Seton Hall Program Helps Clifton Students Explore Health Careers
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Students from Clifton High School participate in a hands-on learning experience at Seton Hall’s Simulation Center.
Long before college, Seton Hall's Academy of College-Preparatory Experiences in Health Sciences (ACE Health) is helping local high school students explore health careers through foundational health science instruction, clinical skills training and professional development.
For Clifton High School senior Jayme Ditren, the experience helped solidify her future career and college plans.
“The moment that stood out the most to me was when we were at the IHS campus and learned how to properly scrub into a (fake) surgery,” Ditren said. “This moment really solidified the dream I have always had and allowed me to picture myself in my field of choice.”
Ditren, who participated in ACE Health during her senior year at Clifton High School, will join Seton Hall’s College of Nursing as an incoming freshman in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program in fall 2026.
ACE Health began as a pilot program launched by Seton Hall’s M.S. in Physician Assistant program in 2018. Since then, the initiative has evolved into an ongoing partnership between the University and Clifton High School, serving students interested in the health professions.
The program, expanded in 2025 by Seton Hall's School of Health and Medical Sciences, now introduces students to a broader range of introductory clinical skills while combining hands-on learning, mentorship and college preparation.
“Many students interested in health sciences do not gain exposure to career pathways, mentorship or clinical skills experiences until late in college, if at all,” said Vanessa Rodriguez, Ed.D., M.S., PA-C, assistant professor and director of clinical education in Seton Hall’s M.S. in Physician Assistant program and director of ACE Health.
Clifton students learned operating room protocols and surgical scrubbing techniques at Seton Hall’s IHS campus.
ACE Health currently serves a cohort of 20 students in grades 10 through 12 who complete a competitive application process and are selected by Clifton High School teachers and guidance counselors based on their interest in pursuing health care careers. Students participate in five sessions throughout the academic year at Seton Hall’s Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) campus in Nutley and at Clifton High School, where they engage in classroom learning and experiential activities designed to introduce them to the realities of health professions education.
Students learn foundational clinical skills through workshops on surgical knot tying, blood pressure monitoring and operating room protocols, including proper handwashing, sterile gowning and gloving procedures in Seton Hall’s simulation and skills labs.
Seton Hall’s ACE Health program introduces students to a simulated operating room environment.
Rodriguez said the program was designed to introduce students to core health science knowledge, introductory clinical skills and professional development earlier in their academic journeys while helping them build confidence and mentorship connections.
In addition to hands-on science and skill-building experiences, ACE Health also introduces students to many aspects of preparing for college and the demands of health professions education.
Through a collaborative effort involving multiple departments across Seton Hall University, including the School of Health and Medical Sciences, Center for Academic Success, Educational Opportunity Program, Counseling and Psychological Services, Admissions and the Career Center, students receive guidance on topics including college applications, financial aid, interviewing, networking, academic success and professional etiquette. Workshops also focus on resilience and understanding the demands of health professions education.
“The ACE Health Program team members and students really helped me throughout my final decision,” Ditren said. “They were so helpful and welcoming and that’s exactly the college community I wanted to be a part of. In the end I was accepted into the College of Nursing at Seton Hall, and I committed!”
Current graduate students in Seton Hall’s M.S. in Physician Assistant program also serve as mentors throughout the initiative, sharing their experiences and helping high school students navigate academic and career decisions. Rodriguez noted that the mentorship model benefits both groups by giving younger students insight into preparation for health care careers while helping Seton Hall graduate students strengthen leadership and teaching skills.
As the partnership with Clifton High School continues, Seton Hall leaders hope ACE Health will continue to inspire local students interested in pursuing health professions while reinforcing the University’s broader commitment to community outreach and service-oriented education.
Categories: Education, Health and Medicine
