From Intern to Director: Jason Hash Builds a Career at Mount Rogers

Many people come to Mount Rogers looking for a job. What they find is the chance to build a career.

When Jason Hash started his internship in counseling at Mount Rogers Community Services in 2013, he couldn’t have known where he would end up.

Today, Hash oversees the Mount Rogers nursing program. He helps ensure high-quality care across services while mentoring the next generation of nurses.

Back in his internship days, Jason also worked as a sub-relief mentor and direct support professional in Youth Services. After graduation, he became a recovery coach.

But then came a shift to nursing, aided by discounts on tuition as a Mount Rogers employee. He also had support from coworkers.

The support and hard work paid off – and he’s not done as he pursues more schooling.

Help from Mount Rogers

Working full time while in nursing school was challenging, but Hash says Mount Rogers helped him succeed. Flexible scheduling made it easier to balance work and school. Employee education discounts also helped lower the cost of college.

“Being able to take advantage of discounts at local universities was a tremendous help,” Hash said.

The hands-on experience he gained while finishing school gave him a strong start in his nursing career.

After earning his nursing degree, Hash continued to grow at Mount Rogers. He became a Program Manager before moving into a nursing role at Cornerstone, a crisis unit for adults. Later, Mount Rogers promoted him to Lead R.N. for the crisis care centers.

A Big Professional Moment

One of the biggest moments in his career was helping open Virginia’s first Crisis Receiving Center. That experience helped prepare him for his director of nursing role. And still, he learns and grows.

“I am finishing my psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) with the help of Mount Rogers through one of our competitive scholarships,” he said.

He says the support he received early in his career made a lasting difference. “It made it much easier to finish programs I started,” Hash said.

Generous Time Off is a Big Help

He also appreciates Mount Rogers’ generous paid time off.

“Being able to take some time off when I needed it to either focus on my education or take a mental break has made life easier when work, school, and family responsibilities are demanding,” he said.

For Hash, the people at Mount Rogers have made the biggest impact.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with some really good people over the past 13 years,” he said. “I could not be where I am today without their help and I am extremely grateful to them.” He also says the knowledge and experience of his coworkers helped him grow.

The Rewarding Part of His Work

Working together has also been effective for the people Mount Rogers serves.

“Being part of those teams is very rewarding,” Hash said. “I’ve also been able to see individuals we serve overcome some pretty major challenges with our help.”

Hash encourages anyone interested in nursing, counseling, or other careers to consider Mount Rogers.

“Mount Rogers offers outstanding benefits to help you reach your goals,” he said. “Help with education, flexible scheduling, great benefit packages, and a lot of people that will help support you grow within the agency.”

He also says Mount Rogers gives employees many chances to move up because the organization often promotes from within.

Jason’s journey from intern to Director of Nursing shows what is possible at Mount Rogers. Whether you’re beginning your career, pursuing a new path, or looking to advance professionally, Mount Rogers provides support, training, and opportunities to help you grow.

Explore our openings or join us at an upcoming career fair to discover where your own Mount Rogers story can begin.

About Mount Rogers Community Services — Mount Rogers is a top provider of community services for mental health, behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders in southwest Virginia. We also offer geriatric, counseling, early intervention, and other services in Galax and the counties of Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, and Wythe.