A portrait of belonging: Thea Lenhart inspires joy through Project SEARCH work

Each weekday, when Thea Lenhart puts on her Mayo Clinic Health System uniform, she's fulfilling her life's mission: "to spread joy."

As a Project SEARCH graduate and new Mayo Clinic Health System staff member, Thea has already left her cheerful mark, lifting the spirits of patients and staff across several care units.

The transition-to-work program, developed in 1996 at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, supports young adults with disabilities by allowing them to build essential job skills through hands-on training.

"Thea is a joy chaser," said Brenda Swoboda, Thea's friend and Eau Claire Area School District’s Project SEARCH instructor. "She walks tall and proud and has taught me more than I could ever dream of teaching her."

Since joining the health system as an intern in September 2023, Thea has embraced her role and responsibilities. Her strong work ethic and passion for helping people quickly caught the attention of her coworkers.

Today, she continues to make a difference as a team assist in Primary Care at Mayo Clinic Health System – Chippewa Valley in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Her daily activities include stocking rooms, laundry and creating patient education packets.

Thea brings warmth and connection at every opportunity, turning coworkers into friends through shared stories, humor and recipe swaps.

Breaking barriers

Thea's career path began about a year ago. After graduating from Chippewa Falls High School, she enrolled in Project SEARCH High School Transition Program.

The program is a nine-month internship that immerses students in a work environment. It provides employment and daily living-related instruction and allows interns to work in different departments at Mayo Clinic Health System.

Thea had her first 10-week intern rotation in the Endoscopy and Surgical Prep and Recovery unit, where she replenished supplies. Though it was not part of her job description, Thea also demonstrated compassion and grace by offering comfort and kind words to recovery patients.

Another rotation was scheduling operations in the Albert J. and Judith A. Dunlap Cancer Center and Lab, greeting patients with a smile and assisting with appointment check-in. At the Eau Claire campus coffee shop, The Goat Coffee House, Thea washed dishes and organized supplies for making coffee and tea.

"Give her a challenge, and she'll rise to meet it," says Brenda. "A natural learner, she absorbs new knowledge like a sponge and is always eager to grow."

Thea, who likes to get to work early, also thrives on lending a helping hand and making others feel welcome.

"She wants everyone to feel like they belong," adds Brenda.

In the Spring of 2024, Thea moved to her final rotation in Respiratory Therapy. One of her duties was to transport vital oxygen tanks to safe storage, ensuring they were ready for the next patient. Throughout her rotations, Thea honed her skills across five departments, building lasting connections and inspiring her mentors.

A diverse and inspired workforce

Since the program started in 2016, Eau Claire has hosted nine Project SEARCH cohorts, totaling 92 interns in roles ranging from food service to patient care.

"Project SEARCH is a proven workforce solution for Mayo Clinic," says Chelsey Steinbrecher, talent solutions specialist with Mayo Clinic. "It embodies a 'grow your own' approach by offering on-the-job training, classroom instruction and workforce experience, opening job doors for students and filling recruitment gaps. We're fortunate to have hired over half of last year's interns, creating a win-win situation for the interns and Mayo Clinic Health System."

Joy on graduation day

Thea's rotation training culminated in a completion ceremony in May 2024 and a job opportunity with Primary Care, delighting her and exceeding her expectations.

At the graduation ceremony, Brenda shared personal insights into Thea's development. Here's a brief excerpt from her speech:

"Thea, I want to walk like you. I don’t know anyone else who walks with such determination and confidence! I believe in myself when I’m walking alongside you. You have a welcoming presence, and people can immediately sense your kind heart and ambition. Your employment journey has been so fun to watch; choosing a job for you will be hard. Why? Because you want to do it all!"

The auditorium was filled with Thea's beaming mentors and colleagues, but no one could match the pride radiating from her family, especially her parents.

"As a parent of a child with a disability, the instinct to protect is strong," says her mother, Jill Lenhart, M.D., Mayo Clinic Health System Family Medicine chair. "But thanks to this program, Thea's confidence has flourished. The trainers look beyond the disability, seeing the whole person and equipping each student with the skills needed for their future."

Thea's dad, Ned, adds, "Her presentation skills are sharper than ever — she speaks with a newfound poise and clarity. We couldn't be prouder."

Thea shares one of the most cherished job perks, "Sometimes, I get to carpool to work with my mom."

She admits that she was nervous her first few days on the job. But her advice for new staff sums up her approach to new experiences:

"It's OK to get lost in the hallways sometimes. I just stop, ask someone for help, and keep on going."