In response to continued growth in externally funded research over the last several years, LSU Health Shreveport announced plans today to reimagine the former Sears property located at Mall St. Vincent as a state-of-the-art research facility.

In a continuance of the campus goal to “aim high,” LSUHS leadership partnered with the LSU Health Sciences Foundation, which purchased the property for its benefit. With the current available laboratory and office space in the Biomedical Research Institute and the medical school projected to be filled within the next 18-24 months, a timely expansion of research space became essential to retain and recruit research talent. The projected need for more research space was based on projections of new grants from the National Institutes of Health to be awarded to existing researchers, in addition to the space needs of funded researchers who are being actively recruited to LSU Health Shreveport.

This purchase follows the opening of the $84M Center for Medical Education in late 2023, which marked the first new building on the LSUHS campus in fifteen years. The new facility will elevate the awareness and stature of the research occurring at LSU Health Shreveport while building on the existing strength in the areas of cancer and cardiovascular research.

The former Sears building provides the potential for a modern research facility with wide open spaces, allowing for a timely and cost-effective conversion of the existing Sears interior to research labs and supporting spaces such as faculty offices and educational/conference rooms.

Approaching the increase in research space by reimagining an existing space versus construction of a new research building on the LSU Health Shreveport campus offers numerous benefits to include:

• Expedited construction timeline due to reused versus new space.
• Increasing brand awareness for LSU Health Shreveport due to the outstanding visibility on I-49 corridor
• Delivery of increased activity level to St. Vincent Mall which will enhance safety for all tenants and shoppers.
• Avoids further parking demands on the bustling Kings Highway campus. 
• Supports LSU’s vision to become a top 50 research university system.

The property consists of 160,000 square feet of interior space on 18 acres with more than 800 parking spaces. The building is less than a mile from the main LSU Health Shreveport campus. It also opens the door for expansion of future clinical operations by Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport whose primary campus is also nearby.  

“My optimism regarding the future of LSU Health Shreveport is increasing exponentially with this future research expansion.  The determining factor of the stature of U.S. academic health centers is the amount of externally funded research they acquire. Through this building project, which will not require any state funding, LSU Health Shreveport instantly becomes much better poised not only attract more world class funded researchers but to give our currently funded researchers the space they deserve and need to grow and thrive” stated David Guzick, MD, PhD, Chancellor, LSU Health Shreveport. “Moreover, the dollars flowing into Shreveport from external sources, along with potential revitalization of Mall St. Vincent, will spur economic development in the region.”

The LSU Health Sciences Foundation in Shreveport will lead a fundraising campaign to secure financial support for the project.

For more information about the project contact 318-861-0855 or kflood@lsuhsfoundation.org.

The Office for Institutional Wellness at LSU Health Shreveport will be hosting Wellness Week August 12-16, a week-long series of events dedicated to promoting physical, emotional, and financial well-being. A variety of activities will take place throughout the week to engage with and encourage faculty, staff and students on their wellness journey. Event highlights include:

• Mindful Monday (August 12): Wellness Week will kick off with a guided yoga session led by Dr. Nancy Leidenheimer at the Multifunctional Activity Center in the Center for Medical Education.
• Tasty Tuesday (August 13): Experience a sneak peek of the soon-to-open CRAVE Café food offerings in the Bakowski Testing Kitchen. Chef Kandis Pierre will prepare a light tasting menu of Mediterranean food for participants.
• Wednesday Workout (August 14): A guided 30-minute light workout session in the Fitness Zone by Angel Smith, followed by complimentary smoothies.
• Thursday ERA’s Tour – Financial Edition (August 15): Auburn Brasher of Campus Federal will provide insight into life-cycle financial planning at a lunch and learn session.
• Fit & Fun Friday (August 16): Wellness Week will conclude with a fitness extravaganza in the BRI Atrium. Attendees will enjoy activities like boxing, chair massages, and dancing to DJ Elaw, along with free pizza and more.

Established in 2021 to support LSU Health Shreveport’s commitment to emotional, social, financial, workplace and physical well-being, the mission of the Office for Institutional Wellness is to promote the health and wellness of the LSUHS community through education and efforts that encourage habits of wellness, inspire and empower individuals to take responsibility for their own health, and support a sense of community in which health and overall well-being is recognized as an essential element of success.

“The Office for Institutional Wellness is excited to present our 4^th Annual Wellness Week at LSU Health Shreveport. We are thrilled to continue to develop and implement innovative programming to meet the unique needs of students, residents, faculty and staff, and leverage our expertise to continue to make positive changes to have LSUHS be recognized as a national wellness champion,” shared Marie Vazquez Morgan, PT, PhD, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Institutional Wellness and Clinical Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at LSU Health Shreveport.

A new study led by researchers at LSU Health Shreveport recently published in JACC: Advances found there has been a drastic increase in cardiomyopathy-associated hospital admissions among methamphetamine users in the United States, as well as significant social and geographic disparities associated with these cases.

Methamphetamine is widely considered a public health concern with use of the drug and meth-related overdose deaths growing at an alarming rate over the last few years. This increased prevalence has presented additional health concerns for methamphetamine users, including a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases like cardiomyopathy, a disease that affects the muscles of the heart. While methamphetamine is a known emerging drug threat, the disparity in cardiomyopathy-associated hospital admissions among methamphetamine users was unknown, which led the LSUHS researchers to conduct this study.

The team analyzed data from 2008 to 2020 from the National Inpatient Sample database, a comprehensive deidentified database developed by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), and determined that cardiomyopathy-associated hospital admissions among methamphetamine users increased by 231% over the 13-year study period. The most significant increases were among men, people of Hispanic or non-Hispanic Asian race, and people ages 41 to 64. Geographically, hospital admissions for cardiomyopathy associated with meth use were predominantly concentrated in the western region of the U.S.

Nobel Bhuiyan, PhD, Director of Biostatistics and Computational Biology and Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at LSU Health Shreveport, was the senior and corresponding author of the study, which is the largest hospital admission data study done about methamphetamine-related cardiomyopathy and demographic trends over time. Dr. Bhuiyan and his colleagues detailed their findings in an article published in JACC: Advances, a journal of the American College of Cardiology, titled “Cardiomyopathy-Associated Hospital Admissions Among Methamphetamine Users: Geographical and Social Disparities”.

Drs. Shannon Walker, Nicky Mehtani, and Nisha Parikh at the University of California, San Francisco authored an Editorial Comment, “Facing a Tsunami: Methamphetamine Heart Failure Demands Novel Approaches,” that was published along with the article and emphasizes the importance of this study’s findings and what it reveals about next steps that should be considered in addressing methamphetamine-associated cardiomyopathy. They noted in their comments, “This work and others highlight that this is a heterogeneous problem affecting various genders, populations, and locations differently. Consequently, strategies for prevention and treatment need to be tailored; attention and resources should be directed toward communities with increased need.”

Nicholas Goeders, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience, and Executive Director of the Louisiana Addiction Research Center at LSU Health Shreveport, was also a co-author of the study and noted that while opioid-related overdose deaths have received the most attention in the media, a more insidious and silent killer has been on the rise.

“People have been admitted to hospitals around the country, presenting with cardiovascular disease 20-30 years earlier than the national average of about 65 years old or older. The common denominator in the majority of these cases is methamphetamine. While our report highlighted the relationship between early-onset cardiovascular disease and methamphetamine use, more research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying this relationship, which could lead to improved treatment. More importantly, however, is a better understanding of methamphetamine use disorder and treatments that will decrease the recidivism rate for relapse to methamphetamine use,” said Dr. Goeders.

In addition to Dr. Bhuiyan and Dr. Goeders, study co-authors include Jimmy Brown, MD, Emergency Medicine Resident; Maamannan Venkataraj, MD, Internal Medicine Resident; Md. Shenuarin Bhuiyan, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology; Abu Saleh Mosa Faisal, MSc, Biostatistician; Kenneth Densmore MSc, Director of Data Visualization; Nicholas Goeders PhD, Professor and Chairman of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience and Executive Director of the Louisiana Addiction Research Center; Steven Bailey, MD, Gratis Professor of Medicine; Steven A. Conrad, MD, PhD, Professor, Ike Muslow Endowed Chair, and Division Chief of Clinical Informatics; John Vanchiere, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Vice Chancellor for Clinical Research; Wayne Orr, PhD, Professor and Director of the Research Division for Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences Chris Kevil, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Research and Director of COBRE Center for Redox Biology and Cardiovascular Disease.

For more information about this study’s findings and the methods used, the full article published in JACC: Advances can be viewed at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100840.

This study was supported with funding from the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute of the NIH (R01HL145753, R01HL145753-01S1, and R01HL145753-03S1), the LSUHS Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences, the LSUHS Louisiana Addiction Research Center, the Jane Cheever Powell Foundation for Cardiovascular Research Related to Gender and Isolation, and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the NIH (P20GM121307, R01HL149264, R01HL098435, R01HL133497). The authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.

Seven LSU Health Shreveport faculty members received Healthcare Research All-Star Awards from Avant-Garde Health, an organization that provides health systems and physicians with insight to their surgical care through specialized data-driven software. This award honors the outstanding surgeons whose contributions to healthcare research significantly enhance the quality of patient care. Healthcare Research All-Stars are based on hospital-based procedures. For LSU Health Shreveport physicians, these procedures occur at an Ochsner LSU Health hospital in Shreveport or Monroe.

The award’s study examined US research from more than 4,000 hospitals and 90,000 surgeons and includes only the top five percent based on the quantity and quality of their published research in the fields of cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, otolaryngology (ENT), gastroenterology, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, spine surgery, urology, surgical oncology, and general surgery.

LSU Health Shreveport’s Healthcare Research All-Star Award recipients are as follows:

• Cherie-Ann Nathan, MD, FACS, Chair and Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery: Top 1% in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgery Research - Dr. Nathan's Profile >>
• Brian Willis, MD, FACS, FAANS, Gratis Professor of Neurosurgery: Top 1% in Spine Surgery Research - Dr. Willis's Profile >>
• Ameya Asarkar, MD, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Director of Robotic Head and Neck Surgery: Top 2-3% in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgery Research - Dr. Asarkar's Profile >>
• Alexander Gomelsky, MD, Chair and Professor of Urology: Top 2-3% in Urology Research - Dr. Gomelsky's Profile >>
• Tarek Helmy, MD, Division Chief and Professor of Cardiology: Top 4-5% in Cardiothoracic Surgery Research - Dr. Helmy's Profile >>
• Nazih Khater, MD, Associate Professor of Urology: Top 4-5% in Urology Research - Dr. Khater's Profile >>
• John Pang, MD, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery: Top 4-5% in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgery Research - Dr. Pang's Profile >>

ALEXANDRIA - In a significant move towards enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality in Louisiana, Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) proudly announces its Interdisciplinary Pre-Med Program (IPP). This initiative stands out for its strategic partnerships with LSU Health Sciences Centers in New Orleans and Shreveport and its focus on cultivating rural physicians through an affordable, comprehensive educational pathway.

LSUA’s IPP has solidified MOUs with both of LSU's prominent Louisiana medical schools, ensuring students receive a top-tier pre-medical education and guaranteeing students an interview during the medical school admissions process. This collaboration aims to directly address the healthcare provider shortage in rural areas by preparing students to serve as rural physicians where the need is greatest.

Understanding the financial barriers that often accompany higher education, especially in pre-medical studies, LSUA is committed to offering an affordable pathway to a medical career. This program is designed to maximize students' investment in their future without the burden of excessive debt, making the dream of becoming a physician more accessible to all.

Students may also become candidates for LSU's rural medicine scholarship program, specifically designed to train doctors and medical professionals to serve in the state's rural communities. This scholarship, combined with LSUA’s lowest undergraduate tuition in the state, will build the most affordable path to becoming a physician in Louisiana.

Nathan Sammons, LSUA’s Assistant Vice Chancellor of Engaged Teaching and Learning, remarked, “We are thrilled about this announcement because it marks a pivotal moment for students embarking on their medical careers. These collaborations significantly bolster the recruitment, preparation, and retention of aspiring physicians and, concurrently, enhance Louisiana's healthcare landscape.”

Program Highlights

Exclusive Partnerships: Direct connections with LSUHSC–New Orleans and LSUHSC–Shreveport provide unparalleled opportunities for academic and professional advancement.

Focus on Rural Medicine: Emphasis on preparing students to address the unique challenges and rewards of practicing medicine in rural communities.

Affordability: A cost-effective program structure, minimizing financial barriers to medical school admission and success.

Comprehensive Support: Tailored advising, practical experience opportunities, and priority access to workshops and seminars are designed to enhance student success.

LSUA’s Interdisciplinary Pre-Med Program is more than an educational pathway; it is a commitment to the future of healthcare in Louisiana, ensuring that every community, especially those underserved, has access to high-quality medical care.

For more information about the program, visit the IPP website at www.lsua.edu/premed or email premed@lsua.edu.

LSU Health Shreveport has received five-year reaccreditation from the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education (ACCME®) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The LSUHS Continuing Medical Education program facilitates lifelong learning for physicians and other medical professionals practicing in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas through monthly conferences and regularly scheduled series, or grand rounds. Accredited continuing medical education programs address a broad range of medical specialties and cover a full range of topics important to healthcare improvement and are designed to be relevant to their needs, practice-based, and effective.

The Continuing Medical Education program at LSU Health Shreveport is important to our region as physicians must meet continuing medical education requirements to maintain their licensure, and for some, also certifications, credentialing and membership in professional societies. Having access to this program through LSU Health Shreveport provides over 520 LSU Health Shreveport physicians easily accessible, accredited opportunities to fulfill their continuing medical education requirements. Physicians and medical professionals practicing at other regional healthcare facilities or private practices are also able to participate in offerings at LSU Health Shreveport, in turn granting the region’s overall healthcare workforce with a support system that drives improvements in practice and the optimization of the care, health and wellness of patients.

On Saturday morning, March 23, over 300 students and their family members attended the annual LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine Family Day, the first held in the new $79 Center for Medical Education. Each year, parents and families of first-year medical students are invited to attend the special event to learn more about their student’s daily educational schedule and the support provided to students during their time in medical school.

Family Day began with a welcome from Dr. David Guzick, LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor. Speakers included Dr. David Lewis, School of Medicine Dean, and Dr. Kelly Pagidas, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education and Administration. Following opening remarks, four tour stops offered the opportunity to meet and hear from Vaughn Burris, Director for Public Safety/University Police Chief; Dr. Mark Cogburn, Director of the Student Counseling Center; Julia M. Esparza, MLS, AHIP, FMLA, Associate Director of the Library and Elizabeth Young, M.Ed., Simulation Program Manager who showcased the expanded Clinical Skills and Simulation Center.

Families also viewed the Fitness Zone in the Center for Medical Education which offers 15,590 square feet of space dedicated to the physical wellness of students. The Fitness Zone includes free weights, a cardio zone, equipment designed for functional fitness and circuit training as well as a multi-activity court that can be used for basketball, volleyball, pickleball and other hard-court sports.

LSU Health Shreveport and Air Force Global Strike Command Sign Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to Study Stress of B-52 Aircrews During Deployment

SHREVEPORT, La. and BARKSDALE AFB, La. – LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) and Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, have signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to study the physiological and cognitive stress that B-52 Aircrews experience on long-duration deployments.

The research that will be conducted under the CRADA aims to better understand the physiological and cognitive stress that B-52 Aircrews experience on long-duration deployments, also known as sorties. Findings from the project will be used to develop evidence-based training protocols to further optimize the capability and capacity of B-52 Aircrews for sustained and dynamic operations under increased cognitive, emotional, and physical stress conditions.

Dr. Johannes Raabe, a contractor with AFGSC, will serve as the Principal Investigator for the Project. Dr. Tucker Readdy and Ms. Mandy Enlore, both contractors with AFGSC, will serve as Co-Investigators. Dr. Cory Coehoorn, Director of the Rehabilitation Science Program at LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Allied Health Professions will serve as Principal Investigator from LSUHS. Dr. Coehoorn’s research is focused on the impact of heat stress on various occupational groups, including firefighters and the military. His research group uses electroencephalography, salivary analysis, and near-infrared spectroscopy, among many other techniques in their research.

"The Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between LSU Health Shreveport and the United States Air Force Global Strike Command is an incredible honor. I am thrilled that the United States Air Force trusts us with this important project. The research will discover the physiological and cognitive impact of B-52 sorties providing important findings and open doors for future research and collaborations that benefit both organizations," shared Cory Coehoorn, PhD, Associate Professor and Director of PhD Rehabilitation Science at LSU Health Shreveport.

“This agreement will further the command’s understanding of aircrew fatigue, durability and safety which is vital in maximizing the capacity of the B-52 serving on bomber task force and long duration single sorties,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Miller, Director of Operations and Communications for Air Force Global Strike Command. “What we learn here will improve Air Force Global Strike’s ability to provide strategic deterrence anytime…anywhere.”

LSU Health Shreveport and Air Force Global Strike Command share a common goal to advance scientific discovery and ensure the well-being of military personnel serving our country. CRADAs facilitate research collaboration and allow each partner to leverage their complementary strengths and share expertise, facilities, technologies, and other resources that enhance their ability to complete project objectives and gain valuable insights they would not be able to achieve individually. Successful completion of this project is possible with both the technology and expertise provided by LSU Health Shreveport and the technical expertise and access provided by the Air Force.

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.

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. 

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:

1. Chaitanya Ahuja, MD
2. Bruno Alvarez, MD
3. Dani Zoorob, MD

Resident Inductees:

1. Mohammad Khan, MD
2. Mackenzie Latour, MD
3. Cameron Meyer, DO
4. Sara Preston, MD
5. Saman Siddiqui, MD
6. Rahul Vyas, MD

Student Inductees:

1. Ivan Alvarez
2. Christian Bonner
3. Margaret Boston
4. Hannah Cowart
5. Charles Daniel
6. Annaliesa Fanguy
7. Mason Favre
8. Michael Hebert
9. Christopher Honore
10. Amanda Husein
11. Maria Kerrigan
12. Kirsten Maddox
13. Sarah Martin
14. Chizoba Mosieri
15. Jillian Sandoz
16. Ashlyn Scheinost
17. Gaelen Shimkus
18. Tyler Tran
19. LeighAnn Vincik
20. Francesca Weis
21. Diensn Xing
22. Noah Young

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.

On Thursday, February 15, LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) held their 6^th 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

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.