Dean’s Corner: Faculty Assembly Awards, Other News Announced
Interim Dean Dr. Richard DiCarlo and Interim Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Institutional Affairs Dr. Stephanie Taylor shared many updates during the Spring General Faculty meeting held in April.
The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the annual Faculty Assembly Awards. The winners were:
Judy Crabtree, PhD, Outstanding Service to the Institution
Dr. Crabtree serves as Director of the Precision Medicine clinical laboratory, which
she built, organized, and developed, including securing all of the logistical, legal,
and scientific processes necessary for the laboratory to become a functional clinical
asset. She also spearheaded, developed, and ran the institutional response to the
development of a COVID vaccine. Her service as the previous president of Faculty Senate
was also noted.
Jennifer Creedon, MD, Outstanding Service to the Community
Dr. Creedon is Division Chief of Addiction Psychiatry and Medical Director of Outpatient
Behavioral Health (UMC) and provides outpatient psychiatric care to children and adolescents
with a focus on the LGBTQ+ population. She further serves the community through her
work at a group home for at-risk youth who were previously victims of sex trafficking.
Dr. Creedon serves on several state and national committees, including the Substance
Use Disorder committee for the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
and co-chairs the workshop on Well-being in Women and Gender-minority for physicians.
Catherine Hudson, MD, Outstanding Junior Faculty Member
Dr. Hudson joined the faculty in 2021. Within two years of completing her gastroenterology
fellowship, she has been appointed to Director of Inpatient Medical Specialties, Director
of Endoscopy, and Director of Obesity Medicine at UMC. She was described as having
“established herself as the person experienced surgeons go to for advice on managing
their most difficult complications, and has a track record of excellent outcomes from
these challenging scenarios to support this reputation. She makes our lives easier,
our patients healthier and happier.”
Dr. Hudson was unable to attend, but her award was received by Dr. Daniel Raines, Section Chief, Gastroenterology.
Erich Conrad, MD, Outstanding Mentor
Dr. Conrad joined the faculty in 2003 and was described as “the core of LSU psychiatry.”
Nominators said that he leads by example and unites the department. “He has quietly
and humbly helped to grow and maintain our department” which led to “the addition
of two intern positions, three fellowships, countless new training sites, and at least
10 faculty from our residency training program since 2016.”
Sebastian Del Corral Winder, PsyD, Outstanding Service in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Efforts
Dr. Del Corral is Program Director of Latin Health Scholars and created new curriculum
for medical students to engage, teach and mentor Spanish-speaking students. He serves
on multiple committees to recruit, retain and provide opportunities for trainees of
color. He works to share information about cultural influences in foster care and
domestic violence through publications and presentations. Dr. Del Corral is described
as “curious to learn, eager to advocate and quickly on a path that will involve further
leadership in his future.”
Dr. Taniya De Silva, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, provided an update on the residency match from the Student Affairs prospective. Of the 175 students in the Class of 2024, 172 matched, two will complete a research year and one was unmatched.
Dr. Lee Engel, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, provided an update on residency match results from the GME perspective. Overall, 50 percent stayed in New Orleans. Of the remaining 50 percent, roughly 25 percent are staying in state and the remaining 25 percent matched out of state. Of the 73 accredited residency and fellowship programs under LSU Health New Orleans, 35 participated in the Main NRMP Match. These residency programs in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles and Bogalusa filled all their available positions and will welcome 224 new residents in June. The remaining LSU Health residency and fellowship programs participate in their respective match programs in the fall.
Dr. Robin English, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, is leading the LCME accreditation process. Dr. English described the purpose of accreditation as a quality assurance process to determine whether the school meets established standards and to foster institutional and program improvement. The school received full eight-year accreditation after the most recent visit in November 2017. The working group has reviewed all 93 accreditation elements and chose 43 to monitor. Dr. English encouraged faculty to embrace the data gathering, writing, and meetings required throughout the process and to appreciate the opportunity to emphasize what the school does well while having this opportunity to identify challenges early to improve the educational program. She said that a thorough and well-prepared self-study, an honest effort to identify challenges and improve, and a faculty that is prepared for the survey visit will all help ensure success. The final decision for accreditation will be announced in February, 2026.
Dr. Peter DeBlieux, Assistant Dean for Advanced Learning and Simulation, presented an update on the CALS Building and the Standardized Patient Learning Center. The ongoing CALS renovations, which includes a medical mall, described as four rooms adjacent to two 50-seat conference rooms, will allow for demonstration, practice, and new skill acquisition. This layout will also allow for continued and future partnerships with industry to highlight cutting edge technology, advances and procedures, as well as the ability to host smaller specialty meetings and vendors. In the Standardized Patient Learning Center, trained actors will be available to learners for invaluable clinical experience, assessment, and real time feedback. Cases will be designed to focus on competency in communicating in common challenging situations.
As part of the state-of-the-art simulation equipment procurement, a 10-patient simulation emergency department will be available for interprofessional teams training for mass casualty events, including trauma activations, burns and blast events, environmental exposures and infectious disease outbreaks. The 16-station wet lab on the second floor provides a cadaveric learning environment for up to 32 surgeons and proceduralists, which doubles the current capacity. Orthopaedics, urology, ENT, neurosurgery, plastics, general surgery and vascular all anticipate increased opportunities to partner with industry.
A director has been hired. Medical students will start training in the new learning center in the Fall of 2025. Advanced practice providers will begin training in the center in the Spring of 2026, followed by nursing and allied health professions students in the Fall of 2026.
Dr. Taylor provided a Faculty Affairs update. She welcomed new faculty members, presented information and important deadlines regarding the upcoming promotions cycle, announced the Spring Teaching Series and other activities sponsored by the Faculty Development and Mentoring committees. Dr. Taylor also thanked these committees for their outstanding contributions and activities devoted to the development of our faculty.
Dr. DiCarlo provided a general operations update. He began by updating attendees about contract negotiations with LCMC and said that he views protecting medical education and ensuring a dependable flow of funds as of critical importance during the discussions. They are working to build in incentives for productivity and quality for clinicians.
Demolition of MEB is complete and construction will begin soon. The first floor of
the Lions Building will undergo a few more renovations and soon be able to seat 800
people and be used for classes or events like white coat ceremonies.
Dr. DiCarlo updated attendees on the Strategic Planning process. He indicated that workgroup meetings have been taking place alongside research documenting school performance. At this time, stakeholder interviews, listening sessions, and multiple surveys are being utilized to gather input and initial work group recommendations are coming together. He anticipates that the initial draft of the plan will be shared for comments and suggestions in the upcoming months, with the final plan being completed before the end of the year. Dr. Cynthia Brown is leading the clinical strategic planning group, Dr. Lucio Miele is leading the research planning group, and Dr. Lee Engel is leading the education and training planning group. Each group is made up of 10-12 people who are tasked with describing the current status of their area, future goals, and generating future measurable outcomes.
Dr. DiCarlo thanked the faculty for what they do for our learners, patients, and to advance knowledge every day. The next general faculty meeting will be in the fall.