LSU-Shreveport

[AdamH11]

anyone with any information on this program, especially anyone who has already interviewed there. the old posts aren't too encouraging. thanks.

[ms3]

I have a friend that matched there a few years ago or so....he wasnt too happy about it at the time, but he got a spot.

Here is the lowdown he gave me:

Staff: turnover has been pretty large over the past few years....sounds pretty malignant to me, several attendings don't care squat about the residents. For instance, there is a female hand surgeon (dont know her name) who doesnt teach AT ALL or care wheather the residents learn on her service....

Another female attending that apparently can't pass her boards, and when she pimps, it sounds like she is asking because she does not know, not that she is trying to teach.

The city is not the greatest place to live, but it is cheap. If you are single, prepare for some lonely times....there are definately better cities to live in.

Plusses: can operate a lot, cost of living is CHEAP, and you will be an orthopaedic surgeon.

Otherwise, I have not heard many other good things from my buddy, so much so that I declined my interview with them.

Hope this helps a bit.

[intern]

Since I went to medical school in Shreveport, I feel obligated to set the record straight.

The orthopaedic program in Shreveport has advantages and disadvantages just like every other program.

The advantages: Shreveport is a great mid-size southern city. The cost of living is low. The outdoor activities (hunting, golf and fishing) are great. In fact, both David Toms and Hal Sutton live in Shreveport and this year's Bass Masters Championship was held on the Red River. It is not Dallas, but there is ample entertainment, and the food is much better. The medical center is mid-size and is very nice. They are currently building a new cancer center, an addition to the new outpatient clinic (which will include a new orthopaedic clinic), and it serves as the home of the first Shriners' hospital where the orthopaedic experience is excellent.

Most of the residents are great. The residents from that part of the country are a pleasure to work with. It is a resident run program, and the operative autonomy is unparalleled. One of the best resident sugeons I have worked with was a cheif last year. There is ample pathology in every discipline, and the residents learn on a trial by fire basis.

The disadvantages: The staff turnover is a weakness. The chairman is in the twilight of his career (trained Bucholtz), and the state of LA is poor and putting money together to hire new staff is a problem (LSUNO is on probation for the same reason). The younger staff members are not that strong, and the new staff they have brought in have not stayed for long periods of time.

There are a few residents from other parts of the country that are unhappy with the program, the city, the state and that part of the country. In my opinion, they are the biggest weakness.

If your fastest speed isn't too fast and you like to learn by doing rather than watching, it is a great program. If you are looking for a place with lots of conferences and supervision, you would be better served at another institution.

[gettobone]

Just to add, the residents are a good group of guys, like most every program. They have had a bunch of staff leaving, and can't keep em.

Plusses: a tumor guy, operate a lot, cheap town, you will be a trauma guru

Minuses: staff, no joint guy at all, pretty much learn by yourself, benefits are not the best (NO book money, partial health, salary low)

Take it for what its worth, you will be an orthopaedic surgeon when you get out

[jtogden]

I trained there and finished in 1995. This is a hands on program. If you don't want to learn anything you will not and it will reflect in your boards as well as your practice when you get out. If you want to learn everything you can you will. You have to be in control. If you wait for someone to teach you something you will wait a long time. The best resources are the private guys in town. When I was there I wanted more shoulder and foot and ankle so I would call some of the private guys in town that are on staff and do some cases I wanted to master. 3 or 4 guys at that time did total shoulders and my 4th and 5th years I found as many total shoulders as I could do and staffed them with the private guys to do at LSU. I think I did 10 or 12 TSA's. When you finish LSU you will be a trauma guru. Its the other stuff that you just have to be aggressive about learning, finding the right patient, and doing surgery. The private guys who have a clinical professorship at LSU are a wealth of information and most of them I know would be glad to staff cases.

[Apoloz]

I am a student at LSU New Orleans, and as far as I know our program LSUNO is not on probabtion.

[Apoloz]

I just checked the ACGME website and LSU Shreveport was put on probation on 6/13/08.

[OrthoTiger88]

I am a 4th year at Shreveport and will be going into Ortho. THe program was put on probation because of lack of staff from what I have heard. There has recently been made funding available to hire 3 more attendings and the salary has been raised to above national average. It is a good program with the drawbacks mentioned above. The city is a lot of fun and i have enjoyed living here.

PS: The post on the NO probation are a few years old

[orthojacket]

Glad someone cleared that up. I am an intern at LSU-New Orleans and we are NOT on probation. It is a great program with great residents.

[j26]

Is there anybody out there connected with the program that can give some updated info? I saw from the website that they are seeking a new chair. I would appreciate any insight you may have. Thanks.

[lsuesac]

At this time the program is still similar to what is written above (understaffed and lots of autonomy). However, LSU hired a new chancellor and he is looking to make changes to the program. He is on the verge of hiring a new ortho chairman (2 candidates currently) and there will certainly be additional staff added when the chair comes in. I look for the chair hiring to occur within the next 2 months.

[TraumaJunkie]

bump for discussion. Any up to date comments? How is the new chairman working out? I know the program is still on probation but does it look like it is getting better, worse or not likely to change?

[MudbugOrtho]

I am a current resident at LSUHSC - Shreveport and would like to give an update on our program as a lot has happened since the last post on this forum. Our program was taken off of probation this year and we are currently a fully accredited orthopaedic surgery program. We are accredited to take 3 residents per year and our next site visit is in 2015. Since being on probation plenty has changed in our institution as well as our residency program:

1)New Chancellor
2)New Chairman/Program Director
3)2 new Trauma staff
4)Tumor staff

Program at a glance:

Location: Shreveport
-Low cost of living...most residents own a house
-Easy commute to work...>15min drive is rare
-lots of festivals
-Great outdoors...lots of residents like to fish, hunt
-Weather is great

Residency:
-Level 1 trauma center
-Lots of autonomy
-Never more than two residents scrubbed...most time just one
-Charity Hospital Rotations: Trauma, Sports, Hand, Foot and ankle, Tumor, Spine
-Rotations at the private hospital: Hand, Sports, Joints
-VA: General
-Shriners: Pediatrics
-Residents are a tight knit group
-Staff is very approachable

Plenty has changed for the better over the past few years here and our program continues to improve. I will try to check back regularly and keep this information here more up to date from here on out.