New Orleans

New Orleans is a vibrant and diverse city rich in culture and steeped in tradition. Founded by the French colonist, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville in 1718 along the banks of the Mississippi River, the Vieux Carré was established over 300 years ago. Since then the city has developed it’s own unique identity by combining influences from French, Spanish, American and Afro-Caribbean culture. New Orleans has become an international tourism destination famous for its roaring music scene, flavorful cuisine, and legendary festivals - most notably, Mardi Gras. In addition, the city has beautiful architecture, a robust art scene and fabulous green spaces.

If you haven’t had the luxury of spending much time in New Orleans, we encourage you to extend your stay and explore all that the city has to offer! New Orleans is a wonderful city in which to live and train and we are always happy to provide recommendations while you are here. Come see what LSU and New Orleans has to offer and learn what “it means to miss New Orleans!”

Food & Music

New Orleans’ cuisine is heavily influenced by French, Spanish, Afro-Caribbean and American cultures and has developed it’s own unique flavor profile, often referred to as Creole or Cajun. These terms are often used interchangeably but there are subtle differences. Cajun cuisine is more of a “country” cooking style and does not use tomatoes, where as Creole is more of a “city” cooking does incorporate tomatoes. Both styles include the “holy trinity” of onion, bell pepper and celery, which serves as the base for many dishes such as gumbo, étouffée, and jambalaya. New Orleans has literally hundreds of awarding-winning restaurants, serving everything from very traditional to modern American fare. New Orleans is also the creator of the original Sazerac cocktail which is a combination of rye whiskey, bitters, sugar, water and lemon.

New Orleans is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Jazz but it’s music scene is actually is much more diverse and walking the streets you can hear gospel, Cajun, zydeco, blues, R&B, rock, funk, bounce, brass, African, Latin, Caribbean and folk. The city is home to artists including Louis Armstrong, Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, The Neville Brothers, Ellis Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Dr. John, Harry Connick Jr., Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Kermit Ruffins, The Radiators, Irma Thomas, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Allen Toussaint, Rebirth Brass Band, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Soul Rebels, Big Freedia, Lil Wayne and Frank Ocean (just to name a few).

Mardi Gras & Other Festivals

New Orleans hosts approximately 130 festivals annually - that’s an average of one festival every three days! The most famous festival is of course, Mardi Gras, a celebration that incorporates music, food, parades, floats and costumes. Even though Mardi Gras is only one day, the revelry of the Carnival Season last several weeks, running from the beginning of the new year through Ash Wednesday. Many tourists incorrectly assume that Carnival is simply a debacuherous celebration, however the indulgence is largely limited to the French Quarter and comprises a relatively small portion of what Mardi Gras is all about. The majority of events are family-oriented, community-based and showcase the musical talents and creatives that the city is known for. Many of our residents, faculty and staff belong to a Mardi Gras Krewe and are active participants in the celebration.

Other worthwhile festivals to check out include: Jazz Fest, Tales of the Cocktail, Creole Tomato Festival, French Quarter Festival, PoBoy Festival, Mid-Summer’s Night Mardi Gras, Seafood Festival, Voodoo Music Festival, Red Dress Run, Pride, Southern Decadence, Satchmo Festival and Essence Festival.

Social

We host a variety of social activities throughout the year so that our residents can bond, enjoy the city, and grow closer together as a family.

• Welcome Pool Party

• Sonos-giving

• Holiday Party

• Intramural Kickball

• Residency Book Club

• Saint’s Tailgate Party

• Crawfish Boils

• Women in Emergency Medicine

• Diversity & Inclusion Committee

• Crescent City Classic 10K Race Team

Educational

In addition to our monthly Residency Journal Club, we offer a variety of sub-specialty Journal Clubs in the following:

• Pediatric EM Journal Club

• International EM Journal Club

• EMS & Disaster Journal Club

• Ultrasound Journal Club

• Wilderness Medicine Journal Club

• Critical Care Journal Club

During the Administration blocks, our department sponsors an entire class of residents to attend one national conference annually.

• PGY 2s attend SAEM

• PGY 3s attend AAEM

• PGY 4s attend ACEP

Wellness

We have a very active Resident Wellness Committee which organizes several programs to foster a culture of well-being and resiliency

• Residents Families: residents are split into families and assigned a faculty “mom or dad” who is plans fun social activities & outings.

• This Charity Life: a quarterly, narrative medicine event in which residents share stories to inspire self-reflection, promote empathy and encourage culture of openness.

Outdoor Activities

New Orleans is home to several beautiful parks and green spaces, most notably is City Park which is nearly twice the size of Central Park in New York. City Park has numerous scenic running trails lined with massive live oak trees, many over 600 years old! In the heart of the park, there is the New Orleans Museum of Art & Sculpture Garden. Nearby is Bayou St. John which is a popular destination for kayaking and canoeing and the perfect sport for a weekend picnic. Located just outside the city there are several pristine nature preserves including Jean Laffitte, Barataria and Bayou Sauvage that are bursting with wildlife and exotic flora. These are popular destinations for hunting, fishing, bird watching, boating and spotting alligators in their natural habitat!

Housing in New Orleans

New Orleans is divided into several neighborhoods, each with it’s own unique feel and style. There is the historic French Quarter, located downtown with beautiful balconies and interior courtyards. Nearby is the Central Business District with chic high-rise apartments with rooftop pools. Uptown, Garden District and the Irish Channel have beautiful tree-lined streets and homes with front porches. Mid-City has become an increasingly popular neighborhood because of it’s central location and affordable shotgun homes. The Marigny and Bywater have a more progressive feel with abundant cafes, art galleries and beautiful street art.

Since affordable housing can be found in any neighborhood and because the hospital is centrally located, our residents are able to live throughout the city and enjoy a short commute. You will find that New Orleans a wonderful city in which to live and accessible for both individuals and families.