Meet Keanna Matthews who is spending her third summer with the Earn & Learn program and CTSI’s 500 Stars Program. Students in the program are placed at hospitals and research centers around Milwaukee, gaining valuable experience in the medical field. Some, like Keanna, are paid through Earn & Learn.
Keanna's journey with Earn & Learn began three years ago at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). Her first placement was in a clinical trial lab, where she gained hands-on experience drawing blood, taking blood pressure, and more. "I learned so much in my first year. It was amazing," she recalls. This initial experience sparked her passion for the medical field, leading her to return to Earn & Learn every summer since.
Last year, Keanna worked in an MCW lab experimenting with hormones and pregnancy. Through her various placements, Keanna has learned the critical importance of effective communication between doctors and patients. "It's really important to be able to cater to the patient,’ she says. “You have to make everything make sense, and help the patient feel comfortable."
As part of the CTSI program, students go on field trips every Friday to connect with medical professionals and tour facilities. On one of these days, Keanna and her peers toured the Medical College of Wisconsin's research center, where they learned about career pathways in the medical field. They toured a lab focused on human genome research and even participated in some hands-on experiments, further igniting their interest in science and medicine.
Now a senior at UW-Madison, studying Human Development with a minor in Scientific Communications, Keanna is looking to pursue a Master of Nursing through a non-traditional MSN program. Reflecting on her journey, she credits Earn & Learn with helping her realize that the medical field is her true calling. "Earn & Learn helped me realize that the medical field is where I want to be and something that I want to do."
Keanna wholeheartedly recommends the Earn & Learn program to others. "Earn & Learn is a good program. You learn a lot and you're making money. It helps you decide, helps you explore different job options that you probably never thought of. So just keep your mind open and have fun."
Employ Milwaukee
2342 North 27th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53210
Phone: (414) 270-1700Fax: (414) 225-2375 Employ Milwaukee is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider. If you need this information in an alternate format, or in a different language at no cost to you, please contact us at (414) 270-1700. Deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired callers can contact us through Wisconsin Relay Service at 711.