The LSU Health Sciences Foundation of Shreveport hosted a Topping Out Ceremony celebrating the final structural beam being placed at the Center for Medical Education at LSU Health Shreveport on Wednesday, March 30.
The invitation-only event included top donors to the Center for Medical Education including Campus Federal, state and local leaders, LSU Health Shreveport senior leadership, and LSUHS student representatives, who signed the final beam before it was lifted and secured onto the building.
The innovative Center for Medical Education and Wellness will house the new Center for Emerging Viral Threats, which has made immeasurable contributions in LSU Health Shreveport’s efforts to combat COVID-19 to include robust community testing and vaccine sites.
Campus Federal donated $100,000 to this cause last year. This $100,000 gift to the Center for Medical Education and Wellness and the Center for Emerging Viral Threats marks the largest contribution in support of LSU Health Shreveport by Campus Federal Credit Union.
“While a lot has changed, Campus Federal remains committed to giving back to the communities we serve throughout Louisiana,” Verret said. “We are excited to support the efforts of LSU Health Shreveport to strengthen education and wellness, along with the development of a state-of-the-art facility to research emerging viral threats. Working together on these important initiatives will continue to enhance the lives of those we serve.”
Construction on the Center for Medical Education, a $74 million public-private partnership with the state of Louisiana, began in July 2021 and is set to conclude in the Fall of 2023. The Center for Medical Education is LSU Health Shreveport’s top fundraising priority and is part of LSU’s system-wide Fierce for the Future Campaign announced in 2019. The Center for Medical Education will allow LSU Health Shreveport to increase its medical school class size by 33% to address the healthcare shortage in Northwest Louisiana and the state.
“The Center for Medical Education is a transformational project as it will not only expand our medical education and research opportunities but will create our first common gathering space for all faculty, staff, and students” David Lewis MD, Interim Chancellor and Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health Shreveport said. “We are confident this project will strengthen our recruitment of students, faculty, and staff all of which positively impact the economy of our beloved community. On behalf of our faculty staff, and students, I offer my deepest thanks to every donor, the state of Louisiana, and the federal government for their investment in this exciting project.”
To learn more about the Center for Medical Education, including a virtual tour, current naming opportunities, and ways to support the project, visit FutureofLSUHS.com or call the LSU Health Sciences Foundation at 318-861-0855.