Dean’s Corner
Richard DiCarlo, MD
Dean, LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine
It has been another very busy but more importantly, very productive and successful
quarter for our school.
The quarter began with a very significant achievement: we received official notice of our LCME accreditation for the maximum eight-year term. Our next full survey visit will be in the 2033-34 academic year, which for now seems lightyears away. I cannot emphasize enough the critical role of the nearly 200 individuals who participated in the self-study and the nearly 170 individuals who prepared for and participated in the site visit. This rigorous process and the results confirm what we already knew -- that our school is outstanding in all aspects of our mission. Rest assured, we continue to address the few findings that we had already identified from our own self-study. I also want to express my gratitude again to Dr. Robin English and her staff.
Our next success story is the opening of the MEB lab space. Construction on all three
floors was completed earlier this year, creating 150,000-square-feet of state-of-the-art
labs and support spaces. The design encourages and fosters collaboration with open
labs and meeting spaces throughout the building. Two three-story curtainwalls now
provide natural light for the researchers, and let us show our beautiful labs to downtown
and passing drivers.
Core labs and initial investigators began moving in on the 5th floor in April once
basic lab equipment had been installed, internet wiring and AV installation was complete
and offices were furnished. Additional investigators will begin moving into the 5th
floor this month and in stages throughout the summer.
As part of the project, the Bureau of Anatomic Services morgue has been moved to the fourth floor and has been modernized.
We will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony this summer – stay tuned for the date and time.
We anticipate wiring the 6th and 7th floors for internet and AV systems, furnishing offices, and installing basic and core lab equipment in the fall. We hope to open those floors in early 2027.
As we close in on the final days of the MEB renovation, I want to thank everyone for their patience and flexibility as we work to open these truly state-of-the-art lab spaces with room to grow. This $115 million renovation represents five years of fundraising, planning, design, and construction. I am honored to serve as your dean and I am grateful for what you do every day on behalf of our patients, our learners, our community, and the advancement of medical knowledge.
