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“We have the knowledge and power to succeed. I am proof that it is possible.” 

A follow-up to a Hope at Work article first brought to you by Connect in 2025: a longstanding partnership at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center is transforming lives by creating meaningful career pathways for young adults with disabilities, and Sam Baisas is one of its success stories. Through Project SEARCH, UVA Health partners with Prince William County Public Schools, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, and Didlake, Inc. to provide students with the support, training, and job coaching they need to succeed. 

The Project SEARCH Transition-to-Work Program at Prince William Medical Center is celebrating more than a decade of helping adults ages 18–21 with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain career and life skills and find employment. This year, the program welcomed nine new interns, each taking an important step toward independence. 

Real-World Experience That Builds Confidence 

At Prince William Medical Center, a designated Project SEARCH site, participants intern three hours a day, five days a week, working alongside mentors in real hospital settings. This one-year, unpaid, business-led internship provides workplace immersion, combining classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through worksite rotations. 

From greeting patients to preparing meals, managing linens, and assisting with maintenance tasks, Project SEARCH offers a wide range of hands-on experiences. The program focuses not only on building job skills but also on fostering confidence, independence, and long-term success. 

Sam’s journey reflects the program’s success. After being selected in spring 2024, he completed three rotations in Guest Services, mastering responsibilities such as answering phones, assisting patients and visitors, and navigating hospital systems. His hard work led to a full-time position with guest services at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center just days after graduation. 

A Community Effort 

The success of the program is built on strong collaboration among UVA Health and their partners in the community.  

While employment at UVA Health is not guaranteed, many graduates go on to secure jobs, some even returning as mentors to support future participants. 

“Project SEARCH is an amazing internship opportunity,” says Rozlyn Giddens, Program Manager, Community Engagement, UVA Health Haymarket and Prince William Medical Centers. “It gives students with developmental disabilities an opportunity to gain real-life work experience.” 

“I think a lot of times, people with a disability are not acknowledged for the skills that they have,” explains Theresa Polk, Employment Specialist III, Didlake, who served as Sam’s job coach. “This program helps show that they do have the knowledge to continue on and become something great.”

Polk reports that since 2012, more than 120 interns have graduated from the program, and 14 are employed by UVA Health. 

From Intern to Advocate

That impact extends beyond the workplace and into advocacy. During the first official Didlake Advocacy Day on Feb. 5 at the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond, eight teams met with approximately members of 40 legislative offices, connecting directly with delegates and senators throughout the day. Rachel Payne, PhD, Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy, Didlake, invited Sam, who proudly represented Project SEARCH.

Sam spoke directly with lawmakers about why hiring people with disabilities matters. “We have the knowledge and power to succeed,” he says. “I am proof that it is possible.” He shared not only his personal journey, but also the value of programs like Project SEARCH. 

Sam’s advocacy experience also was a family moment; his father, Eric Baisas, joined him in Richmond to offer support, making the day even more meaningful. Both Eric and Sam appreciated the opportunity to advocate for change. Lawmakers were receptive and impressed by Sam's story, reinforcing the importance of continued funding to ensure others have access to the same opportunities. 

Why Funding Matters 

For Sam, the importance of funding is deeply personal. Without it, programs such as Project SEARCH would struggle to provide the hands-on training, job coaching, and career pathways relied on by participants. 

“This program gave me a chance to learn real skills and prove what I can do,” he shares. “Without funding, others might not get that same opportunity.” 

Finding Confidence — and a Voice 

Although he was nervous at first, Sam found confidence in sharing his story. “During the day, I had the confidence to talk about my amazing position at UVA Health and what I do every day,” he says. 

By the end of the visit, he felt proud of his advocacy, and grateful for the opportunity to see how decisions are made at the state level. 

Looking Ahead 

Sam is eager to continue speaking out and expressed interest in continuing to be an advocate and how appreciative he is to have found a position at UVA Health. “I would definitely go again,” he says. “I want to keep spreading the word about hiring people with disabilities. We all have the right to obtain a job, no matter who you are.” 

Through its partnership with Project SEARCH, UVA Health is not only supporting its own strategic plan by preparing individuals for the workforce, but it’s also helping build a more inclusive future, one success story at a time.