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Health researcher, Jessica Esparza Macias at Salinas Valley Health. Individuals hoping to advance their careers or explore rewarding volunteer opportunities in healthcare are invited to attend an open house at Salinas Valley Health. (Salinas Valley Health)
SALINAS – People interested in health care, advancing their careers in the industry or looking for ways to support patient care, are invited Saturday to an open house that focuses on these and other topics at Salinas Valley Health, 450 Romie Lane.
Free parking will be available on the lower level of the parking structure.
Two general information sessions will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Open hours during which program representatives are available for one-on-one conversations and questions are 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 a.m. From 30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participants are not required to attend an information session to come and learn more during open hours. There will be a break in activities from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Salinas Valley Health Open House aims to educate people on ways to build on their existing resume or enrich their lives by providing ways to give back to the community.
“This is a unique opportunity to learn more about the many programs offered at Salinas Valley Health,” said Shannon Graham, director of Health Volunteer and Career Services in a press release. “Volunteers are a revered and important part of our organization and there is such a variety of roles that I truly feel there is something for everyone.
Salinas Valley Health offers opportunities for individuals interested in donating their time, talents and abilities to support patient care and community well-being, while also offering a number of programs for individuals interested in healthcare and progressing in their career in this field.
One such opportunity for people 18 and older is COPE Health Scholars. Salinas Valley Health healthcare specialists receive formal training and hands-on experience in patient care.
“The nursing and clinical teams at Salinas Valley Health love mentoring individuals interested in patient care,” Michelle McCarty, COPE Health Solutions program manager, said in the release. “We have a strong, one-of-a-kind program on the Central Coast. Some of our healthcare specialists will be attending the open day to share their first-hand experiences with anyone interested in learning more.
Salinas Valley Health offers three-, six- and nine-month pathways in its Health Scholars program, to fit a person’s weekly time. Participants in the degree program work to achieve the 280 clinical hours required to graduate from the program. Upon completion of the course, health scholars receive a certificate of completion from the Keck Graduate Institute in Patient Experience and Prelicensed Clinical Care.
Salinas Valley Health also offers opportunities for those interested in giving back to volunteer, including community outreach, guest services, patient support, gift shop, Mended Hearts and pet therapy, among others.
The Mended Hearts program provides education and support to heart patients and their families. It is the nation’s oldest peer-to-peer cardiac support group and is a physician-approved model of support. Mended Hearts has served 300 chapters and more than 460 hospitals across the United States. The Salinas Valley Health program has been recognized for the past five years for its outstanding service to the community. Mended Hearts volunteers provide personal visits to patients, educational materials and rehabilitation support.
Reservations for the Salinas Valley Health Open House are appreciated, but are not required. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 831-755-0772 or email volunteer@SalinasValleyHealth.com.