Three Molokaʻi women are proving that healthcare careers can start at home. Benevee Morris, Cherie Gonzalez and Olivia Pescaia all completed the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) program through the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Molokaʻi Education Center, with tuition support from the federally funded Good Jobs grant. They now work in public schools across the island as health technicians for the Hawaiʻi Keiki: Healthy & Ready to Learn Program, a partnership between UH Mānoa’s School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene (SONDH) and the Hawaiʻi Department of Education and Public Charter School Commission.
“Hawaiʻi Keiki has struggled to hire a nurse for the Molokaʻi position since I joined as Hawaiʻi Keiki senior practice director over five years ago,” said Deborah Mattheus, SONDH endowed professor of school health. “These three health technicians have filled that void and have been such a wonderful addition to our team. I am so proud of them.”
Family hardship leads to new purpose
Morris’ journey into healthcare began after her husband suffered a heart attack in 2010, followed by years of medical treatment and a heart transplant in California.
“As I supported him through this journey, I gained a deep appreciation for everything the nurses and doctors did for us,” she said. “Meeting traveling nurses sparked my interest in pursuing a career in healthcare.”
After his transplant in 2021, Morris applied for the CNA program while still in California. Despite challenges during the pandemic, she and her classmates pushed through.
“I’m proud to say that in August of 2022, 100% of our class passed, and 90% of us have used our skills to secure employment,” she said.
She started with the Nā Puʻuwai Kupuna Program and Tūtū & Me before becoming the Hawaii Keiki health tech at Maunaloa Elementary School.
“It’s thrilling to support services like the Hawaiʻi Keiki dental sealant program,” Morris said. “Our island has faced challenges with dental coverage and a shortage of dentists.”
Morris hopes to bring programs such as CPR education and vision screenings to her school in the coming year.
“I’m committed to being an advocate for our keiki here on Molokaʻi and will support anyone interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.“
From caregiver to health tech
I’m committed to being an advocate for our keiki here on Molokaʻi and will support anyone interested in pursuing a career in healthcare
—Benevee Morris
Inspired by the experience of caring for both her parents through serious illnesses, Olivia Pescaia, a graduate of Molokaʻi High and Intermediate School, enrolled in the CNA program to pursue a career in healthcare.
“I dropped my first class because I was unsure of myself and we were figuring things out as we went along,” Pescala said.
However, she rejoined the second cohort and completed the program in June 2023. Now the health tech for Molokaʻi Middle School, Pescaia finds meaning in her work.
“It feels rewarding to give back and help in ways I never imagined I could,” she said. “Even in small ways, helping the keiki gives me a sense of accomplishment, purpose and connection to my community.“
A movie sparks a mission
Cherie Gonzalez’s decision to enter healthcare was inspired by a movie.
“The nurses in the nursing home were being horrible to the patients. I know it was a movie, but we all know that can actually happen in real life,” she said. “I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in nursing because of this.”
With a toddler at home, she joined the CNA program through cable TV instruction and in-person labs at Molokaʻi General Hospital. “The experience I gained through this program has never left me and I use it every day,” she said.
After working as a dental assistant at Molokaʻi General Hospital and as a medical assistant at Molokaʻi Community Health Center, she joined Hawaiʻi Keiki in 2021 and now serves at Kilohana Elementary School.
“It feels really good to be working in my community and with families I know personally,” she said. “Being able to make a difference with children in the school setting is great.”
Gonzalez encourages others to explore the field. “There’s so much more you can do in nursing. I would highly recommend the program,” she said.
