Academic Societies

Academic Societies for the School of Medicine

The Office of Student Affairs for the School of Medicine has implemented six academic societies that are named in honor of former Deans or Chancellors of our school. The goal of the academic societies is to provide mentoring and coaching to all medical students during their four years of medical school.

Mission Statement

Established in 2021, under the direction of Dr. Debbie Chandler, the Academic Societies exemplify our innovative approach to medical education. They serve as the organizational framework for students’ general medical education, professional growth, and social support. The Societies form an integral part of the LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) experience.

The Academic Societies at LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine are designed to provide a support system for students as they acquire the knowledge and develop the skills necessary to succeed as a physician. This goal is accomplished by enhancing the interaction between faculty and students through small group and individual career advising opportunities.

Using the framework of a community style medical education, the Academic Societies at LSU Health Shreveport will include faculty members, students, society advisory deans, and coordinators to provide support for career planning and choosing residencies, as well as offer enrichment opportunities and promote individual growth.

Program Overview

All LSU Health Shreveport medical students are members of one of Six Academic Societies. At freshman orientation, medical students are randomly assigned to one of the Six Academic Societies. Medical students remain a member of their society throughout their medical education. Each Society is composed of up to 100 students, 25 students from each class.

Each Society will have a 5 Student Officers - The officers will consist of 2 MSIV officers, 1 MSIII officer, 1 MSII Officer, and 1 MSI officer. These officers will be self-nominated and then elected by the students within the society.

The Societies will organize 9 Career Advising talks open to all students, offer one-on-one career advising, one-on-one personal advising, and social events for students in order to support their growth from medical students to medical professionals.

Each Society may provide the following services:

Career Planning

Workshops and panel discussions in preparation for residency application
Early career counseling for first year and second year students
Career counseling for third year and fourth year students
One-on-one meetings to help students find mentors for their career of choice
Assist with CV, personal statement

Personal Advising

Management of life events while pursuing educational endeavors
Referrals to individual support programs such as Learning Specialist or Student Counseling Services, Student Health Services

Research Support

Research
Letters of recommendation for research grants, fellowships, and year-long programs
Coordination with the Office of Academic Affairs for publications

The Academic Societies

HULL SOCIETY

HULL SOCIETY CHAIR

Amos Sit, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

View Profile for Amos Sit, MD

EDGAR L. HULL, JR., MD

Hull Society

A native of Pascagoula, Mississippi born in 1904, Dr. Hull graduated from high school at the early age of 15. He attended undergraduate studies at Louisiana State University before attending Tulane Medical School graduating in 1927. He was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha as a student.

MUSLOW SOCIETY

MUSLOW SOCIETY CHAIR

Sarwat Umer, MD

Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, Center of Excellence in Arthritis and Rheumatology

View Profile for Sarwat Umer, MD

ISAAC "IKE" MUSLOW, MD

Muslow Society

Dr. Isaac "Ike" Muslow was born on April 4, 1926 in Oil City, LA. He attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Centenary College of Louisiana, and Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, where he did an internship at Charity Hospital.

MCDONALD SOCIETY

MCDONALD SOCIETY CHAIR

Vinh Nguyen, MD

Associate Professor Clinical of Internal Medicine

View Profile for Vinh Nguyen, MD

JOHN C. MCDONALD, MD

Older man with glasses wearing doctor's coat

McDonald Society

John Clifton McDonald was born in Baldwyn, Mississippi, on July 25, 1930. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Mississippi College in 1951 and his Medical Degree from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans in 1955.

WILLIAMS SOCIETY

WILLIAMS SOCIETY CHAIR

Chiranjiv Virk, MD

Associate Professor of Surgery

View Profile for Chiranjiv Virk, MD

DARRYL WILLIAMS, MD

Williams Society

Dr. Darryl Williams was the Dean of the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport from 1986-1990. He completed medical school and an Internal Medicine Residency at Baylor College of Medicine. He received a Masters of Public Health from the University of Texas Health Sciences at Houston School of Public Health.

RIGBY SOCIETY

RIGBY SOCIETY CHAIR

Ryan Jones, MD

Associate Professor and Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, Associate Program Director of Pediatric Residency

View Profile for Ryan Jones, MD

PERRY RIGBY, MD

Rigby Society

Dr. Perry Rigby was a previous Dean of the LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine from 1978-1985. In addition to this, he served as the Chancellor for the LSU Medical Center from 1985-1994 at which time the Chancellor was over both the Shreveport and New Orleans Medical Centers.

CHESSON SOCIETY

CHESSON SOCIETY CHAIR

Mary Buffington, MD, JD

Associate Professor Clinical of Internal Medicine, Fellowship Program Director of Nephrology

View Profile for Mary Buffington, MD, JD

ANDREW CHESSON, MD

Chesson Society

Dr. Chesson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and received a bachelor’s degree in Science from University of Texas at Austin. He then attended University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas where he received a Doctor of Medicine degree and completed his Residency in Neurology.

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Laura Grayson
(318) 675-5339 / laura.grayson@lsuhs.edu

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