A Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools Annual Report Story 

The partnership between Avera Health and Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools has been years in the making, grounded in a shared commitment to Catholic values, service, and the development of future leaders. 

Together, these two institutions create opportunities that extend beyond the classroom—helping students discover career paths, grow in confidence, and better understand how their vocation can serve others. This relationship is strengthened by the many connections between the two organizations: Avera employees who are Bishop O’Gorman alumni, current Avera employees who are parents of Bishop O’Gorman students, and students who are gaining hands-on exposure through job shadowing and career exploration opportunities within the Avera system. 

“We prefer to work with Avera when creating job shadowing experiences for the Career Exploration class,” said Morgan Robey, counselor at O’Gorman High School. “They prioritize our students and help foster a great experience, no matter the department involved.” 

BUILDING THE CAREER EXPLORATION EXPERIENCE 

Robey developed the Career Exploration class after seeing the value of career-based learning opportunities already being offered in Science Teacher Beth Odenbach’s anatomy curriculum, where job shadowing is a component. 

“It took me three full years of teaching to really understand the direction I wanted to take this class,” Robey said. “I wanted to develop the curriculum in a way that kept it engaging and purposeful.” 

That purpose is centered on helping students understand vocation, service, and the possibilities available to them after graduation. Guest speakers from various professions visit the classroom, beginning with O’Gorman’s chaplain, Fr. Tony Klein ‘12, who helps students view their professional goals through the lens of vocation. 

Students also participate in facility tours, complete career inventories, and engage in job shadowing experiences that allow them to connect classroom learning to real-world careers. 

“As a teacher, counselor, and senior advisor, I’m constantly having conversations about what comes next,” Robey explained. “Having these shadowing opportunities helps guide students in those conversations. They become more confident entering professional spaces and are more willing to explore.” 

AVERA’S ROLE IN STUDENT SHADOWING AND EXPOSURE 

That confidence grows through the strong partnership with Avera, where students are welcomed into professional environments and encouraged to learn. 

“Shadow experiences are coordinated through the Avera offices, and they are easy to work with,” Robey said. “They trust our students, and as a result our students get more opportunities for meaningful experiences. Even when confidentiality limits what students can observe, Avera does its best to accommodate their areas of interest.” 

In addition to job shadowing, Avera professionals help students explore scholarships in critical-need healthcare fields, sponsorship programs, educational pathways, and the terminology associated with medical professions—giving students a practical understanding of what it takes to pursue a career in healthcare. 

Odenbach’s year-long anatomy students are encouraged to shadow more than once and in multiple areas. Through Avera, students have explored roles in the business office, security, counseling, social work, biomedical equipment services, diabetic education, law, and information technology. 

STUDENT REFLECTION: A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE 

Senior Nick North ’26 had the opportunity to shadow Avera chaplains, an experience that changed his perspective on compassion and service. 

“A meaningful moment from my shadowing experience was learning that the main role of a chaplain was not converting people to their own religion, but rather being a light of Christ for those who are in a troubled moment,” North said.  “Their role is mainly to listen to people who are struggling and need someone to talk to. Before this experience, I thought a chaplain’s role was simply to convert people in their final hours. But after shadowing them, I realized their role is to help people know Jesus through compassion and love.” 

The experience deepened North’s understanding of empathy and strengthened his future goals. 

“It taught me more about compassion than I knew before,” he said. “It helped me become a better listener and showed me ways I can care for others—not just in a hospital setting, but in everyday life.” 

LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM 

The experience of being in a professional environment is just as important as the classroom work. Odenbach said, “It pushes students outside their comfort zones. They learn how to speak with professionals, ask thoughtful questions, and engage in unfamiliar environments. Even if they decide it’s not the right path, they gain valuable life skills.” 

Those life skills—confidence, communication, professionalism, and curiosity—are exactly what make the partnership so valuable. 

Odenbach continues, “At the same time, Avera professionals see our students engaged, asking questions, and eager to learn. I’ve had Avera staff reach back out to support students after their shadow experiences. This connection between the school and the hospital strengthens the partnership on both sides.” 

A SHARED INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY & FORMATION 

For Robey, the partnership represents something even deeper: a shared investment in the community. “I am a strong believer that our students are great community members,” she said. 

Through the continued partnership between Avera and Bishop O’Gorman, students are discovering not only career possibilities but also how faith, service, and professional excellence can work together to make a difference. It is a partnership that strengthens students, supports the workforce, and reflects the shared mission of two Catholic institutions working together for the good of the community.