School of Medicine

The Pulse

21st Annual Medical Student Research Symposium Held 

More than 100 medical students presented their research projects at the recent 21st Annual Medical Student Research Symposium held in the Lions Building. 

Presenting students were from LSUHSC-New Orleans and outside institutions who conducted research under the supervision of mentors from the downtown campus, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center, Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge, and other centers throughout the state. Presenters also included LSUHSC medical students who received federal and regional awards to conduct year-long research outside the state, or were enrolled in Research Elective courses, and/or in the Honors Program. During these programs, students conducted their own small research projects or collaborated on larger, ongoing projects. 
The full list of students and their presentation timeslots can be found here.

One week later, the Medical Student Research Symposium Awards Ceremony was held with guest speakers Dr. Charity Sylvester and Dr. Kaitlyn Robillard and a reception. 

“The medical students did an excellent job presenting their research projects last Tuesday, November 5th. Separate awards will be given to the M1/M2 student category and the M3/M4 student category. First, second and third place will be awarded. Winners will receive travel awards to present their research at a national conference,” said Dr. Fern Tsien, Assistant Dean for Medical Student Research.

“This program wouldn’t be possible without all the students, mentors, judges, and laboratory, clinical, and office personnel who made this possible, as well as our supporters who provided student stipends, resources, travel awards, and refreshments: the LSUHSC School of Medicine Dean's Office, the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, The Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials/Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP), Dr. Richard DiCarlo, Dr. James Wittliff, Mrs. Mitzie Hano Wittliff,” Tsien added.

Winners receive a travel award to present their research at a scientific conference. The winners were:
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE CATEGORY
1st Place Winner, $1500 Mitzie Hano Wittliff Research Travel Award
Michelle E. Veillon- Bradshaw, M2, LSUHSC
Co-Authors: Jack Leoni, Kaleb Derouen, Dr. John Wilson, Dr. Wesley Shoap, Dr. Gabriel Tender
LSUHSC-New Orleans Department of Neurosurgery

2nd Place Winners, $700 Dean's Research Travel Award (tie)  
Kendall Walker, M2, LSUHSC
Co-Authors: Hannah Kremer, Jorgi Mandelbaum, Charlotte Swope, Dr. Charles Nichols
LSUHSC-New Orleans, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
 
Matthew Vlosich, M2, LSUHSC
Co-Authors: Madelaine Bryant, Nour Abbes, Dr. Eric Lazartigues, Dr. Xinping Yue
LSUHSC-New Orleans, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
 
3rd Place Winners, $400 Dean's Research Travel Award (tie) 
Keisha Patel, M2, LSUHSC
Co-Authors: Slone Clay, Dr. Regina Zambrano
Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, Louisiana (CHNOLA) and LSUHSC-New Orleans, Department of Pediatrics

Camille Gelis, M2, LSUHSC
Co-Authors: Sydney Ambrose, Dr. Aliya Pierre, Dr. Christopher Haas
LSUHSC-New Orleans, Department of Dermatology
 
Award for Cancer Research, $1000 LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center Travel Award
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE CATEGORY
Marisol Mosqueda Arreola, M2, LSUHSC
Co-Author:  Dr. Arnold H. Zea
LSUHSC-New Orleans, Dept. of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center
 
Steve Nelson, MD Award for Excellence in Alcohol Research, $1000 Travel Award
Drew Bookman, M2, LSUHSC
Co-Authors: Taylor Fitzpatrick-Schmidt, Dr. David Welsh, Dr. Patricia Molina, Dr. Scott Edwards
LSUHSC-New Orleans, Department of Physiology, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence, Comprehensive Alcohol-HIV/AIDS Research Center
 
JUNIOR/SENIOR CATEGORY
1st Place Winner, $1500 Margaret Raiford Hano Research Travel Award 
Luke Konur, M4, LSUHSC
Co-Authors:  Ashley Winters, Amna Rathor, Dr. Jennifer Cameron
LSUHSC-New Orleans, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology 
 
2nd Place Winner, $700 Dean's Research Travel Award  
Ivan Nguyen, M3, LSUHSC
Co-Authors:  Dr. Bhagwat Alapure, Lainey (Madeleine) Pickens, Dongjoon(Jason) Kim, Dr. Jennifer J. Lentz
LSUHSC-New Orleans, Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Department of Otorhinolaryngology.
 
3rd Place Winner, $400 Dean's Research Travel Award  
Logan Hornung, M3, LSUHSC
Co-Authors: Dr. Richard Guidry, Dr. Adeem Nachabe, Dr. Robert Allen, Dr. Hugo St. Hilaire
LSUHSC-New Orleans, Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Award for Cancer Research, $1000 LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center Travel Award
JUNIOR/SENIOR CATEGORY
Alexandra Bartholomew, M3, LSUHSC
Co-Authors:  Audrey Marsh; Counti McCutchen; Dr. Ronja Bodola; Dr. Tara Castellano; Dr. Pui Cheng; Dr. Amelia Jernigan, Dr. Jason Mussell
LSUHSC-New Orleans, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Obstetrics and Gynecology, LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center