School of Medicine

Graduate Students, Residents, Fellows and Postdocs News

Anatomy

The New Orleans LSU School of Medicine's Senior Surgical Anatomy Elective (SSAE) is a unique four-week immersive course combining preclinical and clinical foundational practices. While other senior anatomy electives around the country focus on additional attempts for students to dissect and create prosections for more junior learners and last only one or two weeks, our SSAE is designed based on input from practicing faculty and provides students with the knowledge and skills expected of incoming interns, reflecting what our faculty wish they had known when entering residency. The course offers small group didactic interactions delivered by basic and clinical science faculty covering the foundations and history of medical practice, post-operative complications, and the maintenance of sustainable personal wellness combined with self-guided dissection using embalmed donors and guided surgical interactions led by our clinical faculty on fresh donors in the Center for Advanced Practice.

Students have the opportunity to mimic operative approaches and simulate surgeries using both open and minimally invasive techniques from neurosurgery to orthopaedics. Familiarity and correlation with ultrasound are incorporated, including its use in guiding procedures. Faculty from radiology and pathology provide didactics on how to maximize these services in the hospital setting and critical care faculty guide future residents through the concepts of knowledge and skill acquisition and how this helps prepare residents to teach others, including their patients.

While the content is directed towards students interested in surgical specialties, all fourth-year students are welcome regardless of their future career path. In addition to all variety of surgical specialties, student interests have included pediatrics, pathology, radiology, internal medicine, emergency medicine and anesthesiology. Although the course is hosted by a basic sciences department, 23 clinical faculty from a wide range of specialties participate. The course has been named Best 4th Year Elective by the graduating class twice in 2021 and 2022. Dr. Jay Mussell is the course director.

Cardiology Center of Excellence

Postdoc Uma Priya Mohan received the Neural Control and Autonomic Regulation Section Research Recognition Award at the American Physiological Society meeting. 

 

 

 

 

Presentations included:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUiP

Two winners from last year's Quality Improvement Forum have presented their projects at national meetings:

• Caitlyn McCall, MD: Surgical Critical Care Fellow (c/o 2023) Bundle Me Up: Implementing a standardized Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) prevention bundle to decrease VAP rates
  • Winner, Best Poster: Patient Safety & Quality
  • Presented at ACS Trauma Quality Improvement Program Annual Meeting
• Peyton Bennett, DO, MPH: Pediatric Medicine Resident (c/o 2024) A Clinical Pathway for Sickle Cell Pain Management in the Pediatric Emergency Department
  • Winner, Best Oral Presentation
  • Presented at American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Annual Conference 

Internal Medicine

The department was well represented at the recent Southern Society for Clinical Investigation meeting. Residents and the faculty who mentor them produced 44 posters. Eight residents were asked to give nine oral presentations, including Dr. Lily Chen, Dr. Ryan Leonard, Dr. Victoria Lulich, Dr. Humza Malik, Dr. Amanda Ritchie, Dr. Calvin Rome, Dr. Sepehr Sadeghi, and Dr. Hannah Zulli, who gave two presentations. Four of the residents received SSCI Trainee Research Awards, including Dr. Leonard, Dr. Malik, Dr. Sadeghi, and Dr. Zulli. 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Kasha Bornstein (IM/ EM Resident), Dr. Elizabeth LaRosa (EM Resident) and Dr. Kelsey Byrd (EM Resident), together with Dr. Heather Murphy-Lavoie (Emergency Medicine), recently published When Educational Images Don't Reflect the Population: Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens, a Case Report in Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Omar Leonards (Cardiology Fellow) recently published the online editorial titled PAD: A Clue to Polyvascular Disease in Need of Federal Legislative Reconsideration in the American College of Cardiology.

Dr. Michael Brands (PM&R Resident) recently presented at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Designated Education Officer Conference in Chicago. The title of the presentation was The Military Health History: An Educational Initiative to Improve Veteran Healthcare. The VA News published an article about the project. The project was also published in the journal Military Medicine.  

 

Dr. Wayne Wheeler (IM Resident) recently won first place at the Mississippi Gastroenterology Society Annual Meeting in Jackson, Mississippi for his oral presentation of a pinworm case. Dr. John Hutchings (Gastroenterology) and Dr. William Chastant were the faculty involved in the case.

 

 

 

 

IM Resident Dr. Catherine Loehr was selected to attend the American College of Physicians Leadership Day in Washington, D.C. as part of the Louisiana Chapter delegation. 

 

 

 

Ophthalmology

Dr. Owen Krueger and Dr. Victor Wang were selected to serve as Co-Chief Residents for 2024-2025.

The department received seven resident matches for the upcoming year:

• Katie Becker from Eastern Virginia Medical School
• Kevin Chen from Drexel University College of Medicine
• Kyle Crawford from The Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
• Alex Hammond from The Medical College of Wisconsin
• William Litchfield from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Mollie Merrell from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine
• Kara Ye from Augusta University School of Medicine

The department recently hosted the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Ethics Committee during a full day workshop with the department. The AOA discussed relevant topics in medical ethics for residents and faculty. 

 

 

 

Dr. Lama Assi, PGY3, and Dr. Thamolwan Surakiatchanukul , Senior Vitreoretinal Fellow (pictured, left), represented the department at the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Advocacy Ambassador Program & the Congressional Advocacy Day in April in Washington, DC. 

Dr. Surakiatchanukul also participated with Real World Ophthalmology on a national panel of experts for an OKAP preparation event.

 

 

Dr. Armin Avdic, PGY4 & Co-Chief, Dr. Nathaniel Goldblatt, PGY2, received Trainee of the Year awards at the 2024 Health Professions Awards Ceremony at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System Hospital. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Charles Reeder and Dr. James Li, both PGY4, were selected to attend a Glaukos course in Irvine, CA. Glaukos is an ophthalmic medical technology and pharmaceutical company focused on novel therapies for the treatment of glaucoma, corneal disorders and retinal disease.

Co-Chief Resident Dr. Harshvardhan Chawla recently presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) conference in Seattle, Washington:

• Tractional versus Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment After Small-Gauge Vitrectomy for Endophthalmitis (Harshvardhan Chawla, Camille P. Hicks, D. Anthony Mazzulla, Joseph D. Benevento, Sidharth Puri)

Dr. Chawla was also the lead author of Economic Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence Systems Versus Manual Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy in the United States, published in Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers and Imaging Retina. Other authors were: Uhr JH, Williams JS, Reinoso MA, Weiss JS.

He also co-authored IC3D Classification of Corneal Dystrophies-Edition 3 (Weiss JS, Rapuano CJ, Seitz B, BGusin M, Kivela T, Bouheraoua N, Bredrup C, Nischal KK, Chawla H, Borderie V, Kenyon KR, Kim EK, Moller HU, Munier FL, Berger T, Lisch W. Cornea. 2024, Feb 12. DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003420)

Several residents presented at the recent The New Orleans Academy of Ophthalmology’s 73rd annual symposium:

• Victor Wang, MD PGY3: Survey of Ophthalmology Internship Rotations at Various Resident Teaching Institutions (Armin Avdic MD, Victor Wang MD, Jayne S. Weiss MD, Maria Reinoso MD)
• Camille Hicks, MD, PGY3: Prevalence of Glaucomatous-Appearing Discs in Patients Undergoing Artificial Intelligence Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy (Harshvardhan Chawl, MD, Camille Hicks MD, Lama Assi MD, Joel Epling, MD, Lena Al-Dujaili MD, Jayne S. Weiss MD)
• Jonah Goldblatt, MD, PGY3: A Comparison of Intermediate and Distance Visual Acuity Results in Eyhance Monofocal Lens vs. Vivity Multifocal Lens (John Friend MD, Jonah Goldblatt MD, Ginny Kullman MD)
• Tyler Pannell, MD, PGY3: Refractive Outcomes of Toric Intraocular Lens Implantation by Residents after Cataract Surgery (Samuel Homra MD, Tyler Pannell MD, Joshua Groetsch MD)
• Owen Krueger, MD, PGY3: Ocular Syphilis Presentations as Initial Indication of Syphilis Infection (Owen Krueger MD, Paul Videau MD, Catherine Rockwell, Jayne S. Weiss MD, Sidharth Puri MD)
• Haley Smith, MD, PGY3, Triage Assignment Patterns of Eye-Related vs. Non-Eye Chief Complaints at a Single Tertiary Level 1 Trauma Academic Center Hospital (James Li MD, Hayley Smith MD, Meredyth Berard, Jayne S. Weiss MD)
• Lama Assi, MD, PGY3, Topical Perfluorohexyloctane Therapy for Dry Eye Disease-A systematic Review (Preliminary Findings) (Lama Assi MD, Lana Thaljeh, Sharon J. Duffy, Jayne S. Weiss, MD)

Orthopaedic Surgery

LSUHSC Orthopedic residents trained on performing cutting edge knee surgery techniques in the lab with their faculty and assistance from Stryker. 

 

 

 

 

Pathology

The department recently welcomed new residents:

Yaomin Chen, MD – Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China

Michelle de Jesus Ortiz, MD – University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts

Leila Heidara, MD – Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Resident Dr. Yu Liu’s Blastoma of the Digestive System in Adults: A Review was accepted for publication in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.

PGY2 resident Dr. Asra Feroze and Dr. Ritu Bhalla’s “Condyloma Acuminata” was published in Pathology Outlines.

Pediatrics 

Pediatric fellows recently cooked a jambalaya dinner at the Ronald McDonald house for families of patients at Children’s Hospital.

The division of hematology/oncology had a strong showing at the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) National Conference in Seattle recently. Fellows Christian Nieves Rivera (pictured below right), Heather Valdin (pictured left), and Casey Treuting presented posters at the meeting. Residents Peyton Bennett and Mariah Humphrey also presented posters. Mariah's poster was titled Standardizing the Evaluation and Management of Adolescents with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding and Anemia.

 

 

 

Dr. Valdin also presented her research at the 2024 Transplantation and Cellular Therapies Meetings of ASTCT and CIBMTR in San Antonio, Texas earlier this year. Dr. Valdin's work is entitled Primary Prevention of Clostridium Difficile Infection with Oral Vancomycin in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients.​ Dr. Zachary LeBlanc, Dr. Lolie Yu, Mackenzie Creamer (PharmD), and Gregory Cook (PharmD) co-authored the poster. Dr. Zhide Fang provided statistical support. (Photo, left: Dr. Valdin presents to Dr. Muna Qayed, the Pediatric BMT Director at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.) 

Dr. Valdin also had two posters at the Cancer Advocacy Group of Louisiana CAGLA Annual Conference. 

 

 

 

A panel of pediatric residents recently met with first- and second-year medical students who are members of the Pediatrics Interest Group to discuss life as a resident. Topics included committing to a career in pediatrics, transitioning from medical student to resident, residency schedules, finances and residency, and work/life balance. The Pediatrics Interest Group fosters interest in pediatric careers and has served as an important recruitment resource for the residency program. Panelists (pictured left to right, Anne Reed, Mandy Granier, Amanda Barkemeyer and Paige Prevot) participated in the lunchtime session offering career experiences and advice to the group. 

Pediatric Cardiology Fellows Kanya Singhapakdi (pictured) and Jesus Jaile presented posters at the Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta. Dr. Singhapakdi presented Social, Racial, and Economic Disparities Affecting Outcomes of Hypertensive Adolescents. Dr. Jaile's poster was titled Combined Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum and Aortic Valve Stenosis: Fetal Echocardiographic Diagnosis and Postnatal Transcatheter Management.

Jaile also received a grant from the Society of Pediatric Cardiology Training Program Directors enabling him to attend a three-day symposium in Salt Lake City where the 20 accepted fellows will connect and interact with program directors from around the country to hone skills in research, leadership, and teaching.  

Pediatrics, Medicine/Pediatrics, and Pediatrics/ Emergency Medicine Residency Programs had successful matches for the 2024-2025 academic year:

2024-2025 Pediatric Interns:

• Cambria Boone - University of Mississippi School of Medicine
• Abby Hess - LSU Health New Orleans
• Meghan McCord - LSU New Orleans
• Shannon Glennon - LSU New Orleans
• Eleanor Koonce - LSU New Orleans
• Carrie Pham - LSU New Orleans
• Ariel Hall - University of Florida College of Medicine
• Emma Malloy - Creighton University School of Medicine
• Jeremy Scheffler - LSU New Orleans
• Kiley Fincher - VCOM Louisiana
• Sage Jordan - Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Harrison Millar - LSU Health New Orleans
• Jasmine Grossman (Child Neuro) - West Virginia University School of Medicine - Charleston
• Caroline Lawless - LSU Health New Orleans
• Darien Power - VCOM Auburn
• Amelia Haydel - LSU Helath New Orleans
• Hannah Sibley - LSU Health New Orleans

2024-2025 Medicine/Pediatric Interns:

• Tara Bates - University of Arkansas
• Kayla Rykiel - Florida State University
• Hannah Monk - LSU Shreveport
• Dan Ta - The Brody SOM

2024-2025 Pediatric/Emergency Medicine Intern:

• Natalya Meinhart Marian - University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Pharmacology

MD/PhD student Ashlyn Anderson received the Predoctoral Student Poster Presentation Award at the 2024 American Physiology Summit. Anderson has also been recently awarded second place for the Southern Soceity for Clinical Investigation’s Nathan Solomon and Irene Oransky-Solomon Medical Student Award; the 2024 Water and Electrolyte Homeostasis Research Recognition Reward; the 2023 American Society of Nephrology Annual Kidney Week Student and Residents (STARS) program recipient; and a 2023 University of Mississippi Medical Center Graduate Student Cardiovascular Renal Research Travel Award.

Physiology

Taylor Fitzpatrick-Schmidt was awarded the 2023 Paul S. Roheim Excellence in Research Award along with a $500 travel award earlier this year.

Eden Gallegos won the American Physiological Society (APS), 2024 Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Recognition Award.

Gallegos also won the 2024 RSA HIV and Alcohol Satellite Meeting Trainee Travel Award.

Gallegos was elected as Mentorship Chair on the national executive board of the American Physician Scientists Association for the 2024-2025 term.

Gallegos presented a talk Characterizing MetALD in a Nonhuman Primate Model using High Fat and Sucrose Diet and Chronic Binge Alcohol Administration at the APS Summit 2024 in Long Beach, CA.

Stephanie Lee won the 2024 William Galey Scholarship Award of the APS.

Lee gave a talk on her latest alcoholendocannabinoid system research at the 47th Annual Louisiana Neurosurgical Society (LANS) meeting in March 2024.

Postdoc Sydney Vita was recognized for excellence in teaching in medical and nursing courses.

Vita also presented a talk titled Alcohol Exacerbates TBI-induced Neuroinflammation at GRC Alcohol and the Nervous System in Galveston, Texas earlier this year.

Vita also guest lectured on navigating academia as a person from a disadvantaged background titled Through Dangers Untold & Hardships Unnumbered: How I Fought my Way to a PhD at the University of Utah earlier this year.

Radiology

The department hosted their Resident Boot Camp with a variety of skills stations including a drain station, US biopsies, line placement practice and a suturing station. Dr. Alexandra Fairchild is the Interventional Radiology Program Director and creator and organizer behind the boot camp. The Boot Camp is only in its second year but has become a staple in the curriculum. Invitations to participate were extended to Physician Assistant students and also multiple industry partners including Penumbra, Inari, Boston Scientific and Terumo. The department created a video to show off the work that was done throughout the day.

Surgery

The department announced interns:

General Surgery Categorical Interns

• Kelly Banh
• Iris Hunt
• Ikenna Ifearulundu
• Ansley Joannes
• Lauren Johnson
• Stacey Knowles
• Christopher Martinez Rivera
• Mitch Melito
• Chris Oubre
• Parker Tobia
• Sabrina Yu Alfonzo

General Surgery Prelim Interns

• Heather Cancienne
• Muhammad Farooq
• Julie Griffin
• Pavan Guduri
• Mitchell Hsu
• Cameron LaFleur
• Cayley LeBlanc
• Branden Munster
• Sahil Patel
• Rafi Tiongco
• Cass Woolie

Vascular Surgery

• Sarah Lauve
• Adam Weekley

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

• Mary Holohan
• Mark Maier

More than 60 participants recently took part in the annual LSUHSC New Orleans Fundamentals of Vascular Surgery Course, initiated in 2012, and the first vascular simulation course for trainees in the United States. In addition to local faculty, the vascular course features prominent vascular surgeons from across the U.S. and Europe, providing learners a remarkable experience through direct observation and immediate feedback. Course participants are typically U.S. integrated vascular residents with occasional acceptance of Canadian and European learners. The advanced course has been offered to vascular surgery trainees with a priority given to PGY 3 and 4 integrated vascular residents. Generous grant support has permitted scholarships for participants that includes course fees, travel, and hotel accommodations.

Highlights of this cutting-edge program include:

• Open vascular exposures through fresh cadaveric specimens
• Individual simulation stations that cover a wide variety of open and endovascular procedures
• Administration of the Fundamentals of Vascular Surgery Exam

Unique features of this vascular course include:

• One on one training with international experts
• No more than two trainees at each station to ensure a 100% hands on experience.
• Trainee evaluations and improvement plans sent to their respective Program Directors.

The Fundamentals of Vascular Surgery Exam, developed at LSUHSC New Orleans, is an important feature of the course. Through the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery, components of this exam are now being provided to every vascular training program in the US. It is expected that passage of this exam will be a requirement for Board certification in the future.

This outstanding commitment to training in vascular surgery is made possible by the course chair, Dr. Malachi Sheahan, Professor and Chair of the LSUHSC New Orleans Vascular and Endovascular Division. The co-course Directors are LSUHSC vascular surgery faculty Dr. Kelli Summers and Dr. Amit Chawla. For additional information about this educational offering and course, please contact Dr. Malachi Sheahan. 

 

Drs. Gabrielle Prezkop and Celia Short won the Louisiana Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Resident Skills Cup.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Tino Castanon received the J. Patrick O’Leary Academic Resident Scholarship, which funds travel for a third-year resident to an academic conference of their choice. Castanon plans to apply for a cardiothoracic fellowship.