School of Medicine

The Pulse - December 2023

20th Annual Medical Student Research Symposium Held

More than 100 medical students presented their research projects at the 20th Annual Medical Student Research Symposium, held on October 23, 2023, in the Lions Building. Most students presented their research in-person, with 14 students presenting virtually. 

The research was conducted on the New Orleans campus, at Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, University Medical Center, and other clinics and research centers throughout the state. Students who received federal and regional awards to conduct year-long research outside the state, those enrolled in research elective courses, and students in the honors program also presented their projects.  

The LSUHSC Research Internship Program has provided opportunities for medical students to conduct research since 2003. Students conduct their own small research projects or collaborate on larger, ongoing projects. Funding this year came from 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 Louisiana Department of Health, and Dr. James Wittliff and Mrs. Mitzie Hano Wittliff.  

“Each one of these students did an excellent job and we are very proud of their achievements,” said Dr. Fern Tsien, Assistant Dean for Medical Student Research. “I am grateful to all of the mentors, judges, and laboratory, clinical, and office personnel who made this possible by investing their time in our medical students.”

The abstracts and posters can be viewed here: https://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/genetics/2023_medical_student_research_poster_symposium.aspx
 
Each of the winners below received a travel award to present their research at a scientific conference:

FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE CATEGORY

Avni Shridhar by poster1st Place Winners,  $1300 Mitzie Hano Wittliff Research Travel Award (tie)  
Avni Shridhar, M2, LSUHSC
Co-Authors: Suzanne Viator, Tara Castellano, Holly Provost, Navya Nair, Elizabeth Neupert, Amelia Jernigan
LSUHSC, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

 

Joshua Broussard by posterJoshua P. Broussard, M2, LSUHSC
Co-Authors: Sylvia Culpepper, Jennifer Simkin
LSUHSC, Department of Orthopedics
 

 

 

 

2nd Place Winners, $1000 Dean's Research Travel Award (tie)  
Hinali Patel, M1, LSUHSC
Co-Authors: Parnia Mobasheran , Qinglin Yang
LSUHSC, Cardiovascular Center of Excellence and Department of Pharmacology

Joachim Kavalakatt, M2, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL
Co-Authors: Suresh K. Alahari and Manu Khosla
LSUHSC, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

A McCullough by posterAaron Hayes McCullough, M2, LSUHSC
Co-Authors: Jessica Landry, Inga Kristaponyte, Bhagwat Alapure, Jennifer J. Lentz
LSUHSC, Department of Otolaryngology
 

 

 

 

Christie Maidoh by poster

3rd Place Winners, $500 Dean's Research Travel Award (tie) 
Christie E. Maidoh, M2, LSUHSC
Co-Authors: Jared Sheehan, Amber J. Trauth, Michael E. Hagensee, Alistair J. Ramsay
LSUHSC, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology

 

India Pasley by poster

India E. Pasley, M2, LSUHSC
Co-Authors: Ryan Miller, Luke Restivo, Eric Lazartigues
LSUHSC, Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, Pharmacology & Neuroscience & Medicine;
Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System

 

Jack J-Y Wang, M2, LSUHSCJack Wang by poster
Co-Authors: Michael Celestin, Kennedy Dorsey, Almetra Granger, Ty-Runet Bryant, Qingzhao Yu, Tung Sung Tseng
LSUHSC, School of Public Health

 

 

JUNIOR/SENIOR CATEGORY

Sidney John1st Place Winner, $1300 Margaret Raiford Hano Research Travel Award 
Sidney J. John, M3, LSUHSC
Co-Author:  Li Shen
LSUHSC, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology 
 

 

 

Margaret Conrad by poster2nd Place Winner, $1000 Dean's Research Travel Award  
Margaret A. Conrad, M3, LSUHSC
Co-Authors:  Alan Williams, Hayley Ulloa, Ed Grabczyk
LSUHSC, Department of Genetics
 

 

3rd Place Winner, $500 Dean's Research Travel Award  
Sloane M. Clay, M3, LSUHSC
Co-Author: Regina Zambrano
LSUHSC and Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, Department of Pediatrics