LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in New Orleans was founded in 1931. It is one of the two LSU system medical schools, and the largest medical school in Louisiana by enrolment. It sits in the New Orleans Medical District, closely affiliated with University Medical Center New Orleans.
That hospital is the state-of-the-art safety-net facility built to replace the legendary Charity Hospital after Hurricane Katrina. A high proportion of graduates stay in Louisiana, mostly serving south Louisiana's diverse, often low-income urban and rural communities.
What makes LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine (MD) different
LSU Health New Orleans has one of the most distinctive training contexts in American medicine. It is the successor to the historic Charity Hospital, which for over two centuries was the main public hospital for the poor in Louisiana, and the main training ground for LSU and Tulane medical students.
After Katrina, the school rebuilt its clinical training around the new University Medical Center New Orleans, which preserves that safety-net training legacy. Students also train in a vibrant, culturally distinctive city with genuinely complex community health challenges.
LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine (MD) course & teaching
Integrated curriculum. 4-year MD. Years 1–2 at the New Orleans campus with a curriculum combining basic science, early clinical immersion, and community health. Clinical Years 3–4 at University Medical Center New Orleans (UMC), Children's Hospital New Orleans, VA Medical Center New Orleans, and affiliated community hospitals and clinics.
LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine (MD) research strengths
LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine (MD) is strong in these research areas:
- Infectious disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cancer
- Public health and disaster medicine
- Health disparities in Louisiana
How the LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine (MD) interview runs
Format: Traditional one-on-one and panel interviews with faculty and students in New Orleans
LSU Health New Orleans interview days are held on campus in the New Orleans Medical District. Applicants typically complete one or two traditional interviews with faculty or clinicians lasting approximately 30 minutes each, followed by a campus tour of the LSU Health Sciences Center complex and affiliated hospitals.
Interviewers have reviewed the application beforehand and focus on motivation, clinical exposure, Louisiana healthcare context, and commitment to the school's public service mission. The day includes a financial aid overview and informal student interaction. The school's Charity Hospital legacy and the post-Katrina recovery narrative frequently inform interview conversations about resilience and community health.
LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine (MD) intake
Approximately 200 students per year.
LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine (MD) at a glance
Founded in 1931. Based in New Orleans, LA.
Programmes offered:
- Internal Medicine
- Trauma Surgery
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease
- Primary Care