AdventHealth opens door to health care careers for Cristo Rey students

The future of health care looks brighter in Central Florida, thanks to a new partnership between AdventHealth and Cristo Rey Orlando High School.

At a celebratory “Draft Day” event, 20 students were selected to take part in an innovative work-study program and take their first step into a career in health care.

“I am so thankful to AdventHealth for giving our students the chance to follow their passion for health care, grow in character and feel truly believed in,” said Principal Johana Santiago-Puckering. “It means the world to them and to us.”

Alexandra Maurice, a freshman at Cristo Rey Orlando who has her sights on becoming a neurosurgeon, was among the students “drafted” to AdventHealth.

“Cristo Rey offers me so much hope for my future. It is also a place where I am cared for and offered a chance to succeed,” she said. “My dream is to work in health care one day, and I am so happy to have the chance to pursue that.”

Through this unique program, students will have the rare opportunity to work one day a week alongside AdventHealth team members, gaining real-world professional experience while developing the skills and confidence that can’t always be taught in the classroom.

This year, Cristo Rey Orlando welcomed its founding freshmen class, enrolling 125 students from families with limited economic means. Located in the Oak Ridge community, Cristo Rey Orlando joins a nationwide network of 40 high schools delivering a career-focused, college preparatory education. For some families, the cost of tuition is as little as $100 a month.

The work-study partnership builds on AdventHealth’s broader commitment to Cristo Rey Orlando High School. In 2024, the health system pledged support for the development of an on-campus wellness center, providing better access to high-quality medical care, dental care and mental health services for students and their families.

AdventHealth teamed up with Cristo Rey Orlando to take part in their Draft Day and help develop the wellness center after a communitywide survey of thousands of Central Floridians identified workforce development and access to basics like health care as some of the community’s most urgent needs. They’re among many community projects AdventHealth is helping bring to life, as part of its commitment as a not-for-profit health system to invest in the health of Central Florida.

“I’ve been with AdventHealth for 20 years now, and I love seeing this innovative partnership with Cristo Rey Orlando High School grow over time,” said Teresa Mairn, executive director of Strategic Partnerships for AdventHealth and board member for Cristo Rey. “One of the most important parts of our aligned mission is to help Central Florida youths be their absolute best selves and to feel whole. This includes providing wraparound services and opportunities that help the students have success in both the classroom and in their future careers.”