BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is launching a program to involve students in learning more about healthcare careers and personal wellness starting this summer.

According to a release from Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, the program is called Wolfpack: Health Fellows Academy. This three-year project is open to 120 high school students from underserved communities. The project received $110,000 from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation Funding.

The goal of launching the program is to increase the number of students interested in learning more about and entering the healthcare career field, the release states.

The Baton Rouge Youth Coalition (BRYC) has agreed to support the students who are interested in learning about the healthcare field.

“We’re excited to support this partnership between FranU and BRYC to help open doors to healthcare professions for more students. This kind of hands-on experience and support helps meet the demands of the healthcare workforce shortage, while also paving the way for diversity in the field,” said Chloé Wiley, the Blue Cross Foundation’s initiatives manager.

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“Since 2009, BRYC has supported aspiring Black healthcare professionals toward their career goals and more equitable representation across healthcare and allied fields,” said BRYC Chief of Programs Allie Diefendorf. “This goes beyond the economic implications for our alumni and their families — it’s a force multiplier, with ripple effects on the health of thousands of underserved Louisianans of color. We’re proud to partner with FranU’s HFA on pushing the needle even further, and we thank their team and faculty for providing such a robust, sustained learning opportunity to BRYC participants.”

Starting in the summer of 2024, Health Fellows Academy will host two groups of rising high school sophomores and juniors to be a part of a week-long, hands-on experience on FranU’s campus. Fellows will be introduced to careers in radiologic technology, medical lab sciences, nursing, physical therapy, nutritional science and applied behavior analysis.

By fall 2025, FranU will offer dual-enrollment courses for juniors and seniors from the summer cohort interested in earning college credit.

“When we have a more diverse and culturally competent healthcare workforce, we can better serve and care for all individuals who live within our local communities,” said Alicia Bates, director of the FranU program.

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The Baton Rouge Clinic has offered scholarship opportunities and support through community health fairs through a $40,000 investment. Baton Rouge General and Our Lady of the Lake Health have also committed to supporting FranU’s objective by using its facilities and personnel.

“I am thankful for the partnerships that FranU has with BCBS, BRYC and the Baton Rouge Clinic. Together, we can educate the future healthcare workforce of Louisiana, while making a lasting and positive impact on the health and welfare of our Louisiana citizens for decades to come,” said Bates.

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