Somerville HS student Anna Howe learns how to use the DaVinci Xi surgical robot at the CHA Cambridge Hospital Operating Room.

Cambridge Health Alliance, a community health system serving Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston’s metro-north communities, recently hosted an exciting event for local students interested in healthcare careers. As part of CHA’s Career Pathways Program, high school students from Somerville participated in a special Saturday Program at CHA Cambridge Hospital.

On Saturday, April 27, the students visited the CHA Cambridge Hospital Operating Room to learn more about CHA’s Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery programs. This included hands-on experience in a simulated environment with CHA’s DaVinci Xi surgical robot, Stryker Mako robot and other surgical devices used in the operating room.

Students met with surgical professionals, including representatives from Intuitive Surgical, Stryker and Medtronic, to learn various techniques and discover career options in the field.

CHA has hired 12 Somerville youth and young adults as Career Pathways Fellows who gain early career exposure, career readiness and workforce development skills, with mentorship as well as weekly professional development programming.

All CPP Fellows have worksite placements across CHA in areas including pharmacy, radiology, in patient psychiatry, dentistry, and more. Through this program Fellows will earn certifications including Teen Mental Health First Aid, CPR, and other useful skills to advance their healthcare career knowledge and skills for employment.

Career Pathways Fellows are joined by Cambridge Health Alliance surgeons, nurses, and community health staff at CHA Cambridge Hospital on April 27.

“Opportunities like the Cambridge OR visit are among the rich experiences the CPP Fellows are accessing during their time at CHA that expand their career aspirations and where they can see themselves in the future,” said Jaime Lederer, CHA’s director of community health youth initiatives. “CHA is committed to expanding healthcare career access for residents in the communities we serve.”

Cambridge Health Alliance would like to thank the multiple surgeons, nurses, vendors and community health staff who volunteered their time to make this day and special program possible.

The CHA Career Pathways Program received support from an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the City of Somerville and the Cummings Foundation.