Hoping
to create their own pool of future health care workers, Down East Community
Hospital in Machias was a major contributor to the new science laboratory
at Washington Academy.
In addition to supporting
the lab, the hospital and school created a new course, Health Career Explorations,
which allows Washington Academy students the opportunity to participate in
semester-long internships at the hospital under the guidance and supervision
of hospital staff in a variety of areas, including the laboratory and imaging
departments. Currently seven students are at the hospital every Tuesday. 
The program coordinates with the Academy's Certified Nurse Assistant course, a year-long program culminating in certification after completing classroom and clinical work.
Down East Community Hospital CEO Wayne Dodwell said the Health Career Explorations program is a way to introduce students to career opportunities at the hospital and showing them that they can have lucrative jobs without leaving the area.