Medical Student Research at LSU Health Shreveport

The primary mission of Louisiana State University Health Shreveport is to Teach, Heal, and Discover, in order to advance the well-being of the State, region, and beyond. Research is essential to discovery. As such, medical student education and participation in research is a critical part of our mission.

Participation in research allows our students to distinguish themselves from their peers, which increases the likelihood of being accepted in the residency of their choice.

There are numerous opportunities for medical students to be involved in research on our campus. This includes curricular elements in the preclinical and clinical years, the medical student research program, research electives, a research track of distinction, and our MD/PhD program. Additionally, students at any stage of their training may volunteer to participate in research with faculty mentors from various departments.

Curriculum

Foundations of clinical medicine course for MS1 and MS2

Students will participate in lectures and workshops learning the anatomy of research projects and the scientific method. They will learn how to critically appraise medical literature to determine if the findings impact evidence based medicine. Additionally, they will understand the importance of the IRB (institutional review board) and ethics in investigations involving human subjects.

As part of the Foundations of Clinical Medicine Course IV, students work in groups and perform a basic science research investigation under the supervision and guidance of a faculty research mentor. The teams will learn how to apply the scientific method to research. It consists of systematic observation of available information/data, identifying and defining a problem, accumulating relevant data, formulating a tentative hypothesis, conducting experiments to test that hypothesis, interpreting results objectively utilizing references, and repeating the process until an acceptable solution is determined.

MS4 Research Elective

Students work with a mentor on a research project. This consists of developing a hypothesis for evaluation during the rotation using clinic, translational, or basic science techniques. Students utilize appropriate research methodology to test their hypothesis. Then, data is independently collected and analyzed to test that hypothesis. The department with available research electives are listed here:

DEPARTMENT	COURSE	NUMBER	INSTRUCTOR	STUDENTS PER BLOCK
Orthopaedic Surgery	Orthopaedic Research Elective	EORTR	Patrick Massey, MD & Giovanni Solitro, MD	1
Otolaryngology/ Head & Neck Surgery	Research in Otolaryngology	EOTOR	Cheri-Ann Nathan, MD	4
Pediatrics	Pediatric Study Research	EPEDP	John Vanchiere, MD	2
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscienc	Research in Pharmacology	EPHAC	Xiao-Hong Lu, PhD	4
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience	Research in Biochemical, Molecular Or Clinical Toxicology	EPHAD	Kenneth E. McMartin, PhD	2
Radiology	Radiology Research Elective	ERARE	Horacio D’Agostino, MD	4
Internal Medicine	Medicine Research Elective	EMEDR	Steven Conrad, MD	1
School of Medicine	General Research Elective	ERSRH	Ellen Friday, MD	1

MS4 – IHI modules

Available Research Opportunities

The Office of Medical Student Research matches research faculty with medical students who are interested in participating in research projects in both Basic Science and Clinical areas of interest. The projects listed in the Research Project Database were provided by faculty members for this purpose.

FACULTY:
In effort to maintain up-to-date information on the research database, please inform our office of any additional research projects to be included and/or projects listed on the database which are no longer available.

STUDENTS:
Please feel free to contact our office at damien.jefferson@lsuhs.edu for assistance locating a mentor/project for research on campus.

Click the link for a database that contains a list of available research opportunities, organized by department. (This list is only accessible by LSUHS Students, Faculty and Staff)

Available Research Opportunities

Students

Use the information under "How to locate Mentors / Projects for Research" below to learn more about finding a Mentor and project.
Once an agreement is reached by the student and mentor to engage in a project, the student should contact Crystal Morton, Project Coordinator at crystal.morton@lsuhs.edu or 318-675-7576.
Already engaged in a project on campus? Students, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/wjsx8xxsPVr4tA5H9.
Use the following link for a checklist which serves as a guide to help you navigate various research requirements: Medical Student Research CHECKLIST

Faculty

How to Locate Mentors / Projects for Research

Are you a Current Student or Faculty Member who is involved in Research?

Peter H. Seidenberg, MD, MA, FAAFP, FACSM, RMSK

Professor and Chair of Family Medicine, Director of Medical Student Research

QUICK LINKS

Medical Student Research Handbook

Programs

MSRP

Medical Student Research Program (MSRP)

The medical student research project is a research opportunity that students can participate in during the summer between their first and second year of medical school (but is also available to other year groups). Students work with a faculty mentor on a research project, create a scientific poster, and present it during the annual MSRP poster session.

Learn more about the MSRP

RDT

Research Distinction Track

The purpose of the RDT is to encourage the development of faculty-student mentorship and critical thinking skills through meaningful and substantial long-term academic research. This project lasts longer than the typical MSRP but may be a continuation of the MSRP project. Students are required to present their completed work on at least two occasions – locally (such as the MSRP poster session or the Medical Student Research Symposium) and/or at regional and national conferences. Students will also write a full length manuscript on their research findings and submit it to an academic journal.

Learn More about the RDT

MD/PhD

MD/PhD Program

The MD-PhD Program promotes the education of physician scientists through dual enrollment in the School of Graduate Studies and the School of Medicine at LSU Health Shreveport in a more efficient and productive sequence than could be otherwise accomplished. The integration of clinical studies and research throughout the program is designed to encourage graduates to pursue research and education in a clinical setting throughout their careers.

Learn more about the MD/PhD Program

CTDT

Clinical and Translational Distinction Track Program

The Clinical and Translational Distinction Track (CTDT) Program provides graduate students with exposure to, and experience in, clinical research environments that will enhance their awareness of unique challenges faced by clinical research physicians and the need for clinical and basic science collaboration in successful clinical and translational research. Students will gain an appreciation for how recent/relevant basic research findings are disseminated and implemented within the clinical environment and will improve their communication skills through designing and implementing informational presentations to professional colleagues or the general public.

Learn more about the CTDT Program

Medical Student Research Accomplishments

- view the full listing of accomplishments -

Search Keywords

Find People

Popular Links

In This Section

Curriculum

Foundations of clinical medicine course for MS1 and MS2

MS4 Research Elective

MS4 – IHI modules

Available Research Opportunities

Students

Faculty

How to Locate Mentors / Projects for Research

Are you a Current Student or Faculty Member who is involved in Research?

Peter H. Seidenberg, MD, MA, FAAFP, FACSM, RMSK

QUICK LINKS

Medical Student Research Handbook

Programs

MSRP

Medical Student Research Program (MSRP)

RDT

Research Distinction Track

MD/PhD

MD/PhD Program

CTDT

Clinical and Translational Distinction Track Program

Medical Student Research Accomplishments

Medical Student Research

Medical Student Research

Medical Student Research

Medical Student Research