About Us

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Students Served

Our Story

About Us

LAUNCH stands for Leaders and Adolescents Uniting to Navigate Careers in Healthcare. Incorporated in 2017, LAUNCH is the only early-exposure healthcare pipeline program in our metropolitan area; comprised of an all volunteer based team that includes educators and various healthcare professionals. 

 

LAUNCH programs are provided at no-cost to all students.

Close the educational gap and combat barriers to entry into healthcare careers by providing free healthcare career exploration resources and health science education to K-12th grade students from predominantly underrepresented minority groups and/or disadvantaged economic backgrounds. 

  • Skills building
  • Healthcare career exposure
  • College readiness and planning
  • Leadership development
  • Mentorship
  • Workforce development
  • Health science education
  • Shadowing experiences
  • Hands-on healthcare/STEM experiences 

Increase diversity in healthcare professions by serving as a pipeline for underserved and underrepresented students.

Research shows that diversity within healthcare teams can improve overall patient outcomes.

Lack of exposure. Lack of resources. Lack of program access. Lack of financial ability. Lack of mentorship.
  • 30,000+ students in local school system
  • 25.4% of students in local school system live in poverty
  • Only 1 high school in local school system offers a health science track to provide courses focused in healthcare
  • 78% of students in local school system graduate from high school
  • 55% of schools in local school system enter college
Nationally, only 25.5% of healthcare workers are Black/African American, Asian, or Hispanic Latino/a 
Average participation fee for youth healthcare pipeline program is $895
  • LAUNCH programs are available to all students in our local school system
  • LAUNCH serves as the only early exposure healthcare pipeline program in our metropolitan area 
  • 73% of LAUNCH students are from underrepresented backgrounds (Black/African American, Asian, or Hispanic Latino/a and/or classified as low socioeconomic) 
  • 100% of LAUNCH Academy students graduate from high school 
  • 100% of LAUNCH Academy students enter college
  • LAUNCH program participation fee: No cost/FREE 

Our Team

Meet Our LAUNCH Team

Behind LAUNCH is a team of dedicated leaders.

Dr. Kendra Broussard

Dr. Vanessa Richardson

Dr. Casandra Roberts

Dr. Donna Moore

Tracy Miller

Cindy O'Neal

Selena Anthony

Capt. Jamarius Tate

Dr. Cherie Murray

Melba Jordan

Dr. Chiquita Foreman

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