HJBR May/Jun 2025

42 MAY / JUN 2025  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs The university is also exploring the possibil- ity of partnerships with local organizations who employ FranU students and alumni to host voca- tional activities at their locations to extend the reach beyond campus. Bart Folse Named CEO of Louisiana Independent Hospital Network Coalition The Louisiana Independent Hospital Network Coalition (LIHNC) announced Bart Folse as its new chief executive officer. Formed in 2019, LIHNC is a collaborative of independent Louisi- ana hospitals and providers that are not affiliated with large systems, where each member main- tains its independent status and its unique iden- tity. More than 25 hospitals from across the state are a part of LIHNC. Folse most recently served as the chief oper- ating officer at Bayou Bend Health System, for- merly Franklin Foundation Hospital, since May 2021. In addition to his role at Bayou Bend, he is the founder and lead consultant at Group 213 Strategy Partners. By bringing together hospitals and other stake- holders, LIHNC tackles complex issues that are often deeply rooted in communities. Together, the goal is to make sustainable change by pull- ing together resources, thinking differently about healthcare, and improving quality and wellness for communities. Folse holds an MBA and Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Sciences from Nicholls State Uni- versity. n involving consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. When patients receive care at a CoC facility, they also have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient-centered services including a patient navigation process. There are currently more than 1,500 CoC- accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving patient outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care. Its membership includes fellows of the American College of Surgeons. FranUReceives $12KGrant for Vocational Discernment Cohort for Student Development Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University received a $12,000 grant from NetVUE to cre- ate a vocational discernment cohort for a stu- dent development training program called The Empowering Futures Project to equip participants with the tools necessary to guide students to dis- cover their calling in life. The project will be comprised of faculty, staff, and alumni for a six-week training program where subsequent continuing education lessons will be developed. A curriculum will be created to enhance each lesson and guide the cohort through their vocational discernment practice. Training will include education on vocational dis- cernment principles and development of coach- ing skills to guide students in discovering their vocation, taking into consideration their val- ues, interests, skills, and aspirations to create a healthy career pathway. Resources will be culti- vated to include relevant research and literature on vocational discernment. At the completion of the training program, each coach will receive a resource binder with tools to support coach- ing exercises, such as worksheets, assessment tools, and tracking documents to record goals and progress. “Students select a career path with the aim of becoming experts in a particular field. By aligning their passions with a deeper sense of purpose, they will find fulfillment in both their work and service to others. This student development pro- gram is designed to guide students in discover- ing their God-given purpose, while teaching them to contribute to the common good,” stated Keyo Johnson, director of vocational discernment and career development at FranU. Currently, vocational discernment support has been coupled with the work of Career Services to challenge students to look beyond just hav- ing a career and to discover their calling in life, but the volume of students seeking vocational discernment guidance has exceeded Career Ser- vices staff’s capacity. NetVUE Grants Director Carter Aikin said, “We are delighted to support this worthy project at FranU, helping students more effectively dis- cern their vocations, embrace their callings and deepen their understanding of purpose in this world.” Students from underserved and underrepre- sented backgrounds specifically lack vocational support. This population needs extra mentoring that will ultimately contribute to academic prog- ress. Twenty-nine percent of FranU students self- identify as U.S. students of color and 28% are Pell eligible. Per the 2023-24 FAFSA, 43% had annual family income levels of $30,000 or less. Twenty percent had family income levels less than $10,000 found by a FranU 2023-24 Income Rewards Report. Twenty-eight percent are first- generation college students. Twenty percent are parents, 54% of whom are single. These non-traditional students are often jug- gling the duty of providing for their families while they pursue their education. FranU is also a 100% commuter campus. For these reasons, students aren’t fully taking advantage of the support ser- vices available to them because they don’t stay on campus after class. Expanding the vocational discernment coach- ing pool will allow FranU to begin offering vir- tual coaching sessions and remote participation in vocational discernment activities. This expan- sion will not only enhance the university’s campus- based initiatives, but also ensure that online stu- dents have convenient access to these services, fostering greater engagement. Bart Folse