Published December 13, 2017
Thirty-five ULM Health Studies seniors took part in a professional business luncheon
in the Student Center on Oct. 11.
As part of their HLST 4002 Healthcare Law class, instructor Dr. Paula Griswold coordinated
a professional business luncheon where several community business leaders attended.
The goal of this event was to improve the students’ awareness of business dining customs
to help them succeed in this area of workplace communication in the future.
The students were prepared with individualized career-based questions and were divided
into groups of five with one community leader at each table. Throughout the business
luncheon interaction, the students were able to sharpen their networking abilities,
learn dining etiquette as well as their interpersonal and communication skills.
The local business leaders present were Jonathan Phillips – President, University
Health Conway; Brad Burtram – Human Resources Director; Vantage, Jeanette Ellington
– Executive Director, West Ouachita Senior Center; Kevin Goldman – CEO, North Louisiana
Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Clinic; and Adebola Shoyebi – Marketing Director, Centric.
According to Griswold, her objective of this luncheon was “to enhance the students’”
soft skills which are critical for productive performance in today’s workplace. She
highlighted that, “Our business leaders continually emphasize the need to develop
these types of skills in future employees.”
Program Director of Health Studies Dr. Jessica Dolecheck stated, “These types of engaging
experiences are extremely meaningful for our students in helping them prepare for
their future.”
Dr. Stacy Starks, a faculty member in Health Studies, also attended and observed the
overall enthusiasm of the students taking part in this event.
The professional business luncheon launched in hope to aid students strengthen important
professional areas for future employment opportunities. The Health Studies department
is aiming to implement the event once a semester after this year’s enormous success.
