Weirton, WV — WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center is proud to announce the official launch of Project SEARCH at our facility on Monday, August 25, 2025. This nationally recognized program offers high school seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to gain real-world work experience and prepare for competitive, integrated employment upon graduation.
WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital was the first in the state to host Project SEARCH, and we are honored to become only the second location in West Virginia to implement this transformative program.
“WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center is extremely excited to play a vital role in better equipping interns with cognitive disabilities for a future in the workforce with real-life experience,” said David Artman, CEO and President of WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center. “We are partnering with Hancock County Schools, particularly Weir High School, to bring these interns into our hospital to work alongside our team.”
The one-year academic preparation program takes place entirely within the hospital, combining structured classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through multiple departmental rotations. Student interns report to the hospital instead of the classroom for the full academic year.
To celebrate this launch, members of the media are invited to attend a special kickoff event:
Monday, August 25, 2025
12:00 PM
Atrium, WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center
This event will include remarks from hospital leadership, instructors, and program partners, as well as the opportunity to meet the first class of interns.
Project SEARCH at WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center marks an important step in advancing workforce inclusion and strengthening our community partnerships. We are proud to support these young people as they build the foundation for successful, independent futures.
About Project SEARCH:
Project SEARCH, founded at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, is a one-year internship program for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities transitioning from post-graduation to the workforce. It features an immersive approach that combines instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training to help participants gain valuable work skills. The program’s goal is to secure competitive, integrated employment for each participant. For more information, visit www.projectsearch.us.
ognized program offers high school seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to gain real-world work experience and prepare for competitive, integrated employment upon graduation.
WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital was the first in the state to host Project SEARCH, and we are honored to become only the second location in West Virginia to implement this transformative program.
“WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center is extremely excited to play a vital role in better equipping interns with cognitive disabilities for a future in the workforce with real-life experience,” said David Artman, CEO and President of WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center. “We are partnering with Hancock County Schools, particularly Weir High School, to bring these interns into our hospital to work alongside our team.”
The one-year academic preparation program takes place entirely within the hospital, combining structured classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through multiple departmental rotations. Student interns report to the hospital instead of the classroom for the full academic year.
To celebrate this launch, members of the media are invited to attend a special kickoff event:
Monday, August 25, 2025
12:00 PM
Atrium, WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center
This event will include remarks from hospital leadership, instructors, and program partners, as well as the opportunity to meet the first class of interns.
Project SEARCH at WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center marks an important step in advancing workforce inclusion and strengthening our community partnerships. We are proud to support these young people as they build the foundation for successful, independent futures.
About Project SEARCH:
Project SEARCH, founded at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, is a one-year internship program for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities transitioning from post-graduation to the workforce. It features an immersive approach that combines instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training to help participants gain valuable work skills. The program’s goal is to secure competitive, integrated employment for each participant. For more information, visit www.projectsearch.us.
Contact-kelli.mccoy@wvumedicine.orgWVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center Launches Project SEARCH to Support Young People with Disabilities
Weirton, WV — WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center is proud to announce the official launch of Project SEARCH at our facility on Monday, August 25, 2025. This nationally recognized program offers high school seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to gain real-world work experience and prepare for competitive, integrated employment upon graduation.
WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital was the first in the state to host Project SEARCH, and we are honored to become only the second location in West Virginia to implement this transformative program.
“WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center is extremely excited to play a vital role in better equipping interns with cognitive disabilities for a future in the workforce with real-life experience,” said David Artman, CEO and President of WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center. “We are partnering with Hancock County Schools, particularly Weir High School, to bring these interns into our hospital to work alongside our team.”
The one-year academic preparation program takes place entirely within the hospital, combining structured classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through multiple departmental rotations. Student interns report to the hospital instead of the classroom for the full academic year.
To celebrate this launch, members of the media are invited to attend a special kickoff event:
Monday, August 25, 2025
12:00 PM
Atrium, WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center
This event will include remarks from hospital leadership, instructors, and program partners, as well as the opportunity to meet the first class of interns.
Project SEARCH at WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center marks an important step in advancing workforce inclusion and strengthening our community partnerships. We are proud to support these young people as they build the foundation for successful, independent futures.
About Project SEARCH:
Project SEARCH, founded at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, is a one-year internship program for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities transitioning from post-graduation to the workforce. It features an immersive approach that combines instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training to help participants gain valuable work skills. The program’s goal is to secure competitive, integrated employment for each participant. For more information, visit www.projectsearch.us.
Contact-kelli.mccoy@wvumedicine.orgWVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center Launches Project SEARCH to Support Young People with Disabilities
Weirton, WV — WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center is proud to announce the official launch of Project SEARCH at our facility on Monday, August 25, 2025. This nationally recognized program offers high school seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to gain real-world work experience and prepare for competitive, integrated employment upon graduation.
WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital was the first in the state to host Project SEARCH, and we are honored to become only the second location in West Virginia to implement this transformative program.
“WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center is extremely excited to play a vital role in better equipping interns with cognitive disabilities for a future in the workforce with real-life experience,” said David Artman, CEO and President of WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center. “We are partnering with Hancock County Schools, particularly Weir High School, to bring these interns into our hospital to work alongside our team.”
The one-year academic preparation program takes place entirely within the hospital, combining structured classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through multiple departmental rotations. Student interns report to the hospital instead of the classroom for the full academic year.
To celebrate this launch, members of the media are invited to attend a special kickoff event:
Monday, August 25, 2025
12:00 PM
Atrium, WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center
This event will include remarks from hospital leadership, instructors, and program partners, as well as the opportunity to meet the first class of interns.
Project SEARCH at WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center marks an important step in advancing workforce inclusion and strengthening our community partnerships. We are proud to support these young people as they build the foundation for successful, independent futures.
About Project SEARCH:
Project SEARCH, founded at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, is a one-year internship program for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities transitioning from post-graduation to the workforce. It features an immersive approach that combines instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training to help participants gain valuable work skills. The program’s goal is to secure competitive, integrated employment for each participant. For more information, visit www.projectsearch.us.J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital was the first in the state to host Project SEARCH, and we are honored to become only the second location in West Virginia to implement this transformative program.
“WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center is extremely excited to play a vital role in better equipping interns with cognitive disabilities for a future in the workforce with real-life experience,” said David Artman, CEO and President of WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center. “We are partnering with Hancock County Schools, particularly Weir High School, to bring these interns into our hospital to work alongside our team.”
The one-year academic preparation program takes place entirely within the hospital, combining structured classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through multiple departmental rotations. Student interns report to the hospital instead of the classroom for the full academic year.
To celebrate this launch, members of the media are invited to attend a special kickoff event:
Monday, August 25, 2025
12:00 PM
Atrium, WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center
This event will include remarks from hospital leadership, instructors, and program partners, as well as the opportunity to meet the first class of interns.
Project SEARCH at WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center marks an important step in advancing workforce inclusion and strengthening our community partnerships. We are proud to support these young people as they build the foundation for successful, independent futures.
About Project SEARCH:
Project SEARCH, founded at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, is a one-year internship program for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities transitioning from post-graduation to the workforce. It features an immersive approach that combines instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training to help participants gain valuable work skills. The program’s goal is to secure competitive, integrated employment for each participant. For more information, visit www.projectsearch.us.
Contact-kelli.mccoy@wvumedicine.org
