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In keeping with its commitment to the citizens of the state of Louisiana, LSUHSC-S School of Medicine selects members of its medical school classes from a pool of predominantly Louisiana residents. Applicants are evaluated on those qualities deemed essential to the profession of medicine, as well as unique potential to contribute to the educational experience at the School of Medicine and to the practice of medicine. The qualities judged essential to the profession and practice of medicine are requisite in all students admitted to the LSUHSC-S School of Medicine. Unique potential represents singular and valued characteristics that an applicant might possess and, while not required, are features that would augment their contribution to the educational experience and diversity of the School of Medicine as well as the profession of medicine. The features deemed essential qualities as well as those seen as unique potential to contribute to the educational experience at the School of Medicine and the profession of medicine will be reviewed by the Dean and appropriate administrative committees on a periodic basis.
I. Essential Qualities
- Academic Excellence - The LSUHSC-S School of Medicine has a rigorous and comprehensive academic curriculum; thus, it is necessary for applicants to show previous ability to perform well in a challenging academic environment. Traditional measures including grade point average and scores on the Medical College Admissions Test are utilized to evaluate this ability as well as other features such as rigor of undergraduate course load and level of difficulty of undergraduate courses taken.
- Competency- The School of Medicine makes every effort to enroll students capable of accumulating the appropriate medical knowledge, developing the basic clinical and technical skills required of all physicians, and exhibiting professional, humane communication skills. The required technical standards for the School of Medicine are delineated here.
- Dedication to Medicine - During the Admissions process, an applicant’s dedication to a practice in medicine will be carefully evaluated. An applicant’s dedication to medicine may be gleaned from written application material including a personal statement as well as responses to specific interview questions about the applicant’s views of his/her future medical practice, knowledge of current medical issues, and previous healthcare-related experiences.
- Altruism- A willingness to put the needs of others before those of self is a fundamental characteristic necessary in physicians. Evidence of altruism will be sought through review of an applicant’s community service and volunteer activities as well as through focused interview questions about the applicant’s life goals as a physician caring for patients.
- Integrity- Honesty, ethical behavior, and professionalism are personal characteristics of paramount importance in individuals embarking upon the medical education process and the practice of medicine. Evidence of this quality is sought from letters of recommendation and in the interview process. Conversely, dishonesty or unethical behavior in the preparation or submission of the application or in the interview process will discount an applicant from consideration for admission.
- Communication Skills - The ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and in a timely manner is vital for the practice of medicine. The personal statement, letters of recommendation, and interview provide venues by which an applicant’s communication skills can be assessed.
II. Unique Potential to Contribute to Medical School Educational Experience and to the Profession of Medicine
- Louisiana residents from rural or underserved parishes - The LSUHSC-S School of Medicine is committed to recruiting residents of the state for its student body so that it can produce excellent physicians who will, in turn, provide healthcare for the citizens of Louisiana. By recruiting students from parishes underserved in healthcare, the medical school fulfills several of its mission’s goals and provides a double benefit (education and healthcare delivery) to the state of Louisiana.
- Socioeconomically or educationally disadvantaged background - In an effort to enrich the educational environment and train future physicians for state of Louisiana who possess an invaluable perspective on the healthcare needs of underserved communities, it is important to seek students from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Ethnic or racial groups traditionally underrepresented in medicine in Louisiana and the region - As a central part of its effort to fulfill its responsibility to the population within Louisiana and the surrounding region and to further enhance the educational experience for all students, the School of Medicine endeavors to train more medical students from the following ethnic or racial groups traditionally underrepresented in medicine: Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino.
- Women- Although medical school classes across the country have greatly improved the ratio of female to male students over the past two decades, females still represent a minority of the physicians in Louisiana and across the United States. As an additional component of its responsibility to the population of the state of Louisiana and to enhance the overall medical education experience, the School of Medicine will continue its effort to train more female physicians.
- Veterans and individuals in current military service - Individuals who serve or have served in the military bring a singular perspective to the practice of medicine, which will enrich the educational experience of their civilian peers. A measurable veteran population exists in north Louisiana, and veterans in medical training or practice can provide healthcare to this population incorporating the perspective of that shared life experience.
- Evidence of leadership and/or teamwork - The ability to effectively lead and collaborate with others in a team or group is a quality necessary in physicians for successful healthcare delivery in today’s world. Evidence of prior leadership (e.g. selection for a class government position, advancement in military rank, athletic team captain, resident advisor/assistant in dormitory, managerial position in employment) or noteworthy collaboration and contribution to a group, organization, committee, or team effort will be considered in the evaluation of this quality.
- Life experiences - Physicians must care for patients from a wide range of racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Experience with other ethnicities and cultures is a valuable asset in the applicant as it can afford the individual the opportunity to contribute to discussion and interaction with classmates, thus enriching the educational experience for all. Such experiences might include involvement with multicultural organizations, study or work abroad, mastery of a second language, or other unique life experiences.
Faculty and Senior Administrative Staff
As a state and regional leader in medical education, the LSUHSC-S School of Medicine is also committed to advancing diversity and inclusion within the medical profession and within the patient care systems of Louisiana and the region. By training medical students in an educational environment rich in diversity and embracing inclusion, the physician graduates of LSUHSC-S will be well prepared to care for patients from any background as well as to actively address health disparities in society. A diverse faculty and senior administrative staff are achieved through the employment, retention, and advancement of individuals who reflect the rich diversity of the communities served by the medical school. The features in faculty and senior administrative staff that the LSUHSC-S School of Medicine deems unique potential to contribute to the educational experience of students, residents and fellow faculty and provide an enhanced environment of inclusion are the following:
- Ethnic and racial groups traditionally underrepresented in medical school faculty - Faculty members and senior administrative staff drawn from the ethnic and racial categories traditionally underrepresented in medicine will provide all students a valuable educational and work experience from a more diverse group of teachers, mentors, and role models with whom they will eventually become peers and colleagues. LSUHSC-S School of Medicine has identified Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino as underrepresented populations.
- Women- Female physicians and scientists in academic medicine, especially those holding more advanced faculty ranks and senior administrative positions, continue to remain underrepresented in academic medicine. Increasing the number of female faculty and senior administrators will enhance and enlarge the educational and work experience of learners and provide mentors and role models who bring varied perspective.
- Veterans and individuals in military service - LSUHSC-S stands in geographic proximity to three local facilities directly related to the U.S. military: Overton-Brooks VA Medical Center, Barksdale Air Force Base, and Fort Polk. As such, U.S. veterans, a population often having complex medical needs, some of which vary from those of the civilian population, comprise a measurable portion of the patient population in the region. Increasing the number of U.S. veterans as well as active reservists on the faculty and in senior administrative positions provides an additional important facet of diversity, both for patient care and for the educational addition of a unique life experience and perspective.
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