New Appointments and Promotions at School of Medicine and Health Sciences Center Announced
Dr. Taniya de Silva has been appointed to Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. She will work under the
direction of Dr. Cathy Lazarus, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Records, to
assist in all core functions of the office, including assisting with overseeing and
developing processes related to student academic performance, professionalism, personal
wellness, mental health, and career planning. She will work with many other offices
in the School of Medicine, including Medical Education, Admissions, Diversity and
Community Engagement, CAP and Student Health.
Dr. de Silva completed her undergraduate education at Harvard, and she received her MD from New York Medical College. She completed a residency in internal medicine at Boston Medical Center, and a fellowship in endocrinology at University of Massachusetts Medical Center. She joined SOM faculty in 2011 and has been very involved in medical education and clinical leadership. She serves as the Section Chief of Endocrinology, Program Director for the Endocrinology Fellowship, Co-Course Director for the endocrine systems course, and Co-Director of the Clinical Sciences Curriculum. She has won numerous awards for teaching, service and humanism including the Copping Award, Humanism in Medicine Award, and recognition as the Best Clinical Sciences Professor.
“Dr. Nelson and I are grateful for her past service to LSUHSC and we are excited that she has agreed to this new leadership position. Her interests in clinical education, mentorship, career development and student well-being make her very well suited for this position,” said Dr. Richard DiCarlo, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Institutional Affairs.
Dr. Carmen Canavier has agreed to serve as the next Department Head for Cell Biology and Anatomy. She follows Dr. Samuel McClugage who stepped down as Department Head in August.
Dr. Canavier received her doctorate in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Rice, and completed several post doc and research fellowships in neuroscience. She took her first faculty position in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy at UT Houston School of Medicine. She joined the faculty of the University of New Orleans in the Department of Psychology, before joining the faculty at LSUHSC School of Medicine in the Neuroscience Center in 2005. She became a professor in 2009, and she became the Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy in 2011. She has been a highly successful researcher in neuroscience for her entire academic career. Well-funded by the NIH and NSF for many years, she has over 65 peer-reviewed publications, 19 book chapters, and over 100 published abstracts. She serves on many NIH study sections, on several editorial boards and she has spoken widely at scientific meetings both nationally and internationally.
In addition to her scientific success, Dr. Canavier has worked hard to advance faculty causes. She has served as on the Faculty Assembly, the Faculty Senate and numerous School of Medicine and Health Sciences Center committees. Of note, she chaired the LSUHSC Committee on Gender Equity in the Workplace and the School of Medicine Committee on Women's Affairs. In these roles, she worked for revisions to policies regarding delay of the tenure clock, use of sick leave to care for family members, and she has been a strong advocate to create an emergency leave pool. Dr. Canavier completed the ELAM executive leadership program in 2012, and the Faculty Assembly recognized her for outstanding service to the institution in 2019.
"Dr. Nelson and I are excited about the future of the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy," said Dr. DiCarlo.
Ben Lousteau, Associate Dean for Fiscal Affairs in the School of Medicine, has been named as the Interim Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance. Lousteau brings more than 25 years of institutional experience at LSU Health New Orleans. A national search will be conducted for the permanent role of Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance.
Megan Behrman has been promoted to Residency Coordinator at the Lafayette Regional Campus.
Jennifer Bordelon has been promoted to Business Manager 2 in the Department of Neurosurgery.
Arnold Kwanbunbumpen has been promoted to Business Manager 2 in Physiology at LSUNO.
Chelsea Lemelle has been promoted to Assistant Business Manager at the Lafayette Regional Campus.
Kimberly Peychaud has been promoted to Assistant Manager of Student Admissions.
Jessica Riche has been promoted to Assistant Business Manager in the Department of Medicine.
Shenell Thomas has been promoted to Lab Tech 1 in Anatomy at LSUNO.