WPHS students explore career paths at healthcare panel discussion

About 50 White Plains High School students attended a healthcare career panel discussion Thursday morning at the Media Center, where a group of industry professionals from across Westchester County discussed their professional paths and provided them with valuable job tips.

The event, moderated by Jason Chapin, director of workforce development at the Westchester County Association, gave the students an inside peek at the wide array of jobs available — from frontline patient care to HR, finance, outreach and emergency medical services.

“Healthcare is the largest employer in our region,” Chapin told the group. “People think it’s only doctors and nurses, but there are as many jobs on the non-clinical side — IT, HR, security, transportation, marketing — and many of them require only short-term training. 

“You could graduate in June, complete a three-month program, and by September begin a career that pays well, offers benefits and gives you room to grow,” he added.

Every student received career-planning literature, including Skills magazine, a Westchester County workforce development guide for job seekers and employers, along with a one-page resource sheet.

The six panelists, each representing a different part of the healthcare ecosystem, were:

• Billy Riefenhauser, Tax Associate, CohnReznick
• Chris Cosentino, Assistant Manager of Talent Acquisition, ENT & Allergy Associates
• Nathalie Lovinsky-Amaro, Director of Learning & Organizational Development, White Plains Hospital
• Omar Stout, Clinical Education & Outreach Coordinator, Empress Ambulance Service
• Krystle Britton, Senior Human Resources Generalist, Open Door Family Medical Center
• Victoria Galvez, New York Blood Center

 Mr. Riefenhauser told the students that he had never envisioned a career in accounting. 

“I wanted to be the general manager of the Mets,” he joked, “but a family friend said, ‘If you go into accounting, you’ll always have a job.’” 

After taking an accounting class in high school and majoring in it through graduate school, he found his niche. “You’re always learning — that’s what surprised me most,” he said.

Mr. Cosentino recounted how he spent years planning for a career in law enforcement, a common theme among a few of the panelists.

“I was laser-focused,” he said, but after a volunteer program gave him a taste of the experience, he realized it wasn’t the right fit and forged a path into staffing and eventually healthcare recruiting.

“Finding the right talent, helping someone start a new career — that’s rewarding,” Mr. Cosentino said.

For Ms. Lovinsky-Amaro, a deeply personal connection led her to healthcare. 

After her mother was successfully treated for cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, she pursued work with the hospital and ultimately moved into organizational development. 

“Healthcare gives you an opportunity to help people feel good and to support those who care for patients,” she said.

Mr. Stout initially pursued criminal justice, graduating from John Jay College before discovering a passion for EMS during the COVID-19 pandemic. He now teaches emergency medical services across the region. 

“I used to think ambulances just transported patients,” he said. “But we actually bring the hospital to you.”

Both Ms. Britton and Ms. Galvez also described circuitous paths to their current roles. 

Ms. Britton moved from retail to HR, discovering a love for employee relations, while Ms. Galvez, a first-year college student, began at the New York Blood Center by trying different roles and eventually chose a major in food and nutrition. 

“It’s hard to pick a field if you’ve never tried anything,” she said.

The panelists also gave the students a behind-the-scenes glimpse at careers that keep hospitals, health centers and emergency services running.

Ms. Britton explained how HR at Open Door blends hiring, legal compliance, event planning, and daily problem-solving. “You touch so many things. You meet so many people,” she said.

Mr. Stout described how EMS uses advanced technology, including geographic tracking tools that pinpoint 911 callers. “We have nearly everything the ER has — we treat, stabilize and transport,” he said.

Ms. Lovinsky-Amaro discussed orientation and leadership development at White Plains Hospital. “What surprised me was how broad HR is. I help staff at every level grow,” she said.

Mr. Cosentino highlighted résumé review, recruiting and onboarding across 65 ENT & Allergy locations. “I help match people to the right opportunity,” he told the young scholars.

And Mr. Riefenhauser stressed that tax preparation in healthcare and other industries requires constant learning and adaptability.

When asked how artificial intelligence may reshape their jobs, the panelists all agreed that AI is a tool, not a replacement for the human connection and intellect.

“AI can automate some tasks, but humans make the decisions,” Mr. Riefenhauser said. 

Others noted that AI comes in handy with writing, organizing information and reviewing documents — but warned that it must be double-checked for accuracy and Mr. Stout shared a cautionary tale.

He said an EMS report written with AI incorrectly stated that a child “did a backflip off a swing,” which had not occurred. “We can’t submit fiction,” he said. “You must proofread everything.”

The panelists emphasized that while technology is evolving rapidly — from surgical robots to remote onboarding systems — the human touch is a vital component of healthcare.  

When Mr. Chapin asked what advice they would give their high-school selves, the panelists were honest and direct.

“Study harder,” Mr. Riefenhauser urged the students.

“Explore more options,” Mr. Cosentino said. “Don’t be afraid to try something new.”

“Volunteer,” added Ms. Lovinsky-Amaro. “We have over 600 volunteers at White Plains Hospital, and it’s the best way to sample a profession.”

Stout echoed that point, noting that volunteering builds valuable networks. “You never know who you’ll meet. You never know who’s watching.”

Ms. Galvez encouraged students to take presentations like the panel discussion seriously. “I wish I had,” she said. “Life comes fast.”

Ms. Britton noted that passion matters as much as paychecks. “You spend more time at work than at home — find something that brings you peace of mind.”

The panel closed with a discussion about getting a foot in the door.

• Open Door offers volunteer roles, patient service representative positions, dental assistant pathways and tuition reimbursement.
• The New York Blood Center provides scholarships for students who run their own blood drives, along with entry-level jobs requiring only a diploma.
• Empress Ambulance offers the Connect Program for students aged 15–19, paid EMS training starting at age 19, free uniforms and sponsorship for paramedic school.
• ENT & Allergy Associates hires students with retail or restaurant experience and promotes from within.

Each organization values transferable skills — customer service, communication and reliability — as equally important as technical knowledge.

One WPHS junior, Sophia Floridia, asked Mr. Stout questions about EMS career paths as she works toward her EMT certification through the Trumbull Center Fire District in Connecticut. 

“I would love to be a trauma surgeon for the military one day,” she said at the conclusion of the discussion. “I’d love to go to a four-year program and then to medical school after.”

Sophia’s curiosity reflected the message shared throughout the event: there is no single path into healthcare, but the possibilities are wide and accessible to everyone who is willing to put in the work.

A similar discussion was held earlier in the week for students at Rochambeau Alternative High School, ensuring that learners across the district had the chance to hear directly from local employers.