LSU to Conduct Searches for Medical School Leadership

Faculty complaints prompt university to replace interim deans at Shreveport and New Orleans campuses

Mar. 3, 2026 at 9:51pm

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LSU Chancellor Jim Dalton announced plans to conduct searches for the top leadership positions at the university's two medical schools in Shreveport and New Orleans, following faculty complaints that the current interim deans were appointed hastily. The process will begin after LSU hires a new provost and research center director, and could take over a year to complete.

Why it matters

The leadership changes at LSU's medical schools come amid faculty concerns about the university's decision-making process. The faculty senate has called for a 'transparent, thoughtful and evidence-based approach' to restructuring the medical school leadership, highlighting the need for better communication and collaboration between university administration and academic staff.

The details

The current interim deans, Dr. Lester Johnson in Shreveport and Dr. David Guzick in New Orleans, will be able to apply for the permanent positions. Guzick previously served as dean of the Shreveport medical school before resigning in 2025 following pressure from an LSU Board of Supervisors member. He was then appointed as the LSU System's chief research officer. The New Orleans medical school chancellor, Dr. Steve Nelson, was fired last month, and Guzick was named as his replacement, prompting further faculty frustration.

  • In April 2025, Dr. David Guzick resigned as dean of the Shreveport medical school.
  • In February 2026, the faculty senate at the New Orleans medical school approved a resolution calling for a transparent search process for the chancellor position.
  • Last month, Dr. Steve Nelson was fired as chancellor of the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans.

The players

Jim Dalton

The chancellor of LSU who announced plans to conduct searches for the top leadership positions at the university's two medical schools.

Wade Rousse

The president of the LSU system who said the search process for new medical school leadership could take more than a year to complete.

Lester Johnson

The interim senior vice chancellor of the Shreveport medical school, who will be able to apply for the permanent position.

David Guzick

The senior vice chancellor of the New Orleans medical school, who previously served as dean of the Shreveport medical school before resigning in 2025. He was recently named as the replacement for the fired chancellor of the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans.

Esperanza Moran

A member of the LSU Board of Supervisors who led a months-long pressure campaign that resulted in Guzick's resignation as dean of the Shreveport medical school in 2025.

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What’s next

The search process for new medical school leadership at LSU will begin after the university hires a new provost for the Baton Rouge campus and a director for the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

The takeaway

The leadership changes at LSU's medical schools highlight the need for better communication and collaboration between university administration and faculty, as the faculty senate has called for a transparent and evidence-based approach to restructuring the medical school leadership.