One year after expanding into Alert Bay and Port McNeill, Island Health’s Step Up Youth program is already making an impact – connecting youth in rural communities with hands-on healthcare experience and helping shape the next generation of care providers.
The program offers youth aged 15 to 18 exposure to healthcare and long-term care through volunteering. It has quickly gained strong interest in North Vancouver Island, where five Grade 12 students from North Island Secondary School took on roles at Port McNeill Hospital (PMH) last fall – creating a rare opportunity for youth in the region to explore healthcare careers close to home.
For volunteer Ava Meisler-Malthouse, the experience has been both meaningful and eye-opening.
“It’s shown me how much of an impact even small interactions can have,” she said. “My time at the hospital also helped me realize I’m especially drawn to the emotional side of care.” After graduation, Meisler-Malthouse plans to study psychology at UVic, with a goal of working in mental health care.
For fellow volunteer Eren Kozuszyn, the motivation to volunteer was deeply personal. After a life-threatening staph infection as a child, Kozuszyn said the care he received left a lasting impression and made him realize how many things staff do behind the scenes to improve care. Further, he is grateful for the expansion of Step Up to his small community.
“We don’t have that many opportunities like this,” he said, “It may not seem like much, but sitting with residents and having a chat, or giving them a card you made truly makes their day.”
For Liv Wilson, being part of the first Step Up cohort at PMH helped build strong connections in the group. The five volunteers formed a group chat, where they’d share program information, and connect on plans for activities with patients, giving each other ideas along the way.
“We had a ‘let’s figure this out together’ mentality and we got really close because of that,” Wilson said. Wilson, who hopes to become an oncologist, has been accepted into UBC’s science program and plans to share a dorm with a fellow volunteer.
The sense of connection stood out most for volunteer Sierra Watson. “Volunteering has solidified the idea that little things can make a big difference – I want to be that person who can make someone’s day a little better even in the toughest of times,” Watson said.
Now preparing for post-secondary studies with plans to pursue a career in healthcare, she says the experience has helped confirm her path. She and her fellow volunteers’ experiences highlight how the program is helping youth in smaller communities see themselves in future healthcare roles.
For Eric Head-Chen, a clinical coordinator at PMH, the program has brought fresh energy to the site.
“The students have shown incredible dedication, compassion and professionalism – they have a natural ability to connect with patients, bring positivity and enhance patient-centred care in ways we don’t always have the capacity for,” he said, adding that in a small, closely connected hospital their presence is especially meaningful.
From organizing activities to spending time with patients, the students have enhanced patient-centred care in ways that complement clinical teams.
The program also gives youth opportunities to explore different healthcare roles, connecting with staff across disciplines.
“It was powerful,” Head-Chen recalled of a recent school presentation where students shared their learnings in the program. “You could see how much they had taken away from the experience, and how it helped shape their career paths.”
As the Step Up Youth program continues to grow, Island Health hopes to build on this success, supporting more youth in rural communities to explore careers in healthcare while making a meaningful impact close to home.
Applications for the fall intake are now open until May 15. Visit Step Up Youth for details or to apply.