MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Most average 17-year-olds are deciding what they’ll do after high school, perhaps a part-time job. Then again, Jude Delaney is not your average 17-year-old.
Having already graduated online at 15, Delaney recently completed the Project SEARCH program at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, an internship experience for students with mild-to-moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities who are in their last year of high school eligibility or have recently graduated. He hoped he would gain valuable work experience and independence.
In addition to graduating from Project SEARCH, Delaney recently earned his driving permit and has now secured a full-time position with Ruby Memorial’s Central Transportation team, the department responsible for moving patients from one part of the hospital to another.
“I joined Project SEARCH to have that opportunity to get closer with these departments in the hospital and improve my chances of getting hired,” Delaney said.
This month, five interns graduated from the program, reflecting WVU Medicine’s ongoing commitment to workforce development, inclusion and community impact.
As one of the first sites in West Virginia to implement the nationally recognized transition-to-work program, Ruby Memorial helped create new opportunities for Project SEARCH interns seeking to gain hands-on workplace experience to pursue competitive employment.
During the program, Delaney completed rotations in patient transport and perioperative care. He said working in transport helped him learn the layout of the hospital and better understand the role the department plays in patient care.
“Transport was my favorite because it gave me the opportunity to learn the vastness of the hospital,” Delaney said.
In addition to learning workplace and patient transport skills, he said the program helped him become more confident and independent.
“It changed me as an individual,” Delaney said. “As of now, I am looking forward to the future possibilities, growing more into an independent person.”
Kimberly Hartsell, Project SEARCH business liaison and volunteer services director at WVU Hospitals, said the program helps interns build more than job skills.
“Project SEARCH gives students the opportunity to gain confidence, independence, and real-world experience in a supportive environment,” Hartsell said. “Jude came into the program eager to learn and willing to challenge himself. Watching his confidence grow and seeing him become part of the team in Central Transportation has been rewarding for everyone involved.”
Hartsell said the success of interns like Delaney reflects the impact the program continues to have on participants and the broader community.
Throughout the year, interns complete hands-on training in hospital departments while working alongside mentors and staff members who help prepare them for future employment opportunities and greater independence.
“The people I worked with in transport treated me just like one of the team,” Delaney said.
Now working full-time as a support associate and transporter, Delaney said he is still considering career paths he may pursue in the future, including the possibility of working in the medical field or continuing his education.
For more information on WVU Medicine, visit WVUMedicine.org.
