GenHERation Program Visits Carolinas College

Carolinas College faculty members Tracy Hayes (second from right) and Shannon Sloan (far right) take part in a panel discussion at the college.

Carolinas College of Health Sciences and Atrium Health rolled out the red carpet – quite literally – for dozens of high school and college students as part of a nationwide effort to connect young women with innovative companies.

The group of young women was part of the GenHERation networking program, which aims to inspire the participants and give them access to companies from around the country. The young women spent a few hours at the college before visiting with several other companies in Charlotte.

After a welcome from Carolinas College President T. Hampton Hopkins, EdD, participants got some hands-on learning experience in the Carolinas Simulation Center, a healthcare training facility that’s located on the college’s campus.

The young women also listened to a panel discussion, led by GenHERation founder Katlyn Grasso, that included two college faculty as panelists. Shannon Sloan, clinical faculty with the college’s Radiologic Technology program, talked about her background as well as her experiences in healthcare.

“What an honor it was to be a part of such an amazing event,” Sloan says. “GenHERation is a smart organization making a true impact on the lives of our young women.”

Tracy Hayes, faculty in the Nursing program, hoped to motivate the young women, especially those interested in pursuing a healthcare career.

“It was an honor to be part of the panel discussion and help these young ladies discover a variety of health careers,” Hayes says. “Discussing our experiences, obstacles and ways to keep motivated hopefully provided them with the skills and abilities to be successful in their goals and beyond.”