The Orthopedic Clinic is proud to highlight its ongoing partnership with The Chiles Academy, a relationship focused on mentorship, education, and creating meaningful career pathways for students.
Through this collaboration, students are provided hands-on internship opportunities that foster both personal growth and professional development in a real-world healthcare setting.
This partnership recently celebrated a meaningful milestone with the hiring of Mattie Waybright as a full-time Medical Assistant in Dr. Eric Villarreal’s clinic. Mattie, a Chiles Academy student for over two years, completed her second internship with The Orthopedic Clinic before officially joining the team.
Mattie’s journey is one of resilience and determination. After facing significant personal challenges at a young age, including becoming a parent as a teenager, she found herself at risk of leaving school permanently. With the encouragement of mentors and the support of the Chiles Academy, Mattie was given a second chance, leading to her ultimately graduating early during Thanksgiving break of 2025.
Through her time at Chiles Academy, Mattie discovered a supportive environment where she felt understood, encouraged, and motivated to stay on track. Her experience at The Orthopedic Clinic further solidified her passion for healthcare and her long-term goal of becoming a Physician Assistant one day.
“This program is exactly why partnerships like this matter,” said Shannon Stewartson, Chief Executive Officer of The Orthopedic Clinic. “Mattie’s story is a powerful example of what can happen when students are given the support, structure, and opportunity to succeed.”
Jason Carey, HR Manager, added, “Seeing Mattie grow from an intern into a valued team member has been incredibly rewarding. She represents the kind of determination and potential we look for, and we’re proud to support her career journey.”
A Pathway to Purpose
The Chiles Academy is dedicated to helping teen parents stay in school, graduate, and build a stable future for themselves and their children.
Through its partnership with The Orthopedic Clinic, students are given the opportunity to take the next step beyond graduation through hands-on internships in a real clinical setting.
What’s Next
The Orthopedic Clinic will continue to expand its partnership with The Chiles Academy, offering internship opportunities and mentorship to students pursuing careers in healthcare. The Clinic also plans to deepen student engagement by introducing mentorship from team members whose personal journeys reflect the resilience and determination seen in many Chiles Academy students, including Revenue Cycle Manager Allison Abrusci, who became a mother as a teenager and went on to build a successful career in healthcare. By creating structured pathways from education to employment, both organizations aim to empower students to build stable, fulfilling futures.
Quote from Mattie Waybright:
“The Chiles Academy gave me a second chance when I felt like giving up. Miss Foster was like a school mom to me. She made sure I stayed on track and believed in me even when life got hard. They helped me see that I could do more for myself and my kids. Being here at The Orthopedic Clinic has shown me what I’m capable of and given me the opportunity to start my career. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I want to keep going…for myself and for my kids.”
About The Orthopedic Clinic
Serving the Daytona Beach region for decades, The Orthopedic Clinic provides comprehensive orthopedic, sports medicine, and pain management care. With a strong commitment to community engagement and workforce development, the Clinic partners with local organizations to create opportunities that extend beyond healthcare and into meaningful life change.
Resources:
For further information on The Orthopedic Clinic or to be seen, please visit https://orthotoc.com/ or call (386) 255-4596.
Media Contact:
Please contact Hannah Crawford, Marketing & Patient Experience Manager at hcrawford@orthotoc.com or (386) 226-1329.
