Over the last seven years, Vidant Medical Center has partnered with organizations across eastern North Carolina to host Project SEARCH for exceptional Pitt County students. The one-year program helps students learn various skills that can help them gain employment after graduation.

Students in the program do different internships throughout the company, and the process is very similar to steps any team member goes through before joining the department. David Jenkins was a 2019 graduate who now works in the hospital. He oversees the interns in the cafeteria.

Lisa Lassiter, director of workforce development at Vidant Health, was a primary influencer in bringing the program to life and says community partnerships are key to the success of the program. She’s also excited to see how the program continues to grow.

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