Melissa Ensminger RN, BSN is a full time Senior Clinical Trial Coordinator employed by LSU Health Department of Neurosurgery who is responsible for the coordination of pharmaceutical, National Cancer Institute and National Institute of Health Clinical Trials.  She has worked as a registered nurse for 32 years and has been involved in research trials for over 6 years.   She is currently working with Dr. Aaron Mammoser, a Neuro-Oncologist within the Department of Neurosurgery at LSU.  Melissa’s loss of her mother from brain cancer at an early age has motivated her to make a difference in the lives of the brain cancer patients she sees. She works very closely with Dr. Mammoser in the Culicchia Clinic at West Jefferson Hospital to coordinate all aspects of research trials to ensure all study procedures are scheduled and performed according to study guidelines.

Melissa Ensminger received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (Honors) from Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Nursing in New Orleans, Louisiana in May of 1986.  She is a member of the LSUHSC School of Nursing Alumni Association and the Epsilon Nu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.  She maintains a provider card for completion of ONS/ONCC Chemotherapy Biotherapy Certificate Course offered by the Oncology Nursing Society.

“I am excited to be a nurse coordinator in the Neuro-Oncology field and to be able to help patients and their families obtain specialized medical care close to home.  I feel it is so important for patients and their families to have their support system when they need them most. A great advantage of having a Neuro-Oncologist locally is it also prevents many of the costs required for traveling to distant medical centers.  Now we can offer them what they need right here at home.   I love working with Dr. Aaron Mammoser here at LSU in New Orleans.  He is up to date on the most current treatment for his patients and at the same time takes his time talking with the patients and their family members.”  

“It is an exciting time in Cancer Treatment.  There are new treatments being studied all of the time.”