Project SEARCH Helps Young Adults Discover Capabilities, Careers in Health Care

Burlington, Vt. – At the recent Project SEARCH graduation ceremony hosted by University of Vermont Health Network, Bijan Salimi spoke about the transformative year his son, Kamron, experienced while participating in the program.

“This experience has helped him build up his confidence and independence," said Salimi. "I want to emphasize 'build up.' This is not like ‘now I have confidence, or now I am independent.’ It's basically a building-up process."

Salimi’s words captured the essence of what UVM Health Network’s Project SEARCH has accomplished over its first decade. The program creates environments where young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can discover their capabilities while contributing meaningful work to essential hospital operations.

The June 4 ceremony marked the program's 10-year milestone, and also celebrated seven graduates who have spent the past year turning opportunity into remarkable growth.

The program’s broader results also demonstrate that potential: across Vermont's three Project SEARCH sites, participants have achieved an 86% employment rate.

"That is extraordinary," said Jill Bowen, PhD, commissioner of Vermont's Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, addressing the graduates. "How many lives have been changed? How many people's quality of life has been changed? It's exceptional."

Real Skills, Real Impact

For Nicole Garneau, 19, the year-long program provided experiences she never expected. After rotating through the dialysis, pathology and radiology departments at University of Vermont Medical Center, she discovered a passion for patient care that now guides her future career path.

"I enjoyed making new friends and getting to know the hospital," said Garneau, adding that she particularly loved her rotation in the Patient and Family Experience department, during which she walked throughout the UVM Medical Center helping patients and sanitizing equipment. "In dialysis, I liked bringing patients blankets or whatever they asked for. Those little comforts that you can give people."

The program's structure is based on three, 12-week rotations of about 20 hours per week, combined with daily classroom instruction. This gives participants comprehensive exposure to careers in health, while also helping them develop essential workplace skills.

Kamron Salimi, 19, found the experience transformative, as his father mentioned.

"The best thing that I learned from the program overall was how to act professional in a real work environment and how to do certain tasks without needing any assistance, and getting to be more independent," he said.

Transforming Workplace Culture

What makes Project SEARCH unique is its mutual benefit model. While interns gain valuable experience, accommodating different learning styles and abilities helps hospital departments improve their operations for everyone.

"It is the recognition that they are actually giving back to us so much more than we are giving back to them," said Geera Demers UVM Medical Center's director of Culture and Experience. "Project Search requires us to really engage and recognize that we can't always do things the same way."

The radiology department, where Garneau completed her final rotation, exemplifies this philosophy. Staff developed new training tools including flashcards, checklists, and role-playing exercises to support program participants – and ultimately found that they benefit everyone, including established team members.

"These challenges became opportunities to innovate, foster an environment of patience, adaptation, and mutual respect," said April Hatterick, Radiology Program manager for UVM Health Network, in her graduation remarks. "We are not here just to teach new skills, but to encourage. Not just to train, but to uplift."

A Model for Vermont

Commissioner Bowen praised the program as emblematic of Vermont's collaborative approach to health care and social services.

"This program epitomizes what we're trying to do across the state – which is work as a team, work as a system, integrate different aspects of what serves people in terms of their whole person health," said Bowen. "It really is a model for how to take fragmented service lines and put it together so it's a whole integrated program."

Looking Ahead

Demand for the program continues to grow. Eight new interns are already selected for the upcoming cohort at UVM Health Network, with several more on the waiting list. The program has also evolved based on participant feedback, recently introducing bridge positions to help graduates transition into permanent employment.

Since 2018, UVM Medical Center has hired seven Project SEARCH graduates, with others finding employment throughout Chittenden County in the health care, retail, and service industries.

"As you transition into the next chapter in your lives, aim high, dream boldly," Hatterick told graduates. "The journey ahead is filled with endless possibilities."

About Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH is a business-led, one-year internship program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. UVM Medical Center is one of three sites that host the program in partnership with Vermont schools, along with Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Rutland Regional Medical Center.

Project SEARCH is operated in partnership with the Howard Center, South Burlington School District, HireAbility Vermont, and the Vermont Agency of Education. Interns complete three, 12-week rotations in hospital departments while also receiving daily classroom instruction focused on workplace skills, communication, and professional development.

Project SEARCH operates at more than 600 sites worldwide.