Alpha Omega Alpha is the only National Honor Medical Society. Students are elected in their junior or senior year on the basis of their academic performance and must be in the top twenty five percent of their class in order to be elected.  Founded in 1902 at the University of Illinois, the chapter at LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine in Shreveport was established in 1973.  The society’s main goal is to stimulate academic excellence. The local chapter has been instrumental in bringing outstanding physicians from around the nation to Shreveport as lecturers and visiting professors. Current President - Anna Lee Parsiola (email: aparsi@lsuhsc.edu)

The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) recognizes students, residents and faculty who are exemplars of compassionate patient care and who serve as role models, mentors and leaders in medicine.  GHHS members are peer nominated and are the ones that others say they want taking care of their own friends and family.  The local GHHS chapter began in 2016, for more information contact the faculty sponsor: Lauren Beal, MD (emitch@lsuhsc.edu).  LEARN MORE

The SAGE organization is composed of medical students from all four years, each selected by members of the Curriculum Evaluation Committee, a sub-committee of the Medical Curriculum Council. The purpose of SAGE is to promote the amicable exchange of opinions between the student body and the faculty, with a view to the consistent betterment of the educational, medical, and scientific standards of the School of Medicine.

One of the primary roles of SAGE is to collect, organize, record, and voice the opinions of the students regarding the required pre-clinical and clinical courses. This is a continuous evaluation process which, to the credit of an interested and receptive faculty, will have a significant impact on the evolution of the medical curriculum at LSU Health Shreveport. Faculty Sponsors are Christi Rinaudo, EdD (christi.rinaudo@lsuhs.edu), Ashley Abrams, MHA (ashley.abrams@lsuhs.edu), and Laura Mackowiak, MPH (laura.mackowiak@lsuhs.edu).

The SAGE Honor Society Members are as follows with their class year:

2022 - Drinkard, Joseph; Evensky, Cole; Hill, Taylor; Howard, Brady; Kawji, Lena; Wagner, Brittany; Watson, Jeremy; Sachtleben, Paylor (MCC Rep); Ingraffia, Patrick (MCC Rep), Dierks, Gregor; Guedry, Ryan; Penny, Kayla; Rooney, Kelsey; Wilder-Wixson, Katelin

2023 - Robin, Alida; Crochet, Carol; Parks, Rachel; Rodriguez, Jessica; DeGraw, Caroline; Furr, Weldon; Zeringue, Alexandra; Jeansonne, Taylor; Rando, Lauren

2024 - Cross, Jordan; Kennedy, Grace; Ventresca, Heidi; Blochousse, Marjorie; Wieschhaus, Rachel

Baptist Collegiate Ministries (Baptist Student Union):  Baptist Collegiate Ministries, BCM, at the medical school is sponsored by regional Southern Baptist churches.  BCM welcomes students from all faiths and meets on Thursdays at noon for an hour.  Lunch is provided by a local Baptist church, and the program includes talks from area doctors, pastors, and visiting missionaries on spiritual medical matters.  Faculty sponsor: Christy Holcombe (mcholcombre@gmail.com). 

Catholic Medical Student Association (CMSA):  The Catholic Medical Student Association was formed in 2001 to aid the spiritual development of individuals pursuing a health care degree.  The group is sponsored by the Catholic Medical Association of Northwest Louisiana.  The group meets on Mondays at noon (lunch is provided) to hear speakers and engage in discussion of medical and science-related topics from the Catholic perspective.  The meetings are held at noon and lunch is provided.  More information will be available at registration. Faculty sponsor:  Diana Bienvenu, M.D. (dbienv1@lsuhsc.edu). 

Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA):  The Christian Medical and Dental Association is a non-denominational, national organization that exists to motivate, educate, and equip Christian physicians and dentists to glorify God. A local chapter meets regularly in homes for food, fellowship, and discussion. Guest speakers from the community and regular events in the community also occur throughout the year. All students, residents, and practicing healthcare professionals are invited.  Faculty sponsor:  Ron Morgan, MD
 

The LSU Health Shreveport Roundnet Club is a student organization. This intramural spikeball club offers friendly, athletic competition amongst its members with the goal of promoting a healthy lifestyle while still having fun. This group created Spike for the Cure, a fundraising event to benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Faculty sponsor is Laura P. Mackowiak at lmacko@lsuhsc.edu.

LSU Health Billiards Interest Group: Like minded students that share a love of billiards and to allow students the opportunity to bond outside of the classroom. Faculty Sponsors - Michelle Arnold, PhD (marno2@lsuhusc.edu) and Ken Peterson, Phd (kpeter@luhsc.edu). 

LSU Health Shreveport Book Club: Enriching medical students lives through literature and discussion. Faculty Sponsor - F. Scott Kennedy, PhD 

LSU Health Shreveport Running Club: An inclusive, laid-back group who enjoy getting together to be active and volunteer at/compete in local races. Faculty Sponsor - Horatio D’Agostino, MD (hdagos@lsuhsc.edu).

Wine Interest Group (WIG): The mission of the group is to afford LSU Health Shreveport students the opportunity to hone their palates for wine, to learn about the production of wine and the factors that influence the taste of wines, and to cultivate a useful skill that will help students throughout the rest of their days. Faculty Sponsor - Lucy Robinson, PhD (lrobin@lsuhsc.edu).

Anesthesiology Interest Group (AIG): Faculty Sponsor - Charles Fox, M.D. (cfox1@lsuhsc.edu).

Dermatology Interest Group (DIG): This group provides a resource for medical students who are interested in dermatology and the steps to take to pursue a residency position in the field.

Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG): Faculty Sponsor - Mary Edens, M.D. (medens@lsuhsc.edu).  

Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG): Gives medical students opportunities to explore the field of Family Medicine and its many career opportunities through involvement in the community, connecting students to local family physicians and involvement at the state and national level in coordination with the LAFP and AAFP. Faculty Sponsor - Marc Chaudoir, MD (Marc.Chaudoir@lsuhs.edu) and Christy Hay (cnugen@lsuhsc.edu).  

Internal Medicine Interest Group (IMIG): Student run organization that provides students with information about careers in International Medicine and fosters communication between faculty and students. Faculty Sponsor - Karina Sulaiman, M.D. (ksulai@lsuhsc.edu).

Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN): Faculty Sponsor - Rosario Riel-Romero, M.D. (rrielr@lsuhsc.edu).

Otolaryngology Interest Group (ENT IG): Faculty Advisor - Cherie-Ann Nathan, MD (CNatha@lsuhsc.edu).

Psychiatry Student Interest Group Network (PsychSIGN): Faculty Sponsor - Marc Colon, MD, (mcolon@lsuhsc.edu).

Interventional Radiology Interest Group (iRIG): Faculty Sponsor - Dr. Horacio D’Agostino (HDagos@lsuhsc.edu).

Radiology Interest Group: Faculty Sponsors - Thomas Gates, M.D. (tgates@lsuhsc.edu), and Abbie Martin, MD (amarti4@lsuhsc.edu).   

Sports Medicine Interest Group (SMIG): Provides medical students opportunities to explore the field of Sports Medicine and its involvement in the community. Students will have exposure to a broad level of patients ranging from weekend warriors to collegiate athletes. Students will develop a good foundation for assessing musculoskeletal injuries and how to properly diagnose and treat those injuries. Other Sports Medicine relevant assessments include but are not limited to: Concussion and Sports Medicine Cardiology. This is in accordance with the state and national level in coordination with the LAFP, AAFP and AMSSM. Faculty Advisor: Kenneth Aguirre, MD  Kenneth.Aguirre@lsuhs.edu

Surgery Interest Group (SIG): Faculty Sponsor - Kathryn Richardson, MD (kricha3@lsuhsc.edu).

Urology Interest Group:  Faculty Sponsor - Donald Elmajian, MD (delmaj@lsuhsc.edu). 

Academic Medicine Club (AMC): Faculty Sponsor - John Vanchiere, MD (jvanch@lsuhsc.edu). 

American Medical School Research Journal (AMSJ): Faculty Sponsor - John Vanchiere, MD (jvanch@lsuhsc.edu).

Health Policy Interest Group: The mission of the group is to provide a means of learning about governmental policies that affect the practice of medicine. 

Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA): This group unites and empowers medical students through service, mentorship and education to advocate for the health of the Latino community.

Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group: Faculty Sponsor - Jennifer Singh, MD (jsing4@lsuhsc.edu).

Medical Economics Club: The goal of the group is to provide future physicians with practical information and expert advice they need to successfully manage their medical practices, finances and professional careers. Faculty Sponsor - Pat Bass, MD (pbassi@lsuhsc.edu). 

Military Medicine Interest Group (MMIG): Faculty Sponsor - W. Reid Grimes, MD 

Sports Medicine Interest Group (SMIG): Promotes opportunities in Primary Care Sports Medicine through sideline shadowing and sports medicine related lectures and workshops throughout the year. Faculty Sponsor - Chris Williams, MD (cwil40@lsuhsc.edu).

Technology In Medicine (TechMed): The aim is to educate students in a relaxed environment about medical devices, technologies, and innovative research topics that are not taught in the classroom. Faculty Sponsor - Kevin McCarthy, PhD (kmcca5@lsuhsc.edu). 

Wilderness Medicine Interest Group: Faculty Sponsor - Adam Canion, MD and Ryan Campbell, MD (rcamp4@lsuhsc.edu).

AMA-MSS School Chapter:  The AMA-MSS LSU Health Shreveport chapter strives to be the medical students' leading voice for improving medical education, advancing health care and advocating for the future of medicine. This chapter is located at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Louisiana and a membership of 300+ medical students. This MSS is a branch of the American Medical Association and works directly with the Louisiana State Medical Society. Faculty Sponsor: Lee Stevens, MD. 

American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA):  The AMWA LSU Health Shreveport chapter is a branch of the non-profit national organization founded in 1915.  We strive to serve the field of medicine and the community through advocacy, outreach, professional development, and education with the intention of raising awareness about issues within and outside of the medical profession.  Our meetings will include discussions about work-family balance, women’s experiences in male-dominated fields.  The faculty advisor is Jennifer Woerner, DMD, MD. For more information contact: amwalsumed@gmail.com.

Read more about our AMWA Chapter

Louisiana State Medical Society – Medical Student Section (LSMS-MSS):  Student members are included in a separate medical student section of the LSMS and are entitled to receive the monthly LSMS journal. For more information contact faculty sponsor Lee Stevens, MD.

Shreveport Medical Society-Medical Student Partnership: This organization is comprised of 5-10 medical students who act as a liaison group to the Shreveport Medical Society (SMS). The students attend regular board meetings and quarterly meetings, meet with the SMS president, and work to provide recommendations to the SMS on how to get involved with the student body. Students apply each year and are selected by current members to become involved with this group. They become exposed to organized medicine and help to connect other students to opportunities through the SMS such as presenting research, shadowing physicians in the community, and networking with physicians from across the state. Faculty Sponsor Horatio D’Agostino, MD.

The Latino Medical Student Association unites and empowers medical students through service, mentorship and education to advocate for the health of the Latino community.

Student National Medical Association (SNMA):  This organization holds as its principal purpose the concerns of the minority medical student, though its programs address issues for all medical students.