This summer, The Mayflower Community Health Center is experiencing the enthusiasm of young, dedicated certified and licensed staff. Besides earning college tuition, they are gaining “experiential learning” experience. Typically, graduate medical schools require 2,000 hours of health-related work experience as part of post-grad studies in medicine.
In addition to the members of the Grinnell College student class that trained to become Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) on the Mayflower campus last June, there are also five CNAs and two Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), who will be pursuing further studies in science this fall.
Pictured above are five of the undergraduate students with three experienced CNAs who are serving as their mentors. The mentors in the front row, left to right are Nely Dayton, Wendy Parrott, and Crystal Carman. The undergrads in the back row, left to right are Nicky Midlash, Catherine Cogley, Kate Tomczik, Albiona Limani, and Jessica Moore.
Nicky, from Hinsdale, Illinois, is a student at Grinnell College majoring in psychology. He plans to continue schooling to become a Physician’s Assistant. Nicky sees the Mayflower CNA experience as a “place to help and develop around great people.” Catherine is a Grinnell High School grad attending William Jewel College in Liberty Missouri. With her major of biochemistry, she is planning to attend medical school. The Mayflower experience? “It has shown me what nurses and nurse aides deal with every day.”
Kate Tomczik is a second-year at Grinnell College from St. Cloud, Minnesota. She is playing a lot of basketball for the Pioneers while studying biology and studio art. Where will this all take her? She is hoping medical school. In the meantime, “I have learned lots from the residents through their stories.”
Albiona is a Grinnell High grad studying biology at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. She plans to head to Physician’s Assistant school upon graduation. Besides providing “direct patient care” hours for grad school, the Mayflower experience has provided her “…more knowledge about taking care of people.
Jessica was an all-state track and diving performer at Grinnell High before heading off to St. Louis University to study biology. She is still running and jumping, now with the Billikins, as she prepares to go to Physician’s Assistant school post-grad. With just a bit of enthusiasm, Jessica observes, “I like the people that work here, and the residents are awesome!”
Other locals working this summer in the Mayflower Health Center include:
- Jarrett Rose, Grinnell High, is a sophomore studying pre-med at Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota.
- Courtney Anderson, South Tama High, is studying for a bachelor’s in nursing at the University of Minnesota State, Mankato.
- Other Grinnell College students from our summer CNA class who have started working this summer are:
- Bella Butzirus – Lived around the world with Navy father, graduating from Nile E. Kinnick High School, Yokosuka, Japan. A 4th-year, Bella is working on a Mentored Advanced Project studying “Junk Food Nutrition” with rats and planning on medical school after graduation.
- Linda Peng – Cedar Falls High, Cedar Falls, Iowa, is a 2nd year studying biochemistry and undecided about post-grad plans.
- Gretchen Schreiner – Grand Forks, North Dakota, is a 4th year sociology/biology major with pre-health and neuroscience concentration, planning on PhD or medical school. In addition, she is planning to conduct a sociology study with Mayflower residents.
Two employees are headed for nursing school in the fall at Marshalltown Community College:
- Taylor Kirby, LPN, Grinnell High, is working on her registered nurse degree.
- Cheyenne Klos, Montezuma H.S. grad, will be testing for LPN licensure and is currently on active Army reserve duty. She will begin registered nurse degree studies.
When school resumes in the fall, the Grinnell College students will be working part-time in the Health Center, as their schedules permit. The students attending out-of-town colleges will work at Mayflower when they are home for breaks.
– Bob Mann, Sales & Marketing Director