Thank you to our Students!
As we near the end of summer and say goodbye to August, we are also saying farewell to many students who have been with us completing their placements in departments across the hospital.
One of our strategic priorities is developing our team of today and the future and providing an environment that nurtures and fosters learning and growth. The student placement program is such a large and important piece of this, and we want to thank each and every one of them for the work they have done in helping us provide exceptional, compassionate, and equitable care for our patients and community. They are an essential part of our St. Mary’s family, and we will miss all of them. We look forward to bringing onboard more students in the fall and helping provide them with a safe, and positive place to learn and grow.
"Through our clinical and non-clinical placements our students gain valuable real-life experience while honing their communication and problem-solving skills,” says Pauline, Manager, Volunteer Resources, Student Placements and Staff Scheduling. “Students bring new energy and ideas to our programs, and we are thankful for their contributions. Our preceptors and educators are an essential and valuable component of the student placement experience, and we thank them too for providing our students with a safe and meaningful experience,” says Pauline.
St. Mary’s student program also provides us with an opportunity to foster our partnerships with colleges and universities and future graduates. These partnerships are extremely important to us and we thank our local colleges and universities for their continued collaboration and support.
St. Mary’s Purchasing Team supported work placements this year for the first time - and both the department and students benefitted.
“Accessing the skills of students is something we started doing this year in the purchasing department,” says Suzy, Director, Corporate Services. “It’s been a big asset to our team, and it’s allowed the opportunity for the next generation of talent to be able to learn in a real environment, where they can, not only start to apply the textbook knowledge they have gained in the classroom but also start working on things like communication, problem solving critical thinking, etc. It’s been a huge success working with both the University of Waterloo and Conestoga College when recruiting, and also watching our student grow during the 16-week placement,” says Suzy.
“It’s been a pleasure working here at St. Mary’s General Hospital,” says Aashish Das, Purchasing Coordinator Student. “The purchasing team is great, and the entire team is really helpful and cooperative. I have learned a lot of things, which has certainly broadened my brain’s horizons. This role has also helped me in improving my organizational skills. Overall, it’s been a great learning experience for me. I will surely miss working here,” says Aashish.
Thank you to all of our staff, physicians, and volunteers who make St. Mary’s an exceptional place to work and an inviting environment for our students to complete their placements at. To all of our students, thank you for making a difference in the lives of our patients and our community, and for choosing St. Mary’s.