It was a record-breaking year for the 2025 School to Work (STW) graduating class, with 29 Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) seniors graduating from the program!
This innovative program—a collaboration between TriHealth and CPS—gives high school juniors and seniors hands-on healthcare experience by rotating through various departments and clinical settings at Good Samaritan Hospital.
This year marks the largest graduating class in the program’s history. Of the 29 graduates, 24 are college-bound with plans to pursue careers in healthcare—a powerful testament to the program’s impact.
Students gave inspiring remarks about the program’s impact and their journies at graduation:
My name is Faustina Ansah. I attend Western Hills University High School and have been part of this program for two years. I am a first-generation immigrant from Ghana who emigrated when I was just 10 years old. It has been one of many milestones, and I am privileged to stand here eight years later to share some of my story with you.
I was a shy student, and my English was not as good as it is today. When I first started this program, I would not have pictured myself giving you this speech, but the School to Work program has shaped me into the young healthcare professional you see today.
My journey in this program has been incredible. I interviewed in 10th grade after hearing about it from my teachers and friends. The past two years have been filled with amazing encounters with doctors, nurses and staff at this hospital.
Being in this program has solidified my decision to become a surgeon. I was already interested in the healthcare field when I applied; however, I had some second thoughts about whether it was a great fit for me. During my two-year internship, I have had the opportunity to witness healthcare providers in action, and I have firmly decided to become a surgeon.
For the past two years, I have had the opportunity to work in many departments, including Labor and Delivery (my favorite), Therapy, PACU, Infection Prevention, CDU, Patient Placement, and the Price Hill Free Clinic. These departments have all been significant in my journey.
I met health workers who were willing to teach me, share their experiences, and give me sound advice. I talked to healthcare professionals who are passionate about what they do and always encourage me to pursue my goals confidently.
My goal is to be a surgeon, and I had an amazing time seeing surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and many others do what they do best in the operating room. I witnessed the beginning of life, and it was an incredible experience.
Last month, I graduated as the valedictorian of my class. I will be attending the University of Cincinnati for pre-medicine in the fall. My goal is to attend medical school, complete my residency at Good Samaritan Hospital and work alongside this amazing team as Dr. Faustina Ansah.
My name is Youssouf Diallo, I attend Western Hills University High School and have been in the School to Work program for two years. Growing up in a developing country, I witnessed pregnant women miscarrying due to delayed or lack of prenatal care, poor healthcare infrastructure, lack of education, poverty, and malnutrition, all of which could have been prevented.
During these past two years, I have learned many valuable lessons and was even able to give back to my community through volunteer work. The School to Work program is significant because it gives high school students the opportunity to work in healthcare. It teaches us to be responsible young leaders and the ins and outs of running a hospital. Plus, it exposes us to different career fields in healthcare.
One of my most memorable and impactful experiences that I have had in this program was working in the Labor and Delivery unit. I was able to see a live c-section and remember feeling so nervous to walk into the operating room. As I walked in, I saw doctors and nurses working collaboratively to ensure a successful delivery and to give comfort to their patient. Being able to witness this incredible experience at just the age of 17 was a once-in-a-lifetime experience because not everyone gets this privilege at such an early age.
During this program, I was not only able to maintain a 4.0 GPA, but I also remain in the top five of my graduating class. I could not have done this without the help of my family, the School to Work leadership team, my job coaches and my peers. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to be a part of this beautiful program and all the amazing opportunities that it has afforded me!
When I first joined this program, I was a shy 16-year-old, afraid to speak in front of strangers and patients. Now, two years later, I am a confident 18-year-old—confident in my public speaking skills, confident in realizing my potential, and confident in my ability to change the world. After my rotation in the Labor and Delivery unit, I decided that being a Labor and Delivery nurse is my calling.
After graduating high school, I plan on attending the University of Cincinnati to pursue a Bachelor of Science in nursing and come back to TriHealth as an Acute Care Tech while I pursue my degree! I also plan to become a mentor to other students in this program.
My favorite TriHealth saying is this:
“Hands that serve, hearts that care.”
It shows that healthcare is built on teamwork. Your hands serve the patients while your heart cares for the patients.
– Youssouf Diallo / 2025 School to Work Graduate –
bi3’s Director of Community Partnerships, Jena’ Bradley, also spoke during the ceremony, celebrating the students’ accomplishments and the program’s continued success.
“At bi3, our vision is that all people in Greater Cincinnati have a fair and just opportunity to achieve their best health. In choosing a profession in healthcare, you are a part of that vision. You have an opportunity to impact, improve and shape lives. There’s something so awe-inspiring about knowing your efforts, your labor large and small, will likely lead to one more grandmother getting to meet her grandchild; to one more child getting to experience their first flight; and one more person experiencing gender and culturally-affirming care, perhaps for the first time in their lives. That may be what it takes to keep them going. That is powerful, it’s beautiful.”
Since its launch in 2019 with funding from bi3, nearly 125 students have participated in the STW program. This effort has inspired more young people to consider healthcare careers, helping to build a stronger, more diverse future workforce. To ensure the program continues to inspire and empower students for years to come, bi3 partnered with CommonSpirit Health, and TriHealth in 2022 to establish an endowment to fund the program.
