Ochsner Health is the leading nonprofit healthcare provider in the Gulf South. Ochsner inspires healthier lives and stronger communities through our mission to serve, heal, lead, educate and innovate.
Serving Our Schools
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Classroom to Career | Stem at School | Summer Programs | Healthy Schools
Education Outreach
Since 2005, Education Outreach at Ochsner Health has served the community by connecting K-12 students and teachers with innovative academic opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and early exposure to workforce pathways. We are committed to building a future of healthcare leaders who reflect the communities we serve.
We do this by:
- Connecting classroom to career
- Increasing equitable access to high-quality learning
- Enhancing STEM literacy
- Driving student achievement and confidence in science
Overall Impact:
Ochsner Super STEM Tour
Ochsner Health is a proud to be the Official Medical Provider of the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee. As part of this partnership, Ochsner Education Outreach has created the Ochsner Super STEM Tour.
This project has two components:
- A STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum of engaging activities and resources to help students, teachers and families develop active minds and bodies
- An awards program for outstanding teachers and students in STEM
Outreach Initiatives
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.
Classroom to Career: Exploration of Careers in Science
Education Outreach’s is committed to supporting schools, educators, and students in our community by providing hands on science engagements, expert guest speakers, and STEM experiences correlating to real world healthcare careers. This is achieved through free resource offerings of:
- Field Trips
- Career Chats
- In Classroom Engagements
- Science Fair Support
- Internships
- Support with Job Shadowing
To learn more about Education Outreach’s free school resources, please fill out this form.
OPTIMUS
OPTIMUS is a program at Ochsner Health with the mission of helping to eliminate healthcare differences. OPTIMUS stands for the Ochsner Program to Introduce Medicine to Underrepresented Students. The program provides education about career options in medicine, hands-on simulations and experiments. It was founded in 2019 by Tamika Webb-Detiege, MD, a senior rheumatologist and the deputy head of admissions and enrollment for The University of Queensland Medical School – Ochsner Health.
Email educationoutreach@ochsner.org for more information.
Professional Development and Support for Teachers
The Ochsner Education Outreach Team is made up of lifelong educators who have developed curriculum and opportunities that:
- Bring together educators in the Greater New Orleans area for the Ochsner Educator Advisory Board throughout the school year. We offer resources to enhance STEM education and create a collaborative space for teachers to share best practices and discuss their classroom needs.
- Providing cost-free teacher professional development. Ochsner Education Outreach hosts our own professional development and also partner with community organizations like New Schools for New Orleans to create experiences that will help teachers improve their teaching and student experiences
- Creating and sharing high-quality, standards-aligned and career-focused curriculum for teachers (and parents) to use in their classroom.
Education Outreach Summer Programs
STAR Scholars Summer Program |  |
The Ochsner STAR Scholars Summer Program provides qualified high school students, particularly those with limited means and access, with a cost-free opportunity to explore the world of healthcare. Through a rigorous, hands-on summer course focusing on science, technology, academics and research, STAR aims to engage and inspire students.
The knowledge and skills students acquire in this four-week summer program will provide them with a solid foundation to pursue further education and careers in science and medicine.
Learn more about the Ochsner STAR Summer Scholars Program.
Ochsner STEM Pathfinder Program |  |
Launched in 2021, STEM Pathfinder is a free one-week summer program that introduces high school students to a wide range of health science career paths.
STEM Pathfinder’s curriculum is geared towards students in grades 8 through 10 and is now offered in 5 regions: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, St. Charles, Shreveport, and Monroe. Participants explore various healthcare career tracks by interacting with Ochsner professionals who provide mentorship, career chats, and educational experiences. In addition to shadowing and touring Ochsner facilities, students participate in hands-on science education, including clinical skills training and laboratory experiments.
Supporting Student Health and Success
The mission of the Ochsner Healthy Schools Program is to improve equitable access to care and wellness while fostering a healthy and supportive school environment for all. We support children’s physical and emotional well-being in a school-based setting, while also extending valuable support to educators and school leaders. Our trained medical professionals on campus can help identify children struggling with chronic physical and mental health conditions and connect them to Ochsner’s comprehensive healthcare system.
Healthy Schools provides:
- School nurses
- CPR training for staff
- Hearing and vision screenings for students
- Professional development for staff assisting neurodiverse students
- Connections to important community resources like:
- Nutrition education
- Tobacco and vaping prevention
- Yoga, mindfulness and anxiety management classes
