2024 Press Releases
- 3-15-2024 LSUHS School of Medicine Celebrates Match Day with 99.2% Match Rate
- 3-7-2024 Feist-Weiller Cancer Center "Partners In Wellness" Program kicks off Conorectal Cancer Awareness Month with Free Screenings.
- 3-2-2024 LSUHS Medical Students Celebrate White Coat Milestone
- 2-23-2024 LSUHS Secures New Patents
- 2-15-2024 LSUHS Holds 6th Annual Research Celebration
- 2-6-2024 LSUHS and Volunteers of America North Louisiana Launch New Mental Health Program: EpiCenter
3-15-2024 LSUHS School of Medicine Celebrates Match Day with 99.2% Match Rate
Today, 131 LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine students learned where they will go to complete their residency training during the annual Match Day celebration. Each year, on the third Friday in March at 12 pm ET, all fourth-year medical students throughout the U.S. discover where they have “matched” to for their residency training. For applicants, Match Day signals the transition from undergraduate to graduate medical education for applicants.
This year, the National Resident Matching Program of the Association of American Medical Colleges, or NRMP®, reported that the 2024 Residency Match is the largest in NRMP's 71-year history. There were 44,853 applicants searching for a match with only 41,503 available positions leaving over 3,300 individuals who did not match.
LSU Health Shreveport is proud to announce that 99.2% of the School of Medicine’s applicants matched through the NMRP along with a 100% match rate for students entering military service, proving that LSUHS remains a strong competitor at the national level. Of the 2024 class, 28.9% will be staying at LSU Health Shreveport for their residency and 43% of graduates have matched to an LSU residency site.
51% of the graduates will be staying in Louisiana. This is critical for addressing Louisiana’s physician shortfall in order to meet the growing healthcare demands of the state based on the number of physicians projected to retire and an increase in the number of residents over the age of 75 reflecting a national trend.
45% have matched in primary care residencies comprised of Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Family Medicine and Medicine-Pediatrics.
LSU Health Shreveport medical students matched to highly competitive residencies and will train in prestigious programs around the country including: Mass General/Harvard, Wake Forest, Emory, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Baylor, UT Southwestern and several others. The LSU Health Shreveport Class of 2024 will receive their Doctor of Medicine on Saturday, May 18.
Dr. David Lewis, Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health Shreveport stated, “I am proud of and excited for the Class of 2024, whose match rate of 99.2% coupled with the highly competitive programs our students matched into, proves that our medical students are continuing to compete successfully at the national level. I applaud our medical education leadership and the hundreds of faculty who invested in these students culminating in today’s impressive Match results. We are gratified to see our five-year match rate of 99% continue for the LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine”.
Match Day also reveals the number of newly minted physicians coming into the Shreveport-Bossier area to begin their post graduate training. LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine successfully filled all 138 residency positions. The new group of 180 trainees (residents and fellows) will be welcomed to Shreveport in July, where they will train at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport - Academic Medical Center, St. Mary Medical Center, Monroe Medical Center, and Rapides Medical Center along with other partner hospitals.
“The Office of Graduate Medical Education is honored to welcome those who selected to pursue their residency or fellowship at LSU Health Shreveport. We are confident in our ability to train these individuals in their respective fields and to do so in an inclusive, professional and welcoming atmosphere,” stated James Morris, MD, FACG, FACP, AGAF, FASGE, Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education and VA Affairs and LSU Health Shreveport’s Designated Institutional Official for graduate medical education.
3-7-2024 Feist-Weiller Cancer Center "Partners In Wellness" Program kicks off Conorectal Cancer Awareness Month with Free Screenings.
Partners in Wellness, the mobile cancer screening program at Ochsner LSU Health--Feist-Weiller Cancer Center (FWCC) kicked off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month by holding a community colon cancer screening event at MLK Health Center on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Community members and patients of the MLK Health Center were able to receive a Cologuard® screening test thanks to a generous gift from Dak Prescott’s Faith, Fight, Finish Foundation, which gave $81,877 to the program to provide underserved Louisianans with Cologuard screening tests for colon and rectal cancer.
FWCC’s Partners in Wellness vans bring critical cancer screenings to more than 30 communities in North and Central Louisiana and are open to everyone, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. The vans have the only mobile, digital mammography equipment in North Louisiana, and they can screen for breast, cervical, prostate, and now thanks to Dak Prescott’s gift, colorectal cancers. Colon cancer is one of four pillars the Faith, Fight, Finish Foundation tackles, and for good reason. Prescott’s mother, Margaret “Peggy” Prescott passed away in 2013 at the age of 52 after a valiant battle with Stage 4 colon cancer.
North Louisiana has a significantly high colorectal cancer incidence rate: 7 of the 11 highest prevalence areas in the state are in northern Louisiana. Colon cancer is also more prevalent in African American populations, which represent 59% of Partners in Wellness patients. Nationwide, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death, behind only lung cancer.
“Louisiana, and especially North Louisiana, experiences significantly higher occurrence and mortality rates from colorectal cancer than in other parts of the United States,” said Dr. Richard Mansour, Interim Director of Feist-Weiller. “What an incredible way Dak is honoring his mother’s legacy by making it possible for so many to be screened much earlier for colon cancer.”
Since 1999, the Partners in Wellness mobile cancer screening program has served more than 20,000 patients through more than 50,000 screenings provided at no cost to the patients.
3-2-2024 LSUHS Medical Students Celebrate White Coat Milestone
On Saturday, March 2, 2024, one hundred forty-nine (149) LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine students participated in a traditional rite of passage known as the “White Coat Ceremony” which signifies their entrance into the medical profession. During the ceremony, second-year medical students receive a short white coat symbolizing their journey to the long white coat they will wear once they are a physician. 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. This tradition was 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.
The 2024 LSU Health Shreveport White Coat Ceremony was held at a packed Strand Theatre which is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Dr. Michael Sewell, Interim Chair of Medicine at LSU Health Shreveport, serving as the keynote speaker.
“The annual White Coat Ceremony is a milestone day in the lives of medical students and their families and one that we as faculty and leadership look forward to each year. We congratulate these students and look forward to their continued success,” stated David Lewis, MD, MBA, Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health Shreveport.
In addition to the presentation of white coats, 31 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 187 chapters of GHHS comprised of over 45,000 students, faculty, and other healthcare leaders.
The list of 2024 Gold Humanism Honor Society Inductees is denoted below:
Faculty Inductees:
- Chaitanya Ahuja, MD
- Bruno Alvarez, MD
- Dani Zoorob, MD
Resident Inductees:
- Mohammad Khan, MD
- Mackenzie Latour, MD
- Cameron Meyer, DO
- Sara Preston, MD
- Saman Siddiqui, MD
- Rahul Vyas, MD
Student Inductees:
- Ivan Alvarez
- Christian Bonner
- Margaret Boston
- Hannah Cowart
- Charles Daniel
- Annaliesa Fanguy
- Mason Favre
- Michael Hebert
- Christopher Honore
- Amanda Husein
- Maria Kerrigan
- Kirsten Maddox
- Sarah Martin
- Chizoba Mosieri
- Jillian Sandoz
- Ashlyn Scheinost
- Gaelen Shimkus
- Tyler Tran
- LeighAnn Vincik
- Francesca Weis
- Diensn Xing
- Noah Young
2-23-2024 LSUHS Secures New Patents
Shreveport, La. – Five new patents have been awarded to current or retired LSU Health Shreveport faculty members in fiscal year 2024 (July 2023-June 2024). These patents not only protect the intellectual property of the inventors but offer new processes or treatment methods options that significantly advance science and medical care.
The achievement of being issued a patent is a testament to each inventor and their team’s expertise, creativity, and passion for scientific advancement in their respective fields, and the institution's mission to support innovation and discovery. It is also a testament to their dedication and diligence as the process of filing and being awarded a patent can be one that is complex and lengthy. These recently issued patents were filed in 2017, 2020, and 2021, respectively. The types of patents awarded are defined as utility or divisional patents. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) may grant a utility patent to anyone who invents or discovers a new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvements of these. A divisional patent is filed after the initial parent application and has been divided out of this earlier patent to get more protection for multiple inventions.
Details of the five patents issued are below. For more information on any of these patents and to explore collaborative opportunities with LSU Health Shreveport, contact the Office for Technology Transfer at techtransfer@lsuhs.edu.
Patent Title: Methods of treating neurodegenerative disorders
Inventors: Yuping Wang, MD, PhD and Xiao-Hong Lu, PhD
Patent Number: US-11707491 (Utility Patent)
Overview: This method of therapy introduces a novel approach to treating neurodegenerative disorders and brain injuries. Utilizing neural progenitor cells derived from the mammalian placenta, this method offers hope for millions affected by conditions such as cerebral palsy, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. This innovative treatment is designed to offer a targeted therapy to repair and regenerate damaged neural tissue, providing a new pathway to recovery and health improvement compared to current treatment options.
Patent Title: Targeting the TLK1/NEK1 axis in prostate cancer
Inventors: Arrigo De Benedetti, PhD; et.al.
Patent Number: US-11826369 (Utility Patent)
Overview: Prostate cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among men worldwide. Despite advancements in treatment, the progression to castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) represents a significant challenge, often leading to fatal outcomes. This novel therapeutic approach introduces a combination therapy designed to significantly improve the benefits of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and delay the progression to CRPC.
Patent Title: Cancer treatment via repositioned tricyclic anti-depressant-like drugs as anti-cancer agents and new combinations of such drugs
Inventors: James A. Cardelli, PhD, et.al.
Patent Number: US-11744827 (Divisional)
Overview: Metastatic cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with tumor invasion being a critical step in the progression to metastatic disease. This innovative therapeutic strategy focuses on inhibiting lysosome trafficking within tumor cells, a novel target that has shown promise in slowing tumor invasion and the formation of metastatic lesions, particularly in brain cancer where tumor invasion is a predominant cause of mortality.
Patent Title: Method, device, and system for bone fixation
Inventors: Giovanni F. Solitro, PhD; R. Shane Barton, MD, MPH, FAAOS, FAOA; and J. Steven Alexander, PhD
Patent Number: US-11806025 (Utility Patent)
Overview: This surgery tool is designed to revolutionize the way bone surgeries are conducted on animals, particularly in mouse models. This innovative device simplifies the complex and technically challenging process of bone fixation, offering a seamless, efficient, and more reproducible method for researchers and surgeons alike.
Patent Title: Treatment for methamphetamine cardiovascular disease
Inventors: Chris G. Kevil, PhD and Gopi Kolluru, PhD
Patent Number: US-11883426 (Utility Patent)
Overview: In the face of the growing epidemic of methamphetamine abuse and its severe cardiovascular repercussions, this novel therapeutic approach emerges as a beacon of hope. Leveraging the potent effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donors, this treatment is designed to counteract the endothelial dysfunction caused by methamphetamine use, offering a promising solution to in caring for patients with methamphetamine-related cardiovascular dysfunction.
2-15-2024 LSUHS Holds 6th Annual Research Celebration
On Thursday, February 15, LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) held their 6th Annual Research Celebration, where members of the community and LSUHS employees and students were invited to hear about the past year's accomplishments of the LSUHS Office for Research.
Some highlights shared include:
- More than $23 million in extramural grant funding awarded to LSU Health Shreveport in fiscal year 2023, and more than $20 million awarded in fiscal year 2024 to date.
- More than 100 clinical trials with a high rate of diversity in participants, and LSUHS being the No. 1 site for participant enrollment in 2023 for two national studies: the Surgical Timing and Rehabilitation) Trial for Multiple Ligament Knee Injuries (STaR) and the Black and African American Connections to Parkinson’s Disease (BLAAC-PD) study.
- New grants and collaborations that have been awarded and will begin in 2024.
- A tour of the Center of Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats BSL-2, BSL-3 and training laboratories in the new Center for Medical Education.
LSU Health Shreveport and the Office for Research also celebrated the 2024 Research Excellence Award Winners which are listed below.
- Excellence in Extramural Funding – Quanguang Zhang, PhD
- Excellence in Translational Research – Elizabeth Disbrow, PhD
- Excellence in Innovation – Arrigo De Benedetti, PhD
- Research Rising Star – Krista Rodgers, PhD
- Community Champion – Mr. W. Clinton “Bubba” Rasberry, Jr.
- Dr. Sushil Jain was recognized with a Career Service Awards for his 42+ years of service to the institution and contributions to science
2-6-2024 LSUHS and Volunteers of America North Louisiana Launch New Mental Health Program: EpiCenter
Shreveport, La. – LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) and Volunteers of America North Louisiana (VOANLA) have partnered together to create a mental health program, EpiCenter. EpiCenter provides assessment and treatment for youth and adults who have recently begun experiencing psychosis. The new program is operated by VOANLA’s behavioral health division and supported by LSU Health Shreveport’s Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Department.
Psychosis is a condition that affects the mind and causes a loss of contact with reality. Individuals experiencing psychosis may have trouble understanding what is real or not real. According to the National Institutes of Health, studies estimate that between 15 and 100 people out of 100,000 develop psychosis each year, and psychosis primarily begins in early adulthood, although the condition can have an earlier onset for some individuals.
EpiCenter’s treatment team consists of LSUHS psychiatry and behavioral medicine physicians and VOANLA behavioral health clinicians and counselors. The team utilizes evidence-based models for early intervention and first-episode psychosis treatment, including services such as psychotherapy, psychiatric medication management/primary care, individual, group and family education, case management, and supported employment and education. The EpiCenter also aims to address the unique needs and individual preferences of each client to enhance the outcome of treatment, providing services in the community and home. The multi-disciplinary team works with patients and their families to determine goals and navigate the path towards long lasting recovery and wellness.
”EpiCenter is the first and only center in northwest Louisiana that aims to bring awareness and care to individuals experiencing their first psychotic episode,” said Carolyn Hammond, president and CEO, VOANLA. “This partnership, along with our existing behavioral health programs, allows us to provide a full continuum of services to those in need.”
VOANLA behavioral health clinicians, counselors and other staff oversee patient case management, therapy and other support services while LSUHS physicians provide medication management and other clinical psychiatric care.
“Providing treatment at the first sign of psychosis allows patients to achieve the best outcome. I am so grateful to LSU Health Shreveport, VOANLA and the Louisiana Department of Health Office of Behavioral Health for creating this opportunity for us to serve patients in north Louisiana” shared Dr. Pamela McPherson, Vice Chair Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, LSU Health Shreveport.
Patients may be eligible to participate in the EpiCenter program if they have been experiencing psychosis for less than 3 years, have received a diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder and are willing to be evaluated and treated by healthcare professionals.
VOANLA invites the community to a free, one-hour tour of the EpiCenter on Wednesday, February 7 from 11 a.m. to noon. For more information or to RSVP for the tour, visit https://voanorthla.org/get-connected/#hope-begins-here-monthly-tours.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Lisa Babin
Executive Director of Public Affairs, Communications and Development
Office: (318) 675-8769
Email: Lisa.Babin@lsuhs.edu
Shelby McCarty
Public Relations Coordinator
Office: (318) 675-8789
Cell: (318) 787-8321
Email:
Shelby.McCarty@lsuhs.edu
Megan Strecker
Research Communications Coordinator
Office: (318) 675-4166
Email: Megan.Strecker@lsuhs.edu