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FACULTY

Julio Figueroa

CHIEF OF MEDICAL ACADEMIC AREA

Med-Infectious disease

Academic Office:

LSUHSC School of Medicine 
2021 Perdido Street, Rm. 4326
New Orleans, LA 70112

504-568-5031

 

Bio

I graduated from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 1986 and completed Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases training at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 1993. 

Since coming to LSU in 1993, I have participated in several research projects during my career from laboratory-based to hospital quality projects. Most recently, I have been heavily involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship strategies in community hospitals in the LCMC Health system. My close relationship with the clinical microbiology laboratory as clinical consultant has augmented the antibiotic stewardship efforts for LCMC hospitals. I have the presenter for the weekly clinical microbiology conference for the last 20 years.

I have been involved with mentoring post-doctoral trainees as fellowship program director for 20 years. As division director of the LSU infectious diseases section, I have been intimately involved in coordination of clinical infectious diseases and public health response to COVID-19 at LSU Health and for LCMC hospitals. 

 

Education

Undergraduate:
1978-1982 - B.A. in Philosophy and Biology
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia

Medical:
1982-1986 - M.D.
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Dallas, Texas

Internship:
1986-1987 - Internal Medicine
University of Iowa Hospitals
Iowa City, Iowa

Residency:
1987-1988 - Internal Medicine
University of Iowa Hospitals
Iowa City, Iowa

Chief Residency:
1990-1991 - Internal Medicine
University of Iowa Hospitals
Iowa City, Iowa

Fellowship:
1988-1990 - Infectious Diseases
University of Iowa Hospitals
Iowa City, Iowa

Affiliated Hospitals & Clinics

  • University Medical Center
  • Touro Infirmary
  • Ochsner Kenner Medical Center
  • Ochsner Medical Center, Main Campus
  • West Jefferson Medical Center

Publications

1. Densen P, Ackermann L, Saucedo L, Figueroa JE, Si ZH, Stoltzfus CM. A Point Mutation Creating a 3' Splice Site in C8A Is a Predominant Cause of C8α-γ Deficiency in African Americans. J Immunol. 2020 Sep 15;205(6):1535-1539.

2. Ezebuenyi MC, Brakta F, Onor IO, Sarpong DF, Bryant-Burks K, Figueroa JE 2nd. Evaluation of Physician Prescribing Patterns For Antibiotics in the Treatment of Nonnecrotizing Skin and Soft Tissue Infections. P T. 2018 May;43(5):287-292.

3. Al-Dahir S, Gillard C, Brakta F, Figueroa JE.  Antimicrobial susceptibilities of respiratory pathogens in the surgical/trauma intensive care unit compared with the hospital-wide respiratory antibiogram in a level I trauma center.  Surg Infect.  2015 Feb; 16(1): 62-67.

4. Figueroa JE.  Antibiotics and the intestinal microbiota: Short-term benefits, long-term consequences.  Infectious Disease Special Edition.  2013; 1: 51-59.

5. Vijayagopal P, Figueroa JE, Prasad C.  Effect of a combination of grape seed extract, capsaicin, genistein, and caffeine on body weight in obese Zucker rats.  Curr Top Nutraceut Res.  2010; 8(2/3): 59-64.

6. Infectious Diseases Section.  Eight months later: Hurricane Katrina aftermath challenges facing the Infectious Diseases Section of the Louisiana State University Health Science Center.  Clin Infect Dis.  2006 Aug; 43(4): 485-489.

7. Tietz A, Aldridge KE, Figueroa JE. Disseminated coinfection with Actinomyces graevenitzii and Mycobacterium tuberculosis: case report and review of the literature. J Clin Microbiol. 2005 Jun;43(6):3017-22. doi: 10.1128/JCM.43.6.3017-3022.2005.

8. Figueroa JE, Oubre J, Vijayagopal P. Modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells proteoglycan synthesis by the extracellular matrix. J Cell Physiol. 2004 Feb;198(2):302-9. doi: 10.1002/jcp.10414. PubMed PMID: 14603532.

9. Sarria JC, Vidal AM, Kimbrough RC, Figueroa JE. Fatal infection caused by Francisella tularensisin a neutropenic bone marrow transplant recipient. Ann Hematol. 2003 Jan;82(1):41-3. doi: 10.1007/s00277-002-0570-4. Epub 2002 Nov 30. PubMed PMID: 12574964.

10. Figueroa JE, Vijayagopal P. Angiotensin II stimulates synthesis of vascular smooth muscle cell proteoglycans with enhanced low density lipoprotein binding properties. Atherosclerosis. 2002 Jun;162(2):261-8. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9150(01)00714-6. PubMed PMID: 11996945.

11. Figueroa JE 2nd, Vijayagopal P, Prasad C. Azaftig stimulates in vitro lipolysis by rodent and human adipocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2002 May 3;293(2):847-9. doi: 10.1016/S0006-291X(02)00300-5. PubMed PMID: 12054548.

View Full list of Publications

Research

Proteoglycans and Atherosclerosis:

Prior to Hurricane Katrina (2005), my collaborator, Dr. Parakat Vijayagopal, and I were primarily focused on the role of arterial wall proteoglycans in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We demonstrated that number of conditions including angiotensin II, smooth muscle cell proliferation, cholesterol enrichment, and phorbol ester led to the production of proteoglycan species that enhanced LDL binding.

Nutriceutical agents that induce weight loss: Along with Drs. Prasad and Vijayagopal, we discovered that a combination of grapeseed extract, caffeine, genestein and capsaicin produced significant weight loss in an obese Zucker rat model. These studies flowed as an extension of our studies to understand azaftig mechanism.

 

Clinical and Quality Improvement Research:

Since 2008, I have played a leadership role in the development of antibiotic stewardship program for hospital systems in south Louisiana. As part of that work, we have focused on improvement of antibiotic utilization in the care of patient with presumed infectious diseases. Through these efforts, our program at University Medical Center New Orleans has been designated as a center of excellence for antibiotic stewardship by IDSA.d PMID: 12054548.