Systemic Recruitment Activities

HBCU Educational Conference

The annual HBCU Educational Conference was implemented in 2019 as a recruitment strategy to increase the number of African American and Black students who apply, interview, and matriculate into LSU Health Shreveport’s educational programs.

Texas Southern University

Established in 1947

Location: Houston, Texas

Current President: Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young

Student Enrollment: 7,524

Held the second weekend in November, this conference provides an opportunity for LSUHS administrators, faculty, staff, and students to engage with prospective students who are enrolled at a four-year HBCU and discuss the pathway to become a medical doctor, allied health professional, or researcher. Initially targeting students at Louisiana HBCUs, in 2022, the Office for Diversity Affairs (ODA) received a $10,000 grant from the Association of American Colleges (AAMC) to extend the conference’s reach to prospective medical students enrolled at HBCUs across the United States.

Additional conference sponsors have been the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Caddo Parish Commissioners, Shreveport-Bossier Louisiana’s Other Side, Shreveport Convention Center, the HiltonShreveport, iShuttle, and the Delta Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.

Program Highlights

Since 2019, the ODA has met or exceeded their performance goals for this recruitment strategy, which are 5% of the participants who classify as a senior will apply, interview, or matriculate into our medical education program.

35% of out-of-state participants at the 2022 conference plan to apply to our medical school in 2023.

10% or more increase in conference participation from 2019 event.

I attended the HBCU Educational Conference in 2019. My favorite session at the conference was the medical student panel discussions. A set of medical students from each cohort offered advice and their reasons for applying and enrolling at the medical school. After attending the conference, I was able to form a relationship with Dr. Thibeaux and senior medical students. The genuineness of this network relinquished any anxiety I had about applying to LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine. As a rising, MSII, I am happy with my decision.

-Jataiveus Jackson,