Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center’s mission is to provide quality patient care services, a teaching environment for training future medical and allied health care professionals, and support for medical and scientific research. Support of this mission is evident in the available facilities, which are comprised of the University Hospital, Medical School, Biomedical Research Institute, School of Allied Health Professions, Clinics, Trauma Center, Burn Center, and the Cancer Center, that is currently under construction.

LSU University Hospital is the main teaching institution and has 450 beds. Annually, there are approximately 18,000 surgicals, 70,000 cytology specimens, 1000 fine needle aspirations, 100 electron microscopic cases, 70 autopsies, and approximately 2.8 million clinical laboratory determinations.

Residents rotate through the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, which has 161 beds. There are approximately 4000 surgical specimens, 6250 cytology specimens, 20 autopsies, and 1.5 million clinical laboratory tests per year.

The forensic pathology rotation is done under the supervision of the coroner at the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office. Approximately 600 medicolegal autopsies are performed there annually. While at the Coroner’s office, residents perform forensic autopsies, attend scene investigations, and have the opportunity to attend court proceedings.

Senior residents and pathology fellows also rotate at Delta Pathology, a private pathology facility in Shreveport. Training received there gives the trainees exposure to the practice of pathology in a private setting.