LSU Health Shreveport School announces a new bachelor’s program

LSU Health Shreveport School of Allied Health Professions announced Thursday morning that the school will soon be offering a bachelor’s program.

Beginning in the summer of 2024, LSU Health Shreveport will be offering a Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Technology (BS-CVT). This comes after the university received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) this fall.

“We are thrilled to expand our bachelor-level education at the School of Allied Health Professions,” said Michon Revader, Director of the Cardiovascular Technology program.

According to LSU Health Shreveport, the need for the Cardiovascular Technology program was determined through public health data, a national employer interest survey, projected employment rates for cardiovascular technologists and survey data from cardiac catheterization laboratory and echocardiography directors in Louisiana.

“Cardiovascular technology is an in-demand medical profession, and we are looking forward to supporting that workforce, especially here in Louisiana,” said Revader. “LSU Health Shreveport is a central tenet of healthcare education for its surrounding areas in north and central Louisiana, meaning many of our graduates contribute to meeting the healthcare needs of their own communities.”

Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death in Louisiana.

More:LSU Health Shreveport professor recognized at national summit for family medicine research

Qualified cardiovascular technologists are in high demand to assist physicians with diagnosing and providing therapeutic interventions for this preventable disease.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a projected 10% employment growth for diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists between 2022 and 2032.

The median pay for cardiovascular technologists is $63,020 and $81,350 for diagnostic medical sonographers.

Students interested in this career path can apply now, the School of Allied Health Professions is currently accepting applications for the first cohort of eight students. The degree will require 120 credit hours, including 57 hours of prerequisite courses completed at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university and 63 hours (two years) of professional courses completed at LSU Health Shreveport.

According to LSU Health Shreveport, students who complete the program will gain translatable skills that will lead to multiple positions in the cardiovascular field.

For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Technology program, go to www.lsuhs.edu/cvt.

Read:Shreveport surgeon recognized as a top spine doctor in the nation

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at [email protected].