LSU Health Shreveport Showcases 80-Plus Student Studies
Medical students transitioning to their second year presented completed Medical Student Research Project work at a campus fair.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Secondary Education
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LSU Health Shreveport held a research fair in its campus gym where more than 80 students presented completed Medical Student Research Project studies. Students received stipends for finishing their projects.
Why it matters
The program has grown from 20-30 participants about five years ago to 125 applicants this year, reflecting expanding student involvement in research. Participation can help students secure desired residency positions and may earn a special distinction on their diploma.
More than 80 students finished MSRP projects after 125 students applied this year, compared with 20-30 participants when the program began about five years ago. Each completing student received a stipend, but the total stipend funding amount was not disclosed.
The players
LSU Health Shreveport
LSU Health Shreveport is a public academic health sciences center in Louisiana that trains physicians and conducts medical research.
Elisabeth Fontenot
Elisabeth Fontenot is a medical student at LSU Health Shreveport whose research compared Louisiana pediatric vaccination rates to national figures.
Ahmed Anwar
Ahmed Anwar is a medical student at LSU Health Shreveport who studied why people with chronic kidney disease have poor bone quality.
The details
Students transitioning to their second year of medical school presented their research in the gym at LSU Health Shreveport. Projects ranged from Elisabeth Fontenot's study comparing Louisiana pediatric vaccination rates with the rest of the country to Ahmed Anwar's research on poor bone quality in chronic kidney disease patients, which found poorer bone quality in every CKD patient tested.
Timeline
About five years ago: the Medical Student Research Project began with 20-30 students.
This year: 125 students applied and more than 80 finished their projects.
Summer: stipends help defray costs of summer study and research.
Match Day: research may help students obtain their desired residency.
Season Trajectory
The Medical Student Research Project has expanded from 20-30 participants about five years ago to 125 applicants this year at LSU Health Shreveport. This growth shows the program becoming a larger part of how the school prepares students for residency applications.
Prospective medical students in Shreveport can see that participation in the Medical Student Research Project is competitive, with 125 applicants this year. Students interested in research can plan to choose a research partner on or off campus early in their training.
The takeaway
Research participation during medical school can strengthen residency applications and add distinction to a diploma, making early engagement with research programs a practical step for aspiring physicians. Students at any stage can ask their program about available research partners and funding.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education for context on how student research programs fit into medical training pathways.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate.
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