Employment Now Initiative Provides Career Opportunities for People with Vision Loss

For the last 10 years, Whitmore has been the point person for the Polus Center’s Employment Now Initiative (ENI) at Mass Eye and Ear (MEE). The ENI provides opportunities for people with vision loss to find ways to continue working in their current or previous careers and explore new ones. “In addition to funding the program alongside the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, MEE opened its doors to us. Within the hospital, there is a wide range of job opportunities, from facilities, to food services, to patient care, to finance, just to name a few,” said Whitmore. “That makes it the perfect place to explore almost any career path.”

The program (formerly known as Project SEARCH) provides six to nine months of comprehensive training, helping remove barriers to employment by addressing social, emotional and physical health needs through one-on-one counseling/coaching and a team approach. ENI staff work with participants to create a unique employment goal. Based on that goal, a tailor-made internship is set up within one of the many departments at MEE and other locations within Mass General Brigham (MGB). During their internship, candidates learn how to use assistive and other technology, practice transferrable skills, create a resume, learn to write cover letters and make professional connections.

“The key to our success is finding departments within MGB where our candidates can explore career opportunities in their area of interest,” said Whitmore. “We have had immense support from managers, directors and senior leadership. We feel incredibly supported and welcome.”

One of those supporters is Michael Ricci, vice president of Digital Clinical Systems for the academic medical centers, specialty hospitals and Healthcare at Home. When the program first launched at MEE, he was chief information officer there and eager to host candidates in his department. “These are dedicated people who want to work. All we have to do is give them the technology they need to be successful,” he said. “At MEE, we have that technology. This is an incredible program, and I think we should use it anywhere within MGB that we can.”

Matching skills to opportunities: Mario Gergis

Mario Gergis always knew he wanted to work with computers. When he began to lose his vision as a teenager, he had to give up many of the things most kids his age take for granted – like driving. But it didn’t stop him from pursuing his dreams.

“I’ve been interested in computers since I was very, very young, but I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do,” he said. “I started eliminating what I didn’t want to do. For example, I knew I didn’t want to do programming. I ultimately landed on cybersecurity. It’s more about puzzle solving, and it also has to do with the human factor. You have to think like a hacker to be able to stop a hacker.”

Last year, he graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology with his degree in cybersecurity and set out to find a job. The job hunt was hard, but through his involvement with the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, he learned about the ENI.

There were no roles specific to cybersecurity available at MEE, but there was opportunity within the larger MGB system. Gergis is currently working as an intern for John Kordis, program lead for Attack Surface Management on the Information Security team.

“Mario is a great addition to our team because he’s such a quick study. There have been several times where I’ve given Mario a task and he does not simply stop at providing the requested solution but makes sure that he asks the right questions to guarantee a thorough understanding of the solution. I’m happy to see him able to quickly pick up on some of the intricacies in tools in our environment and even assist in providing a fresh look at new tools we’re using,” said Kordis.

Gergis is still early in his career. At MGB, he’s given the support he needs to grow. “I’ve been trying to make sure he’s working with other engineers and interns to collaborate and train soft skills as well. This includes one-on-one sessions with me, working on project efforts with one of our level-three engineers and collaboration with one of our Year Up interns to foster a level camaraderie and shared goals,” said Kordis.

For Gergis, that support and opportunity to learn has been invaluable. “I’m doing some hands-on cybersecurity work, which is pretty cool,” he said. “And I’m learning. I’m learning a lot from my team, from my manager and my other co-workers.”

A unique ability to connect with patients: Hector Correa

Hector Correa, a single father of two girls, was a fishmonger before he lost his vision as a result of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a rare and life-threatening skin disorder that can also affect sight. His care team at MEE saved his life, but the condition still resulted in vision loss, despite two cornea transplants. He went to the Carroll Center for the Blind to learn independent living. There, he attended a presentation Whitmore gave about the ENI.

“He practically jumped over the chairs in the room at the end of the presentation to get to me. He was so enthusiastic to learn more and enroll in the program,” said Whitmore. “And he’s had great success. Through his good work and his incredible resolve and talent, he was hired to work in the Operating Room.”

Joey Hall, RN, clinical manager of the Adult Ambulatory or Perioperative Unit, is Correa’s manager. “Hector is a real part of the team. And he’s really inspiring. Despite everything that has happened to him, and his ongoing health struggles, he remains upbeat and positive. What’s most impressive is the way he interacts with our patients. He’s so pleasant to the patients and connects with them so well. I think that’s because he knows what it’s like to be a patient at MEE.” 

Correa assists patients and their families with their needs after surgery, whether that’s getting a patient a warm blanket or helping a family member navigate the hospital. Many of the patients he cares for are recovering from the same surgeries Correa himself has undergone. “I know what they’ve been through,” he said. “Some even send me letters about my assistance. They are very happy that I am there with them and that I help them.” 

Correa says the job is different every day and that’s what makes it exciting. He also credits his co-workers for accepting him as a member of the team. “We are like a family,” he said. “Everyone is so nice and willing to help me. I feel like they understand me.”

Ten years of success

Over the course of the last 10 years, candidates who have been through the program at MEE have built the skills and the confidence they need to become who and what they want to be.

“We’ve seen nearly a 100% success,” says Whitmore. “Almost every candidate has gone on to find employment, many of them with MGB. It’s incredible to watch our candidates learn skills and put them to use. But more importantly, for me, it’s impactful to watch them grow as individuals, despite the setbacks they may face along the way.”

To learn more about the Employment Now Initiative or to host a candidate in your department, contact Jenifer Whitmore by phone at 781-760-2358 or via email at jwhitmore@poluscenter.org or jen_whitmore@meei.harvard.edu.