Article | Amy Porter, Mass Live

WHS expands career pathway offerings to students

Check out this article about Westfield High School expanding career pathway offerings to students!


By Amy Porter

Mass Live

Posted on January 27, 2025

WESTFIELD — Science, Technology and Engineering Supervisor Lauren Cadigan has announced that the Healthcare Pathway at Westfield High School will be introducing a new phlebotomy course for certification through Holyoke Community College. The class will be taught on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 29 during after school hours by WHS teacher Karen Saunders, a certified phlebotomist before starting a teaching career.

Cadigan said 13 out of the 14 seniors in the Healthcare Pathway have elected to do the course after school.

“They will already get their CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant), we’re adding a phlebotomy license as an option as well,” Cadigan said. “We are prepping these kids for a wide variety of careers in medicine — one of our biggest industry needs in the Pioneer Valley.”

Students start the Healthcare Pathway in their sophomore year. Currently, in addition to the 14 seniors, there are 19 juniors and 24 sophomores in the program, which Cadigan said is growing rapidly. Coursework includes anatomy and physiology, chemistry honors, introduction to biomedical engineering, HCC Healthcare Careers 110 and HCC CNA and Home Health Aide training.

“Last year, 100% of the kids got their CNA license, passing the written and skills portion of the CNA exam,” Cadigan said. Other certifications offered in the program are first aid, “Stop the Bleed,” home health aid and now phlebotomy.

In addition to certifications, Cadigan said the program focuses on internships and shadow days, working with Holyoke Hospital, Baystate Noble Hospital, Western Mass Hospital and the Springfield Technical Community College Sim Lab.

Seniors in the Healthcare Pathway are equally enthusiastic about the program.

“It’s honestly been the best thing I’ve experienced at Westfield. It’s really nice, really prepares you for everything medical,” said Jordan Hanechak, who will be attending Springfield College in the doctor of physical therapy program this fall.

Hanechak said he’s had the opportunity for multiple internships, some paid, some for hours, for which he receives academic credit. He was particularly excited about interning in the Bronson Rehab at Baystate Noble, because physical therapy is the field he is interested in pursuing. “I’ve honestly learned a lot,” he said.

With a career interest in becoming a travel nurse, Liam McElhiney was equally excited to be able to intern in the emergency department. He said his goal is to get his CNA, then an RNA, and spend a couple of years as a trauma nurse before becoming a travel nurse.

“I love traveling, so it will be an awesome experience,” McElhiney said. “I love the healthcare program. It offers great opportunities that most schools don’t have, especially the hands on. I didn’t expect to be able to intern in the ER this year. It’s good experience for my future career goals.”

Senior Paige Stomski, who will be attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst for biology with a goal of becoming a physician’s assistant, also gave the program high marks.

“I love the pathway, it’s really great. It gives us a lot of opportunities to further our careers. Right now, we’re doing the CNA class, and we’re going to be doing the phlebotomy class. I think it’s really great that we’re going to be diving in early,” Stomski said.

Stomski has just completed a student internship in the ER at Baystate Noble, and will be going to Holyoke Medical Center for more job shadowing. She said the clinical experience is definitely going on her resume.

“They love their program, they love their placements,” said Career Services Counselor Patricia Healy. She said Hanechk, McElhiney and Stomski all go to their internship at 7 a.m. “That says a lot for the students for unpaid internships,” she said, adding they do receive high school credit for the hours.

She said all of the seniors will also complete their CNA certification with hours in a nursing home in the spring. They chose to take the additional internship classes to get hands-on experience every week.

“They are leaving Westfield High School with college credits and job opportunities; whatever they want to do,” said Cadigan. She noted the students in the pathway could go right into a field, or continue their education while working in a field; such as studying for a nursing degree while working as a phlebotomist.

“A lot of the medical fields require patient hours. Our students will get paid for doing hours with licenses, which does look good on their applications into competitive programs,” Cadigan said.

The Healthcare Pathway is one of four pathways currently offered at Westfield High School, all of which offer similar career and higher education opportunities.

Cadigan said WHS’ new engineering and manufacturing pathway was just approved by the state, and will offer Autodesk Certified Professional in Revit MEP Electrical Fusion 360 Certified Associate and OSHA 10-hour training, along with experiences with professionals at Tighe and Bond, Western New England University tours and teaching, applied learning student showcases and internship and job shadow support.

Westfield High School also offers an ongoing Preschool Pathway studying child development, Preschool Student Teacher and Preschool Student Leader with an Early Education and Care (EEC) Preschool Teacher License.

WHS also has a state-recognized Chapter 74 Criminal Justice program, offering certifications and training for careers in criminal justice, corrections and law enforcement.

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