LSU Health New Orleans student selected for NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative

Written By Alicia Vial

NEW ORLEANS – LSU Health New Orleans proudly announces that LaMiah Hall, a medical student in the School of Medicine, has been selected to participate in the National Football League's Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative. This prestigious opportunity will see Hall completing a clinical rotation with the New Orleans Saints sports medicine department during the 2024 training camp. 

Originally from Decatur, Alabama, Hall's academic journey led her to Xavier University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2019 followed by a Master of Public Health in 2020. Engaging deeply with the New Orleans community, she volunteered with STEM NOLA, a leading nonprofit in STEM education, from 2015 to 2021, serving as the organization’s operations coordinator. Currently pursuing her medical degree at LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Hall anticipates graduating in 2025 with a keen interest in orthopedic surgery. 

"We are immensely proud of Ms. Hall and her selection for this prestigious initiative. Her dedication to academic excellence and community service embodies the values we strive to instill in all our students,” said Dr. Steve Nelson, LSU Health New Orleans Chancellor. “We are confident that her participation will not only enrich her educational experience but also contribute significantly to the fields of sports medicine and orthopedic surgery." 

The NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative, a collaboration between the NFL, NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS), and Professional Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS), aims to bolster the pipeline of diverse students pursuing careers in sports medicine. This year, students from 21 medical schools across the country will be matched with NFL clubs, marking the second consecutive year of the Saints' involvement in the program. 

For more information about LSU Health New Orleans and its programs visit lsuhsc.edu.  

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About LSU Health New Orleans  
LSU Health New Orleans educates Louisiana's health care professionals. The state's health sciences university leader, LSU Health New Orleans includes a School of Medicine with campuses in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, the state's only School of Dentistry, Louisiana's only public School of Public Health and Schools of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Graduate Studies. LSU Health New Orleans faculty take care of patients in hospitals and clinics throughout the region. In the vanguard of biosciences research, the LSU Health New Orleans research enterprise generates jobs and enormous annual economic impact. LSU Health New Orleans faculty have made lifesaving discoveries and continue to work to prevent, advance treatment   and cure disease. 

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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