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SearchWorkforce readiness initiative has helped 250+ youth discover healthcare career pathways and brighter futures
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Cleveland Clinic is marking the 10th anniversary of its Louis Stokes Summer Internship Program, which gives high school students paid, hands-on exposure to healthcare-focused careers.
Since 2016, the program has reached more than 250 youth from Cleveland, East Cleveland, Warrensville Heights and eight other inner-ring suburbs. In July, 29 Stokes scholars graduated as part of this year’s cohort.
Established in partnership with PNC, the program honors the legacy of U.S. Rep. Louis Stokes and his commitment to expanding opportunities for the youth of Cleveland. Over the past decade, philanthropic gifts of all sizes have helped the program grow.
“At PNC, we believe every young person deserves a clear path to see what’s possible for their future,” said Pat Pastore, PNC regional president for Cleveland. “Congressman Stokes spent his life opening doors for the next generation and this program keeps that legacy alive for hundreds of students across Cleveland. Watching these interns grow into confident, skilled young professionals is the reason we remain committed to investing in this program and this region’s future workforce.”
The Louis Stokes Summer Internship Program is designed to prepare students for future success in college and the workforce. Over seven weeks, interns build career readiness skills in project management, digital literacy, academic writing, professional communication and teamwork.
Working side-by-side with Cleveland Clinic caregivers, students dive into projects in vital, non-clinical areas such as healthcare administration, patient transportation, sterile processing and others. The immersive experience concludes with a poster presentation, where participants showcase their contributions to program leadership. Interns leave with more than real-world experience. They gain professional mentors who help them build confidence and discover their potential future in healthcare.
“It’s been inspiring to see firsthand how early exposure to meaningful careers in healthcare and mentorship can create real pathways to opportunity for our youth,” said James Stoller, M.D., M.S., Chief of Education at Cleveland Clinic. “I’m proud to say that we have former interns who are now thriving in careers here at Cleveland Clinic, which is a testament to the lasting impact of this program. As we look ahead, our focus remains clear: to expand access, deepen impact, and ensure more young people see healthcare not just as a place of care, but as a place where they belong and can build their future.”
More than 15% of the program’s alumni have secured employment within the Cleveland Clinic health system, helping to strengthen a homegrown talent pipeline.
That long-term impact is reflected in caregivers like Adrian Shields, who participated in the Louis Stokes Summer Internship Program in 2016 and 2017.
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Adrian Shields, Former Louis Stokes Summer Internship Program Participant
Shields now serves as a Laboratory Collection Specialist in Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. In his role, he helps ensure patient samples are collected and handled with care, providing critical information that helps guide healthcare decisions and improve patient outcomes.
Shields said, “This internship gave me my first real look at what a career in healthcare could be. The mentors I met encouraged me to keep learning and showed me that even behind-the-scenes roles can have a big impact on patient care. Now, I get to be part of a team that helps provide important health information for patients, and it's a great feeling knowing my work can make a difference.”
The Louis Stokes Summer Internship Program is one of several workforce readiness initiatives offered by Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Youth and College Education (CYCE). The center offers a continuum of learning and career exploration opportunities for students from kindergarten through college and beyond.
By connecting students to real-world healthcare careers early, Cleveland Clinic aims to prepare the next generation of caregivers while addressing long-term workforce needs in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment. The model demonstrates how anchor institutions can play an active role in local economic development by intentionally recruiting and developing talent from the communities they serve.
