Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy held its Dec. 4 meeting at the Wellness Center. Steve Miller, CEO of Kosciusko Community Hospital, started the meeting by discussing the Affordable Health Care plan with students and discussed the possible impact on the hospital with students. Miller was followed by Jason Hill, a senior administrator of Miller Healthcare Systems, the largest nursing facility in Indiana. Hill gave a brief company history and continuous expansion of Miller Systems, which most recently added a home healthcare and therapy unit. Both Hill and Miller encouraged the students to look at the healthcare field as a career option. Biomet’s senior development engineer, Josh Porter, shared a slide show of implants including some which were custom developed for extreme patient needs, such as congenital deformities and bone tumors. He also tasked the students to consider their personal core motivators and focus on a career that fosters their calling in life. Brad Bishop, executive director of OrthoWorx, talked about their mission and initiatives, which include bringing and keeping people to the Warsaw and surrounding area to support the orthopedic industry. Forty-three percent of Kosciusko County employment is through orthopedics directly or indirectly. The industry generated $11 billion in Warsaw in 2009, even more today. The organization’s initiatives include workforce development, community enhancement, transportation, innovation and branding. KYLA Moderator Tony Ciriello concluded the session. The next meeting will be Jan. 8 at R.R. Donnelley & Sons. For more information about KYLA, visit www.kylaleadership.org
