ElevateEdAZ, an education initiative of the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation, is sharing preliminary results of an ongoing partnership with Mayo Clinic that offers high-quality high school internships in the healthcare field to build a region-wide talent pipeline of career-ready youth.
“Engaging the business community in providing internships and other work-based learning activities is not just a good thing to do — it’s really supporting their goals of finding and retaining talent,” said Isabel Gonzalez, vice president of ElevateEdAZ.
The partnership, which began in 2022, currently employs 16 interns from four school districts. The program enables students aspiring to healthcare careers to establish relationships with healthcare professionals while learning about the Mayo Clinic’s culture and standards of care. In another step toward preparing qualified students for their entry into the workforce, the program lowered the minimum age requirement to 17.
Two years into the partnership, ElevateEdAZ and the Mayo Clinic are celebrating their success with the initial results. 98 percent of interns selected for the program stayed through the planned duration of the internship. Five interns have applied to Mayo Clinic roles after completing their internship, three of those five were hired for those roles. Feedback surveys from participants have provided positive feedback through stories of personal growth and career development.
“Mayo Clinic chose to participate in the ElevateEdAZ program because it aligns closely with our commitment to education, community engagement, and nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said Ron Mack, Workforce Development Talent Solutions Specialist, Mayo Clinic. “The most rewarding aspect has been witnessing students gain real-world exposure to careers in healthcare and realizing their potential in ways that traditional classrooms can’t always offer. It’s not only an investment in young talent but a strategic business decision to strengthen the future workforce. ElevateEdAZ reflects Mayo Clinic’s values of excellence, compassion, and innovation—making it a meaningful collaboration on every level.”
ElevateEdAZ’s work in cultivating a talent pipeline extends to partnerships across a range of industries. In 2024, the initiative supported 300 students to participate in an internship with 76 employer partners from a variety of industries. ElevateEdAZ utilizes feedback from partners to expand and fine tune learning objectives and career readiness skills for participants.
Before taking part in an ElevateEdAZ internship, students must complete at least two consecutive Career and Technical Education courses within the same career pathway, ensuring business partners are bringing on interns with an interest in their field of study and foundational knowledge in their chosen industry. ElevateEdAZ also works closely with its partner school districts to expand opportunities for students to earn college credit while in high school.
