they from? Are they married? You can ask them anything.”

That level of mentorship is at the center of both experiences—not only for students, but for the professionals who guide them. Campos works closely with hospital staff to prepare them as hosts. “Colleagues are motivated to serve as internship hosts because they value giving back, mentoring students, and helping shape the future healthcare workforce. Hosting allows staff to share their career journeys, support students’ growth, and bring fresh energy into their departments,” Campos said.

McCloskey agrees. “I've never had someone do the program and not turn around and be like, ‘Oh my gosh, that re-inspired me,’ she said. “Sometimes life gets really busy, and it can get very stressful. You can get very tired, but then when you sit down with a student who is hungry for knowledge and excited to be here, you get re-engaged, yourself.”

The success of that mentorship is already paying off at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center. “We had a high school student that came here and he actually became a doctor,” Campos said. “So I’ve seen that full circle. It's really rewarding to see that.”

McCloskey measures success in similar ways: through both outcomes and ongoing connections. “Around 98% of the students have gone on to college for healthcare careers, so that's proof right there that it's working,” she said. “I personally think I'm measuring success with how many people are staying in contact with me. So many of them message me and let me know what they're doing. Like, ‘I've got my white coat.’ ‘I'm at USC.’ I'm like, wow, like that's incredible. I knew you were going to. So, that's success for me.”

Both leaders point to the partnership with LBUSD as essential to their programs’ successes. “This partnership is closely aligned with MemorialCare’s mission and workforce goals. Collaborating with LBUSD allows MemorialCare to invest in the community, support early career exploration, and inspire students to pursue healthcare pathways,” Campos said.

McCloskey added, “I think LBUSD is so amazing… I just have never seen such a group of people who truly, truly want the best for the students in Long Beach, 100%.”

Together, the internship and simulation programs show how a strong school-to-career partnership can move students beyond interest and into action— and help them see themselves not just as learners, but as future healthcare professionals.