Two Academic Enrichment Pathways for Undergraduates Mitigate Health Disparities:
Tiger Scholars Undergraduate Program and the NIH, NINDS and NEI BP-ENDURE Program
at LSUHSC-NO
The School of Medicine Office of Diversity and Community Engagement (ODCE) is committed to eliminating health care disparities within Louisiana. To achieve this goal, the office creates and coordinates educational enrichment programs for students at various academic stages to develop an equitable, inclusive workforce representing our collective community.
The Tiger Scholars Undergraduate Summer Enrichment Program and the NIH-NINDS, NEI, BP-Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (ENDURE) are two programs under the ODCE umbrella designed to enrich educational experiences and provide access to the tools necessary for success in medicine and/or neuroscience.
Tiger Scholars is a free, five-week, non-residential, academic enrichment program for up to 20 pre-medical, undergraduate juniors and seniors. The scholars participate in mini-courses in biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, genetics and public health. Additionally, the program includes workshops focused on leadership development, clinical experiences, cultural competency, financial literacy, and preparation for entrance exams to professional schools, such as the MCAT and GRE.
“The goal of this program is to provide academic enhancement to students who are committed to preparing for medical education, in order to serve our community as physicians,” said Dr. Allison Augustus-Wallace, Associate Professor-Research and Director of the Undergraduate Academic Pathway Programs for Diversity, SOM ODCE.
Caitlynn Diggs, an NIH/post-baccalaureate (NIH @ LSUHSC-NO, PREP scholar) studying in Drs. Li Shen and Alison Quayle's Lab in the department of microbiology, immunology, and parasitology, is an alumna of the Tigers Scholars program. Diggs describes her time as a Tiger Scholar as transformational.
“The program was comprised of a series of short but intensive medical courses. Each course was carefully crafted to cover fundamental concepts essential for aspiring medical professionals. This helped me to gain a deeper understanding of complex medical topics,” Diggs said.
Diggs added that the weekly quizzes incorporated into the curriculum ensured she was grasping the material while helping her to develop disciplined study habits, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
2025 MD Candidate Chloe Sterling was part of Tiger Scholars inaugural 2019 class.
“I applied to medical school during the first application cycle to be completely virtual following the COVID-19 pandemic; I found this experience (Tiger Scholars) to be invaluable when it came to making a decision on which institution I would attend. As a third-year medical student today, I am truly grateful for the lasting connections made and continued support from Dr. Augustus-Wallace and other faculty involved with the program,” Sterling said.
The next session is currently scheduled for May 28 through June 28. The application process is open through March 31.
The NIH-NINDS, NEI, BP-ENDURE at LSUHSC-NO Program has a similar mission, but a different academic/professional focus. This program aims to support undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in neuroscience research, providing an academic enrichment pathway to earn the terminal degree/PhD in the field of neuroscience research.
The ENDURE program provides participants with two advisors; an LSUHSC-NO Research Mentor, and an academic advisor from their home institution, to support scholars’ year-round participation. Scholars are expected to participate in this program for up to two years. The structure of this program is designed to prepare participants for the rigor of graduate education: students participate in research experiences, core and advanced neuroscience courses, departmental meeting/seminars, journal clubs, and present at national conferences such as the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) and NIH BP-ENDURE Meetings.
“The NIH-NINDS, NEI BP-ENDURE @ LSUHSC-NO Program seeks to support rising sophomore and junior Louisiana undergraduate students from NIH designated-underrepresented backgrounds, who are interested in neuroscience/biomedical careers,” said Dr. Augustus-Wallace.
This NIH-funded program is an R25, multi-PI project that was awarded to the partnership between SOM, ODCE (Dr. Allison Augustus-Wallace) and the departments of physiology (Drs. Patricia Molina and Scott Edwards), genetics (Dr. Fern Tsien), and neuroscience (Dr. Hamilton Farris), in 2019. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the program started as planned in 2020, and to date has yielded scholars who have completed master’s degrees in neuroscience, as well as two scholars from its initial cohort who are presently in the SOM Class of 2027.
The NIH-NINDS, NEI, BP-ENDURE @ LSUHSC-NO Program will welcome its next cohort June 3, 2024.
“As with Tiger Scholars, although we have mechanisms of recruitment in place, we welcome faculty to identify potential applicants through our various academic programs and networks,” said Augustus-Wallace.
L1 medical student Elge Stevens said he is “most appreciative” for the program and the “invaluable advice, encouragement, and expertise.”
“During my participation in the ENDURE program at LSUHSC in New Orleans, I had the privilege of engaging in a transformative undergraduate training initiative that helped me realize my passion for basic research. I was immersed in a dynamic learning environment where I engaged in journal club, neuroscience seminars, and a hands-on research project on traumatic brain injury. These activities expanded my understanding of the field of neuroscience as well as improved my professional development,” he said.
“We all know that most students who train here usually remain in Louisiana to build their research careers or clinical practices, their lives. Therefore, it is our responsibility to support them, to ensure the health of all our citizens,” Augustus-Wallace added.
More information on Tiger Scholars and ENDURE can be found on their websites.