Your Neck of the Woods
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Dr. Suresh Alahari was invited to serve on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry effective January 1, 2024.
Dr. Alahari also gave eight hours of lectures to students and faculty of Medical University of
Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland in December 2023.
Cell Biology and Anatomy
Dr. Roberto Refinetti, Professor and Department Chair, Department of Psychology, University
of New Orleans, gave the first lecture for the department’s 2024 Spring Seminar Series.
Internal Medicine
The cardiology team, including Drs. Jameel Ahmed, Cody Williams, Zee Ali and Pedro Cox-Alomar, recently had the opportunity to perform a first-of-its-kind procedure in South Louisiana.
Their patient had gone into cardiac arrest after saving a deer from a bobcat attack
and required a complex electrophysiology ablation with ECMO therapy. The patient has
been released and after undergoing rehab has been seen in the clinic. Overall, the
patient is doing very well.
Dr. Lobna Ali (Geriatric Medicine) and Dr. Julijana Conic (Geriatrics Fellow) recently presented a poster at the 2023 Louisiana Geriatrics Society Annual Meetings in Lafayette. Dr. Conic was the first author and the poster won second place in the category. This conference was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Charles Cefalu, a former LSU faculty member and founder of the conference who passed away in early 2022.
Dr. Allison Augustus-Wallace has been re-elected as Associate Director of the Research and Doctoral Constituency for Sigma Xi (the Scientific Research Honor Society). Her three-year term begins in July.
Dr. Cynthia Brown was recently interviewed for an article published on NOLA.com about the aging of the Jefferson Parish population. You can read the piece here.
Dr. Victoria Burke (Infectious Diseases) LSU-NO Clerkship Site Director and Infectious Diseases Fellowship Director was recently selected to become one of the 10-member national American College of Physicians Council of Early Career Physicians. This committee focuses on increasing engagement, professional development, local chapter activities, and promotion of the ACP's strategic plan among early career physicians.
The Wall Street Journal highlighted Dr. Gala True’s (Community and Population Medicine) work for gun safety among veterans: How Gun Shops Became the New Face of Suicide Prevention (22 December, Zusha Elinson, 49.8M uvm; Washington, DC).
The LSU Gastroenterology Fellowship recently celebrated the creation of its Legacy
Project which commemorates all faculty, fellows and staff associated with the training
program. The event was attended by current program members as well as previous graduates
and families of past program leaders Dr. William Ferrante and Dr. Luis Balart.
Dr. Pedro Cox (Cardiology) presented at the National ACC Quality Summit Meeting in Orlando, FL recently. His poster “Development and Implementation of a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Fast Track to Decrease Median Critical Hours after TAVR” demonstrated that implementing an evidence-based risk stratification system in conjunction with a clinical pathway and comprehensive education can guide and standardize safe care of TAVR patients in non-critical care settings.
Dr. Stephanie Taylor, Dr. Rebecca Lillis (Infectious Diseases) and other members of LSU STI Research team were involved in a complicated and important phase 3 trial of a new antibiotic treatment for gonorrhea. The LSU STI Clinic was the highest enroller in a trial with international sites in the first few years of the trial. You can read more here.
Dr. Catherine Hudson (Gastroenterology) was recently featured in an installment of Healio’s diversity, equity and inclusion video series with the ASGE. Dr. Hudson addressed how to combat emerging stigma around new anti-obesity medications such as glucagon-like peptide agonists. You can listen to the podcast here.
Dr. Joseph Kanter (Emergency Medicine) and Dr. Fred Lopez (Infectious Diseases) recently spoke at the Infectious Diseases and Louisiana: Impact and Current Medical Knowledge meeting sponsored by the Environment and Health Council of Louisiana at the University of New Orleans.
Dr. Stephen Lindsey (Rheumatology), Dr. Kelsey Pasch, Dr. Michael Reep and Dr. Arya Loghmani (Rheumatology Fellows) had two posters selected for presentation at the American College
of Rheumatology national meeting in San Diego. Drs. Pasch and Lindsey’s poster (photo, left) was titled “Improving Vaccine Uptake of the Pneumococcal 20-valent Conjugate Vaccine
(PCV20) in Young Rheumatic Disease Patients Using a Brief Intense Partnership Program.”
Drs. Loghmani, Reep and Lindsey had a poster titled
“Improving Uptake of Herpes Zoster Vaccination in Young Rheumatic Disease Patients
Ages 18 – 49 Using a Specialty Pharmacy Partnership.”
SOM faculty members Dr. Ashley Wennerstrom and Dr. Gala True (Community & Population Medicine), along with collaborators from the Formerly Incarcerated
Transitions (FIT) Clinic, SUNO, and Tulane, recently hosted an opening reception for
the Life Beyond Bars PhotoVoice Exhibit. The project features six formerly incarcerated
people, including Bobbie Wallace, Isaac Knapper, Desiree Morrison, and Kenneth Vincent
(pictured here with Dr. Anjali Niyogi of the FIT Clinic and Dr. Wennerstrom). Through
photos and interviews, they illustrate the profound effects of incarceration on individuals
and families and share stories of hope and resilience. The exhibit is open to the
public Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-noon at the SUNO Leonard S. Washington
Memorial Library, 3rd Floor, 6400 Press Drive.
Dr. Tiffany Ardoin (Baton Rouge) presented her research poster “Does Improvement in Food Insecurity Lead to Improvement in Weight and Waist Circumference?” at the recent American Heart Association Scientific Session in Philadelphia.
Dr. Stephen Lim (Emergency Medicine) was recently featured as an Impact Winner in UMC’s most recent Scholarly Spotlight. Dr. Lim published manuscripts in JAMA and Vaccine.
Dr. David Aguilar (Cardiology) and Dr. Benjamin Pickard (3rd year LSU Lafayette IM resident) presented their poster “Aortic Stiffness among Mexican Americans with Diabetes and Prediabetes: Evidence of
Accelerated Vascular Aging and Increased Cardiac Biomarkers” at the AHA Scientific Session.
Dr. Mihran Naljayan (Nephrology and Hypertension) gave a talk at the Institute of Nephrology – a self-directed, web-based, home dialysis education curriculum at the American Society of Nephrology national meeting.
Dr. Raj Mohandas (Nephrology and Hypertension) chaired the Donald W. Seldin Young Investigator Award and Early Career Symposium jointly sponsored by the AHA and ASN at the American Society of Nephrology national meeting.
Dr. Siddhartha Bajracharya (Nephrology and Hypertension) also presented at the American Society of Nephrology national meeting.
Dr. Ben Springgate (Community and Population Medicine) presented at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting in Tampa, Florida in the symposium "Health and Aging Policy: Linking Policy and Practice to Benefit Older People."
Dr. Springgate also served as an invited discussant for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Grand Rounds earlier this year on the topic of Contingency Management for Substance Use Disorders, and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Efforts to Expand Use of Contingency Management (a highly effective intervention to address stimulant use disorders and other substance use disorders). The Grand Rounds included experts from the DHHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation; the Department of Veterans Affairs; the University of California, Los Angeles; and CMS. Dr. Springgate is currently a Fellow at the CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality.
Dr. Tat Yau, Dr. Meredith Clement (Infectious Diseases) and UNC colleagues had a poster at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections titled “Persistent HIV-1 Plasma Viremia in Patients on Therapy Caused by Macrophage-Tropic Lineage.”
The HOP Clinic and Infectious Diseases section were involved in week-long activities at UMC including a lunch & learn by Dr. Paula Seal (Infectious Diseases) titled “HIV in New Orleans and Louisiana: The road behind us and path forward” on World AIDS Day 35 in December.
Dr. Elyse Stevens (Community & Population Medicine) spoke at the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Center of Excellence 18th Scientific Retreat.
Ophthalmology
Jayne S. Weiss, MD, attended the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s 2024’s Secretariat for Federal
Affairs Meeting in Washington, DC on January 27, 2024, as an advocate for patients
and providers.
Dr. Weiss will be a visiting professor at NYU Langone Health on April 3, 2024.
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
James Walker, MD assisted Dr. Kahn at LSU in Lafayette with initiating and participating in an outreach program called
Patient Direct in conjunction with Ochsner UHC. They recently participated in one
program for senior citizens in Breaux Bridge and are planning an inner-city event.
The goal is to provide underserved patients direct access to doctors of different
specialties. For the department of otolaryngology, participants can discuss various
ENT problems and learn about services available at UHC. The goal is to participate
in one per month.
Pediatrics
The department recently held its Town Hall meeting. Chair Dr. Dedrick Moulton discussed the overarching goals of the department and recognized their alignment
with closely affiliated institutions, Tulane University and Children’s Hospital, and
emphasized the potential for increased collaboration by leveraging their many shared
objectives. Dr. Moulton also highlighted recent achievements within the department
and his priorities and areas of focus for the upcoming months. An interactive session
followed with attendees asking questions and sharing insights.
Program Director Dr. Patrick Ryan and Associate Program Director Dr. Julia Schweizer oversee the department’s Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) Fellowship, the first and only pediatric emergency medicine fellowship in Louisiana. Fellows enrolled in the program will navigate the complexities of pediatric emergency conditions, gaining hands-on experience in the evaluation and management of cases ranging from trauma and shock to respiratory distress and infection. The curriculum extends beyond traditional emergency scenarios, providing exposure to a diverse range of pediatric-related topics, including child abuse and neglect, mental and behavioral health, child advocacy, and public health.
The department recently hosted a Gender Diverse Youth Social, an event tailored to
the specific needs of gender diverse patients, their families, and the wider community.
The event was planned and executed by the LSU Pediatric Adolescent Medicine administrative
team, Hannah Simon and Tatjana Saunders, as well as LSU Pediatrics Vice Chair of Community Health and Advocacy, Dr. Ryan Pasternak, and Children’s Hospital New Orleans Adolecent Medicine Practice Administrator, Nina Keiser. The event was created in response to parents expressing a desire to connect with
families who could relate to their unique experiences, and physicians, noticing that
patients lived in close proximity, recognizing the need for a social platform where
these families could be introduced. This year’s event welcomed 48 attendees, including
gender-diverse patients already accessing services and care from Children’s Hospital
New Orleans and outside clinical partners. The evening featured ice-breaking activities,
introductions to providers and services, a lively DJ’d dance party, and access to
resource tables from partners. Most importantly, it provided a space where people
could engage in meaningful conversations and establish connections. Additional support
came from The Parenting Center, PFLAG, Café Reconcile, Tubby + Coo, Crescent Care,
NOLAHype, Juan’s Flying Burrito and Lindsay Keen.
The department joined forces with Second Harvest over the holiday season to raise
funds and assemble 100 prepared boxes filled with groceries for a hearty holiday meal.
Organized by Dr. Ryan Pasternak, Vice Chair of Community Health and Advocacy, along with the support of pediatric
administrative staff, Kelly Allerton and Sarah Brooks, the department raised $4,375. Dozens of volunteers from the department gathered
to pack and distribute the boxed meals.
Dr. Ricardo Gomez, Dr. Stewart Chalew, and many others in the Pediatric Endocrinology division hit a new milestone: more than 450 citations of co-authored articles, placing them in the top 5% for citations within the Doximity community.
Dr. Shubho Sarkar, Assistant Professor in the Hospital Medicine division, presented at the AMIA Annual
Symposium on how to bridge the gap between institutions and improve medical education
through the use of an online orientation, evaluation and reference tool. A more detailed
description of his presentation can be found on the AMIA website.
Physiology
Dr. Lisa Harrison-Bernard and the PREP Scholars attended the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized
Scientists (ABRCMS) in November 2023 in Phoenix, AZ. (Pictured, left to right: Dwayne Crenshaw, Katelyn White, Caitlynn Diggs, Nicholos
Horne, Victoria Rodriguez, Dr. Harrison-Bernard)
Dr. Harrison-Bernard is serving on several School of Graduate Studies committees, including Graduate Advisory Council, Graduate Advisory Council Membership, and the Hunger-Free Task Force. She is also a member of the APS Center for Physiology Education Engagement of Medical & Health Physiology Education Leaders Subcommittee and served on the following grant review committees: Florida Department of Health James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Special Emphasis Panel/Scientific Review Group 2024/05 ZAI1 PP-D (M1) of NIAID R25 Applications.
Dr. Harrison-Bernard is also an Associate Editor for the APS Advances in Physiology Education journal.
Rajani Maiya presented "Paraventricular thalamus (PVT) as a mediator of adaptations to stress and drug use" at the mini symposium at the Society for Neuroscience meeting. Her talk was titled "Transcriptional signatures of social stress escalated alcohol consumption in the PVT."
Dr. Scott Edwards presented the talk “Substance Use Disorders and Treatment Considerations for People with HIV” at the LSU Health School of Dentistry.
Dr. Edwards also presented a seminar “Analgesic Efficacy of Alcohol in the Context of Chronic Pain: Preclinical and Clinical Insights” at the LSU Neuroscience Center of Excellence.
Psychiatry
Members of the Section of Psychology have several upcoming national and regional presentations:
- Dr. Sandy Hyatt and Dr. Nathan Brown – “Working psychodynamically in a hospital trauma unit” at Appalachian Psychoanalytic Institute Society meeting in March.
- Dr. Amy Rinner and Angela Mizell (social work section) – “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with the Perinatal Population” at Southeastern Psychological Association in Orlando in March.
- Dr. Shane Bierma – “Clinical and assessment approaches to early onset dementia” at University of South Alabama in Mobile in April.
- Dr. Nathan Brown – “Demystifying mental health provider billing and establishing standardized evidence-based screening measures” at American Burn Association Conference in Chicago in April.
- Drs. Michelle Moore, Lee Engel and Sonya Van Nuland - “Succession Planning: From Rough Waters to Smooth Sailing” at AAMC Council of Faculty and Academic Societies Professional Development Conference in Arlington in April.
- Dr. Shane Bierma, Dr. Michael Gee and Dr. Katie Catanzarite from psychology - “Addressing the mental health care needs of people with HIV in Ryan White” at National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care & Treatment, Washington, DC. (with Richey, L., Lopez, C., Amaya, S., Wilson, T.)
Radiology
Dr. Alexandra Fairchild presented “Application of Interventional Radiology in OB/ GYN” at the University of Tennessee's annual “Contemporary Issues in OB/ GYN” CME course
in Destin, FL last year.
Dr. Anandraj Kanwar presented “Isolated Intracranial Manifestation of X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease: A Case" at the Western Neuroradiological Society annual meeting in Scottsdale, AZ, in October, 2023.
Dr. David Smith presented “Localized Lung Lesions - Beyond Malignancy” at the American College of Chest Physicians annual meeting in Honolulu, HI, in October, 2023.
Dr. Bradley Spieler was selected as the new Executive Director of the Spirit of Charity Foundation.
Dr. Robert Nguyen, Dr. Rebecca Chason, Dr. Dan Laney, Chelsea Simon, and Dr. Alexandra Fairchild coauthored the abstract “Pelvic Blocks: A Primer for Radiology Residents” that was selected for presentation at the American Roentgen Ray Society Annual Meeting in May 2024.
Dr. Hanna Javan, Dr. Harry Cahill, Dr. Dan Laney, Chelsea Simon, and Dr. Alexandra Fairchild had their abstract “Exploring Imaging Modalities for Penetrating Liver Trauma: A Comprehensive Overview,” selected for presentation at the American Roentgen Ray Society Annual Meeting.
Surgery
Many of the department faculty, staff, residents, and students attended and presented
at the ACS Clinical Congress. They also gathered for an LSU Surgery Family Dinner,
Alumni Reception, and Association of Women Surgeons Dinner and Reception.
Dr. Jeffrey Carter was a guest on LSU President Tate's podcast "On Par with the President." He spoke about how spray-on skin affects trauma outcomes. Listen to the podcast here.
Adjunct Clinical Instructor Liz Lacy presented the poster Prehospital Needle Decompressions: Evaluation of Prehospital Protocols to Determine Appropriateness of Procedure at the Military Health System Research Symposium.
Omeed Moaven, MD, has been selected to serve on the Pancreas Task Force of the Gastrointestinal Steering Committee of the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Moaven has also been selected as the Chair of the Gene and Vector-Based Therapy Section of the Experimental Therapeutics Subcommittee of the Program Committee for the AACR Annual Meeting 2024.