These professionals have gone by several different names over the years, initially referred to as medical technologists, then later called clinical laboratory scientists. In recent years, they underwent a new name change to medical laboratory scientists, which better depicts what these health care professionals do.

Clinical trial opportunities at LSU Health Shreveport include the New Ideas study (www.ideas-study.org/), which enrolls African American and Hispanic patients interested in receiving an amyloid PET scan. The goal is to determine the utility of amyloid PET scans in treating Alzheimer’s disease and is funded by Medicare.

The frontlines of the pandemic look different now, 10 months into the COVID-19 battle. In this season of giving and joy, there’s comfort in knowing that a glimmer of returning to some sort of normalcy is so close. For months, the question of when a vaccine will be ready riddled conversations.

have an average life expectancy 13 years shorter than their peers who do not have the disorder. Approximately 25% will develop clinical depression, and about 50% develop an anxiety disorder. As many as 80% will have additional mental health diagnoses including learning disabilities.

It’s a daunting challenge given that Louisiana ranks among the worst states in nearly every health measure, but there are three of us locally who are energized by our roles in this statewide effort to improve the lives of literally tens of thousands of Louisiana residents.

Clinical trials are often thought of as a last resort to cancer treatment. While this can be the case, most often patients who participate in a clinical trial are helping researchers, physicians and other medical professionals gain insight into cancer, how it works and how to treat future patients.