HATTIESBURG — The University of Southern Mississippi’s College of Nursing and Health Professions is partnering with Forrest Health, allowing nursing students to gain work experience at Forrest General while earning their degrees. 

The Forrest Health Scholars program will allow students to engage in direct patient care in a Dedicated Education Unit at Forrest General, fulfilling the required clinical training hours for their degree programs under the supervision of clinical nurses serving as guides. 

Students in the program will work in Forrest General’s emergency department and intensive care unit. 

Dr. Charlene McNeill, dean of Southern Miss’s College of Nursing and Health Professions, said the program represents the best of what can be accomplished when academic nursing and health care practice unites for the benefit of students and patients. 

“Through this partnership, our students will gain invaluable real-world experience, mentorship from expert clinicians, and the confidence and clinical judgment needed to become exceptional nurses while strengthening the health care workforce that serves our communities,” McNeill said. 

Immersing students in real-world clinical experiences prepares them for future professional nursing practice, according to Dr. Maria Brown, director of Southern Miss’s College of Nursing and Health Professions. 

“This dynamic learning environment helps bridge theory and practice through individualized instruction and mentoring from talented and experienced nurses,” Brown said. 

The first cohort of Forrest Health Scholars will begin in the fall 2026 semester, and participants will be announced following an application process.