Providence Hospital Donates $20,000 to Novi Education Foundation

Providence Park Hospital has renewed its commitment to providing interactive learning at by giving a $20,000 grant to the Novi Education Foundation. The grant helps fund the Partners in Excellence (PIE) initiative, a collaborative partnership between and the .

“The mission of Partners in Excellence is to enhance and strengthen learning opportunities through collaborative relationships between the Novi Community School District and Providence Park Hospital. PIE combines the strengths, resources and best practices of each organization,” said Lou Martin, marketing and communications for St. John Providence Health System.

One program through the PIE initiative is the Medical Careers Exploration course, which helps students of all ages by giving them “real world” exposure and experiences. The program provides new insights, awareness and understanding to young learners in all aspects of health care. Novi High School science students get the opportunity to directly interact with the health care professionals of Providence Park Hospital at all levels. In turn, this helps Providence Park inspire and inform a talent pool of future care givers. Exposure to the hospital community and “healthy” practices, procedures and habits also creates a stronger community focused on health care.

The Medical Careers Exploration course, taught by Novi High School science teacher Emily Pohlonski, provides an opportunity for extensive job shadowing and for Novi students to investigate career opportunities in all health care fields represented at Providence Park Hospital. This includes surgery, physical therapy, imaging, pharmacy, cardiac-cath lab, emergency room, occupational therapy and substance abuse awareness at Brighton Hospital.

Novi Superintendent Dr. Steve Matthews supports and promotes the Partners In Excellence relationship.

“Programs like this are so important because they help students develop passions and interests,” Matthews said. “The Partners in Excellence program provides us a chance to inspire our students and to help them connect their education to their life.”

The grant dollars help to fund the following items:

• Medical Career Student materials and supplies
• Special Needs student supplies and materials
• Pediatric Art Share Project
• Read-and-be-Well publishing materials
• Cost to transport students to Providence Park Hospital
• Project coordinator costs

Geoff Wood, NEF chairperson, said he is grateful to Providence for helping support educational and enrichment activities for our Novi students.

“The NEF, through Providence, is funding this program to inspire future doctors, nurses, and medical technicians,” Wood said. “The NEF provides these kinds of educational opportunities for companies to positively impact children’s futures. We are grateful to Providence for donating $20,000 to help make this educational vision a reality.”

Besides Medical Careers Exploration, the PIE program also features the following academic initiatives:

• Special Needs students’ vocational training program.
• Read and Be Well project. For several years, elementary students produced books to be donated to the hospital.
• English Language Learner classes are held on campus at Providence Park. Novi Schools partners with Providence Park to create an enriching experience for the adult students, including such items as an International Club, ceramics lessons and projects, a Japanese Yoga course and cooking demonstrations.
• Student Volunteering at Providence, especially highlighted in the recent Japanese Community Health Fair at Providence Park
• Brighton Hospital collaborations with the Novi Schools. (Brighton is a member of St. John Providence Health System.)

—The above was provided in a press release from the Novi Education Foundation