VCOM–Louisiana student organizations continue to expand their influence beyond campus, reaching into communities across Northeast Louisiana (NELA) to motivate the next generation of healthcare professionals. Through Level Up: Life, Legacy, & Leadership, a career-oriented outreach program led by VCOM–Louisiana’s Pre-SOMA chapter, osteopathic medical students are helping high school students envision careers in healthcare and understand the steps to get there.
The Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) is a nationwide organization that supports osteopathic medical students through advocacy, leadership development, and community service. Pre-SOMA serves as its outreach division for preclinical and premedical students, focusing on early exposure to osteopathic medicine and healthcare careers for students who might not otherwise have access to these opportunities.
Hosted at local high schools across NELA, including Monroe-area schools, Level Up events introduced students to a variety of careers in healthcare. VCOM students engaged participants through interactive presentations on professions such as doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, and more. In addition to exploring job titles, students guided participants through the education and training needed for each role, breaking down what the “roadmap” to a healthcare career can look like.
“As a Pre-SOMA leader, one of my biggest goals was to help students see possibilities they may not have known existed,” said Sydni Kynard, MS, 2025 Pre-SOMA Director at VCOM–Louisiana. “Many of the students we meet come from underserved communities, and exposure truly matters. If they can see someone who looks like them or comes from a similar background standing in front of them, it makes the idea of a career in healthcare feel attainable.”
After each presentation, students filled out future-planning worksheets and engaged in small-group talks with VCOM student volunteers. These sessions provided personalized mentorship where students could ask questions, get encouragement, and receive practical advice on next steps—whether that involved choosing courses, finding volunteer opportunities, or learning more about specific healthcare careers.
The initiative also embodies VCOM’s mission to promote community health and education by investing in the future healthcare workforce. By engaging with students where they are and fostering connections with local schools, VCOM students help strengthen the pathway to healthcare careers across the region.
Pre-SOMA partnered with The Healing Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering underserved communities, and with FMOL Health | St. Francis Workforce Belonging Department, further expanding the program's reach and impact. These collaborations provided students with additional resources while reinforcing the value of community partnership and shared purpose.
Reflecting on the significance of these efforts, Jamie Mayes, founder and director of The Healing Project, shared, “The mission of The Healing Project is to partner with organizations like SOMA at VCOM to create a direct and meaningful impact on our community through real-time learning experiences. Through the Level -Up Tour, our goal was to expose students to the opportunities available to them and empower them to pursue their dreams with confidence. The project provided a powerful platform to collaborate with community leaders, strengthen relationships, and challenge our students to elevate their aspirations by reminding them that anything is possible.”
With multiple outreach events held in Fall 2025, and more scheduled for this spring, VCOM–Louisiana’s Pre-SOMA chapter continues to show how student organizations can make a meaningful impact beyond campus. By inspiring youth, promoting mentorship, and strengthening community bonds, VCOM students are helping shape not only future healthcare professionals but also healthier communities across Northeast Louisiana.
