1950
A medical school in Shreveport is first proposed, but is blocked by political opponents
1955
Discussion revived amid plan for postgraduate School of Medicine (residency training), but funding is later withdrawn
1963
Study Committee established by Shreveport Medical Society for development of medical school
1965
Governor John McKeithen signs act establishing School of Medicine and School of Graduate Studies
1969
First 32 students begin classes at VA, awaiting funding to build School of Medicine and School of Graduate Studies
1970
Construction funding received
1971
Medical school groundbreaking
1973
School receives full accreditation and confers first medical degrees
MAJOR MILESTONES AT LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT
THE PROOF AND POWER The Little Engine That Could is an American folktale that became widely known in the United States after publication in 1930 by Platt & Munk. The story has long been used to teach children the value of optimism and hard work. We at LSU Health Shreveport also have a legacy of demonstrating a “can do” attitude. Since 1950 when the medical school proposal was initially blocked by political opponents, LSU Health Shreveport has been overcoming challenges through tenacity, optimism and community support. As many know, the path to open the medical school took many twists and turns before finally opening in 1975. The reward has far exceeded the vision of the impact a medical school could have on the community and local physicians. That “can do” attitude struck gold again decades later in 2000 when John C. McDonald became the first local Chancellor after an act by the legislature, culminating a twenty-year battle. Without this crucial step in our history, LSU Health Shreveport would never have been appropriately positioned for its brightest future. The need for optimism and hard work definitely came into play in 2013 when the decision was made to privatize the LSU hospitals in Shreveport, Monroe and Alexandria. This decision forced LSU Health Shreveport to financially tackle not only the loss of clinical revenue but also the $100 million in mandated costs resulting from privatization. These costs included $53 million for legacy/retirement costs for employees who lost their state jobs as hospital employees, $31 million to help fund the new hospital manager, and $13 million to close down the Huey P. Long hospital in Alexandria.
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INSIDE LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT
