HBCU Educational Conference School Participants

Dillard University

Established in 1935

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

Current President: Dr. Rochelle L. Ford

Student Enrollment: 1,224

Grambling State University

Established in 1901

Location: Grambling, Louisiana

Current President: Richard J. Gallot, Jr.

Student Enrollment: 5,270

Xavier University

Established in 1925

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

Current President: Dr. Reynold Verret

Student Enrollment: 2,696

Southern University A&M College

Established in 1881

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Current Chancellor & President: Dennis J. Shields

Student Enrollment: 12,000

Southern University at N.O.

Established in 1880

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

Current Chancellor & President: Dennis J. Shields

Student Enrollment: 1,950

Prairie View A&M University

Established in 1878

Location: Prairie View, Texas

Current President: Dr. Tomikia P. LeGrande

Student Enrollment: 9,400

North Carolina A&T State University

Established in 1891

Location: Greensboro, North Carolina

Current Chancellor: Dr. Harold Lee Martin Sr.

Student Enrollment: 13,322

Meharry Medical College

Established in 1876

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Current President: Dr. James E.K. Hildreth

Student Enrollment: 962

Spelman College

Established in 1881

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Current President: Helene D. Gayle

Student Enrollment: 3,102

Tuskegee University

Established in 1881

Howard University

Established in 1867

Location: Washington, DC

Current President: Dr. Ben Vinson III

Student Enrollment: 9,809

Alcorn State University

Established in 1871

Location: Lorman, Mississippi

Current President: Dr. Tracey M. Cook

Student Enrollment: 3,074

Texas Southern University

Established in 1947

Location: Houston, Texas

Current President: Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young

Student Enrollment: 7,524

Location: Tuskegee, Alabama

Current President: Dr. Charlotte Morris

Student Enrollment: 2,747

Nationally recognized surgical oncologist and serves as the Associate Dean for oncological programs and Chief of Surgery for MSM at Grady Health System.

Dr. John H. Stewart, IV, MD, MBA, FACS, serves as the new Chair of the Department of Surgery and the Chief of Surgery for Morehouse School of Medicine at Grady Health System and Associate Dean for oncological programs at MSM.

Dr. Stewart is a nationally recognized surgeon scientist who served as the professor of surgery at Louisiana State University (LSU) Health New Orleans School of Medicine and the founding director of the LSU-Louisiana Children's Medical Center (LCMC) Health Cancer Center, where he was responsible for the overall mission, vision, and direction for multidisciplinary cancer care and cancer clinical research programs for LSU Health New Orleans and LCMC Health.

Dr. Stewart received his medical degree from Howard University and completed his general surgery residency at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He completed fellowships in surgical oncology, tumor immunology, and molecular oncology at the National Cancer Institute. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Wake Forest University. Dr. Stewart has established a national profile in education, scientific research, and cancer care delivery to underserved populations. His clinical interests are in general surgical oncology, focusing on melanoma, tumor immunotherapy, and peritoneal surface malignancies.

Dr. Stewart serves as a director for the American Board of Surgery, the chair of the American College of Surgeons Advisory Council for General Surgery and is a member of the Halsted Society Board of Directors. He is also active in leadership in the American Association for Cancer Research as a member of the Cancer Center Director’s Steering Committee and Vice Chair of the Program Committee.

About Ms. Shirley Roberson

“When you become a doctor, help someone else become a doctor.” Shirley Roberson

Ms. Shirley Roberson, served at the Director of Multicultural Affairs at LSU Health Shreveport Sciences Center for over 20 years. She is a graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge. She taught biology for a year at Southern, was employed at NASA, and went on to Baylor College of Medicine, and Lehigh University. She returned to Shreveport and began working at LSUHSC as the Director of Multicultural Affairs.

In her role, Ms. Roberson created the opportunity to develop the Partnership in Science Education Pipeline. The goal of the “Pipeline” is to increase representation of underrepresented and disadvantaged ethnic groups in health care and to provide the necessary components of enrichment programs, and research opportunities.

Ms. Roberson believed the “Pipeline”, helped students overcome their intimidation of science and math. She never recruited a student she didn’t believe could make it. Shirley believes, “It’s good to help students become doctors but it’s even better to give them hope for the future.”

The Impact of Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Efforts at LSU Health Shreveport

The primary mission of Louisiana State University Health Shreveport (LSUHS) is to teach, heal, and discover to advance the well-being of the region and beyond. In pursuit of this mission, the Office for Diversity Affairs aims to establish an atmosphere that celebrates and values each person’s unique attributes. Diversity enhances the educational experience, promotes innovative research, and improves quality of patient care. Hence, equity, inclusion, and excellence are at the forefront of our priorities.

A diversified workforce is vital to achieving health equity, enhancing scientific discovery, and strengthening bonds among our varied communities. LSUHS is training the next generation of physicians, health professionals, and scientists to go out into a world where diversity is the norm. Through our initiatives and programs, we endeavor to create a diverse and inclusive learning climate where all are empowered to succeed.

We each come from different places and traversed a distinctive path to LSUHS. These differences contributed to shaping us and inspire our viewpoints regarding societal and health care issues. The better we appreciate and understand our individual perspectives, the more cohesive and engaged our institution will be.

While our commitment to diversity is clear, we recognize that our effort is ongoing. By creating a more welcoming and inclusive community and working to eliminate health and educational disparities, we strive towards equality and the accomplishment of our purpose of bringing hope and well-being to Louisiana and beyond.

Toni Thibeaux, EdD, MPH Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity Affairs

Message from the Executive Director of Institutional Planning, Effectiveness, and Accreditation

A fundamental component of a well-rounded education is the opportunity to learn from students, faculty, and staff who come from backgrounds different from one’s own. Diversity is much broader than simple racial or ethnic categories. Embracing diversity involves a willingness to appreciate differences in the full range of humanistic qualities (including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability, or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, political beliefs, and life experiences).

We arrived at LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) with different backgrounds, beliefs, and dreams. The institution’s strong and active commitment to diversity ensures that differing views are welcomed, expressed, and heard and that learning and open dialogue can thrive. The unique thoughts, insights, and questions we share further strengthen our campus community.

Accreditation further stimulates diversity by establishing standards that manifest aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and require institutions to provide evidence to that effect. For example, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body for schools granting MD degrees in the United States and Canada, has included DEI features in its accreditation standards since 1997. LCME Element 3.3 addresses decisions that promote diversity by compelling medical schools to develop policies and pipeline programs for recruiting and supporting underrepresented students and employees. LCME allows flexibility for schools to identify their diversity categories in the context of their missions and environments, including the diverse needs of their regions. To fulfill LCME and other accreditation requirements, we must demonstrate the institution’s commitment to a healthy and vibrant campus community.

As we strive to attain our DEI goals, success depends upon every community member’s participation. DEI efforts must be embedded into all we do, in our academic and administrative units, on campus, and in the communities we serve.

Welcome 8:00am

- David Guzick, MD, PhD Chancellor

David S. Guzick, MD, PhD, began as Chancellor of LSU Shreveport on January 9, 2023. Previously, he served for seven years as dean of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry followed by 9 years as senior vice president for health affairs and President of UF Health at the University of Florida. An internationally recognized reproductive endocrinologist, he was elected to the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars in 2004 and the National Academy of Medicine in 2008. His book, “Introduction to the US Health Care Industry: Balancing Care, Cost and Access,” was published in 2020 by the John Hopkins University Press.

SEMINAR 1: Admission Requirements and Scholarship Opportunities

8:05am - 8:25am - Dr. Wanda Thomas, MD, FAAP Associate Dean of Admissions, School of Medicine

Dr. Thomas received her undergraduate degree in biology from Yale University in New Haven, CT and her medical degree from the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans followed by a pediatric residency at LSU Health Shreveport. She joined our faculty in 2003 and is currently serving as Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and as a Pediatric Hospitalist at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center. Dr. Thomas began serving as Associate Dean for Student Admissions in 2020 and has served as the AHEC Program Director for LSU Health Shreveport since July 2013. She is very active in our community, speaking at dozens of community events and serving on numerous community boards. The purpose of this workshop is to provide helpful hints as you plan course work, study, and schedule the MCAT. At the end of the presentation, the student will be able to list our admission requirements, describe the difference between the Early Decision and Regular admission process and state the purpose of the secondary application.

SEMINAR 2: Ready, Aim, and Fire

8:30am - 9:30am Peggy Murphy, PhD, MEd, MBA Director for Student Affairs, School of Medicine

You have decided that you are READY to begin the journey to medical school and becoming a physician. Now AIM to get accepted by taking the correct courses, getting volunteer hours, shadowing, and working in the field in addition to investing in the appropriate practice needed for taking the MCAT. Finally, FIRE UP for the interview. At the end of the presentation the student will be able to list and describe some strategies for how to overcome challenges and barriers that could impact their medical school application.

Dr. Chiranjiv S. Virk csv002@lsuhs.edu

Group 1 - Suture Workshop - 9:45am - 10:45am – Zadeck Conference Rm: G-221

Dr. Chiranjiv S. Virk is a Tenured Associate Professor of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery at LSU Health Shreveport. He graduated from Stanley Medical College, India, and moved to the United States in 2008. He completed his internship at Beth Israel Medical Center and his general surgery residency and vascular surgery fellowship at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Dr. Virk is board certified in general surgery and vascular surgery. He practices the entire gamut of vascular and endovascular surgery. He specializes in advanced endovascular and open surgery for thoracic, abdominal aortic aneurysms, vascular trauma, extracranial cerebrovascular diseases, complex dialysis access, critical limb ischemia, deep vein thrombosis, and varicose veins.

Group 2 – Mock Clinic - 9:45am - 10:45am – BRI Atrium

LSUHS MeSCO Foundation exists to improve the healthcare and well-being of the City of Shreveport and surrounding areas in Northwest Louisiana. Our focus is to assist all individuals who face barriers to care and improve the health equity of our workers, neighbors, families, and friends. From the severely underprivileged to those simply under-insured or facing unknown disparity or socioeconomic challenges that prevent them from seeking care under traditional means, we aim to uphold our vision by:

1. Overseeing and operating the MeSCO Mobile Health Clinic, an interdisciplinary, collaborative (facultyprecepted), student run free clinic (SRFC).

2. Preparing and maintaining a sustainable plan to ensure the long-term outreach of the MeSCO SRFC.

3. Supporting the advancement and future development of other student-driven clinical service projects.

Diabetes Advocacy Group (DAG):

This is a public awareness group for the increasing prevalence of diabetes, to spread awareness of the effects of diabetes, and to work with health centers to have medical students gain clinical experience regarding diabetes care.

Ultrasound Interest Group (USIG):

USIG at LSUHS aims to provide students in healthcare professions opportunities to practice using ultrasonography (US) and a basic understanding of how it applies to clinical practice by partnering with trained clinical professionals. With the numerous medical fields that utilize US, such as anesthesiology, cardiology, emergency medicine, and OBGYN among others, it is vital that students have early exposure and active application of US during their training. Through collaboration with healthcare faculty and professionals, our goal is to provide students with opportunities to utilize US machines, understand the working principles behind US, and allow them to practice and learn techniques as a supplement to their systems-based curriculum.

*** Lunch: Zadeck Conference Rm: G-221*** 11: 15pm – 12:15pm

Christopher Kevil, PhD

Dean for School of Graduate Studies

cgk001@lsuhs.edu