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BayCare Health System’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of health care professionals took center stage this summer through a dynamic partnership with CareerSource Tampa Bay.
Together, they launched a six-week work-based learning program at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, offering 12 students interested in health care careers a unique opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world experience.
For six weeks, students stepped into hospital life—shadowing professionals, observing patient care, and discovering how teamwork drives excellence in health care. The program blended classroom learning with practical experience, helping students build key skills like communication, compassion and collaboration—the foundation of BayCare’s people-first culture.
Among them was Tylea Calhoun, a recent graduate preparing for her freshman year at the University of South Florida.
“Just seeing everybody come from all the different floors, take their turn, check on the patient, communicate and come together to help the patients is something I’m going to take away,” she said.
That collaborative spirit, Calhoun noted, showed her what it truly means to work as part of a health care team.
Cindy Zhuang, entering her junior year at Boca Ciega High School, said the experience shifted her perspective. “My career goals definitely changed—but for the better,” she said. “It made me want to do more in medical and see the different areas.”
For Anh Suzuki, a junior at Largo High School, the program opened her eyes to the many pathways available in health care. “I found out there are so many ways to get where you are—whether you want to be a physician or a radiology tech, there are many routes with BayCare,” she said.
Raymond Duong, also a Boca Ciega High School junior, shared, “This opportunity deepened my understanding of the medical profession and made me realize how important patient communication, compassion and teamwork are for working with patients and colleagues.”
The partnership between BayCare and CareerSource Tampa Bay demonstrates how collaboration can create meaningful opportunities for young people while strengthening the future health care workforce.
“It’s critical for us to identify talent early so we can get them engaged, exposed to BayCare and hopefully tracked into our development pipelines,” said Scott Smith, president of St. Anthony’s Hospital.
That early engagement is key to BayCare’s mission of community advancement—recruiting and nurturing local talent to ensure the highest standards of care across the region.
Keidrian Kunkel, president of CareerSource Tampa Bay, agreed. “We certainly have many talented youth who are interested in health care, and we’re excited to use our resources to help guide them along their career pathways,” she said.
For Kristen Lefkimiotis, nurse manager at St. Anthony’s, the experience has come full circle. “When I was in nursing school, CareerSource helped pay for my nursing board exams,” she said. “So, it’s really special for me to mentor Cindy here in my department and give back to an organization that once gave to me.”
This summer program is just one example of how BayCare opens doors for students to explore health care careers. From internships and shadowing opportunities to Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs, BayCare is dedicated to inspiring and preparing the next generation of health care professionals.
“This is a great partnership with CareerSource and BayCare,” Smith said. “We hope to continue to grow and expand it so students can get even greater access and exposure to potential career paths.”
By investing in these students, BayCare and CareerSource Tampa Bay are helping to build a healthier, more resilient community—one future health care professional at a time.
Ready to start your career in health care? Explore opportunities at BayCare careers.
