Since 2005, Education Outreach serves the community and maintains Ochsner’s position as a global academic leader by supporting educational development, providing unique academic resources, and connecting students and teachers with innovative academic opportunities in STEM Education and Workforce Pipeline development.

Our Mission

Education Outreach is committed to developing a well-prepared and informed workforce pipeline for health sciences and positively impacting K-12 education outcomes. We do this through:

• Connecting Classroom to Career by providing active, learning opportunities and resources for students, virtual and in-person
• Increasing Equitable Access to High-Quality Learning by supporting teacher professional development with industry-vetted tools and experiences
• Enhancing STEM Literacy for the community through collaboration partnerships
• Drive Student Achievement and Confidence in Science by developing inquiry-based, hands-on curriculum

We do this by working with internal stakeholders including Ochsner Diversity & Inclusion, Academics, Workforce Development, & Research. In addition to maintaining Ochsner-managed programs that are offered at no cost to participants, EO partners with local and national STEM non-profit organizations to provide industry expertise.

If you are a non-profit partner interested in working with the Ochsner Education Outreach team, please email EducationOutreach@ochsner.org.

Outreach Initiatives

Our programs serve the preK - 12th grade community. To request Education Outreach support, please complete the online form below.

A member of the Ochsner Education Outreach team will be in touch with further information.

Request Education Outreach Programming

• Classroom to Career
  • Education Outreach is committed to supporting the educators and schools in our communities by offering opportunities for furthering curriculum exploration, investigating career options, and providing first-hand experiences. We do this through multiple programs, including field trips, job shadows, internships, and career chats.
  • earn about Ochsner Signature Programs, which encourage early career awareness & preparedness:

Ochsner STAR   Ochsner STEM Pathfinder

• STEM - Encouraging Inquiry  at Home:
  • Education Outreach encourages students to lead with curiosity. We supplement STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) exploration in the classroom, within the community, and as a family unit.
  • Ochsner Academy Jr was created in 2020 to reach students virtually. View our video library to find hands-on science activities, which can be done using common household supplies.

• STEM - Encouraging Inquiry at School:
  • The iLab, located at Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans, was developed as an additional resource and training laboratory for schools in our community. It hosts student groups from middle school to college throughout the year.
  • We support school sciences fairs! Inquire to find out how Ochsner professionals can support your students.
  • Students and Teachers can benefit from the iLab by:
    • Scheduling an Ochsner-led iLab visit. Learn about current iLab offerings.
    • Reserving space to teach specific laboratory curriculum. Teachers are able to utilize the fully-equipped space, alleviating the need for school funded equipment and greatly expanding the types of hands-on modules that could otherwise not be conducted in the classroom.
    • Using the iLab as an extension of the resources already provided. 

• Teacher Support
  • Through externships, professional development opportunities, & panel presentations, Education Outreach further bridges the gap between industry and education. Through these shared learning experiences, we drive change to improve student outcomes. Learn more.

Our Program Impact

STEM and healthcare career awareness programming is established out of the Greater New Orleans region and has been implemented in numerous Ochsner regions in previous years. Each year, EO programming impact around 10,000 participants with over 150 events, totaling over 13,000 hours of education for students and teachers. Program aim to increase science knowledge, increase student confidence and efficacy. From inception in 2005 through 2021, Education Outreach programming has impacted over 30,000 students and Ochsner employees have dedicated 20,000+ mentorship hours in support.

In career awareness and preparedness programming, 96% of students indicate a higher interest in pursuing a healthcare career after participation. For programs with a higher emphasis on STEM skills, students show a 57% increase in science knowledge. 97% of teachers denoted that Ochsner-led teacher professional development workshops provided ideas for making science relevant to students’ everyday lives.