Opelousas General Supports LSUE Surg Tech Program

A gift from Opelousas General Health System will support Louisiana State University Eunice's new surgical technology degree program, which welcomed its first class earlier this month.

Ken Cochran, DSc, FACHE, President and CEO of Opelousas General Health System, Jackie Simien, OGHS's Chief Nursing Officer and Tim Marks, OGHS's Chief Population Health & Integration Officer presented the gift to the LSU Eunice Foundation and LSUE Chancellor Kimberly Russell.

"We are incredibly blessed to have Opelousas General as a supporter and friend of LSUE," said Russell. "Because of their belief in our mission and their gift to the future of academic medicine, we can continue to offer programs that meet the needs of Acadian's growing healthcare industry."

LSU Eunice's Associate of Surgical Technology degree program started on June 4 with 14 students enrolled in the selective admission program. Housed at Lafayette General Medical Center Southwest, the surgical technology program will train students to become valuable members of today's high tech operating rooms in as little as two years. Students will have the opportunity to work in labs that simulate real-world surgical environments and gain practical clinical experience in operating rooms.

Surgical technologists work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists and registered nurses to deliver specialized care before, during and after surgery.

LSU Eunice's health sciences programs are well respected in Acadiana. All of the university's programs consistently rank above the national average on the board licensing exams and have 100 percent job placement rates. LSUE offers Associates degrees in nursing, respiratory care, radiologic technology and diagnostic medical sonography.

To learn more about LSUE's surgical technology program, visit lsue.edu/academics/surgtech.