Project SEARCH at UF Health prepares neurodivergent students for the workforce
A workforce development program at UF Health Shands Hospital called Project SEARCH is transforming the lives of neurodivergent students, helping them build essential job skills and confidence.
With nine out of 16 interns from UF hired in just two years, the program is proving that meaningful inclusion can lead to real, lasting change.
“Project SEARCH is an exemplary program that helps UF Health connect to some of the most important members of our community and connects them to the mission, vision and values of what makes UF Health so incredibly special,” said Lisa Athearn, Ph.D., the education and development advisor for UF Health. “We are a destination hospital for everyone, and that comes from our patients; it makes us an exceptional place to be. Programs like Project SEARCH allow UF Health to connect to our community in real and meaningful ways that also help us create the best patient outcomes.”
Project SEARCH officially launched in Gainesville in August 2023 by the UF College of Medicine, but the first program of its kind started in 1996 at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. The program uses a system called the Vocational Fit Assessment to match students’ skills with internship opportunities.
Building real-world skills
A typical day in the Project SEARCH program starts at 8:30 a.m. with classroom instruction on topics such as budgeting, personal hygiene, workplace communication, and health and wellness. Afterward, interns work in hospital departments from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“[Students] are paired up one-to-one with a mentor in that department, just like any new employee might be trained,” said Tyler Salas, the lead instructor for Project SEARCH with Alachua County Public Schools.
The results speak for themselves, considering most of the program’s interns have already been hired at UF Health, and more students are expected to receive offers by the end of the year.
One standout success story involves Danniell Chestnut, a Project SEARCH student who came into the program with anxiety about navigating new environments. She is now being hired as a unit technician at UF Health.
“Over the course of the last two years, she has learned to ride the city bus system in order to get to and from work,” Salas said. “Now I have run into her at Publix by herself, grocery shopping by herself like a young adult, which is something that I do not think she would have ever done two years ago.”
Seeing the results
For Salas, a former history teacher at Buchholz High School in Gainesville who taught students with disabilities, Project SEARCH has provided an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on Alachua County Public School students.
“I loved teaching history but, at the same time, I felt like I was doing students a disservice by just teaching them history. There were times I wanted to teach them more important life skills,” Salas said. “So when I heard about Project SEARCH, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of it.”
Project SEARCH aims to soon expand into new departments at UF Health Shands Hospital, especially areas like data entry and additional nursing units, to offer more opportunities aligned with students' evolving interests and skills. Leaders also hope to raise awareness about Project SEARCH across the community, encouraging high school students with disabilities to consider the program as a path to independence and employment.
To honor the outstanding achievements of interns in the class of 2024-2025, a Project SEARCH Internship Celebration and Appreciation Ceremony will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 21 at UF Health Professional Park.
For more information regarding Project Search, interested participants can email Tyler Salas at salasat@gm.sbac.edu, and departments at UF Health interested in training students can contact Lisa Athearn at lisa.athearn@ufhealth.org.