R. Keith White, MD, FACS
Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery
John C. McDonald, MD, Endowed Chair of Surgery
Director, Division of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
- Research
- Grants
- Publications
- Appointments
- Education
- Memberships, Honors & Awards
- Presentations
- Contact
Research
Dr. White began his laboratory experience at the Artificial Heart Research Laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah, under the leadership of Dr. William Gay. During this time, his research efforts focused on Cardiac Replacement device development and implantation. His work with left ventricular assist for heart failure lead to his specialization in cardiac transplantation. His contributions to research on a biventricular replacement device development was funded by the NIH during his Utah experience. He is an author of numerous medical journal articles and has served as PI or investigator on several clinical trials. Dr. White’s research on development of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery led he and his surgery team to be the first surgical team in Louisiana to implant mitral valve with a minimally invasive heartport technique. He has received an industry-funded grant for the development of minimally invasive robotic surgery and is actively training residents in robotic techniques.
CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
Chest Tube Duration and Output Upon Removal: Predictors for Secondary Intervention
Lambert, G, Wyble, C., Rutz, R., White, K
A Retrospective Study Identifying Delays in Lung Cancer Treatment
A Birch, W Chriss, Z Connelly, R K White
The Effect of Medicaid Expansion on General Surgery Case Volume
N Gilbert, C Van Horn, A Rezayev, R K White
Prospective study of the treatment of Stage II Empyema randomized to percutaneous drainage and intrathoracic fibrinolytic therapy versus early video assisted thoracoscopic surgery
C Eckholdt, R K White
Automatic ECG Diagnosis by use of Deep Neural Network (DNN) in STEMI
S Lauve, W Chriss, R K White
Left Atrial Appendage Closure Impacts Post-Operative Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke
V Rao, R K White
Aortic Dissection and the Use of Fluroquinolones
S Alexander, C Eckholdt, G Lambert, R K White
Grants
List of Current and Previous Grants
Intuitive Surgical. $600,000 Advancement of Robotic Surgery at LSU Health Shreveport, May 2020. Renewed May 2021, April 2022.
Olsen DB, Khanwilkar PS, Hansen CA, White RK. Development of a biventricular replacement device, NIH Grant #No1-HV-88106, Report #4, September 1991.
Publications
List of Publications
- White RK, Park J. Cortical functional connectivity following mild traumatic brain injury: A narrative review of applications. Appl Neuropsychol Adult. 2025 Feb 14:1-14. doi: 10.1080/23279095.2025.2464066. Online ahead of print.PMID: 39950636
- Candal RE, Kalakoti P, Briones B, Sugar JG, Lairmore TC, White RK, Samra NS. Healthcare Provider's Preferences on Open Versus Restricted Visiting Hours in Surgical Intensive Care Unit. Cureus. 2024 Sep 21;16(9):e69871. doi: 10.7759/cureus.69871. eCollection 2024 Sep.PMID: 39435240
- Eckholdt C, Pennywell D, White RK, Perkowski PE. Unusual presentation of acute ruptured penetrating aortic ulcer of descending thoracic aorta with right hemothorax. J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech. 2023 Apr 6;9(2):101176. doi: 10.1016/j.jvscit.2023.101176. eCollection 2023 Jun.PMID: 37213936.
- Chu QD, Candal R, White RK. A Novel and Simple Method of Managing Thoracic Esophageal Perforation: The "ASSIST" Approach. Am Surg. 2023 Jun;89(6):2850-2853. doi: 10.1177/00031348211063564. Epub 2021 Dec 15.PMID: 34911375
- Chu QD, Candal R, White RK. A Novel and Simple Method of Managing Thoracic Esophageal Perforation: The "ASSIST" Approach. Am Surg. 2021 Dec 15:31348211063564. doi: 10.1177/00031348211063564. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34911375.
- Chu QD, White RK, Gibbs JF. Transfer of emergency general surgery patients. Could the role of insurance status be underestimated? Surgery. 2021 May;169(5):1264. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2020.10.028. Epub 2020 Nov 30. PMID: 33272609.
- Chu QD, Hsieh MC, Chu Y, Lyons J, Kandil E, Corsetti R, White RK, Gnerlich JL, Wu XC. Do rural patients with operable breast cancer fare worse than urban patients in Louisiana? Results of the Louisiana cancer consortium. Surgery. 2020 Oct;168(4):653-661. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2020.04.053. Epub 2020 Jul 1. PMID: 32622472.
- Delafontaine JL, Candal R, Ranganath R, White RK, Chu QD. Cervical Esophageal Exclusion With Temporary Suture Ligation: A Novel Technique in the Management of Esophageal Perforations. Am Surg. 2020 May;86(5):513-515. doi: 10.1177/0003134820919739. PMID: 32684046.
- Mancini, M, Haldorssen A, White RK. Update on cardiac surgery. Journ La State Med Soc, 1999.
- Pantalos GM, Burns GL, Mohammad F, Dew P, Kinoshita M, Long J, White RK, Olsen DB. Current experience with reinforced PTFE vascular prosthesis as artificial heart outflow grafts. Am Soc Artif Inter Organs 21:13, 1992
Appointments
List of Appointments
September 2020 - Appointed, Governor John Bell Edwards, Board Member Louisiana Emergency Response Network
March 2020 - Co-Director, Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport
March 2019 Chairman, Operating Room Committee
October 2018 Member, Medical Executive Committee, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport
October 2018 Member, Surgical Quality Council, LSU Health Shreveport
September 2018 Chairman of Physician Compensation Committee, LSU Health Shreveport
July 2018-19 Committee Member of Promotion and Tenure, LSU Health Shreveport
July 2018 Board of Directors, Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences, LSU Health Shreveport
2017-March 2018 President and Chairman of the Board St. Francis Medical Group
2012-2018 Chairman of the Board, St. Francis Medical Group Board of Directors, St. Francis Medical Center
2010-2014 Chairman, Quality Improvement Committee Chairman, Bylaws Committee Vice-Chairman, Medical Executive Committee St. Francis Medical Center
2005 Chairman, Department of Surgery, Glenwood Regional Medical Center
Education
Education & Training
Dr. Robert Keith White is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery for Louisiana State University Health Shreveport and holds the John C. McDonald MD, Endowed Chair of Surgery. Dr. White obtained both his undergraduate and post-graduate medical degree from Louisiana State University. He served his surgical internship at the University of Missouri Health Sciences Center in Columbia under Dr. Donald Silver and completed his categorical general surgery training under Dr. John McDonald at LSU Health Shreveport.
1976-1981 Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA - Bachelor of Science
1981-1985 Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, LA - Doctorate of Medicine
1985-1987 University of Missouri Health Sciences Center, Categorical General Surgery Residency, Donald Silver, MD Chairman
1987-1990 Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, General Surgery Residency, John C. McDonald, MD Chairman
1989-1990 Administrative Chief Surgical Resident, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
1990-1991 Research Associate, Artificial Heart Research Lab, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Institute of Biomedical Engineering
1991-1993 Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinical Fellow, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, William A. Gay, MD Chairman
1993 Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinical Fellow, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, William Norwood, MD Chairman
Memberships, Honors & Awards
List of Memberships, Honors & Awards
Professional Memberships
Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Medical Society
American College of Surgeons Louisiana Chapter
American College of Chest Physicians
Louisiana State Medical Society
Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Southern Thoracic Surgical Association
Society of Surgical Chairs
Editorial and Journal Activities
Journal of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions | Reviewer 2021
Honors and Awards
Honored as a Healer for patient care services at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, September 2021
Consultant and Governmental Appointee on Perfusion Services for 4 years under Governor Bobby Jindal
HealthGrades #1 Cardiovascular Surgical Hospital in Louisiana, Glenwood Regional Medical Center, West Monroe, LA, 2004
First Surgical Team in Louisiana to Implant Mitral Valve with Minimally Invasive Heartport Technique, Willis Knighton Medical Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, 1994
Consulting Responsibilities
Consultant LAMMICO (Louisiana Medical Malpractice Insurance Company) Advisor, 2010 - 2018
Special Consultant for Medical Ethics in Cost Sharing Physician and Hospital Relationships; Office of Inspector General, United States Government, 2008 - 2012
Presentations
List of Presentations
Retrospective Identification of Barriers to On-time Discharge in Common General Surgery Operations”, American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress, October 16, 2022
“History of the Abramson Lecture,” Abramson Conference, LSU Health Shreveport, June 24, 2022
“Perioperative Management of the Cardiac Patient,” Nursing Education, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, June 10, 2022
“Perioperative Management of the Cardiac Patient,” Nursing Education, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, May 27, 2022
“Indications for Transfusions,” Surgery Grand Rounds, LSU Health Shreveport, December 14, 2021
“Thoracostomy Tubes,” Richard L. Wigle, MD 12th Annual Trauma Symposium, LSU Health Shreveport, September 2021
“Navigating Complex Environments to Align Key Stakeholders,” Intuitive Academic Catalyst Symposium, September 2021
“Staged Excision of an Infected TVAR Endograft with Hemoptysis,” Louisiana Chapter American College of Surgeons Annual Meeting, March 2021
“Tracheal Injuries,” 11th Annual Trauma Symposium, LSU Health Shreveport, December 2020
“From Shreveport Charity Hospital to LSU Health and Beyond,” Abramson Conference, LSU Health Shreveport, Department of Surgery, June 2020
“Blunt Cardiac Injuries,” 10th Annual Trauma Symposium, LSU Health Shreveport, September 2019
“Cardiovascular Stress Response in Endurance Athletes,” Department of Kinesiology, University of Louisiana Monroe, 2004
“Hemodynamics of Currently Available Aortic Prosthetic Valves,” Louisiana Tech University Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Ruston, Louisiana, 2003
Invited Presentations
“Interpersonal Relationships and Teambuilding,” LSU Health Shreveport GME House Officer Orientation, Shreveport, Louisiana, June 2022
“Behavioral Characteristics and Their Effect on Clinical Success,” LSU Health Shreveport, Cardiology Fellowship Graduation, Shreveport, Louisiana, June 2022
LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony Guest Speaker, Strand Theatre, Shreveport, Louisiana, March 2022
Contact
LSU Health Shreveport
Department of Surgery
1501 Kings Highway
Shreveport, LA 71103
Email: Robert.White@lsuhs.edu
