Published November 4, 2025
MONROE, La. – The University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) recently hosted “Get Into the Guts of
Healthcare” at the Bayou Pointe Event Center on October 20, 2025. The event was a
collaboration with the NELA Healthcare Alliance, Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech),
and Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC), which invited middle school students
to connect with healthcare professionals and educators in real-world medical or training
settings.
“The goal of ‘Get Into the Guts of Healthcare’ is to expose middle school students
to the diversity of occupations available in the healthcare field,” said Dr. Wendy
Bailes, Dean of the College of Health Sciences at ULM. “As these students prepare
to transition to high school and are required to choose their pathway in high school,
we hope to plant seeds that will guide them to a career in healthcare,” she added.
According to Bailes, 180 students from Cornerstone Christian School, D’Arbonne Woods
Charter School, Delhi Middle School, Ouachita Christian School, Rayville Jr. High,
STAR Academy, and Start Jr. High attended the event.
After a welcome from Bailes, the students rotated through booths to learn more about
the healthcare field and the career opportunities it provides. Students were introduced
to five health science pathways that included Health Informatics, Diagnostic Services,
Therapeutic Services, Biotechnology Research and Development, and Support Services.
Interactive booths explored 12 disciplines, including speech pathology, respiratory
therapy, nursing, medical laboratory science, occupational therapy, pharmacy, dental
hygiene, EMT/paramedic, Stop the Bleed, nutrition, health informatics, and primary
health.
“This event is different from other types of events because we literally have them
immersed in that particular occupation for a few moments, actively doing something
specifically related to that field. All students are getting their hands ‘dirty’ at
each station,” said Bailes.
Event, tour, and booth hosts and sponsors for “Get Into the Guts of Healthcare” included
ULM, LA Tech University, Louisiana Delta Community College, NELA Healthcare Alliance,
Workforce Development Board 83, Union General Hospital, St. Francis Health, Communihealth
Services, Northern Louisiana Medical Center, and Northeast Louisiana Physician Hospital
Organization.
“‘Get Into the Guts’ gives students a hands-on look at the high-demand careers that
keep our region running,” said Shae Cheatham, Industry Recruitment and Engagement
Director for Workforce Development Board 83. “As a Workforce Board, we’re proud to
connect education with opportunity and help young people see a future right here at
home. I would also like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to St. Francis Health and Union
General Hospital for sponsoring the Fall 2025 ‘Get Into the Guts’ event,” added Cheatham.
“The ‘Get Into the Guts’ event was incredibly successful because of the collaborations
between all healthcare partners in our region,” said Bailes. “We demonstrate through
this event how healthcare organizations and higher ed can work together to meet workforce
needs for northeast Louisiana,” she added.
Bailes said that the NELA Healthcare Alliance, in collaboration with ULM, LA Tech,
and LDCC, is committed to hosting this event each semester in different areas to reach
all middle school students in Region 8.
For more information about healthcare degrees available in the ULM College of Health
Science, please visit ulm.edu/chs.
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