Ochsner Health is expanding its tuition-free education outreach programs for local high school students across Louisiana. Applications are now open for Ochsner’s second annual STEM Pathfinder Program, a healthcare career exploratory program for high school students featuring hands-on clinical skills training sessions, science labs, virtual hospital tours, and professional development. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2022.
In 2021, Ochsner celebrated the inaugural STEM Pathfinder Program for New Orleans East students. This year, the program will expand into East Baton Rouge and Caddo parishes, providing even more young people the opportunity to explore healthcare and science careers.
The one-week program is free for attendees. Applicants must be at least 14 years old by the start of the program and should be current 8th-, 9th- or 10th-grade students. This year four sessions will be offered. They include:
-STEM Pathfinders Program – New Orleans at Ochsner Baptist – Open to students who live or attend school in New Orleans East zip codes 70129, 70128, 70127, and 70126.
Session A: June 20-24
Session B: July 11-15
-STEM Pathfinders Program – Baton Rouge – Open to students who attend a school within the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.
Dates: July 18-22
-STEM Pathfinders Program – North Louisiana – Open to students who attend a school within the Caddo Parish School System.
Dates: July 11-15
Hosted by the Ochsner Education Outreach and Ochsner Health teams, the STEM Pathfinder Program was designed to expose more high school students to science, technology, engineering, and math. Through the program, healthcare professionals from across multiple disciplines provide mentorship to students, preparing them to make intentional career decisions. The program is free, and Ochsner provides all the supplies necessary for participation.
In addition to inquiry-based science labs and clinical training, students access expertise from leaders in a variety of disciplines including areas such as women’s services, DNA research and medicine, public health programs, radiology, pharmacology, and emergency medicine. Activities from last year’s program included hands-on science experiments, virtual nursing simulations, therapeutic demonstrations, surgical practice, and tours with ambulance and flight care teams.
STEM Pathfinder Program applications should be completed online and are due by 11:59 p.m., March 31, 2022.
For more information about Ochsner’s Education Outreach Initiatives, email educationoutreach@ochsner.org or visit Ochsner.org/EducationOutreach.