SHREVEPORT, La. (May 21, 2022) – 215 LSU Health Shreveport students representing the largest graduating class to date will celebrate the culmination of hundreds of hours of academic accomplishment by graduating with a Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, or Doctorate degree on Saturday, May 21. Thirteen students will receive a PhD from the School of Graduate Studies; 65 students will receive a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate from the School of Allied Health Professions; and 137 students will graduate from the School of Medicine and become Doctors of Medicine.

Graduation for all three of LSU Health Shreveport’s professional schools will take place in a combined ceremony held at Shreveport Convention Center. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Dr. William F. Tate IV, President of LSU will give the commencement address.

“We are excited and appreciative of Dr. Tate serving as our commencement speaker. He has shown tremendous interest and support to our institution since becoming LSU’s president. His enthusiasm and education in public health, research and epidemiology make him an ideal speaker for our commencement,” stated Dr. David Lewis, Interim Chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport.

Wayne Brown and Randy Morris will represent the LSU Board of Supervisors assisting in the conferring of degrees.

“I am honored, both as a university president and epidemiologist, to speak to the graduating classes at LSU Health Shreveport,” said LSU President Dr. William F. Tate IV. “These talented graduates will go on to meet the growing demands for such critical fields as allied health and medicine, and in the process further LSU’s reputation as one of the top providers of healthcare professionals in the state, region, and country. I look forward to the opportunity to share this special moment with them.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 16 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. Healthcare occupations are projected to add more jobs than any of the other occupational groups. This projected growth is mainly due to an aging population, leading to greater demand for healthcare services.

Healthcare remains a driving force in the local economy with LSU Health Shreveport contributing over $600 million annually to the local economy. More than 70 percent of the physicians and allied health professionals in the Shreveport-Bossier community received a portion or all their training at LSU Health Shreveport.

99.3 percent of the graduating medical students matched to residency programs with 44.5 percent staying in Louisiana to complete their residency training and 31.2 percent staying in Shreveport. All graduates of the Schools of Allied Health Professions and Graduate Studies have accepted employment offers or will be further pursuing their education.

The LSU Health Shreveport graduation ceremony will stream live online at www.youtube.com/user/LSUHSCShreveport.

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CONTACTS:

Lisa Babin, Executive Director of Public Affairs, Communication & Development
Office: 318-675-8769, Cell: 318-458-0166, lisa.babin@lsuhs.edu

Megan Strecker
Office: 318-675-4166, Cell: 770-595-3052, megan.strecker@lsuhs.edu

LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT GRADUATION DETAILS:

• Combined ceremony for School of Medicine, School of Allied Health Professions, and School of Graduate Studies

• Saturday, May 21 at 10 a.m.

• Shreveport Convention Center (400 Caddo Street)

SHREVEPORT, LA – LSU Health Shreveport is excited to introduce its inaugural walkathon for cancer survivors on Saturday, June 4. The event is led by a group of LSU Health Shreveport students in partnership with Feist-Weiller Cancer Center and the LSU Health Shreveport Office of Institutional Wellness. Students took action after seeing a need in the community for an event that raises awareness about cancer survivorship programs and also gives survivors, along with the community, an opportunity to practice healthy lifestyle habits.

The walkathon will be held Saturday, June 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in conjunction with National Cancer Survivors Day. Walkathon participants will complete four laps around the quarter-mile walking path on the LSU Health Shreveport campus. Teams of three will be formed to include one cancer survivor, one LSU Health Shreveport student, and one LSU Health Shreveport faculty, staff, or community member. The event is open to the public and all cancer survivors across the region. Proceeds from the walkathon will benefit the Wellness & Integrative Medicine Program at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – Feist-Weiller Cancer Center. This program includes extensive support for Feist-Weiller Cancer Center Survivors, including resources on mind, menu, and movement to improve patient outcomes as they transition from treatment to a healthy lifestyle after cancer.

In addition to the June 4th event, cancer survivors are invited to a bi-monthly cancer survivorship walking group to support one another in meeting exercise and health goals. This walking group meets at 5:15 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month at Betty Virginia Park. To learn more and register for the 2022 Cancer Survivorship Walkathon, visit  lsuhsfoundation.org/survivorshipwalkathon. Registration closes on May 25 and is free for cancer survivors and students. Anyone interested in cheering on the survivors without participating in the walk are also welcome.

LSU Health Shreveport was honored to have members of the LSU Board of Supervisors on campus today. A tour of the LSUHS Center for Medical Education was held at 9am. Construction of this $74M facility is set to conclude in the Summer of 2023 followed by installation of furniture, fixtures and equipment leading up to the projected Fall opening.

Prior to the tour, members of the LSU Board of Supervisor members received an update from over a dozen LSUHS leaders on projects and accomplishments in the areas of medical education, research, and patient care.

The full board met at LSU Shreveport starting at 11am.

Download photos and video: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0kvdl1afz5qec2z/AABzmLadE1WzxjSxkLpM4Lmea?dl=0

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CONTACT:
Lisa S. Babin, Executive Director of Communication and Public Affairs                     
Office: 318-675-8769, Cell: 318-458-0166, Lisa.Babin@lsuhs.edu

Jazmin Jernigan, Public Relations Coordinator
Office: 318-675-8789 Cell: 218-218-2081, Jazmin.Jernigan@lsuhs.edu

Shreveport, LA - The LSU Health Sciences Foundation of Shreveport hosted a Topping Out Ceremony celebrating the final structural beam being placed at the Center for Medical Education at LSU Health Shreveport on Wednesday, March 30. 

The invitation only event included top donors to the Center for Medical Education, state and local leaders, LSU Health Shreveport senior leadership, and LSUHS student representatives, who signed the final beam before it was lifted and secured onto the building.

Construction on the Center for Medical Education, a $74 million public-private partnership with the state of Louisiana, began in July 2021 and is set to conclude in the Fall of 2023. The Center for Medical Education is LSU Health Shreveport’s top fundraising priority and is part of LSU’s system-wide Fierce for the Future Campaign announced in 2019. The Center for Medical Education will allow LSU Health Shreveport to increase its medical school class size by 33% to address the healthcare shortage in Northwest Louisiana and the state.

“The Center for Medical Education is a transformational project as it will not only expand our medical education and research opportunities but will create our first common gathering space for all faculty, staff, and students. We are confident this project will strengthen our recruitment of students, faculty, and staff all of which positively impact the economy of our beloved community. On behalf of our faculty staff, and students, I offer my deepest thanks to every donor, the state of Louisiana, and the federal government for their investment in this exciting project,” stated David Lewis MD, Interim Chancellor and Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health Shreveport.

Ochsner LSU Health System of North Louisiana, a partnership formed in 2018 between Ochsner Health and LSU Health Shreveport, announced an additional $8 million gift to the Center for Medical Education at the ceremony.

“In the spirit of the partnership, and to show our commitment to growing healthcare and healthcare providers in North Louisiana, I’m about proud to announce this additional $8 million gift,” stated David Callecod, Interim CEO of Ochsner LSU Health System – North Louisiana. “The Center for Medical Education a catalyst to improving the health and well-being of our region and the overall quality of life in North Louisiana. As we educate our future physicians, along with our partner LSU Health Shreveport, it helps ensure our entire region will continue to have the care they need when they need it.”

Ochsner LSU Health previously committed $2.5 million in 2019. With additional funding from Ochsner Health in New Orleans, the partners are the largest private donors to the project with a commitment of $15.5 million. The Ochsner Health Wellness Center located within the Center for Medical Education will provide LSUHS students, staff, and faculty a state-of-the-art facility with a gym, group fitness rooms, meditation areas, counseling services, and more.

LEMOINE, who was awarded the competitive construction contract by the State of Louisiana, is just over 260 days into the construction of the Center for Medical Education.

“It’s an honor to partner on this project,” stated William Lemoine, President of Vertical Construction for LEMOINE. “Over the years our company has been fortunate to partner in building some of the most significant educational and healthcare facilities in the state of Louisiana. The Center for Medical Education will certainly be no exception as it is sure to foster excellence in education and health and wellness for our community. We look forward to delivering this extraordinary vision into a reality.”

The Center for Medical Education will also be the new home to the Center of Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT), allowing significant expansion of its research capabilities and impact in the region and state.  As the 6th-largest employer in the Shreveport-Bossier MSA with a direct economic impact of nearly $600 million, the Center for Medical Education will further impact LSU Health Shreveport’s economic growth for the region.

“We are excited to celebrate this significant milestone for our campus and community with those who have made it all possible. Before a shovel had even hit the ground, our donors saw the vision. Even through the uncertainty of the pandemic, they remained committed because they knew what the Center for Medical Education would mean for our community. I want to thank them for rising to the challenge,” stated Kevin Flood, President of the LSU Health Sciences Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to Ochsner Health and Ochsner LSU Health who have been on this journey with us from day one. They have been our primary supporter and that support has never wavered.”

To learn more about the Center for Medical Education, including a virtual tour, current naming opportunities, and ways to support the project, visit FutureofLSUHS.com or call the LSU Health Sciences Foundation at 318-861-0855.

Pictured left to right: David Lewis MD, Interim Chancellor and Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health Shreveport; Kevin Flood, President of the LSU Health Sciences Foundation; David Callecod, Interim CEO of Ochsner LSU Health System – North Louisiana; William Lemoine, President of Vertical Construction for LEMOINE.

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CONTACT:
Jazmin Jernigan, Public Relations Coordinator
Office: 318-675-8789, Cell: 318-716-8606, jazmin.jernigan@lsuhs.edu

About LSU Health Shreveport
LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) is one of two Health Sciences Centers of the Louisiana State University System and one of only 154 in the nation.  LSU Health Shreveport is home to the School of Medicine, School of Graduate Studies and School of Allied Health Professions, and a robust research enterprise, which has made a significant impact on the COVID-19 response in Louisiana, region and nation.

LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) has received a notice of award from Health and Human Services (HHS) for a $7 million appropriation in support of the Center for Medical Education and Emerging Viral Threats. Senator Bill Cassidy was instrumental in the receipt of this funding for LSUHS, which will enhance the impact of the Center for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT) as it is able to expand significantly in the new Center for Medical Education building. Additional medical education and research opportunities coupled with the expected increase in the number of clinical trials testing new anti-virals and other anti-pathogen agents to combat infections with viruses, bacteria, fungi, or other pathogens will yield enhanced economic impact to the region and the state.

“This supports a strategy by which LSU Health Shreveport can better track the spread of coronavirus now and other infections in the future. This keeps us healthier and lowers health care costs. It also expands research possibilities to create more and better-paying jobs,” said Dr. Cassidy. The appropriation will supplement $50 million in state, local and philanthropic giving.

The CEVT, which will transition from a BSL2 to a BSL3 lab, will continue and then expand its mission as a robust surveillance site for new and returning pathogens, as well as serve as an incubator to attract new faculty.

LSU Health Shreveport’s Center for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT) has established an unprecedented track record in saving lives from COVID-19 among a population facing historical health disparities. The appropriation fosters enhanced services to rural and often underserved populations of Northwest Louisiana which often suffer disproportionately. Furthermore, the Center for Emerging Viral Threats has been a state and national leader in genomic sequencing which identified novel variants of the virus in Louisiana. Viral genomic sequencing is necessary for national and global health security and is an important aspect in effective and timely response against future pandemics and outbreaks.

“This funding for LSU Health Shreveport’s new Center for Medical Education and our Center for Emerging Viral Threats is substantial. It provides fundamental support that will us to expand and strengthen the capabilities we have to address present and future viral threats and improve public health outcomes, all while continuing to pave the way for our institution as a national leader in this area of research,” said Chris Kevil, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Research at LSU Health Shreveport. “I greatly appreciate the work and support of Senator Cassidy, who was instrumental in establishing this funding for LSUHS that will allow us to further succeed in our mission to teach, heal and discover in order to advance the well-being of the State, region, and beyond.”

 This appropriation will complete the Center for Medical Education, which will incorporate the Center for Emerging Viral Threats and additional lab space, allowing the CEVT to reach its’ fullest potential as a regional and national center of specialization in the field of virology research and viral genomic surveillance. An increased number of novel pharmaceutical trials are anticipated to occur with expansion of the CEVT further increasing its’ impact to the economy and health of our citizenry. Expanded career opportunities and targeted workforce development will occur with the expansion of the CEVT.   

LSU Health Shreveport is committed to health equity by understanding and appropriately addressing the needs of all populations thus ensuring our community will become stronger, safer, healthier, and better prepared to address future pandemics.

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CONTACT:
Lisa Babin, Executive Director of Public Affairs & Communication
Office: 318-675-8769, Cell: 318-458-0166, lisa.babin@lsuhs.edu

Interactive Day of Education and Awareness of Science, also known as IDEAS, is a free community event that exposes elementary and middle school children to the wonder and excitement of science. LSU Health Shreveport Science Matters Interest Group organizes the interactive day filled with science demonstrations that will feature over 35 experiments.  Presenters include LSU Shreveport Chemistry Club, SciPort, Louisiana Addiction Research Center (LARC), and the LSUHS Center for Brain Health.

IDEAS Day will be held Saturday, March 26 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the UC mall of the LSU Shreveport campus located at 1 University Place, Shreveport 71115.

Registration is encouraged but not required, with the link closing on the morning of the event. Registration link. For more information, email Sarah Wagner at sew001@lsuhs.edu.

Examples of some of the demonstrations are attached in the Dropbox link below:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/coxv2u4xgrr2i5m/AADLiPZB8w-VFLvKqUoX67bza?dl=0

Interviews are available upon request with student organizers at the event.

SHREVEPORT – Today 140 LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine students learned where they will go for their residency training. For Match applicants, Match Day symbolizes the transition from undergraduate to graduate medical education, the day when they learn which residency training program they will attend as they begin their careers as physicians. It is a day filled with emotion as applicants reflect on all they have accomplished.

This year, the NRMP provided matching services to more than 42,000 applicants. The NRMP maintains a highly secure environment for applicants and programs to be able to rank their true preferences, confidentially, without undue pressure. The matching algorithm then attempts to place applicants into their most preferred training program that also prefers them.

At medical schools nationwide, Match Day ceremonies are held in tandem on the third Friday in March. The landmark event is a career-defining moment when students and their families discover which residency program they matched with and where they will spend the next three to seven years completing their graduate medical education.

This year, 99.3% of LSU Health Shreveport’s applicants matched continuing this strong indicator of competitiveness of a national level. 31.2% of the graduating class of 2022 will be staying at LSU Health Shreveport for their residency with a total of 41.8 % of graduates matching to a LSU residency site. 44.5% of the graduating students will be staying in Louisiana, which is critical with Louisiana facing a significant shortfall in the number of physicians needed to meet the healthcare demand of the state. Also of note is that 49.9% are entering into primary care residencies comprised of Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, and Medicine-Pediatrics. Of the 55.5% pursuing residencies outside of Louisiana, they will do so at prestigious programs around the country including Duke, Georgetown, Emory, Wake Forest, Case Western, Baylor, UCLA and UT Southwestern.

Dr. David Lewis, Interim Chancellor and Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health Shreveport stated, “I am so proud of our students’ success in matching to a residency. It should be noted that their path to this accomplishment included navigating multiple years of a pandemic both personally and academically. I wish each of them continued success moving forward and I offer my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our faculty and staff who deliver exemplary medical education while personally caring for each student.” 

Match Day also reveals newly minted physicians coming into the Shreveport-Bossier City area. LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine successfully filled all 131 residency positions available. This new group of LSUHS residents will be welcomed to Shreveport in July, where they will train at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center, St. Mary Medical Center, and Monroe Medical Center along with other partner hospitals.

Learn more about Match Day at LSUHS

Photo and video clips upon request. Livestream video available at https://youtu.be/KE06v20TlO4.

Aaron Sheppard, a second-year medical student at the LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine, has been selected to participate in the 2022-2023 class of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP). The MRSP is a year-long residential research immersion program for future clinician-scientists who are current medical, dental, and veterinary students that advances health by inspiring careers in biomedical research. Aaron is one of 50 medical students from across the country and the first medical student from LSUHS chosen to participate in this prestigious program.

CONTACT:
Jazmin Jernigan, Public Relations Coordinator
Office: 318-675-8789, Cell: 318-716-8606, jazmin.jernigan@lsuhs.edu

About LSU Health Shreveport

LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) is one of two Health Sciences Centers of the Louisiana State University System and one of only 154 in the nation.  LSU Health Shreveport is home to the School of Medicine, School of Graduate Studies and School of Allied Health Professions, and a robust research enterprise, which has made a significant impact on the COVID-19 response in Louisiana, region and nation.

SHREVEPORT – LSU Health Shreveport is once again offering their Summer Student Leadership Program (SSLP) which targets undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in business and administration disciplines who seek to learn the daily business operations of a higher education institution. Program participants will serve in the capacity of student workers in different administrative departments at LSU Health Shreveport. The mission of the SSLP is to provide educational and valuable work experience to student leaders and establish a network of potential future employees through a goal-driven summer program.

SSLP will commence in June 2022 and run through July 2022 for a total of eight (8) weeks. Program participants will be paid and required to commit thirty-six (36) hours per week. There will be a mandatory orientation for all program participants prior to the official start day for the program.

SSLP will require participants to complete projects assigned by their respective department. Projects will have measurable goals and benchmarks that will monitor program participants’ progress. SSLP participants will also participate in roundtable discussions with fellow program participants and career development sessions led by the SSLP Program Coordinator and participate in a class service project.

Minimum Application Requirements:

Applicant must be enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university at the time of application (student will need to provide proof of status prior to beginning the program).

Undergraduate applicants must have attained sophomore classification at the time of application.

Applicant must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

SSLP is open to students in all disciplines. However, students majoring in the following academic programs are strongly encouraged to apply:

Business Administration                                         Healthcare Administration
Marketing/Communications                                     Business Management
Accounting                                                               Finance
Human Resources                                                   Computer Science
Computer Information Systems                              Political Science/Pre-Law Criminal Justice

TO APPLY:
Please combine the following requested documents into one PDF document for your submission. Email your completed application to Shelvia R. Grant (shelvia.grant@lsuhs.edu) by March 22, 2022.

-Resume
-Letter of Interest
-Contact information (Name, Title, Phone Number and Email Address) for three (3) references
-College transcript (Transcript can be downloaded from school’s website; applicants’ status will be verified prior to program commencement).

Please Note: INCOMPLETE PACKETS WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM CONSIDERATION.

For further inquiries, please contact Shelvia R. Grant at 318.675.8125 or shelvia.grant@lsuhs.edu

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CONTACT:

Lisa Babin, Executive Director of Public Affairs & Communication
Office: 318-675-8769, Cell: 318-458-0166, lisa.babin@lsuhs.edu

Interviews are available upon request with Shelvia Grant, SSLP Program Coordinator

SHREVEPORT – On Saturday, March 5, 149 students participated in a rite of passage known as the “White Coat Ceremony”  which signifies their entrance into the medical profession.  Students receive a short white coat symbolizing their journey to the long white coat they will wear once they are a physician. The White Coat Ceremony is a tradition established by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation in 1993 at Columbia University as a way to highlight the importance of humanism in all care of patients, with the white coat serving as a tangible symbol of matriculation. Trained surgeons, soon followed by physicians, began wearing white lab coats in the late 1800s to distinguish themselves from those that did not practice evidence-based medicine.

After the white coat is placed on each student’s shoulders, the Hippocratic Oath is often recited, and students are welcomed warmly by academic leadership, faculty, and peers. Today 99% of AAMC-accredited schools of medicine in the United States hold a White Coat Ceremony, and many students consider it a milestone in the journey of their medical career.

The 2022 LSU Health Shreveport White Coat Ceremony was held at a packed Strand Theatre with Dr. Keith White, MD, FACS, Professor and the John C. McDonald MD Endowed Chair of Surgery serving as the keynote speaker.

“The annual White Coat Ceremony is a day I look forward to each year as it is one of the most memorable days in the lives of our medical students and their families.  Moving into the next phase of medical training is a day for each student and their families to celebrate as these students have now taken a major step in accomplishing their goal of becoming physicians”, stated David Lewis, MD, MBA, Dean of the School of Medicine and Interim Chancellor at LSU Health Shreveport.     

In addition to the presentation of white coats, new honorees were inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS). This international honor society was established in 2002 by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation with the purpose of recognizing medical students, residents and faculty who practice patient-centered care by displaying qualities of excellence, compassion, altruism, respect, and empathy. Currently there are 175 chapters of GHHS of which three are international comprised of over 40,000 students, faculty, and other healthcare leaders.

PHOTO GALLERY

The list of 2022 Gold Humanism Honor Society Inductees is denoted below:

Faculty Inductees:

1. James Cotelingam
2. Terry Lairmore
3. Chiranjiv Virk
4. Michael Yim

House Officer Inductees:

1. Beatriz Briones
2. Sean Holmes
3. Sam Igbinedion
4. Chris Oglesby
5. Connor Eckholdt
6. Kristie Searcy

Student Inductees:

1. Sarah Bertrand
2. Andee Fontenot
3. Taylor Jeannsone
4. Kyle Lewis
5. Kendall Lewis
6. Ali Zeringue
7. Hillary Savage
8. Meredith Nelson
9. Grace Ann McCurdy
10. Alexa Tafaro
11. Asad Mussarat
12. Maggie Ross
13. Katherine Russo
14. Catherine Loehr
15. Kerigan Bowman
16. Brady Rice
17. Hannah Logan
18. Wybra Price
19. Hunter Hines
20. Ashley Barras
21. Lauren Rando
22. Weldon Furr

Dewey and Gigi Corley through their Chaparral Foundation, together with Margaret Place Properties, Inc., Frances and William Comegys, III, and the Family of Aaron and Peggy Selber, have committed a combined $1.2 million to establish the first endowment for LSU Health Shreveport’s Center of Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT). This is the largest private gift in the CEVT’s history. The group presented the gift to leadership of the CEVT and LSU Health Shreveport at a press conference at LSUHS.

“These gifts will provide fundamental support for the CEVT for years to come as we continue to address the public health needs of the North Louisiana region and beyond,” said LSU Health Shreveport Vice Chancellor for Research, Chris Kevil, PhD. “Support through gifts like this enhance our capability to address current and future viral threats and elevate LSU Health Shreveport’s position as a national leader in viral research.”

The Emerging Viral Threat (EVT) Laboratory was established in March 2020 to address the need for faster detection and processing of COVID-19 tests, making it the first testing lab to be established at an academic medical center in Louisiana. In December 2020, the LSU Board of Supervisors and the Louisiana Board of Regents designated the lab a Center of Excellence. Since its inception, the CEVT has processed 547,344 COVID-19 PCR tests, administered 118,307 COVID-19 vaccines, and sequenced more than 10,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes representing 48% of all genomic sequencing in Louisiana.

“As confident as I was in our ability to stand-up a first-class lab to process COVID-19 test samples, I could never have envisioned the wide-scale impact of our services. I will be forever grateful to our lab staff, strike teams and LSUHS leadership for their early and continued support allowing us to grow and now be on the cusp of moving into a BSL3 lab in in 2023,” stated Andrew Yurochko, PhD, Executive Director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats.

The Center of Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats’ core mission is to engage in multidisciplinary, basic, and translational research on infectious viruses, provide surveillance and detection for current and future viral threats, provide cutting edge diagnostics and access to national clinical trials, and educate physicians, scientists and the community about prevention, treatment and the science of viral-mediated diseases.

“On behalf of the entire COVID-19 Strike Team, I am thankful for these community leaders who recognize the important work being done by the CEVT,” said John Vanchiere, MD, PhD, Associate Director of the CEVT and Director of the LSUHS COVID-19 Strike Team. “This gift will allow for the CEVT’s continued success in combating COVID-19 and serving the community.”

Dewey Corley, local businessman and long-time supporter of LSU Health Shreveport stated, “We are proud to support the important work being done right here in Shreveport at the CEVT. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the scientists at LSU Health Shreveport have remained committed to serving this community, and we hope this gift demonstrates how grateful we are for every member of the CEVT for their dedication and expertise.”

Bill Comegys, president of the local non-profit group, Margaret Place Properties, Inc., shared, “We are excited for the opportunity to support the CEVT at LSU Health Shreveport. The CEVT has become a vital resource for our community and its citizens, and we are proud to aid in its continued growth.”

Through this historic gift, the group hopes to encourage others to support the CEVT’s work and mission. For more information about the CEVT and giving opportunities, visit www.lsuhs.edu/centers/center-of-excellence-for-emerging-viral-threats.

Effective Wednesday, January 5, the LSU Health Shreveport Center for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT) will be moving its’ community COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts back to the Louisiana State Fairgrounds located at 3701 Hudson Avenue.  This temporary move is being made to reduce wait times and to accommodate more individuals each day.  It is critical to the effectiveness of area hospitals and urgent/quick care facilities that asymptomatic individuals NOT utilize Emergency Rooms (ER) or Urgent Care facilities for COVID testing.

The Louisiana State Fairgrounds location will return to a high throughput, multiple lane site like the one set up when vaccines became available in early 2021.   The Louisiana National Guard, CHRISTUS Health, Willis-Knighton Health System, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, and the Louisiana Department of Health continue to be essential partners in support of the LSUHS CEVT testing and vaccination efforts in Northwest Louisiana.

PCR Tests for COIVD-19, COVID vaccinations, booster shots, and third doses, will all be available at the Fairgrounds Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm, with gates closing at 4:30pm.  Test results will be available within 24-48 hours with PCR tests being the “gold standard” for accuracy.  Pre-registration is not required for testing.

To date, the LSU Health Shreveport COVID-19 Strike Teams have administered a total of 535,153 COVID tests and 115,464 doses of COVID vaccine.

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CONTACT: 

Lisa Babin, Executive Director of Communication and Public Affairs
Office: 318-675-8769  | Cell: 318-458-0166   | Email: Lisa.Babin@lsuhs.edu          

Jazmin Jernigan, Public Relations Coordinator  
Office: 318-675-8789  | Cell: 318-716-8606   | Email: jazmin.jernigan@lsuhs.edu

Shreveport – The Center of Excellence for Emerging Threats (CEVT) continues to offer COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at the North Campus site located at 2627 Linwood Avenue, Monday - Friday, 10AM – 6PM.

• PCR Testing is available to all ages.
• For Initial doses of the vaccine, children ages 5 to 17 may ONLY receive the Pfizer vaccine, but adults aged 18 and older may receive the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• Those age 5 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may request a third primary dose of the appropriate vaccine.
• The Pfizer Booster shot is available to children ages 12 to 17 that have received their second shot five or more months ago.  

Regarding Boosters, the FDA recommends:

• If unvaccinated, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA vaccines) are recommended.
• Those that are fully vaccinated, should request a booster shot if:
  • They received their second Pfizer-BioNTech more than 5 months ago and are age 12+ years
  • They are 18 years of age and received their second Moderna shot more than 6 months ago
  • They received a J&J/Janssen shot more than 2 months ago

All vaccinations and/or testing takes place without an individual needing to leave the vehicle.
No appointments are needed for first or second doses, or the booster. Individuals that received the first and second dose of the vaccine from a non-LSUHS location should pre-register at www.lsuhs.edu to receive the booster.

Individuals should provide ID and insurance information when they arrive at any LSUHS vaccine distribution site. Those that are without insurance are still eligible to receive the vaccine. To preregister, go to the LSU Health Shreveport website at www.lsuhs.edu.  

LSUHS COVID-19 TESTING & VACCINATION SITE

North Campus (former Chevyland) – 2726 Linwood Avenue, Shreveport
10 AM – 6 PM; Monday – Friday
PCR COVID-19 Testing, COVID vaccines and boosters

LSUHS COVID-19 VACCINATION SITES 

Margaritaville Resort & Casino – 777 Margaritaville Way, Shreveport
Tuesday, February 15
10 AM – 12 PM; 1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) – 6220 E. Texas, Bossier City
Wednesday, February 16
10 AM – 1 PM; 1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

BosMan Barber College – 2724 W. 70^th Street, Shreveport
Wednesday, February 16
11 AM – 1 PM; 1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Airport Park Community Center – 6500 Kennedy Drive, Shreveport
Saturday, February 19
9 AM – 11 PM; 1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Southern Hills Community Center – 1002 W. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport
Saturday, February 19
10 AM – 12 PM; 1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Bill Cockrell Park Community Center – 4109 Pines Road, Shreveport  
Saturday, February 19
1 PM – 3 PM; 1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

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CONTACT: Jazmin Jernigan, Public Relations Coordinator
Office: 318-675-8789, Cell: 318-716-8606, jazmin.jernigan@lsuhs.edu

Shreveport – The Center of Excellence for Emerging Threats (CEVT) is continuing COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at the North Campus site located at 2627 Linwood Avenue, Monday - Friday, 10AM – 6PM. 

• PCR Testing is available to all ages.
• For Initial doses of the vaccine, children ages 5 to 17 may ONLY receive the Pfizer vaccine, but adults aged 18 and older may receive the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• Those age 5 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may request a third primary dose of the appropriate vaccine.
• The Pfizer Booster shot is available to children ages 12 to 17 that have received their second shot five or more months ago.  

Regarding Boosters, the FDA recommends:

• If unvaccinated, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA vaccines) are recommended.
• Those that are fully vaccinated, should request a booster shot if:
  • They received their second Pfizer-BioNTech more than 5 months ago and are age 12+ years
  • They are 18 years of age and received their second Moderna shot more than 6 months ago
  • They received a J&J/Janssen shot more than 2 months ago

All vaccinations and/or testing takes place without an individual needing to leave the vehicle.
No appointments are needed for first or second doses, or the booster. Individuals that received the first and second dose of the vaccine from a non-LSUHS location should pre-register at www.lsuhs.edu to receive the booster.

Individuals should provide ID and insurance information when they arrive at any LSUHS vaccine distribution site. Those that are without insurance are still eligible to receive the vaccine. To preregister, go to the LSU Health Shreveport website at www.lsuhs.edu.  

LSUHS COVID-19 TESTING & VACCINATION SITE

North Campus (former Chevyland) – 2726 Linwood Avenue, Shreveport 
10 AM – 6 PM; Monday – Friday
PCR COVID-19 Testing, COVID vaccines and boosters

LSUHS COVID-19 VACCINATION SITES

Bill Cockrell Park Community Center – 4109 Pines Road, Shreveport
Saturday, January 29 / 9 AM – 12 PM; 
1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Airport Park Community Center – 6500 Kennedy Drive, Shreveport
Saturday, January 29 / 1 PM – 4 PM; 
1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Williams Memorial CME – 7288 Greenwood Road, Shreveport
Saturday, January 29 / 1 PM – 4 PM; 
1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Hattie Perry Park – 4300 Ledbetter Street, Shreveport
Saturday, February 5 / 10 AM – 1 PM; 
1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Mitchell Park – 1518 Cox Street, Shreveport 
Saturday, February 5 / 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM; 
1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Clear Horizon Apartments – 4305 Illinois Avenue, Shreveport
Saturday, February 5 / 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM; 
1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Goldonna – 3159 Main Street, Goldonna
Saturday, February 5 / 1 PM – 5 PM; 
1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Springhill Public Health Unit – 110 June Anthony Drive, Springhill
Sunday, February 6 / 10 AM – 2 PM; 
1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

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CONTACT: 
Jazmin Jernigan, Public Relations Coordinator
Office: 318-675-8789, Cell: 318-716-8606, jazmin.jernigan@lsuhs.edu

Shreveport – The Center of Excellence for Emerging Threats (CEVT) continues to provide lifesaving testing and vaccines at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds site located at 3710 Hudson Avenue, Monday through Saturday, 10AM – 5PM. Gates close at 4:30PM. This large-scale community clinic will be open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day—Monday, January 17.

• PCR Testing is available to all ages.
• For Initial doses of the vaccine, children 5 through 17 years of age may ONLY receive the Pfizer vaccine, but adults aged 18 and older may receive the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• Those age 5 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may request a third primary dose of the appropriate vaccine.
• The Pfizer Booster shot is available to children 12 through 17 years of age that have received their second shot five or more months ago.  

Regarding Boosters, the FDA recommends:

• If unvaccinated, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA vaccines) are recommended.
• Those that are fully vaccinated, should request a booster shot if:
  • They received their second Pfizer-BioNTech more than 5 months ago and are age 12+ years
  • They are 18 years of age and received their second Moderna shot more than 6 months ago
  • They received a J&J/Janssen shot more than 2 months ago

All vaccinations and/or testing takes place without an individual needing to leave the vehicle.

No appointments are needed for first or second doses of the vaccine. 

Individuals should provide ID and insurance information when they arrive at any LSUHS vaccine distribution site. Those that are without insurance are still eligible to receive the vaccine. While pre-registration is encouraged for those ages 18 and up, it is not required to receive the vaccine. To preregister, go to the LSU Health Shreveport website at www.lsuhs.edu.  

LSUHS COVID-19 TESTING & VACCINATION SITE

Louisiana State Fairgrounds – 3701 Hudson Avenue, Shreveport           

• 10 AM – 5 PM; Monday – Saturday; gates close at 4:30 PM
  PCR COVID-19 Testing, COVID vaccines and boosters

LSUHS COVID-19 VACCINATION SITES 

Clear Horizon Apartments – 4305 Illinois Ave, Shreveport

• Saturday, January 15, 9 AM – 12 PM; 1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Webster Parish Public Health Unit – 1200 Homer Road, Minden             

• Sunday, January 16, 10 AM – 2 PM; 1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Peaceful Rest Baptist Church – 8200 St. Vincent Avenue, Shreveport             

• Sunday, January 16, 12 PM – 3 PM; 1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) – 6220 E. Texas St, Bossier City              

• Wednesday, January 19, 1 PM – 4 PM; 1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

BilBerry Recreational Center – 1902 Alabama Avenue, Shreveport              

• Saturday, January 22, 9 AM – 12 PM; 1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Valencia Recreation Center – 1800 Viking Dr, Shreveport             

• Saturday, January 22, 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM; 1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

Williams Memorial CME – 7288 Greenwood Road, Shreveport              

• Saturday, January 22, 1 PM – 4 PM; 1^st or 2^nd doses of vaccine, and booster shots are available.

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CONTACT: Jazmin Jernigan, Public Relations Coordinator
Office: 318-675-8789, Cell: 318-716-8606, jazmin.jernigan@lsuhs.edu

 

Effective Wednesday, January 5, the LSU Health Shreveport Center for Emerging Viral Threats (CEVT) will be moving its’ community COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts back to the Louisiana State Fairgrounds located at 3701 Hudson Avenue.  This temporary move is being made to reduce wait times and to accommodate more individuals each day.  It is critical to the effectiveness of area hospitals and urgent/quick care facilities that asymptomatic individuals NOT utilize Emergency Rooms (ER) or Urgent Care facilities for COVID testing.

The Louisiana State Fairgrounds location will return to a high throughput, multiple lane site like the one set up when vaccines became available in early 2021.   The Louisiana National Guard, CHRISTUS Health, Willis-Knighton Health System, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, and the Louisiana Department of Health continue to be essential partners in support of the LSUHS CEVT testing and vaccination efforts in Northwest Louisiana.

PCR Tests for COIVD-19, COVID vaccinations, booster shots, and third doses, will all be available at the Fairgrounds Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm, with gates closing at 4:30pm.  Test results will be available within 24-48 hours with PCR tests being the “gold standard” for accuracy.  Pre-registration is not required for testing.

To date, the LSU Health Shreveport COVID-19 Strike Teams have administered a total of 535,153 COVID tests and 115,464 doses of COVID vaccine.

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CONTACT: 

Lisa Babin, Executive Director of Communication and Public Affairs
Office: 318-675-8769  | Cell: 318-458-0166   | Email: Lisa.Babin@lsuhs.edu          

Jazmin Jernigan, Public Relations Coordinator  
Office: 318-675-8789  | Cell: 318-716-8606   | Email: jazmin.jernigan@lsuhs.edu