天美传媒

鈥淚 wanted to gain experience in the medical field at a hospital,鈥� said Dominick Bacchi 鈥�18 about why he became involved with Adelphi鈥檚 . 鈥淚 wanted to expand my learning.鈥�

And expand it he did.

He interned at last summer, compiling the hospital鈥檚 breast cancer patient pathology data to assist with the institution鈥檚 accreditation process.

鈥淚 gained a new perspective on the business side of healthcare,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wanted to get into nursing to help people, and I didn鈥檛 think I could do that in the business world.鈥� But seeing how much business-related nursing tasks do help patients has him considering that as his career focus.

He hadn鈥檛 previously taken much notice of nursing professionals who do not participate in hands-on patient care. 鈥淚 thought their jobs were boring until I saw what they did,鈥� Bacchi said.

At Winthrop, he also had the occasional opportunity to observe trauma care. 鈥淥ne patient came in with a stroke, and I watched the doctors and nurses intervene,鈥� he said.

Bacchi transferred to Adelphi to take advantage of the cutting-edge facilities for nursing education in the new Nexus Building, including the clinical opportunities and simulation labs. 鈥淚 came here for the simulations and the hands-on, real-life scenarios,鈥� he said.

鈥淎ll the professors are great. They鈥檙e caring. They take time out to help students understand the material,鈥� he added.

The Jaggar Community Fellows Program offers competitive paid summer internships for students to gain valuable experience in the nonprofit sector and is open to all majors. So far, 377 students have interned at 91 nonprofit organizations since 2010. It鈥檚 the only program like it in the region. Participation by both students and nonprofits has more than tripled since inception.

The program is named for 天美传媒 Trustee 鈥�62, M.A. 鈥�65, Ph.D., and her husband, , who have provided generous support.

鈥淪tudents participating in the program have often said it was a life-changing experience,鈥� said Bernadine Waller, M.A. 鈥�10, associate director of experiential learning in Adelphi鈥檚 Center for Career and Professional Development. With a team of colleagues, Waller manages the Jaggar Community Fellows Program. 鈥淪tudents gain a greater focus. Some have even changed their majors. Many have gone on to top graduate programs.鈥�

Participating nonprofits likewise value the program鈥檚 students. Regarding Bacchi鈥檚 work at , 鈥淗e completely wowed them,鈥� she said.

鈥淒ominick blazed a trail. The program did not previously have a relationship with Winthrop-University Hospital. He advocated for that partnership because of his passion. Winthrop has said they want more students like Dominick. He set the example and paved the path for others,鈥� Waller said.

鈥淲e look for students who are not just leaders, but game changers, those with the passion necessary to enact real change,鈥� she added. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what he did at Winthrop and continues to do at the University. We are exceptionally proud of him.鈥�

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