Fox Cities News

Nate Leder, a graduate of the Project SEARCH program, has secured a position at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton. His journey through the employment training program, coordinated by Goodwill North Central Wisconsin (NCW) and partners like ThedaCare, has been marked by determination and support from his team.

In May 2024, Leder completed Project SEARCH, which provides employment training for individuals with disabilities. Today, he works as a non-certified Pharmacy Technician at ThedaCare. Allison Russell, Pharmacy Distribution Supervisor at ThedaCare, described him as "a ray of sunshine" with an infectious positive attitude.

Leder follows in the footsteps of his mother, Katy Leder, a long-time physical therapist at ThedaCare. Inspired by her example, he expressed pride in working alongside her. "My mom is caring for patients so I wanted to do the exact same thing," Leder said.

During his time with Project SEARCH, Leder explored various departments within ThedaCare. His positive demeanor and skills led to his integration into the Pharmacy Department shortly after graduation. Russell recounted her insistence on hiring him: “I went to my boss, Cindy, and said, ‘We have to hire Nate.’”

Kailey Colwell from Goodwill NCW noted Leder's growth since joining Central Pharmacy. Amanda Paton, a Certified Pharmacy Technician at ThedaCare who works with Nate, praised his contribution: “It’s a huge help,” she said.

Leder's responsibilities include preparing pop-ons—saline bags mixed with medicine—and managing medication expiration dates and deliveries within the hospital.

The partnership between ThedaCare and Goodwill NCW has facilitated similar successes for other Project SEARCH graduates. Each September, new participants join ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton for training.

Dale Gisi of ThedaCare emphasized the importance of these relationships: “We build relationships with them. We teach them marketable skills – job skills and social skills.” Colwell appreciated ThedaCare’s commitment to hiring graduates across the hospital.

Russell expressed hope that Leder’s story would inspire others to embrace Project SEARCH graduates in their teams.

Nate Leder's role as a non-certified Pharmacy Technician exemplifies how programs like Project SEARCH can positively impact both individuals and organizations through collaboration and support.