A Message from Interim Dean Dr. Richard DiCarlo
Despite two years of disruptions caused by COVID, the School of Medicine continues to grow and improve. Our faculty has grown by 20% over five years and the pace did not slow down during the pandemic. In the last two years, we have recruited outstanding new leaders for the Departments of Internal Medicine (Dr. Cynthia Brown), Psychiatry (Dr. Rahn Bailey), Anesthesiology (Dr. Richard Pino), Cell Biology (Dr. Carmen Canavier) and Family Medicine (Dr. Emilio Russo). We have three outstanding finalists in our search for the Department Head for Surgery, and we have begun the search for a new Department Head in Pediatrics. Working together with LCMC, we are recruiting additional faculty in all fields of cancer care and cancer research. We have a new Associate Dean for Admissions (Dr. Angela McLean), and we recently signed an important agreement with Xavier University that will help us recruit some of their best and brightest students to LSU School of Medicine.
The campus will see two other exciting changes in the coming months. First is the completion of a 13,000 square-foot state-of-the-art animal care facility in the late summer. Second will be the opening of the renovated Interim LSU Hospital building (the old Hotel Dieu Hospital). We plan to move our clinical departments out of the original medical school building at 1542 Tulane Avenue and into this renovated building in the fall and early winter. This is a big and positive change for the school. It will bring our clinical faculty into much needed new academic offices that are closer to the basic science departments, a short walk from the hospital, and across the street from the Gravier Clinic. This building will also house the Center for Advanced Learning (new and expanded simulation and training facilities), reception space, additional classrooms, a testing center, and a campus wellness center.
Amidst all of these changes, the recent Match Day celebration reminded me that our purpose is constant. Our students had a very successful match despite increasing competition nationwide. In addition to having many students match at prestigious programs around the country, we are delighted that 50% of this class chose to stay in Louisiana, and that 90% of those who remained in the state chose to train in our residencies. That is a testament to our training programs, our excellent faculty and our outstanding leaders.
While we are making many improvements on our campus, and while the health care environment around us is constantly changing, it is important to note that our core mission has not changed. The LSU School of Medicine continues to train the next generation of doctors for Louisiana and make scientific advances in healthcare. We could not do that without the efforts of each and every one of you, together with the strong support we receive from those invested in our work.
Thank you for all that you do.
Respectfully,
Richard DiCarlo MD ('87)
Interim Dean