NHHI Hiring Spotlight – Naisha Velez

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Naisha Velez, I’ve been working in the medical field for over ten years. My work life revolved around ophthalmology: mainly from working as a receptionist, to running an office, and as a surgical coordinator.

Tell us about your job search experience.

I became a member of the “On the Job Training Program” (OJT) in January. Yale invests in skills development by covering the cost of providing on-the-job training for newly hired employees through the New Haven Hiring Initiative. I worked with many individuals in the New Haven Works Program trying to find employment opportunities within Yale. One area I lacked was knowledge of the Epic System, which is the main program used here at Yale. My job coach asked me what I thought about this OJT program, which would mean leaving my permanent job to take this temporary opportunity. At first, I was very hesitant to accept, I thought long and hard before taking this “leap of faith.” I had no idea what my life would look like past the six-month mark. All I knew was that if I didn’t take this chance, I would be stuck in my comfort zone.

Tell us about your current role at Yale.

During this journey I trained at the Yale Physicians building which consists of 4 different departments (ENT, Hearing & Balance, Transplant, and Plastic Surgery), once I became comfortable with every department, I learned Urology, which became my home as a clinical receptionist in April. I am always looking to learn more and expand my knowledge. This brought me to where I am now as the Lead Clinical Receptionist in the Pediatric specialty WP2 and NP7. I couldn’t have gone through this experience if it weren’t for the entire team from New Haven Works and Yale Medicine! I have a new outlook on life thanks to all the support I’ve received along the way. The support here at Yale Medicine is great and has taught me that there is such a thing as work-life balance. I come to work every day ready to complete tasks, without any fear of becoming burnt out thanks to all the teamwork.

What advice do you have for other job seekers?

It’s a great program for anyone looking to experience The Yale Medicine culture. My advice to anyone coming to work through the OJT program is to always take lots of notes and never be afraid to ask questions. Knowledge is power!

What is next for you?

I will continue to keep an open mind while I become more acquainted with my new team, and I look forward to us continuing to learn from one another. I have a promising outlook of my future here at Yale Medicine. This has truly been the best decision I could’ve made!