NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans-area students were among 40 Louisiana middle and high school students from the CARES Mentoring Movement Network, a mentoring effort founded in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, to join the American Medical Association (AAPA) for immersive and hands-on learning about the physician associate profession at AAPA 2026.
Physician associates (PAs) are clinicians qualified to practice across specialties and settings and play a critical role in addressing America’s health care access challenges. The need is especially acute in states like Louisiana, where 60 of its 64 parishes are designated as health care provider shortage areas.
Programs like the CARES Mentoring Movement come as Louisiana health care providers face increasing workforce pressures due to physician shortages, an aging population, and increased demands for care. In the New Orleans region, universities and health systems are increasingly focused on expanding STEM and health care career paths to strengthen long-term talent pipelines.
CARES Mentoring Movement – Addressing the Healthcare Workforce Gap
The program provided high school students with first-hand exposure to one of the fastest growing health professions through hands-on sessions and instruction, providing a path for those interested in STEM fields.
“Evidence shows that a more representative workforce increases access to health care services, reduces delays in receiving care, improves communication, and increases patient satisfaction,” said Kim Williams, AAPA’s vice president of health equity and community engagement. “Encouraging underrepresented communities to join the PA profession can play an important role in closing gaps in healthcare access. AAPA’s Project Access program is encouraging the next generation of PAs and introducing these students to promising career paths.”
Grow your pipeline with access to projects
AAPA’s Project Access is an advocacy effort aimed at increasing the number of underrepresented PAs in the profession, expanding access to care, and addressing health care disparities. PAs across the country volunteer with Project Access, giving presentations at schools and community organizations to introduce the profession to students from underrepresented communities.
The program’s partnership with the National CARES Mentoring Movement connects its advocacy efforts to a broader mentoring network. Founded as Essence CARES in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the organization began as a response to the crisis facing children and families in the region.
“We are honored to partner with the Project Access Initiative at AAPA’s annual conference to introduce young scholars across our program network to dynamic physician associate career paths,” said Stephen Powell, chief program and partnership officer for the national CARES Mentoring Movement. “By leveraging the time and talent of a talented group of PAs, PA students, and healthcare providers, we have built a bridge of meaningful opportunity by allowing young people to strengthen their soft skills while working with healthcare professionals that have the potential to change their lives.”
Led by former Essence Magazine Editor-in-Chief Susan L. Taylor, the effort expanded into a national network through a local affiliate model, recruiting leaders and building programs in cities across the country. The organization currently operates in dozens of U.S. cities, connecting mentors and underserved youth through a two-generation approach focused on health and workforce pathways.
New Orleans area students join CARES mentoring movement
Its national network included students from the New Orleans area who participated in the program with peers from across Louisiana and beyond.
The high school students included students from McMain High School and Dorothy High School in New Orleans, and Alexandria Middle Magnet School and Peabody Magnet High School in Alexandria, Louisiana. Students from New Orleans Southern University and New Orleans Xavier University also participated. These universities play an increasingly important role in the region’s healthcare and STEM talent pipeline, with additional participation from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta.
“Learning about the diverse paths PAs have taken to this profession and their deep dedication to serving others was incredibly inspiring,” said Jamaela Harris Cannonier, National CARES HBCU RISING STEM Mentor at Clark Atlanta University.
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