The Mahoning Valley has been a region hit hard by health care worker shortages, and a partnership between Mercy Health and Inspiring Minds is building a pipeline of talent by giving local students a head start in medical careers.

Since 2018, the Inspiring Minds Summer Career Development Program has placed high school and college students in paid internships at Mercy Health hospitals. Representatives said the program offers hands-on experience and mentorship that’s transforming lives and strengthening the workforce.

Choniece Phillips, a clinical pharmacy specialist in emergency medicine at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, took a break from her duties Thursday to discuss why the program was such a game-changer for her. A Warren native and Inspiring Minds alumna, Phillips credits the nonprofit’s support and the internship opportunity for helping her navigate the path to her career. “Inspiring Minds gave me the confidence to step outside my comfort zone,” she said. “They helped with everything — finding the right college, applying for scholarships and getting real-world exposure to health care.”

Phillips, who joined Mercy Health in 2023, is one of several success stories.

Asia May, another program graduate, now works as an ER nurse at the hospital. Their journeys highlight how early exposure to health care settings can shape young professionals and address critical workforce gaps.

The program, which places one or two students annually, is funded through grants from the Mercy Health Foundation-Mahoning Valley.

Angela Massacci, director of perioperative services at St. Joseph, has been a driving force behind the initiative.

“We’re investing in these students with the hope they’ll return as employees,” she said. “But it’s also about equity and inclusion — showing young people, especially from underrepresented communities, that they can achieve these careers.”

Jalaya Provitt, Inspiring Minds high school program coordinator, talked about the program’s broader impact.

“It’s about showing kids what’s possible right here in their backyard,” she said. “When they see someone who looks like them, who grew up in Warren, succeeding in a field like health care, it’s motivating. It tells them they can do it, too.”

The partnership’s ripple effects extend beyond individual success.

Matthew Tricomi, a pharmacy supervisor at Mercy Health, sees Phillips’ return to Warren as a powerful example.

“She took advantage of these opportunities, got an extensive education, and came back to give back to her community,” he said. “That’s special.”

For students like Phillips, the program bridges classroom learning with real-world application. Interns work alongside physicians, surgeons and patients, gaining confidence and clarity about their career goals.

“I always knew I wanted to do health care, but I didn’t know what,” Phillips said. “Inspiring Minds helped me find pharmacy, and the internship showed me what it’s really like.”

The program also tackles broader challenges. With health care shortages plaguing the industry, initiatives like this are critical for building a diverse, local talent pool.

“It’s not just about filling jobs,” Massacci said. “It’s about cultural diversity and closing equity gaps in our community.”

Provitt, who herself returned to Warren after college to work with Inspiring Minds, finds the work deeply rewarding.

“Most of our staff are former students,” she said. “Watching them grow from kids we mentored to professionals shaping the future of this community — it’s a blessing.”

As the Mahoning Valley continues to navigate economic and workforce challenges, the Mercy Health / Inspiring Minds partnership shows a model for how local collaboration can open doors that otherwise may not have been opened. For young people like Phillips, it’s proof that with the right support, success is within reach — right at home.