FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Drills Donated by Stryker Offer Realistic Training for Medical Students

Shreveport, La. (7/8/20) – Today, LSU Health Shreveport accepted a donation from Stryker of new drilling equipment for the temporal bone lab, a modern training facility within the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. In the lab, students will work at four operative stations to learn the complex anatomy of the temporal bone and the ear at the base of the skull.

“Otologic and skull base neuro-otologic surgery requires repetitive drilling of temporal bones to understand and gain expertise in operating in one of the most difficult areas in the body,” said Cherie-Ann Nathan, MD, FACS, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department Chair. “Developing a state-of-the-art temporal bone lab positions LSU Health Shreveport to invigorate residency training for our residents and fellows to hone their skills prior to operating on patients. I am grateful to Stryker for their commitment to resident education.”

Gale Gardner, MD, Professor and Clinical Specialist of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Director of Neurotology at LSU Health Shreveport, is one of the premier otologic surgeons in the country and can be credited for his tireless efforts to upgrade the training environment for residents. Dr.
Gardner leads the residency program at LSUHS that will utilize the new lab. Each surgical station will feature operating room-grade equipment to make training exercises as realistic as possible. Dr. Gardner has trained nearly 40 residents over the past few years alone, and many current residents have shown interest in going into otology/neuro-otology fellowships.

This new equipment was received through a donation by Stryker, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies. Based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the company offers innovative products and services in Orthopaedics, Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes. 

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ABOUT LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT
LSU Health Shreveport is one of two Health Sciences Centers of the Louisiana State University System and one of only 154 in the nation. LSU Health Shreveport is home to the School of Medicine, School of
Graduate Studies and School of Allied Health Professions, and a robust research enterprise. Almost 900 students are enrolled in the degree programs at any one time. Additionally, over 500 residents and
fellows are trained each year. The primary mission of the LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport is to teach, heal, and discover, in order to advance the well-being of the region and beyond. At the heart of
the LSU Health Shreveport is a strong faculty that includes a number of nationally and internationally acclaimed physicians and scientists. More than 600 strong, they lead our research efforts, educate our students and provide primary and specialty care to patients throughout the region. LSU Health Shreveport has strong community support, fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion that promotes mutual respect for all. For more information, visit www.lsuhs.edu.