School of Medicine

The Pulse - June 2023

MD/MPH Student Bry Reinhardt Launches Bright Kids in Biotech Program

Bry Reinhardt, MD/MPH Candidate, LSUHSC-NO Class of 2025, President - Biotechnology Interest Organization

Second-year medical student Bry Reinhardt is working to fulfill the community outreach aspect of the School of Medicine’s mission. She founded the biotech medical student interest group at the LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans in the spring of 2022.

The interest group launched Bright Kids in Biotech earlier this year, an entrepreneurial high school program designed to teach young minds the power of curiosity.

Reinhardt credits Geri Davis, Outreach Coordinator for the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement, and Lauren Stendahl, Director of Impact and Partnerships at Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans, for assisting with launching the new program, which hosted 40 students from across the New Orleans area this year.

Bright Kids in Biotech began with a virtual session that focused on a pre-work assignment before the live event. Students were asked to:

  • Design a three-minute pitch describing a problem they experience in everyday life
  • Develop a solution
  • Describe the target market, competition, and business model.

The live event was held at the New Orleans Bio Innovation Center and consisted of the following:

  • Overview of biotechnology
  • Overview of entrepreneurship and problem solving
  • Guest talk from the co-founder and CEO/CTO of Popl, Jason Alvarez-Cohen
  • Pitch competition and prizes for the winners

Reinhardt said they hope to host even more students next year.

Click this link to see photographs from the event!