Our Mission

This week LSU Health Shreveport took a historic step towards stopping the spread of the coronavirus. In addition to continuously testing for COVID-19, the Emerging Viral Threat Lab has now organized the distribution of the vaccine to individuals age 70 and up. On the first day of testing, over 1100 seniors were able to get the vaccine from the safety of their vehicles.

Today at 11 am, City of Shreveport Mayor Adrian D. Perkins proclaimed December 18, 2020 “LSU Health Shreveport Day” .  This honor was bestowed in recognition of the immense contributions made LSU Health Shreveport faculty, staff and students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bloomberg - On Monday, John Vanchiere, the principal investigator for a trial site at LSU Health Shreveport, emailed 245 participants to let them know the COVID-19 vaccine trial would be slowly unblinded. By Wednesday afternoon, seven placebo recipients got their first shot, all of them health-care workers.

Dr. Robert Rhoads, professor and emeritus chairman of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at LSU Health Shreveport, developed key components of the mRNA over years of work. The vaccine uses messenger RNA, or mRNA, which essentially provides instructions to the body on how to fight the novel coronavirus.

“It is gratifying to see LSU Health Shreveport’s contributions to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through licensing of a LSUHS patent to BioNTech for mRNA-stabilizing cap analogs and in serving as the only north Louisiana vaccine trial site. Additionally our numerous COVID-19 clinical trials are providing access to novel therapies reflecting the benefit of having an academic medical center in our community,” shared GE Ghali, DDS, MD, FACS, FRCS (Ed), chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport.

KSLA12- “If the EVT Lab had not existed, quite frankly, I think we’d be in a much darker place here in the northern part of the state,” said Dr. Chris Kevil, vice chancellor of research and one of the leading minds behind creation of the lab. “The EVT Lab has been fundamental in our ability to monitor COVID infections in patients out in this community."

Lisa Strahan Babin, Executive Director of Communication, Public Affairs and Development, shares how LSUHS has responded to the 2020 challenges in bountiful ways.

KTBS3 - A state-of-the-art temporal bone lab is where LSUHS residents learn how to help people with hearing loss. They use several different procedures that repair the ear drum or bones within the ear. They also train to implant hearing devices, including the Cochlear Implant.

The $25,000 AT&T Aspire Grant will be used to support students attending historically black colleges and universities in Louisiana who are exploring career paths in medicine, research and allied health professions in attending the HBCU Educational Conference at LSUHS.

Dr. Quyen Chu, Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at LSU Health Shreveport, is the lead author of the study set for publication in an upcoming issue of Cancer, a journal of the American Cancer Society. 

Dr. Robert Rhoads, professor and emeritus chairman of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at LSU Health Shreveport, developed key components of the mRNA over years of work. The vaccine uses messenger RNA, or mRNA, which essentially provides instructions to the body on how to fight the novel coronavirus.

“It is gratifying to see LSU Health Shreveport’s contributions to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through licensing of a LSUHS patent to BioNTech for mRNA-stabilizing cap analogs and in serving as the only north Louisiana vaccine trial site. Additionally our numerous COVID-19 clinical trials are providing access to novel therapies reflecting the benefit of having an academic medical center in our community,” shared GE Ghali, DDS, MD, FACS, FRCS (Ed), chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport.

KSLA12- “If the EVT Lab had not existed, quite frankly, I think we’d be in a much darker place here in the northern part of the state,” said Dr. Chris Kevil, vice chancellor of research and one of the leading minds behind creation of the lab. “The EVT Lab has been fundamental in our ability to monitor COVID infections in patients out in this community."

Dr. Quyen Chu, Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at LSU Health Shreveport, is the lead author of the study set for publication in an upcoming issue of Cancer, a journal of the American Cancer Society. 

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - Cancer patients from across Northwest Louisiana — who are receiving treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston — could soon benefit from new trials closer to home.

The Feist-Weiller Cancer Center is excited to be a part of the Cancer Focus Fund to bring the latest new cancer clinical trials to our community," said Dr. Chris Kevil, Vice-Chancellor for Research at LSU Health Shreveport. "We are confident our clinical trial facilities, coupled with expanded patient access to clinical trials across north and central Louisiana in partnership with Ochsner Health, will yield promising results for all citizens of Louisiana.

The Emerging Viral Threat (EVT) Lab at LSU Health Shreveport has now sequenced a total 651 Louisiana SARS-CoV-2 virus genomes making them the largest contributor to date of genetic data on SARS-CoV-2 in the state. SARS-CoV-2, which is short for ‘Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2,’ is the virus that causes COVID-19, and viral genome sequencing is contributing to a worldwide effort to fight the ongoing pandemic.

The Emerging Viral Threat Lab at LSU Health Shreveport has processed over 110,000 COVID-19 test samples from multiple public health regions of the state and created over 170,000 test kits which were distributed throughout the state during its first six months of operation.

LSUHS is expanding enrollment in the Pfizer-sponsored COVID-19 vaccine study for the next two weeks to include individuals ages 16-18 and those older than 85 years of age.  Those interested in participating in this important vaccine trial should sign up as quickly as possible.  

Clinical research by Dr. Judy King, Professor of Pathology at LSUHS, is featured on the cover of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, regarding recent diagnosis and treatment of kidney ailment of a patient who tested positive for COVID-19.

KTBS3 - A state-of-the-art temporal bone lab is where LSUHS residents learn how to help people with hearing loss. They use several different procedures that repair the ear drum or bones within the ear. They also train to implant hearing devices, including the Cochlear Implant.

The $25,000 AT&T Aspire Grant will be used to support students attending historically black colleges and universities in Louisiana who are exploring career paths in medicine, research and allied health professions in attending the HBCU Educational Conference at LSUHS.

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – COVID-19 has exposed racial disparities in healthcare throughout our country, but LSU Health Shreveport is working to get more minorities to enter careers in the healthcare field.

Respiratory Care Week is a full week, from October 25-31, that is set aside to acknowledge and appreciate hard-working Respiratory Therapists around the world.

The MOU represents the desire of both parties to increase the number of African American and Hispanic students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) in Louisiana who apply to the LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine. The goal is for these students to subsequently be accepted for admission and graduate from medical school.

The new Clinical Informatics Fellowship represents the subspecialist of all medical specialties transforming healthcare by analyzing, designing, implementing, and evaluating information and communication systems to improve patient care.

Krystle Trosclair, MS, PhD recently joined the LSU Health Shreveport Department of Neurosurgery as an Assistant Professor and was appointed Director of Neurosurgical Research in the Department of Neurosurgery at LSU Health Shreveport. 

LSUHS School of Allied Health Professions will admit the first class in May 2022 eliminating the need for Louisiana students to pursue this advanced degree in a high demand field out of state.

We extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Gary Booker’s family.  He was a valued faculty member who will be missed by all.  Read more for information on memorial services planned for September 10th.

LSU Health Shreveport announces the creation of three new endowed scholarships and two new endowed professorships. Private donations of $360,000 will be combined with $140,000 in matching funds from the Louisiana Board of Regents Support Fund to create these endowments.

Lisa Strahan Babin, Executive Director of Communication, Public Affairs and Development, shares how LSUHS has responded to the 2020 challenges in bountiful ways.

Dr. John Vanchiere, professor of pediatrics and infectious disease at LSU Health Shreveport, stresses that now, more than ever, people should get a flu shot. Particularly if they are around children.

The Bossier Chamber of Commerce honored “Patriots of the Pandemic” to recognize those in the community who played key roles in fighting back the pandemic. LSU Health Shreveport’s COVID Surveillance Strike Team received a special Eagle Award for testing coordination inside nursing homes.

SAHP needs your help to make the Eat Right and Move community based program available to residents who need it the most! We need to raise $6,000 by October 15th to obtain the $50,000 grant from USA Today.  Please consider giving to this worthy cause today!

KSLA - Various Shreveport organizations and schools are coming together to host the Support the South supply drive for victims of Hurricane Laura.

Health Matters host, Dr. Sanford Katz, was  joined by LSUHS's Andrew Yurochko, PhD, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and Carroll Feist Chair of Viral Oncology and Dr. John Vanchiere, Chief of the Department of Pediatrics Infectious Diseases. to discuss testing, treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.

LSUHS is excited to announce enhanced safety services and vehicles to support our employees, faculty and students.

The state's peak in April came mostly from widespread infections in New Orleans. Now the rest of Louisiana is surging, reports William Taylor Potter and Michael Stucka, Lafayette Daily Advertiser and USA TODAY.

Chancellor Dr. G. E. Ghali spoke at the COVID-19 press conference  about the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Louisiana, the EVT Lab and testing in North Louisiana and the importance of wearing masks.

The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in NW Louisiana has increased in recent weeks. Our teams are rising to this challenge with incredible compassion and professionalism; however, we need your help. 

Today at 11 am, City of Shreveport Mayor Adrian D. Perkins proclaimed December 18, 2020 “LSU Health Shreveport Day” .  This honor was bestowed in recognition of the immense contributions made LSU Health Shreveport faculty, staff and students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Cherie Ann Nathan, Chair of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at LSU Health Shreveport has been elected to the Board of Governors of the American Surgical Society for an initial three-year term ending at the conclusion of the 2023 Clinical Congress

The Greater Shreveport Chamber Business Development Connection honors a select group of local individuals at the ATHENA Leadership Award Program. This year includes honoree Dr. Suzanne Tinsley, Assistant Dean of Development for our School of Allied Health Professions.

Dr. Ike Muslow was a giant among those who have advocated for and loved LSU Health Shreveport. He was still teaching during his last hospital stay and never ceased promoting every aspect of our health sciences center to include the School of Allied Health Professions where he received his physical therapy. 

BATON ROUGE – The LSU Board of Supervisors today announced the creation of a search committee to select the university’s next president. The 20 committee members are a diverse group representing the different ethnicities, genders, academic disciplines, occupations, geographical regions and constituencies whose input is vital to selecting the next leader of LSU.

The American Heart Association (AHA), the largest voluntary health organization fighting heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases, announces Dr. Steven Bailey, MD, MSCAI, MACP, FACC, as chair of the 2021Northwest Louisiana (NWLA) Heart Walk. He has been extremely active with the AHA as an advocate, educator, and fundraiser locally and in San Antonio prior to his move to Louisiana. 

Nicholas Goeders, PhD, was honored with the Wayne Drewry Award by the Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse of Northwest Louisiana for his work in the field of addiction.

Congratulations to the students selected for membership to the SAGE Honor Society for 2020-2021 academic year. The purpose of SAGE is to promote the amicable exchange of opinions between the student body and the faculty, with a view to the consistent betterment of the educational, medical, and scientific standards of the School of Medicine.

We congratulate our medical students, residents, fellows, faculty and alumni who were inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in 2020 based on their achievements in medicine.

Dr. Steven R. Bailey, Chairman of Internal Medicine at LSUHS, has been named by the American College of Physicians (ACP) Awards Committee as a 2021 Mastership recipient.  Dr. Bailey is only the fourth member of the LSU Health Shreveport faculty and one of only fifteen Louisiana physicians to have received this prestigious designation.