LSU's College of Engineering Announces New Fast Path BS/MD/PhD Program in Partnership with the Health Sciences Center – New Orleans

Biological engineering undergraduate students gain early admission into New Orleans medical school.

BATON ROUGE – The Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department has partnered with the Health Sciences Center – New Orleans to launch a fast track BS/MD/PhD program beginning in the fall.

The triple degree program is an undergraduate, medical school and doctoral educational program that provides highly qualified students an enriched undergraduate experience in preparation for medical school and doctoral studies. The program is termed “Fast Path” because students would receive all three degrees in one-to-three years less than a traditional path due to faculty approved course credit from the MD program that counts toward the BS and Ph.D. degrees.

The program also serves as a platform for the development of a Biomedical Engineering Research Institute focused on translational research, which would be a critical synergistic activity for the developing biomedical industry in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Launching in fall 2015, the program will admit up to 10 students annually. Students must have a 30 ACT or higher and are expected to enter LSU with significant Advanced Placement credit in math, English and some arts, humanities, and social sciences.

“This innovative program will forge together two of the strengths of LSU – engineering and medicine – that will advance healthcare for our patients and create jobs for Louisiana,” said Dr. Steve Nelson, dean of LSU Health New Orleans’ School of Medicine.

Since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has seen an influx in young entrepreneurial individuals, and the development of a biomedical district. Graduates of the BS/MD/PhD program may enter academia, pursue research in an institution outside or connected to academia, or continue to meet residency requirements for the practice of medicine. As the program grows, the LSU College of Engineering envisions the creation of an institute that will provide a synergistic educational/research environment. Primarily focused on graduate programs and translational research that will drive economic growth in the region, the institute will provide a collaborative environment for clinicians, scientists, engineers and students to develop innovative technology and techniques to advance healthcare.

“A combined BS/MD/PhD Fast Path in biomedical engineering is highly attractive to outstanding candidates and is critical synergistic activity for developing the biomedical industry in Baton Rouge and New Orleans,” said Rick Koubek, Bert S. Turner Chair and dean of LSU’s College of Engineering.

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For more information, contact Heather Herman at hheathm@lsu.edu or 225-578-5701.