FACULTY
Lisa M. Harrison-Bernard, PhD, FAPS, FAHA, FASN
Professor of Physiology and Nursing
Physiology
- lharris@lsuhsc.edu
- Medicine
Academic Office:
LSUHSC School of Medicine
2020 Gravier Street
Room 725
New Orleans, LA 70112
504-568-6175
Bio
Lisa M. Harrison-Bernard, Ph.D. is a native of New Orleans and earned her doctoral degree in Physiology from Tulane University in 1990. She completed four years of postdoctoral training at the Tulane University School of Medicine before joining the Department of Physiology faculty in 1994. In 2004, she transitioned to the Department of Physiology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC), where she currently serves as a Tenured Professor in both the Schools of Medicine and Nursing. She also holds an appointment as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physiology at Tulane University School of Medicine.
From 2017 to 2025, Dr. Harrison-Bernard served as Program Director of the NIH NIGMS-funded LSUGSC-NO Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) in Biomedical Sciences, which aims to develop a broad pool of well-trained postbaccalaureates students pursuing Ph.D. degrees in biomedical sciences.
Dr. Harrison-Bernard has authored 68 peer-reviewed journal articles and 6 book chapters, with her work cited 5,974 times. She holds a Google Scholar h-index of 34 and an i10-index of 50, reflecting the significant impact of her research. She remains actively engaged in academic scholarship, regularly preparing both research and educational manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals.
She is a frequent reviewer for National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant review committees. She currently serves as Course Director for multiple medical physiology courses. Each year, she delivers over 50 hours of renal physiology lectures to approximately 1,000 students across medical, dental, graduate, allied health, and nursing programs.
Dr. Harrison-Bernard is deeply committed to advancing her expertise in renal physiology and integrating innovative teaching strategies to enhance student learning. She is a member of the American Physiological Society and the Association for Women in Science, and she actively participates in community outreach initiatives focused on increasing the representation of minorities and women in STEM fields.
Education
B.S., University of New Orleans
Ph.D., Tulane University
Teaching
Teaching Expertise:
- Renal Physiology for Medical, Graduate, Dental, Allied Health, and Nursing Students
Course Directorships:
- 2008 - 2013: DHY 3202 - Dental Hygiene General and Oral Physiology
- 2016 - Present: HLSC 2410 - Nursing Human Physiology
- 2022 - Present: NURS 7405 - Advanced Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology for Nurse Anesthesia
Course Co-Directorships:
- 2014 - Present: HLSC 2410 - Nursing Human Physiology
- 2021 - Present: PHYSIO 100 Medical Human Physiology
Facilitator:
- 2017 - Present: CSI 100, 101, 200, 201 - Clinical Skills Integration for Medical Students
Publications
Selected Publications (of a total of 68)
- Harrison-Bernard LM, Augustus-Wallace AC, Souza-Smith FM, Tsien F, Casey GP, Gunaldo TP. Knowledge gains in a professional development workshop on diversity, equity, inclusion, and implicit bias in academia. Adv. Physiol. Educ. 44 (3): 286-294, 2020. PMID: 32484403
- Primeaux, SD, Harrison-Bernard, LM, & Barnes, MJ ‘Neurophysiology of the Hypothalamus’. In G.I. Uwaifo Eds. The Hypothalamus: Anatomy, Dysfunction and Disease Management Springer Publishing. 2021
- Souza-Smith FM, Albrechet-Souza L, Avegno EM, Ball CD, Ferguson TF, Harrison-Bernard LM, Molina PE. Perspectives against racism: educational and socialization efforts at the departmental level. Adv. Physiol. Educ. 45: 720-729, 2021, PMID: 34498936
- Savedchuk S, Phachu D, Shankar M, Sparks MA, Harrison-Bernard LM. Targeting Glomerular Hemodynamics for Kidney Protection. Advances in Kidney Disease and Health. 2023 Mar;30(2):71-84. doi: 10.1053/j.akdh.2022.12.003. PMID: 36868736
- Harrison-Bernard LM, Raij L, Runxia T, Jaimes E. Genetically conditioned interaction among microRNA-155, alpha-klotho, and intra-renal RAS in male rats: Link to CKD progression. Physiol. Reports, 12, e16172. https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.1617, 2024. PMID: 39375174
- Wilson TE, Harrison-Bernard LM. A primer: peer review process for Advances in Physiology Education. Adv. Physiol. Educ. Dec 1;48(4):932-935. doi: 10.1152/advan.00127.2024. Epub 2024 Sep 5, 2024. PMID: 39236106
- Harrison-Bernard LM, Edwards S, Siggins RW, Primeaux SD. Effectiveness of an experimental design and analysis course for first-year medical students. Med. Sci. Educ. (2025)
Research
R25 GM148309 “LSUHSC-New Orleans Postbaccalaureate Re-search Education Program in Biomedical Sciences” Role: Principal Investigator/Director; Co-Directors: Allison C. Augustus-Wallace and Jovanny Zabaleta; Program Coordinator: Stefany Primeaux; Program Administrator: Melissa D. Prestwood. Total Support: $1,387,836. Total Direct: $1,300,756. Funded Period 04/04/2023 - 03/31/2028. Terminated by NIH 04/01/2025.
Committees
Professional Society Committees
- 1999 - 2001 American Physiological Society (APS), Women in Physiology
- 2001 - 2015 American Heart Association (AHA), Council on the Kidney and Cardiovascular Disease Programming
- 2002 - 2003 Gulf Coast American Physiological Society, Councilor
- 2003 - 2005 APS, Membership
- 2003 - 2011 American Society of Nephrology, Women in Nephrology Programming
- 2005 - 2007 APS, Chair of the Membership
- 2006 - 2012 AHA Council for High Blood Pressure Research (CHBPR) Membership
- 2008 - 2010 APS, Education
- 2010 - 2012 AHA CHBPR Fall Conference
- 2011 - 2013 FASEB Summer Conference on Renal Hemodynamics Programming
- 2012 - 2013 AHA CHBPR Programming
- 2013 – Present Association for Women in Science South Louisiana Chapter (AWIS-SL) Chair of Awards
- 2012 - 2016 AWIS-SL Secretary
- 2019 - 2022 American Physiological Society Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
- 2020 - 2024 AWIS-SL President
- 2023 - Present APS Center for Physiology Education, Physiology Educators for Professional Programs
- 2025 AWIS-SL Early Career Travel Award
School of Medicine Committees
- 2007 - Present Sabbatical Leave
- 2010 - Present Women’s Affairs
- 2011 - 2013 Faculty Assembly Alternate Delegate for Basic Sciences
- 2011 - Present Academic Standards
- 2012 - 2016 International Travel
- 2013 - 2016 Faculty Assembly Delegate for Basic Sciences
- 2016 - Present Curriculum Subcommittee on Addressing Cultural Competencies
- 2018 Academic Collaboration for Health Equity
- 2020 - Present Appointments and Promotions
- 2021 Chair of Cell Biology and Anatomy Search
- 2021 - Present Nephrology Interest Group Faculty Advisor
- 2022 Counsel on Student Professional Conduct Appeals
- 2023 - Present Admissions
- 2025 - Present Tiger Scholars Enrichment Program Admissions
School of Graduate Studies Committees
- 2018 - Present Recruitment
- 2023 - Present Graduate Advisory Council: Biomedical Sciences Advisory Council
- 2023 - Present Graduate Advisory Council Membership
- 2023 - Present Hunger-Free Task Force
- 2024 MD/PhD Admissions
Physiology Departmental Committees
- 2004 - 2008, Faculty Search
2011 - 2016 - 2008 - 2012 Director Seminar Series
- 2010 - 2014, Graduate Student
2017 - 2024 - 2010 - 2014, Chair Graduate Student Mentoring
2017 - 2024 - 2014 - 2024 Graduate Student Recruitment Task Force
- 2018 - 2024 Chair Training and Mentoring Task Force
- 2021 - 2024 Chair Promotions and Tenure
- 2021 - Present Chair Commnity Engagement