The mobile training unit will bring hands-on learning directly to high schools, rural communities and partner sites where access to healthcare coursework is limited.
May 21, 2026
BATON ROUGE – Baton Rouge Community College and the BRCC Foundation are excited to announce the creation of the Ochsner Mobile Healthcare Training Lab, thanks to a $472,500 gift from Ochsner Health. The Ochsner Mobile Healthcare Training Lab will allow BRCC to offer real-world skills training and firsthand experience directly to high schools, rural communities and partner locations.
The gift from Ochsner will strengthen the reach of the BRCC Nursing & Allied Health program and support the launch, operation, staffing and sustainability of the mobile unit currently being built and scheduled to launch in spring 2027. The lab will support student learning, community outreach and workforce training programs to include phlebotomy, patient care technician, medical assistant and certified nursing assistant, while also providing CPR certification and foundational clinical skills training.
“We are deeply grateful to Ochsner for this gift because it enables us to expand access to high-wage, high-demand healthcare careers,” BRCC Chancellor Willie E. Smith Sr. said. “This mobile lab will reduce barriers related to transportation and scheduling by allowing us to deliver practical, industry-aligned training directly to our dual enrollment partners, clinical sites and rural communities. We will meet students where they are so that we can strengthen our regional healthcare workforce.”
The gift is part of Ochsner’s ongoing efforts to expand healthcare career opportunities and pathways for Louisiana students.
“Ochsner is proud to partner with Baton Rouge Community College to bring innovative healthcare education directly to the communities we serve,” said Dianne Teal, chief nursing officer, Ochsner Baton Rouge. “This mobile training lab is an investment in the future of healthcare and a continuation of our commitment to strengthening the capital region. By bringing hands-on training directly to the next generation of healthcare professionals and expanding pathways into nursing and allied health careers, we are helping build the workforce our patients depend on.”
Together, BRCC and Ochsner are building pathways that change lives, support families, uplift communities and improve health outcomes across Louisiana.