School of Medicine

In The Spotlight

Richard DiCarlo, MD, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty and Institutional Affairs

The LSU School of Medicine has been “in the spotlight” in a way unlike any other time in history. Our mission to educate, treat, investigate and outreach to the community has been on full display on an international stage.

Our faculty were responding to the COVID-19 crisis long before the impacts were felt here. Drs. Howard and Joy Osofsky published a brochure in English and Mandarin for parents with information on how to support their children and families during isolation and quarantine.

Drs. Fred Lopez, James Diaz, Benjamin Springgate, Rebekah Gee, Keith Van Meter, Robert Maupin, Najy Masri and many others have been working tirelessly with the media to share timely and accurate information regarding the coronavirus. Dr. Jennifer Avegno is on the news daily, providing clear guidance to the mayor as the City of New Orleans navigates this public health challenge.

Dr. Joseph Kanter, Assistant State Health Director, led a series of informational calls for physicians. Many other faculty participated in those calls including Drs. Marcus Bachhuber, Lee Engel, David Janz, Julio Figueroa, and Meredith Clement.

Our basic scientists have created biorepositories so we will be able to study this virus long after the immediate impacts have decreased. Our scientists are developing and studying antibody tests. Dr. James Diaz published research exploring a possible explanation for the severe lung complications often seen in COVID-19 patients. In March, our pathology department became one of the first sites in the country to conduct autopsies to discover the underlying mechanisms of the organ damage seen with COVID-19. Utilizing the state-of-the-art morgue at UMC, the department conducted 24 autopsies by mid-May, discovering that most COVID patients have viral infections in multiple organs. The department has published initial results in Lancet Respiratory Medicine, and is submitting additional research findings to other academic journals.

Many faculty and staff are involved with clinical trials. Our doctors and researchers are determining the clinical benefits of convalescent plasma therapy. Our physicians have participated in randomized clinical trials evaluating the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine alone, or in combination, as a potential treatment.  Our physicians drafted treatment protocols early in the pandemic and obtained remdesivir for compassionate use in our hospitals.

Our faculty have ingeniously solved some of the issues with health care in the time of social distancing. Ophthalmology faculty designed a way to ensure their glaucoma patients could safely get their eye pressure checked, all without leaving their cars.

The School has partnered with LCMC Health, the New Orleans Health Department, and Hyundai Auto to bring mobile testing directly to neighborhoods heavily affected by the virus but with only limited access to drive-up testing.

School leadership have long prioritized health equity. COVID-19 has exposed troubling statistics related to the death rate among our own and the nation's vulnerable populations. Drs. Robert Maupin, Rebekah Gee, Corey Hebert and Kristi Anderson have been named to the governor's task force to improve health equity in Louisiana.

Catherine O'Neal, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Section of Infectious Diseases at our regional campus in Baton Rouge, has been appointed to the Louisiana Legislative Advisory Task Force on Economic Recovery.

Our students have shown tremendous strength and grace during these times. Abigail Olinde organized a PPE collection. Two former students and current residents, Michael Okoronkwo, MD (Class of 2019) and Keyana F. Varnado, MD (Class 2019) co-founded Drive and Dish Foundation, a non-profit foundation to purchase and deliver basketballs and goals to youth for safe play in their driveways and backyards. Students volunteered to provide childcare for healthcare workers whose children were at home. When Match Day could not be held in person, the department of pediatrics came up with creative ways to safely celebrate the huge milestone. Students worked with the Offices of Student Affairs and Medical Education to hold a virtual pre-commencement ceremony that was a huge success.

Just two issues ago, Dean Nelson and I commented that throughout the LSU School of Medicine's history, no matter what changes were taking place in the world around it, that the school stayed true to its mission. Although we could not have possibly imagined just six months ago what kind of changes were about to take place, the statement still holds great truth and demonstrates the importance of continuing our history of exceptional medical training, patient care, breakthrough research, and community outreach.