A Partnership Built for Southwest Louisiana

For more than 70 years, Lake Charles Memorial Health System and McNeese State University have shared a common purpose: investing in the people and communities of Southwest Louisiana. Together, our organizations have built a partnership that extends far beyond healthcare and higher education—creating opportunities that strengthen our workforce, support student success, and improve the health of our region.

What began as a shared commitment to serving the community has grown into a collaboration spanning nursing, allied health, clinical education, internships, sports medicine, and workforce development. Every year, McNeese students gain valuable real-world experience through clinical rotations, externships, internships, and mentorship opportunities at Memorial, learning alongside experienced healthcare professionals who are committed to helping them succeed.

For Memorial, these experiences are more than educational opportunities—they represent an investment in the future healthcare workforce of Southwest Louisiana. Many of Memorial's physicians, nurses, therapists, laboratory professionals, and healthcare leaders began their journeys at McNeese. By providing hands-on training in real clinical settings, the partnership helps students transition confidently from the classroom into meaningful careers serving the same communities they call home.

The partnership also extends beyond the classroom through Memorial's role as the official sports medicine partner of McNeese Athletics. Athletic trainers, sports medicine physicians, and rehabilitation specialists work alongside coaches and student-athletes to promote injury prevention, recovery, performance, and long-term wellness. Together, Memorial and McNeese are helping ensure student-athletes have access to expert care while supporting one of Southwest Louisiana's proudest traditions.

As you'll hear from Memorial CEO Devon Hyde and McNeese Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Kedrick Nicholas, this partnership is built on more than shared programs—it is built on shared values. Both institutions believe that when students have opportunities to learn locally, communities gain talented professionals, employers build a stronger workforce, and families benefit from high-quality healthcare close to home.

Together, Lake Charles Memorial Health System and McNeese State University are preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals, strengthening our regional economy, and building a healthier future for Southwest Louisiana.