On November 18, LSU Health Shreveport was honored to host the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing between the City of Shreveport Police Department and the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CADA) representing an unprecedented partnership between a police department and a private nonprofit agency. The MOU signing culminated four years of efforts to reform the local crisis response system to better address 911 calls involving behavioral health needs with LSU Health Shreveport leading the charge in establishing the Northwest Louisiana Crisis Response Coalition. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux and LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor David Guzick convened the Crisis Response Leadership Summit leading to how participating agencies will work together to respond to individuals with behavioral health needs in our community.
Shreveport
Letter from the CHANCELLOR
As 2024 draws to a close, it does so with LSU Health Shreveport focused on maintaining an “aiming high” attitude in delivering exemplary medical and scientific education as well as compassionate and high-quality healthcare. Additionally, we are chasing our goal of doubling external research funding in the next five years. This goal took a huge step forward with the acquisition of the former Sears building, which facilitates fasttracking additional research space to strengthen the recruitment and retention of funded scientists.
Showcasing our magnificent Center for Medical Education during Family Days as well as regional symposiums, community events and a myriad of student events has been a wonderful experience, as every audience is awed by the beauty, function and size of this facility. A spirit of gratefulness for this transformative space is still top of mind as we approach one year since its opening.
Our impact to the community and region in the provision of specialized services such as those provided by the Mollie Webb Speech and Hearing Center and the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center Partners in Wellness program were highlighted a few months ago when both achieved milestones of longstanding service. These milestones serve as welcome reminders that we should always strive to be a beacon of hope for those we serve.
I offer my thanks to each person highlighted in this issue of Inside LSU Health Shreveport magazine: our students, faculty, staff and donors have made 2024 an outstanding year. With continued community, state and federal support, coupled with hard work and focus, I am confident that even brighter days are ahead for LSU Health Shreveport.
In closing, please accept my wishes for each of you to enjoy a special time with your friends, family, colleagues and classmates during this holiday season.
Aiming High, David S. Guzick, MD, PhD Chancellor, LSU Health Shreveport Dean, School of Medicine
FORWARD new path
BEGINNING A NEW CAREER CHAPTER, especially one that you had not envisioned for yourself, has proved to be just what the doctor ordered for David Guzick, MD, PhD who has found a renewed sense of purpose in his role as Chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport. Guzick had retired a few years earlier after a rewarding career as a leader in academic medicine which he thought ended when he stepped down from his position as senior vice president for health affairs and the president of the University of Florida Health due to a health problem that has now completely resolved.
He was content with his life’s work, which included being publicly recognized by the University of Florida President for bringing together the UF Hospital and six health sciences colleges as a functionally integrated academic health center, resulting in transformative improvements in patient care quality, NIH funding, educational innovation and a dramatic expansion in education, research and clinical facilities. Prior to his role at the University of Florida, Guzick served as the dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Rochester.
These major administrative roles were preceded by a lengthy and meaningful career as a clinical reproductive endocrinologist, and as a researcher and educator.
■ As a clinician for 25 years, having been trained in an ob-gyn residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at UT-Southwestern Medical School, Guzick was a major participant in the earliest developments of in vitro fertilization and its transition from an experimental procedure into a mature field of medicine.
■ As a researcher, having received MD and PhD degrees (in economics) in an NIH-funded Medical Scientist Training Program at NYU, he had over 20 years of continuous funding from NIH, advancing knowledge in the evaluation and management of patients with infertility, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and other reproductive endocrine conditions. Expanding his research beyond reproductive medicine to include clinical and translational research broadly, in 2007 he was Principal Investigator in the largest NIH grant to the University of Rochester in its history to that point. In 2008, Guzick was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and is its only active member in Louisiana.
■ As an educator, prior to his responsibility for medical education at the University of Rochester and the educational programs of six health science colleges at the University of Florida, Guzick ran a residency program in obstetrics and gynecology and a fellowship program in reproductive endocrinology.
Amidst enjoying more time with his wife, two grown sons and completing a book published in 2020 by the Johns Hopkins University Press, titled The U.S. Health Care Industry; Balancing Care, Cost and Access, Guzick found himself intrigued by the position of chancellor at LSU Health Shreveport and agreed to an initial interview after being contacted by the firm in charge of the chancellor search. He did some homework and quickly connected with the vision of the relatively new LSU President, William Tate IV. Dr. Tate’s exhortation to the LSU community to “reach for excellence not only in athletics but in everything we do” resonated with Guzick, which he subsequently translated into the “Aiming High” motto of our campus.
The first interview led to a second which was held in Shreveport to include three other finalists. It was during the second round of interviews that Guzick recognized the undeniable desire to once again contribute to the success of an organization and in this case two organizations as the LSUHS chancellor plays a vital role not only at LSU Health Shreveport but at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport (OLHS), which is a 50:50 clinical partnership staffed by LSUHS faculty physicians.
After being notified that he had been selected as the fourth chancellor of LSUHS in late 2022, Dr. Guzick and his wife wasted no time purchasing a home in downtown Shreveport, which was an easy choice thanks to a light filled, contemporary interior that was as inspiring as the opportunity that awaited him at LSU Health Shreveport. His first day on the job was January 9, 2023.
In terms of the clinical enterprise, he immediately started early morning meetings three times a week that included the leadership of both LSUHS and OLHS. The purpose of these meetings, which are ongoing, is to address issues requiring immediate attention as well as those of a longer-term, strategic nature. Simultaneously, he communicated his belief that LSUHS should be “Aiming High,” recognizing the immense talent, positive trajectory of research funding and the inherent opportunity of being the only academic health center in a 150mile radius. Guzick immediately began a monthly Aiming High newsletter shared with students, faculty and staff of LSUHS as well as with Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport employees. Each month, an individual or process that resulted in extraordinary outcomes is highlighted to inspire excellence.
In terms of research, he developed a strategy that would drive external research funding, which is required to bolster LSU Health Shreveport’s academic stature. Guzick established two strategic and competitive grants awarded bi-annually to LSUHS faculty with the purpose of strengthening their NIH grant applications. In addition, he created a mission-based
budget that identified not only the revenues from grantfunded research, but the sources of support for aspects of the research program and its overhead that were not funded. And most important, he carved out funds from LSUHS budget and Foundation resources that could be used to recruit and retain prominent faculty researchers, and initiated a recruitment program that will result in more than doubling the number of funded investigators at LSUHS over the next 5 years.
After an internal analysis revealed that LSUHS would run out of research space in the next 18-24 months based on the current recruitment trajectory, Guzick created a strategy to fast-track new research space without the use of state capital outlay funds. The solution was the purchase of an abandoned Sears property (less than a mile from the main campus) by the LSUHS Foundation, which will in turn lease the space to LSUHS.
In terms of education, Guzick recognized that the programs in the School of Graduate Studies and School of Allied Health Professions were in good shape but knew that intense focus was needed in the educational program at the School of Medicine. President Tate explained to Guzick in advance of his appointment that this program would be accredited but placed on probation based on an April 2022 survey by the Liaison Committee of Medical Education (LCME). Working together with the medical school dean, Dr. David Lewis, a new senior associate dean for medical education was hired, Kelly Pagidas, MD. Given the LCME findings and the timing of its planned return visit, it was clear that the entire educational program at the School of Medicine – its content, sequence, instruction methods, and student support services – needed to be completely revamped before the start of the next entering class. Working tirelessly with faculty, staff and students, Dr. Pagidas met the moment and created a new curriculum that was unanimously approved by the School’s Curriculum Committee. Launched in July 2023, the revamped curriculum was in place for only one years before the most recent student surveys were completed in the Spring of 2024. It was extremely gratifying for all involved in the educational program that student satisfaction scores improved markedly in all areas. Moreover, there is palpable excitement and engagement among students and faculty. While we cannot predict with certainty that our probationary status will be removed, we are confident that the data available to LCME will guide them to this conclusion.
While change is rarely easy and often resisted by those who don’t buy into the vision or roadmap, Guzick remains steadfast in his belief and efforts to create a fully integrated academic health center for North Louisiana, one that will establish a destination for health care throughout the region, set the standard for medical education, double research funding in five years, and promote economic development.
As changes and efforts drive LSU Health Shreveport to be the absolute best it can be, David Guzick approaches life in the words of Albert Einstein – “Strive not to be a success but rather to be of value.”
LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT
Announces Innovative Approach Solving Pressing Need for Additional Research Space While Revitalizing Local Landmark
In response to continued growth in externally funded research over the last several years, LSU Health Shreveport announced plans to reimagine the former Sears property located at Mall St. Vincent as a state-of-the-art research facility.
In a continuance of the campus goal to “aim high,” LSUHS leadership partnered with the LSU Health Sciences Foundation to purchase the property for its benefit. With the current available laboratory and office space in the Biomedical Research Institute and the medical school projected to be filled within the next 18-24 months, a timely expansion of research space is essential to retain and recruit research talent. The projected need for more research space is based on projections of new grants from the National Institutes of Health to be awarded to existing researchers, in addition to the space needs of funded researchers who are being actively recruited to LSU Health Shreveport.
This purchase follows the opening of the $84M Center for Medical Education in late 2023, which marked the first new building on the LSUHS campus in fifteen years. The new facility will elevate the awareness and stature of the research occurring at LSU Health Shreveport while building on the existing strength in the areas of cancer and cardiovascular research.
The former Sears building provides the potential for a modern research facility with wide open spaces, allowing for a timely and cost-effective conversion of the existing Sears interior to research labs and supporting spaces such as faculty offices and educational/conference rooms.
Approaching the increase in research space by reimagining an existing space versus construction of a new research building on the LSU Health Shreveport campus offers numerous benefits to include:
■ Expedited construction timeline due to reused versus new space
■ Increasing brand awareness for LSU Health Shreveport due to the visibility on I-49 corridor
■ Delivery of increased activity level to St. Vincent Mall which will enhance safety for all tenants and shoppers
■ Avoids further parking demands on the bustling Kings Highway campus
■ Supports LSU’s vision to become a top 50 research university system
The property consists of 160,000 square feet of interior space on 18 acres with more than 800 parking spaces. The building is less than a mile from the main LSU Health Shreveport campus. It also opens the door for expansion of future clinical operations by Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport whose primary campus is also nearby.
“My optimism regarding the future of LSU Health Shreveport is increasing exponentially with this future research expansion,” stated David Guzick, MD, PhD, Chancellor, LSU Health Shreveport. “The determining factor of the stature of U.S. academic health centers is the amount of externally funded research they acquire. Through this building project, which will not require any state funding, LSU Health Shreveport instantly becomes much better poised not only to attract more world class funded researchers but to give our currently funded researchers the space they deserve and need to grow and thrive. Moreover, the dollars flowing into Shreveport from external sources, along with potential revitalization of Mall St. Vincent, will spur economic development in the region.”
The LSU Health Sciences Foundation in Shreveport will lead a fundraising campaign to secure financial support for the project. “Thanks to the generosity of the community in the past, the Foundation was poised for the opportunity to purchase this building, allowing LSUHS to achieve its goal of “aiming high,” said Kevin Flood, President and CEO of the LSU Health Sciences Foundation. “We look forward to working with the community as we identify opportunities to support this new space and LSUHS’s world-class researchers.”
This expansion is certain to enhance LSU Health Shreveport’s research capabilities, create new opportunities for scientific discovery, and bring long-term economic and societal benefits to the region.
For more information about the project or to support the initiative, visit lsuhsfoundation.org or contact 318-861-0855 or kflood@lsuhsfoundation.org.
Milestones
MOLLIE E. WEBB SPEECH & HEARING CENTER Celebrates 50th Anniversary
The Mollie E. Webb Speech & Hearing Center is celebrating 50 years of serving our community and improving the lives of people with speech, language, and hearing challenges. Since its establishment in September 1974 by the Caddo Foundation for Exceptional Children with funding from the Junior League of Shreveport, the United Way, and other community agencies, the Center has been dedicated to providing essential speech and hearing services to individuals of all ages, helping thousands of community members overcome communication challenges and improve their quality of life.
A team of experienced and knowledgeable staff that includes nationally certified and state-licensed speech-language pathologists provide a wide range of services, including hearing evaluations and hearing aid dispensing, speech therapy, and educational programs. A unique aspect of the Center is its group therapy offerings. The Language Center within Mollie Webb provides dedicated programming for toddlers and preschool-aged children with communication disorders. There is also a dedicated group for adults with aphasia, a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to understand and express language. The Mollie E. Webb Speech & Hearing Center is the only National Aphasia Associationrecognized Aphasia Center in Northern Louisiana.
Education is a pivotal part of the Mollie E. Webb Speech & Hearing Center. Students of the Speech-Language Pathology Program in the School of Allied Health Professions at LSU Health Shreveport are active participants of the patient care team, which allows patients to play a role in educating the next generation of speech-language pathologists and provides more hands-on support for patients throughout their treatment.
A reception and open house was held on September 5 to commemorate this milestone at the Center. Community members, including prior LSU Health Shreveport School of Allied Health Professions faculty, students, patients and their families, were invited to attend and join in celebrating a half-century of the Mollie E. Webb Speech & Hearing Center providing personalized and life-changing services for people of all ages.
Mrs. Lennis Elston, a longtime supporter of the Center and the niece of its namesake, Mollie Webb, attended and shared stories of her aunt, the history of the Center, and why it is an important and essential resource in the community.
PARTNERS IN WELLNESS Celebrates 25 Years of Serving Louisiana
Partners in Wellness, a mobile cancer screening program created in 1999 by Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, is celebrating a milestone this year of 25 years of offering life-saving cancer screenings and education to citizens regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.
Partners in Wellness addresses the challenges of lack of access to preventive screenings in rural areas of the state, which has led to higher mortality rates, and the need for increasing colorectal screenings. More than 97% of the land area in north Louisiana is considered rural with 38-51% of north Louisiana’s population living in a rural area, and Louisiana has a significantly higher incidence of cancer and mortality than most U.S. states.
A focus on screenings in rural parishes has been in place since vans were added to the program in 2009. Since that time, 21,703 individuals in 32 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes have been
screened for breast, cervical, colorectal and/or prostate cancer, totaling 39,863 screenings. These screenings help reduce the cancer burden in Louisiana, as well as strengthen cancer research which will lead to more innovative approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Partners in Wellness offers the only mobile digital mammography in north Louisiana.
Partners in Wellness celebrated their 25th anniversary in October at two north Louisiana locations with longtime partners MLK Health Center in Shreveport and the Winn Parish Medical Center.
The Partners in Wellness team was able to share their personal thanks to District 13 Representative Jack McFarland for his support of the Partners in Wellness program, which serves over 30 underserved communities annually, including Winnfield.
⊲ September 8, 1974: Mollie E. Webb Speech & Hearing Center is established.
⊲ 1976: A graduate education program leading to the Master of Communication Disorders (MCD) degree was initiated.
⊲ 1980: The Center merged with the Department of Communication Disorders of LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Allied Health Professions.
⊲ January 1980: The Center relocated to the site of the former Junior Achievement building at 2919 Southern Avenue.
⊲ 1988: Scottish Rite Scholarship partnership established, the first Scottish Rite affiliation of its kind in Louisiana. This scholarship contributes to the tuition and fees of two LSU Health Shreveport students and pays for a pediatric patient’s therapy at Mollie E. Webb Speech & Hearing Center.
⊲ November 2002: The Center moved to its present location at 3735 Blair Drive.
Mollie E. Webb Speech & Hearing Center TIMELINE
CAMPUS & COMMUNITY
School of Allied Health Professions Hosts Inaugural Community Health Fair
The LSU Health Shreveport School of Allied Health Professions hosted its firstever Health Fair on Thursday, September 19. The health fair was free to attend and offered the community free education on preventative healthcare across the lifespan, as well as complimentary screenings and assessments for blood pressure, body mass index, balance and fall risk, sleep apnea, grip strength, and hearing loss. Education on autism and mature driver safety was also available to attendees.
4th Annual Pars for Peds Raises Over $37,000
LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine students put on a successful 4th annual Pars for Peds Golf Tournament, raising over $37,000! Pars for Peds was established in 2021 after two LSUHS medical students saw an opportunity to positively impact pediatric patients receiving care at Ochsner LSU Health – St. Mary Medical Center by creating dedicated age-appropriate spaces and activities available to them in the hospital. Proceeds from this year’s event will go towards improving a teen-friendly outdoor atrium space and creating an indoor playroom. Pars for Peds continues to be led by an Executive Committee of 15 medical students. More than 47 students volunteered at this year’s tournament, which welcomed 27 teams.
New Dedicated Parking Lot for Students Opens
In connection with the opening of the Center for Medical Education Building (CMEB), the student parking lot adjacent to the building received a major upgrade and expansion adding 276 new parking spaces. This brings the total number of dedicated student parking spaces to 375. LSU Health Shreveport is continually investing in improving the student experience to include safety enhancements. The parking upgrade included a total repavement and striping, additional lighting and a guard station with controlled access.
National Campus Safety Awareness Month
September is National Campus Safety Awareness Month, a nation-wide initiative observed by higher education institutions across the country to bring attention to and encourage conversation about issues relating to safety and violence prevention on campus. The LSU Health Shreveport University Police Department (UPD), SAVE (Sexual Assault and Violence Education) Program, and Campus Federal Credit Union partnered to offer six free events throughout the month to address safety awareness on campus and share about safety resources and programs at LSUHS. Three Safety Fairs were held at various locations around campus. Attendees enjoyed free breakfast and had the opportunity to meet UPD officers in addition to the LSUHS SAVE officer, Grace Nickels to learn about the safety and support tools as well as other campus resources available to all employees and students. UPD also held an open house and offered tours of the new University Police Department office, a self-defense presentation, and an ALICE Training (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate) session, the leading active shooter training and preparedness solution for organizations that empowers individuals with the skills and knowledge of how to respond in the case of an active shoot event.
CAMPUS & COMMUNITY
Importance of Health and Well-being Highlighted at 4th Annual Wellness Week
The Office for Institutional Wellness hosted the 4th annual Wellness Week August 12-16 on campus, a week-long series of events dedicated to promoting physical, emotional, and financial well-being. A variety of activities were planned throughout the week to engage with and encourage faculty, staff and students on their wellness journey.
“The Office for Institutional Wellness is excited to present our 4th Annual Wellness Week at LSU Health Shreveport. We are thrilled to continue to develop and implement innovative programming to meet the unique needs of students, residents, faculty and staff, and leverage our expertise to continue to make positive changes to have LSUHS be recognized as a national wellness champion,” shared Marie Vazquez Morgan, PT, PhD, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Institutional Wellness and Clinical Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at LSU Health Shreveport.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED:
Mindful Monday: Wellness Week kicked off with a guided yoga session led by Dr. Nancy Leidenheimer at the Activity Center in the Center for Medical Education.
Tasty Tuesday: Attendees were able to experience a sneak peek of the soon-to-open CRAVE Café food offerings in the Bakowski Testing Kitchen. Chef Kandis Pierre prepared a light tasting menu of Mediterranean food.
Wednesday Workout: Fitness Zone Director Angel Smith led a guided 30-minute light workout session followed by complimentary smoothies.
Thursday ERA’s Tour – Financial Edition: Auburn Brasher of Campus Federal provided insight into life-cycle financial planning at a lunch and learn session.
Fit & Fun Friday: Wellness Week concluded with a fitness extravaganza in the BRI Atrium. Attendees enjoyed activities like boxing, chair massages, dancing to DJ Elaw, a free pizza lunch, and more.
Leading up to Wellness Week, a naming contest was held for the new student food pantry at LSUHS. Students, staff, and faculty could submit name ideas which were then voted on by a committee. The winning name submitted by Titilade Ajayi was announced at the Fit & Fun Friday event: Geaux Goods.
The Geaux Goods Food Pantry was established to address the needs of students who might be experiencing food insecurity. The Office for Institutional Wellness held a Harvest for Hunger Food Drive in October to collect canned goods that would be donated to the food pantry, which is scheduled to open in December.
Established in 2021 to support LSU Health Shreveport’s commitment to emotional, social, financial, workplace and physical well-being, the mission of the Office for Institutional Wellness is to promote the health and wellness of the LSUHS community through education and efforts that encourage habits of wellness, inspire and empower individuals to take responsibility for their own health, and support a sense of community in which health and overall well-being is recognized as an essential element of success.
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CAMPUS & COMMUNITY
LSU Health Shreveport Hosts Inaugural Graduate Research and Student Preparation (GRASP) Event for High School and College Students
Graduate Research and Student Preparation (GRASP) was designed to introduce high school students, college students, and their parents to the wide array of careers available after completing an advanced science degree which is offered by the School of Graduate Studies.
The LSUHS School of Graduate Studies offers tuition-free degree programs in six subjects that can open the door to a broad variety of careers such as working for NASA, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pharmaceutical companies, national health organizations, and education teaching science to students to include medical school students. Careers often include working as a principal investigator on the cures of the future as well as many other career options. In addition to paying no tuition, students pursuing a PhD in the School of Graduate Studies receive a stipend while in school providing the opportunity for an advanced degree with little to no debt.
GRASP was designed so students and parents can see first-hand what it is like to work in a laboratory and contribute to groundbreaking research. Two sessions were held over two days. Attendees had the opportunity to network with current students and faculty and tour state-of-the-art labs, providing a glimpse into what a day is like while pursuing an advanced degree in science, and learn about the diverse biomedical research programs at LSU Health Shreveport offered for high school and college
Clays for Camp Tiger
Clays for Camp Tiger held their annual sporting clay tournament on Saturday, November 2, and raised over $30,000 to support Camp Tiger.
Camp Tiger is a free summer camp for children and teens aged 5 to 18 years old living with physical and cognitive challenges such as cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other disabilities. Since its inception in 2000, no family has ever had to pay for their child to attend Camp Tiger, which is possible thanks to generous donations and in-kind support from many individuals and businesses. Camp Tiger is coordinated entirely by LSUHS School of Medicine students, who volunteer to staff the camp as counselors and participate in fundraising events throughout the year.
More than 70 campers and 120 volunteers participated in the 23rd annual Camp Tiger that took place June 3-7 in Shreveport.
students, which can help them strengthen college and post college applications. There were also panel discussions held where attendees could engage with faculty, alumni, and current students.
Panelists included LSU Health Shreveport School of Graduate Studies faculty members and alumni, as well as current students and alumni of LSUHS summer research programs:
■ Aaron R. Navratil, PhD – Senior Scientist, Immunology, at Marengo Therapeutics
■ Krista Queen, PhD – Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs at LSU Health Shreveport. Former CDC employee on the Pathogen Discovery and Detection Team.
■ Corie Robinson, PhD, with Karuna Therapeutics – A Bristol Myers Squibb Company
■ Emily Stevenson, PhD – Senior Medical Science Liaison at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
■ Anitaben Tailor, PhD – Global Technical Marketing Manager at Millipore Sigma
■ Arif Yurdagul, PhD – Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director, Molecular & Cellular Physiology
■ Caretia Washington – MD/PhD Student at the University of Florida and former summer research student in the CURIOUS program
■ Alexandra Clay – Alumni of LSU and former CURIOUS student
■ Holly Carter – MD/PhD Student at LSU Health Shreveport and former CURIOUS student
LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine and School of Allied Health Professions Host
White Coat Ceremonies and Family Day Events
White Coat Ceremonies for first-year and second-year medical students were held at the historic Strand Theater on Saturday, October 5. The ceremony for the Class of 2027 was held in the morning, followed by the ceremony for the Class of 2028 in the afternoon. Students received their white coats in front of an audience of their families, friends, fellow classmates, and LSUHS faculty members and supporters. The White Coat Ceremony is a traditional rite of passage that signifies the student’s entrance into the medical profession and the beginning of their journey in caring for patients. This year marked the start of a new tradition for this memorable event at LSUHS as it was the first time that a White Coat Ceremony was held for first-year medical students. Previously, students received white coats during their second year of medical school before beginning clinical rotations. In the new medical school curriculum, students are involved in both standardized and real patient experiences earlier in the first semester, therefore, receiving their white coats earlier.
Prior to their White Coat Ceremony, first-year medical students welcomed their families to the School of Medicine’s Family Day, the first to be held in the new Center for Medical Education. This event is designed to give students’ families an inside look at the medical school journey and student support services, as well as the opportunity to tour campus.
On October 25, 39 first-year Physician Assistant (PA) students received their white coats, signifying their entrance into the clinical portion of their degree path. Their White Coat Ceremony was held on campus in the Center for Medical Education. Obtaining a degree as a Physician Assistant takes 27 continuous months of study to include clinical rotations. Family Day for the School of Allied Health Professions was held on Saturday, October 26. Students from all degree programs welcomed their families to campus to tour the Center for Medical Education, hear from LSUHS leadership, and learn more about what a day in the life of an allied health student is like.
LSU Health Shreveport was honored to host the 40th Annual Southern Biomedical Engineering Conference this year in the Center for Medical Education. Giovanni Solitro, PhD, Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of the Biomechanics Educational Laboratory, served as this year’s Program Chair for the conference.
The Southern Biomedical Engineering Conference (SBEC) series was conceived by bioengineering professionals from academia and industry located primarily in the southern United States in 1982. The first Southern Biomedical Engineering Conference was held in Shreveport at
LSUHS, then known as LSU Medical Center, and organized by the founder and chair of the steering committee of SBEC, Dr. Subrata Saha. Since then, it has been held annually in different cities throughout the southern United States and has grown to become a global event that regularly attracts international attendees. The SBEC serves a special purpose by emphasizing participation from young professionals and advanced students. Established investigators present papers in the same sessions with students, encouraging a high level of professionalism as a standard for young investigators and students.
Welcome to Family Day
SUMMER COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
On Saturday, August 10, 44 School of Allied Health Professions and School of Graduate Studies students graduated from their respective programs with a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree. This commencement ceremony was the first to be held in the new Center for Medical Education building in the Rasberry Auditorium. In true Louisiana style, the academic procession was led into the ceremony by the Shreveport Second Line Brass Band, a new tradition for the summer commencement that is sure to make an already special day even more fun and unforgettable.
Michelle Winter Harris, MPAS, PA-C, an alumna of the School of Allied Health Professions’ Physician Assistant Program, gave the commencement address. Physician Assistant Studies Graduate Casey McGarraugh was the student speaker. LSU Board of Supervisors member, Randy Morris, conferred the degrees.
Mini Medical School Returns to LSU Health Shreveport
LSU Health Shreveport welcomed more than 40 eager participants back to campus this fall for the popular Mini Medical School program, which was held for the first time in the new Center for Medical Education. LSUHS faculty led informative sessions on the direction of the institution, as well as current health and scientific topics. Session topics included “What’s New at LSU Health Shreveport” presented by Chancellor and Dean of the School of Medicine, David Guzick, MD, PhD, “The Science Behind Optimizing Your Mental Health Through Strategic Exercises and Mindfulness,” and “Preparing for the Pandemics of the Future While Addressing Today’s Viral Health Challenges.”
Mini Med School at LSU Health Shreveport began in the spring of 2012 with the first Mini Med School welcoming 30 community members to learn more about the life of a medical school student. Today, there are more than 300 Mini Med graduates who have gained knowledge in a myriad of medical and scientific fields while learning about the three professional schools, graduate medical education and research that comprise LSU Health Shreveport.
SAVE THE DATE! The spring 2025 Mini Med School will be held April 8, 15, 22 and 29. Visit www.lsuhs.edu/minimedschool for more details and to sign up to receive announcements when registration is open.
LSU Health Shreveport Welcomes First Cohort of Students in the New Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Technology (BS-CVT) Degree Program
The School of Allied Health Professions’ new Cardiovascular Technology program welcomed its first cohort of students this summer.
“We are thrilled to expand our bachelor-level education at the School of Allied Health Professions,” shared Michon Revader, Director of the Cardiovascular Technology program.
“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.”
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. Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death in Louisiana. 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.
The Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Technology (BSCVT) degree was approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) last fall. The BS-CVT requires 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. Students who complete the program will gain translatable skills that may lead to multiple positions in the cardiovascular field. Graduates will be prepared to sit for the Registered Cardiovascular Intensive Specialist and Registered Cardiac Sonographer credentialing examinations administered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International.
For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Technology program, visit www.lsuhs.edu/cvt.
What does a CARDIOVASCULAR TECHNOLOGIST do?
The cardiovascular technologist (CVT) assists physicians in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) disease. Noninvasive CVTs use ultrasound to produce diagnostic images of the heart (cardiac sonographer) or surrounding blood vessels (vascular technologist) as well as electrocardiograms, stress tests, and other evaluations for patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Invasive cardiovascular specialists assist physicians during cardiac catheterization procedures which allow them to take a closer look at the heart.
CENTER FOR BRAIN HEALTH Selected
by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to Test Medicare Dementia Care Model
LSU Health Shreveport’s Center for Brain Health (CBH)
has been selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in a new Medicare alternative payment model designed to support people living with dementia and their caregivers. Under CMS’ Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model, LSU Health Shreveport will be one of almost 400 participants building Dementia Care Programs (DCPs) across the country, working to increase care coordination and improve access to services and supports, including respite care, for people living with dementia and their caregivers.
“CMS is excited to partner with the Center for Brain Health at LSU Health Shreveport under the GUIDE Model,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “GUIDE is a new approach to how Medicare will pay for the care of people living with dementia. The GUIDE participants are envisioning new ways to support not only people living with dementia, but also to reduce strain on the people who care for them, so that more Americans can remain in their homes and communities, rather than in institutions.”
Launched on July 1, 2024, the GUIDE Model will test a new payment approach for key supportive services furnished to people living with dementia, including: comprehensive, personcentered assessments and care plans; care coordination; 24/7 access to an interdisciplinary care team member or help line; and certain respite services to support caregivers. People with dementia and their caregivers will have the assistance and support of a Care Navigator to help them access clinical and non-clinical services such as meals and transportation through community-based organizations.
“We are so excited to bring this program to our community. We are working in collaboration with The Bridge Alzheimer’s and
Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model Aims to Increase Care Coordination, Support for Caregivers
Dementia Resource Center, Elite Health Solutions, Grambling State University Master’s in Social Work program, and other community partners like the Caddo and Bossier Councils on aging to support families struggling with dementia,” said Elizabeth Disbrow, PhD, Director of the Center for Brain Health at LSU Health Shreveport. “We are designated a ‘new’ program, so enrollment will begin next summer. We welcome questions about this new program as well as any dementia related questions as the LSU Health Shreveport Center for Brain Health stands ready to assist dementia patients and their families. For information on current services and resources offered by the Center for Brain Health, visit www.lsuhs.edu/cbh.”
The LSUHS Center for Brain Health’s participation in the GUIDE Model will help people living with dementia and their caregivers have access to education and support, such as training programs on best practices for caring for a loved one living with dementia. The GUIDE Model also provides respite services for certain people, enabling caregivers to take temporary breaks from their caregiving responsibilities. Respite is being tested under the GUIDE Model to assess its effect on helping caregivers continue to care for their loved ones at home, preventing or delaying the need for facility care.
GUIDE Participants represent a wide range of health care providers, including large academic medical centers, small group practices, community-based organizations, health systems, hospice agencies, and other practices.
This model delivers on a promise in the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers and aligns with the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease. For more information on CMS’ GUIDE Model, please visit: www.cms.gov/priorities/ innovation/innovation-models/guide.
Lynn Harrison, PhD
Program Scientist for Space Biology in NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division
Lynn Harrison, PhD, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, is currently the Program Scientist for Space Biology in the Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) Division at NASA headquarters in Washington D.C. She joined NASA in February 2023 as the Deputy Program Scientist and became the Program Scientist in June 2024. In this role, Dr. Harrison is involved in the strategic planning and execution of research for the Space Biology program.
“I promote BPS and our research goals by presenting at meetings and being involved in panel discussions. I initiate collaborations with other agencies within NASA, other U.S. government agencies and internationally, and I am involved in funding opportunities,” shared Dr. Harrison about her role. “I am also involved in managing the BPS program run by our teams at Kennedy Space Center and Ames Research Center, and I work with In Space Manufacturing (InSPA) and the biomanufacturing management team.”
Dr. Harrison also serves on the Inclusion Plan Community of Practice Committee, which is developing a policy document on Inclusion Plan review in grants, and she works with the NASA Chief Veterinary Officer related to Space Biology Research as the rodent management lead for Space Biology.
Education activities Dr. Harrison has participated in include:
■ Being a judge for systems engineering papers at 2023 NASA Minds
■ Presenting at the Space Life Sciences Training Program (SLSTP) 2023 Closing Ceremony
■ Presenting to the STAR Program, a Space Biology training program, on Beyond LEO and my work using simulated lunar gravity and Mycobacterium marinum.
■ Visiting the Montessori School of North Virginia visit and talking to more than 50 students about space biology
■ Student/mentor discussions with undergraduate students at ASGSR 2023
■ Judging the North Virginia Regional High School Science Fair for Microbiology in March 2024
■ Presenting on Space Biology and on BPS funding for NASA’s Space Health Impacts for the NASA Experience (SHINE) 2024 program.
NASA grant funding opportunities that Dr. Harrison develops solicitations for and is involved in from announcement through to selection include the Consortium in Biological Sciences NNH24ZDA001N and ROSES 2024 Program Element E.9 (to be released soon).
NASA’s Space Biology Program
The main objective of Space Biology research is to build a better understanding of how spaceflight affects living systems in spacecraft such as the International Space Station (ISS), or in ground-based experiments that mimic aspects of spaceflight, and to prepare for future human exploration missions far from Earth.
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH awards $2.4
million
grant to cross-disciplinary team of researchers to study psychedelics for methamphetamine addiction
Research project led by Drs. John McCorvy, Adam Halberstadt, and Kevin Murnane selected by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for first-ever funding opportunity to investigate the therapeutic potential of psychedelics to combat methamphetamine addiction.
John McCorvy, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW); Adam Halberstadt, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and Director of the UCSD Center for Psychedelic Research; and Kevin Murnane, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Neuroscience and Director of Basic Science Research for the Louisiana Addiction Research Center at LSU Health Shreveport, were recently awarded a five-year, $2.4 million research grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to uncover critical insights into how psychedelics could be used as a therapeutic to treat methamphetamine addiction.
Stimulant use disorder and methamphetamine-related overdose deaths are escalating at an alarming rate. According to data from NIDA, the number of overdose deaths in the United States involving psychostimulants (primarily methamphetamine) has grown significantly since 2015 when there were 5,716 attributed deaths. In 2022, NIDA reported 34,022 overdose deaths involving psychostimulants – a nearly 500% increase from 2015 to 2022.
Psychedelic substances, like psilocybin, have shown promise in treating a wide range of behavioral health conditions, including anxiety, depression, alcoholism, and nicotine dependence. However, these substances interact with multiple receptors and are not specifically selective for the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor, which is vital for their psychoactive effects. The research spearheaded by Drs. McCorvy (MCW), Halberstadt (UCSD), and Murnane (LSU) seeks to understand the specific role of 5-HT2A receptor signaling in mitigating the effects of methamphetamine use.
“There are currently no pharmacological treatments for methamphetamine addiction. Our research aims to unravel the precise mechanisms through which psychedelics influence the 5-HT2A receptor – understanding that could lead to lessening their psychoactive effect and open the door to new treatments,” said Dr. McCorvy. “This project’s findings could ultimately pave the way for new therapeutic approaches to treat stimulant use disorder, impacting the lives of so many who are coping with addiction.”
The significance of this research extends beyond the immediate goal of finding new treatments for methamphetamine addiction. Understanding which serotonin receptors facilitate the beneficial effects of
psychedelics can pave the way for developing targeted therapies that minimize psychedelic effects, potentially allowing for daily or regular use without impairing the patient’s daily life.
As Dr. Halberstadt noted, “Psychedelics appear to have significant therapeutic activity against different types of substance abuse and other psychiatric disorders. However, existing psychedelics induce intensive psychoactive effects and can also induce side-effects in some individuals, complicating the clinical use of these substances and restricting their widespread application. Our project seeks to understand the mechanism for the therapeutic effects of psychedelics against methamphetamine addition, potentially enabling development of a new generation of molecules with effects that are much more manageable and better tolerated.”
“For methamphetamine addiction, the current standard of care involves behavioral treatments with limited success rates over multiple cycles of therapy. This creates a public health imperative to research new and deliver effective therapies for methamphetamine addiction. This research project will advance psychedelics as a promising new treatment option based on reported data in initial clinical studies, as well as our own preliminary research. It will also unlock understanding into key physiological mechanisms that drive methamphetamine addiction, as well as therapeutic response mechanisms, allowing the development of secondgeneration serotonin agents with improved profiles,’ shared Dr. Murnane.
NIDA recently solicited grant applications for innovative research projects that employ psychedelics for drug addiction. This project – Investigations into 5-HT2A signaling mechanisms of psychedelic drugs for the treatment of stimulant use disorder – was one of only two non-clinical trial grant applications selected for funding by NIDA. The researcher’s goal is to leverage cutting-edge chemical biology tools to unravel the specific mechanisms by which psychedelics exert their effects, potentially leading to novel therapies that can significantly impact public health.
This research is timely and crucial given the alarming rates of methamphetamine overdoses, especially in the southern and western United States where methamphetamine was the most common drug in overdose deaths in 2017, surpassing those from opioid overdoses. The study’s findings could lead to novel, effective treatments for a problem that has long lacked viable medical solutions.
GRANT AWARDS
Xiao-Hong Lu, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience was awarded a $500,000 R56 grant from the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke for his project, “Mechanistic Investigation of Neuropathological Interactions between COVID-19 and Progression of Lewy Pathology and Dementia.”
Md. Shenuarian Bhuiyan, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, was awarded a $3.3M R01 grant from the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for his project, “Novel mitophagy regulatory mechanism in heart failure.”
Manikanden Panchatcharam, PhD, Associate Professor of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, was awarded a $1.6M R01 grant from the NIH National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for his project, “Unraveling the Mechanisms of Alcohol-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption: A Focus on Lysophosphatidic Acid Signaling and Endothelial Cells.”
Ana-Maria Dragoi, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, was awarded a $1.8M R01 grant from the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for her project, “Mechanism of macrophages colonization in gonorrhea.”
John Vanchiere, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research, was awarded a $1.7M Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant for equipment and software to support the LARC expansion of basic and clinical research for study of substance use disorders.
Jerry McLarty, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, was awarded a five-year $468,961 sub-award from the American Cancer Society in collaboration with LSU Health New Orleans for the project “Improving Cervical Cancer Prevention in Louisiana.”
A. Wayne Orr, PhD, Professor and Director of the Research Division for Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, and Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences, was awarded a five-year, $2.87 million RO1 grant from the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for his project “EphA2 regulation of atherosclerotic smooth muscle phenotype.”
Rona Scott, PhD, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and Mingyu Ding Memorial Professor, received a Chancellor’s Pathways Research Award in the amount of $50,000 for her project, “Defining the Interactions Between Human Papillomavirus and EpsteinBarr Virus Coinfections in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.”
Medical Student Research Program
Research is essential to the mission of LSU Health Shreveport’s to teach, heal and discover, making medical student education and participation in research an important aspect of supporting our mission. There are numerous opportunities for medical students to be involved in research on our campus, one opportunity being the Medical Student Research Program (MSRP). Each summer, medical students work with a faculty mentor on a research project that is then showcased during the fall at a poster presentation fair. In addition to being able to share their work, there is also an opportunity for students to receive awards for high-scoring presentations. The program is usually completed in one summer over a period of 10-12 hours a week for five weeks and includes a stipend. This program fosters research activity, inspires students to learn more about the research process, and generates quality research evidence. Students who participated in this year’s MSRP presented their projects at a poster session on October 22.
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2024 MSRP presentation winners:
1ST PLACE: Brooke Scardino
Title: “Characterizing the Demographics, Trends, and Subtypes of Stimulant-Associated Heart Failure by Ejection Fraction.”
Title: “Posterior Sacroiliac Fusion Surgery: A Retrospective Single Center Study.”
Mentor: Alan Kaye, MD PhD
3RD PLACE: Stephanie Provenzano
Title: Systemic Complications of Respiratory Infections in Hypereosinophilic Patients
Collaborators: Katelyn Parrish, Nicholas First, Dr. Gopi Kolluru and Dr. Nurit Azouz
Mentor: Monica Cartelle Gestal, PhD
LSU Health Shreveport Hosts Biomedical Research and Industry Day
Honorable Mention: Austin Breaux
Title: “Comparison of outcomes following Reinforced Suture Bar Technique Repair of Radial Tears versus Longitudinal Tear Repairs.”
Mentor: Patrick Massey, MD, MBA
Honorable Mention: Ben Peco
Title: “A Comparative Study of Accuracy for Robot-Assisted Deep Brain Stimulation Surgeries Using the Globus Excelsius GPS Cranial Solutions Robot.”
Collaborators: Dr. Ryan Diaz and Dr. Deepak Kumbare
Mentor: Jamie Toms, MD
Honorable Mention: Ethan Cazayoux, MS
Title: “Systematic Review of Complications and Techniques of Modern Hip Arthroscopy.”
Collaborators: Robert Rutz MD
Mentor: Patrick Massey MD, MBA
Biomedical Research and Industry Day (BRAID) was held at LSU Health Shreveport on Nov. 1. This was the first time that LSUHS has hosted the event since 2019 and the first time for all aspects of the day to take place in the Center for Medical Education. Biomedical Research and Industry Day, also known as BRAID, was created with the intention to bring students, trainees, scientists and clinicians conducting biomedical research together to learn more about the interface between the research laboratory and commercial sector. Goals of the event include fostering the exchange of experiences between industries, businesses and people involved with biomedical research, expose undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate trainees to job opportunities available in industry and across all institutions, and inspire new thinking and discussions that will drive innovation in translational research and biomedical engineering over the next decade.
Guest speakers who are research and industry experts from academic institutions and companies including Johnson & Johnson, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Marengo Therapeutics, Karuna Therapeutics, Inc., and Millipore Sigma, gave talks throughout the day. The event also featured presentations from students and postdoctoral fellows and networking opportunities. Sixty-seven participants submitted abstracts to participate in the BRAID poster presentation where they had the opportunity to share their personal research projects and practice their presentation skills.
The 2024 Biomedical Research and Industry Day conference is hosted by LSU Health Shreveport in collaboration with Louisiana State University Shreveport, University of Louisiana Monroe, the Innovation Enterprise at Louisiana Tech University, Centenary College of Louisiana and Grambling State University.
BRAID Poster Presentation Award Winners:
HIGH SCHOOL
1st - Garrett Stroud, Byrd HS
2nd - Vennela Malireddy, Caddo Magnet
3rd - Lily Bodily, Caddo Magnet
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
1st - Alejandro Fuentes, Centenary
1st - Henry Pudwill, Centenary
2nd - Bhavya Sarda, LSUS
3rd - Chakina Hill, Northwestern
GRADUATE STUDENT
1st - Lauren Henderson, LSUHS
1st - Koral Richard, LSUHS
2nd - Brenna Pearson-Gallion, LSUHS
3rd - Diensn Xing, LSUHS
MEDICAL STUDENT
1st - John Wilson, LSUHS
2nd - Constana Gracia, LSUHS
3rd - Morgan Uebinger, LSUHS
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
1st - Harpreet Kaur, LSUHS
2nd - Suryanarayana Polaka, LSUHS
3rd - Taymaz Akan, LSUHS
AIMING HIGH AIMING HIGH
in Professional Specialty Achievement and Leadership
Cherie-Ann Nathan, MD, Joins the Head and Neck Surgery “Hall of Fame”
Cherie-Ann Nathan, MD, FACS, was inducted into the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery’s Hall of Distinction as a “Living Legend.” The AAO-HNS Hall of Distinction recognizes otolaryngologists who have made long-term exceptional contributions to the AAO-HNS and the specialty of otolaryngology.
Dr. Nathan is a surgeon-scientist internationally recognized for her commitment and contribution to patient care, humanitarianism, and investment in the future of a diverse specialty through mentorship and engagement. At LSU Health Shreveport, Dr. Nathan is the Jack Pou Endowed Chair and Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. She is also Director of Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery and Research at the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center. Her prestigious research career has focused on head and neck squamous cell cancer, which has received funding from the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health. She has served on both the Board of Directors for the AAO-
HNS/F and American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, the American College of Surgeons Board of Governors, and as President of both the Association of Academic Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the American Head and Neck Society.
Dr. Nathan has been recognized with many awards throughout her career including the Athena Award, Leonard Tow Humanism Award, AAO-HNS Distinguished Service Award, and 2020 Margaret Butler Outstanding Mentor of Women in Head & Neck Surgery Award. She completed her otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency and head and neck fellowship at University of California, San Diego. She was a post-doctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins where she started her research career. Her passion to improve outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer was the reason she moved from Mumbai, India, where she was born and attended medical school.
Christopher G. Kevil, PhD, F-AAAS, F-SfRBM, F-APS, Professor of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Molecular & Cellular Physiology, and Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Director of the Center for Redox Biology and Cardiovascular Disease COBRE, and Malcolm Feist Endowed Chair of Cardiovascular Disease, was formally recognized as a 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow at an AAAS forum and the AAAS Fellows 150th Anniversary Gala that was held in Washington D.C. in September. He was among 502 scientists, engineers and innovators from across the globe who were announced earlier this year as 2023 Fellows for their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements throughout their career. Dr. Kevil was elected for his distinguished contributions to the field of redox biology and cardiovascular disease, particularly with nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide regulation of oxidative stress. A tradition dating back to 1874, election as an AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor, and all Fellows are expected to maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity.
HONORS & APPOINTMENTS
Madeline Barclay, MPH, EdD, was named Assistant Dean of Student Affairs for LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Allied Health Professions.
Ramey Benfield, PhD, MBA, MS, was named Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chancellor for Research Administration.
Jason Bodily, PhD, was named Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
Julia Esparza, MLS, AHIP, FMLA, was named Director of the LSUHS Library.
Jen Katzman, JD, was named Vice Chancellor of Administration and Budget at LSU Health Shreveport.
Shawn McNeil, MD, FAPA, was named Director of Clinical Research for the Louisiana Addiction Research Center.
Pamela McPherson, MD, FAPA, was named Interim Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine.
Stacey Simpson, MHA, CPC, was named Assistant Vice Chancellor for Business and Administration.
Wayne Orr, PhD, was named the 20242025 President-Elect of the North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO).
Oren Rom, PhD, RD, was named Associate Dean for Basic and Translational Research.
Kenneth McMartin, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience, received the Career Achievement Award from the Clinical and Translational Toxicology Specialty Section (CTTSS) of the Society of Toxicology (SOT) for his substantial scientific contributions to the translation of theories at the bench to treatments at the bedside throughout his career.
Dr. Sami Bahna Retires after 60-Year Career
Sami Bahna, MD, DrPH, Professor of Pediatrics & Medicine, Chief of Allergy & Immunology Section, and Reddy Professor of Allergy & Immunology, retired in September after a 60-year career in medicine, with more than 22 of those years spent as a faculty member at LSU Health Shreveport. Dr. Bahna earned recognition as an international authority, particularly in the area of food hypersensitivities, and was a visiting professor at major institutions and an invited speaker at meetings of national and international societies worldwide, many for keynote or named lectures. He was actively involved in many national and international societies and held leadership positions with the AAP, ACAAI, AAAAI, WAO, notably serving as the 2009-2010 President of ACAAI. He has received many honors and prestigious awards from these societies, including the Distinguished
Service Award and International Distinguished Fellow by ACAAI, Humanism in Medicine Award 2005, Lifetime Achievement Gold Headed Cane in 2018, and was named among the World’s Top 2% Scientists in 2022. He published 214 full papers and 40 book chapters throughout his career, was a reviewer for many scientific journals and served as associate editor or on the editorial boards of the most prestigious journals on Pediatrics and Allergy/Immunology, and served on multiple NIH panels and influential national and international committees. At LSU Health Shreveport, Dr. Bahna was the Allergy & Immunology Section Chief, directed the Allergy & Immunology fellowship program, and was the inaugural Reddy Professor in Allergy & Immunology, which he held until his retirement. Dr. Bahna will continue to be a Professor Emeritus at LSUHS and support the Allergy & Immunology Fellowship Program and will maintain his involvement in national & international societies. Congratulations to Dr. Bahna on his outstanding career and retirement!
HONORS & APPOINTMENTS
Employee Service Awards
5-YEAR
Jehan Abdulsattar
Heather Antley
Logan Atkins
Dominique Beaudry
Ernest Blackstone
John Brinkley
Andria Buck
Philip Burris
Caitlin Busada
Amanda Callegan-Poche’
Jason Calligas
Elizabeth Cockerham
Cresha Davis
Julia Foley Bey
Lisa French
Patricia Griffin
Ashley Hamby
Samantha Hirt
Marx James
David Janese
Doran Joseph
David Kaufman
Bobby Kees
Roger Kelley
Johnathan Kemps
Adil Khan
Su Hyun Kim
Shannon Koveleskie
Terry Lairmore
Hui-Chao Lee
Wei Li
Gauri Mankekar
Shabih Manzar
Mary McKinney
Lawrance Moore
Phani Morisetti
Crystal Morton
Sudha Pandit
Melisa Poindexter
Michon Revader
Ellen Rice
Jeanie Rodriguez
David Scott
Michael Sewell
Sanjay Shrestha
James Smith
Toni Thibeaux
Chelsea Truelove
Sara Walters
Britt Westby
Liesl Williamson
Rajini Kanth Yatavelli
Michael Yim
10-YEAR
Chaitanya Ahuja
Stephen Baker
John Briery
Charles Brown
Camille Cannon
Meghna Chadha
Oleg Chernyshev
Yufeng Dong
Themessia Fenceroy
Christina Fink
Marc Gibson
Ginny Hammock
Lance Henry
Stanimir Ivanov
Alok Khandelwal
Robert Larimer
Vivinlee McCranie
Hyung Nam
Emily Neeley
Alok Pant
Employee Excellence Winners
Kim Carmen (Registrar)
Cherry Huey (Ortho/Radiology)
Dr. Ammar Husan (Family Medicine/Faculty)
Gladys Jackson (Psychiatry/GME)
Janice Pharr
Marco Quispe Leveau
Jean Smith
Emily Weidman-Evans
Elizabeth Winkler
15-YEAR
Frankie Bell
Jessica Bradford
Elizabeth Breen
Joyce Browder
Amber Dauzat
Michael Dunn
Kimberly Gantt
Adam Greer
Todd Guthrie
Robert Holladay
Mindie Kavanaugh
Patricia Kennedy
Laverne King
Brian Latimer
Nathan Martin
Stanley McCallon
Tara Moore-Medlin
Chizoba Mosieri
Menchu Ong
Charles Reynolds
Gyanendra Sharma
Mary Snyder
Jane Sugar
Scott Walls
Debra Warner
Matthew Woolard
20-YEAR
Erica Bryant-Delaney
Mary Buffington
Tremendous Carroll
Dr. John Mata (Urology/Faculty)
Danielle Cooper
Michael Davenport
Robert Dayton
Mary Edwards-Avant
Shamekia Gardner
Alexander Gomelsky
Norman Harris
Kevin Hayes
John Hinrichsen
Kendra Ladell
David Landals
Chanping Liang
Lihong Liu
Nelson Luraguiz
Lacey Morris
Glenda Osteen
Tanya Patterson
Gina Phillips
Alison Ransbottom
Lorna Rawls
Alfred Rice
David Ruesch
Heather Sinclair
Mary Stapleton
Karina Sulaiman
Sarwat Umer
Shantel Vital
Lenyatta Willis
Reneau Youngblood
25-YEAR
Delores Brown
Tracy Caillouet
Lisa Higginbotham
Felicia Jackson-Palmer
Felicia Jacobs
Abbie Kemper
Richard Mansour
Dr. Gary Menefee (OBGYN/Faculty, Monroe)
Kiaa Prelow (HR)
Jarrod Sawyer (IT)
Phillip Marsh
Nanette Massey
Russell McCall
Michael McGill
Amy Ray
Shirley Turner
David Vandermolen
Rachel Webster
Andrew Yurochko
30-YEAR
Mohammad Alam
Jonathan Alexander
Frederick Heard
Richard Hollingsworth
Seong Kim
Kiaa Prelow
Debra Robinson
Dollie Smith
Marie Vazquez
35-YEAR
Troy Brooks
Janice Chalmers-Priest
Sherry Gladney
Kathryn Hamilton
Errol Mire
Tracy Norwood
Kevin Sittig
40-YEAR
Diana Merendino
Hugh Price
Jennifer Smith (Allied Health)
Elizabeth Winkler (Radiology/GME)
Madeline Barclay, EdD, MPH, School of Allied Health Professions Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Clinical Assistant Professor of Public Health, Megan Flavin, PT, DPT, School of Allied Health Professions Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs and Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, Laurie Priftis, Director of Marketing and Communications for the LSU Health Sciences Foundation Shreveport, and Deborah G. Smith, BSN, MPH, PhD, Assistant Professor of Public Health, School of Allied Health Professions, were named 40 Under Forty Honorees by the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and YPI - Young Professionals Initiative. The 40 Under Forty Awards honor forty professionals under the age of 40 who have excelled in their careers, education, professional development, community leadership, and volunteer efforts.
ALUMNI
notes
Edward “EJ” Burkhardt, MD
Dr. Edward “EJ” Burkhardt graduated from LSU Health Shreveport in 2017 and went on to complete his residency in Neurosurgery at LSUHS, as well. The Livingston Parish native is returning home to join the North Oaks Neurosurgery Clinic. His wife, Dr. Kayla Burkhardt, graduated from LSU Health Shreveport in 2018 and completed her residency in Obstretrics/ Gynecology. She’ll also be joining the North Oaks medical staff as an obstetrician and gynecologist.
Dr. EJ Burkhardt belongs to the American Medical Association, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Louisiana State Medical Society and North American Skull Base Society.
Mary Claire Curet, MD
Dr. Mary Claire Curet has been named as the first Oschner Health Physician Scholar. She will be joining the team at St. Martinville Family Medicine, an Ochsner primary care practice.
The Ochsner Physician Scholars Program is designed to support and develop talented medical students committed to serving their communities. The program provides financial assistance, mentorship, and clinical training opportunities for medical students pursuing careers in primary care and psychiatry, in exchange for commitment to working at Ochsner. The program ensures that scholars like Dr. Curet are well-prepared to meet the healthcare needs of their patients.
Dr. Curet graduated from LSU Health Shreveport in 2021 and went on to complete her residency at the UT Tyler Health Science Center in Family Medicine.
Olivia Ragusa, MD
Dr. Olivia Ragusa, a family medicine physician, has joined Baton Rouge General. Ragusa will treat patients at Baton Rouge Family, Baton Rouge General’s largest primary care practice. She earned her medical degree from LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine in 2021 and completed her residency at Baton Rouge General’s Family Medicine Residency Program.
Ricardo Villanueva Alvarez, MD
The HealthTexas Clinic in New Braunfels is excited to announce the addition of Ricardo Villanueva Alvarez to its medical team. Dr. Alvarez was born and raised in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where he began his education. He attended both undergrad and medical school at Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi before he completed his residency in family medicine at LSU Health Shreveport in 2024, where he earned recognition as chief resident.
SCHOOL OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS Hosts Alumni Reunion
Alumni from the School of Allied Health Professions were invited back to campus for a reunion weekend October 25-26, 2024. Friday evening, alumni, faculty, and staff were invited to attend the inaugural Joe McCulloch Lectureship and Speaker Series. Dr. McCulloch, former Dean, was in attendance to kick off the series. The speaker for the evening was Dr. Nicole Stout, Senior Director at the American Cancer Society. Dr. Stout shared her research on the benefits of a prospective surveillance approach in healthcare, highlighting how leading with rehabilitation can improve both patient function and quality of life, as well as overall cancer survival rates.
The Joe McCulloch Endowment for Educational Excellence was established when Dr. McCulloch retired after 14 years as Dean of the School of Allied Health Professions in 2018. It provides general academic support across all academic and clinical departments at the School of Allied Health Professions and supports more opportunities for student-led initiatives such as specialized workshops, research projects, and recruitment of guest lecturers. To learn more or to make a gift, visit www.lsuhsfoundation.org/mcculloch
On Saturday, alumni and family joined together on campus, combining our alumni gathering with our first-year students’ Family Day! Guests were able to tour the Center for Medical Education, clinical simulations center, and cadaver lab. After, the group attended a mixer at Great Raft Brewing.
Dr. Sharon Dunn, Dean of the School of Allied Health Professions, captured the spirit of the weekend, stating, “What makes our School of Allied Health Professions so special is our connectivity, our proud history, and our built-in multidisciplinary approach to education and clinical practice. This gathering was a wonderful celebration of our unique community and the relationships we cherish and continue to grow!”
Thank you to all of our Allied Health alumni and families that were able to join us! To see photos from the weekend, visit: www.lsuhsfoundation.org/sahp-photos
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Alumni News & Updates
Classes of 1994, 2004, and 2014 Gathered for Reunion
The classes of 1994, 2004, and 2014 gathered in Shreveport on October 4 and 5 for their 30, 20, and 10-year class reunions, respectively. Attendees were invited to a welcome reception at the Shreveport Club on Friday night. On Saturday, they were given a tour of the new Center for Medical Education, played pickleball, and ended the weekend with a dinner at Superior’s Steakhouse.
Thank you to everyone who joined us!
Alumni,
make sure we have your contact info! You can update your information here: lsuhsfoundation.org/alumniupdate/
IN MEMORIAM
Charles Wrightsman Armistead, Jr., MD, passed away on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Dr. Armistead graduated from the LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine in 1983. Following his residency in Anesthesiology, he further specialized through an intensive care fellowship in Brussels, Belgium. His dedicated service to patient care spanned nearly four decades across Louisiana and Arkansas.
Marion Douglas Hargrove, Jr., MD, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away on September 9, 2024. In 1961, Dr. Hargrove began a Gastroenterology practice in Shreveport. In 1968, he was a Founding Assistant Professor of Medicine and Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs at the LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine. In 1970, he was appointed Chairman of the Department of Medicine, a position he held for 21 years. Upon his retirement in 1995, he was appointed Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Department Head Emeritus, LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine.
Edward Michael Keating, Jr., MD, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away on December 8, 2023, at the age of 73. He graduated from LSU Health Shreveport
in 1976 and went on to do his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at LSU Health Shreveport. Dr. Keating had a long career as an Orthopaedic surgeon and moved to Indianapolis in 1986. He opened the center for Hip and Knee Surgery in Mooresville with Dr. Merrill Ritter. He performed over 10,000 surgeries, and was actively involved in the research, development, and advancement of Total Joint Surgery.
Gordon Earl Maxwell, MD, passed away on March 10, 2024, at the age of 94, at his long-time home in Salina, Kansas. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Confederate Memorial Medical Center (now LSU Health Shreveport). In 1961, Dr. Maxwell and his family moved to Salina, where he began practicing at The Salina Clinic, eventually serving as its head.
Franklin Chester Rembert, Jr., MD, passed away on May 16, 2023. Born in Shreveport in 1933, he attended C.E. Byrd High School and graduated magna cum laude from Centenary College. Dr. Rembert interned at Confederate Memorial Medical Center (now LSU Health Shreveport) and later completed his anesthesiology
Martin Sapp, PhD, Professor and Chair of Microbiology and Immunology, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at the age of 66. Dr. Sapp was recruited to LSU Health Shreveport in 2005 as an Associate Professor for Microbiology and Immunology and was promoted to Professor in 2011. He was honored to be named Chair of the department in 2018, following Dr. Dennis O’Callaghan who had served as Chair for the previous 34 years. Dr. Sapp held the WillisKnighton Endowed Chair for Molecular Biology and previously held the Mingju Ding Memorial Professorship of Microbiology and Immunology.
An accomplished researcher, Dr. Sapp was the principal investigator (PI) on numerous grant awards. At the time of his passing, he was the PI on two major NIH R01 grants and a CoPI on an NIH R21 grant totaling $4.6 million that supported his research projects focusing on the molecular biology of HPV (human papillomavirus) and the etiology of cervical cancer. He was widely published and served for the past eleven years on the prestigious editorial boards of Virology and Virology
training at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. After proudly serving in the U.S. Navy as an anesthesiologist at the naval hospital in Key West, Florida, Dr. Rembert returned to Shreveport, where he served as the head of the Department of Anesthesiology at CMMC for eight years.
Frank Glenn Sholte, Jr., MD, 75, passed away on August 29, 2024. Glenn graduated from Louisiana State University and earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from LSU Health Shreveport. He served in the U.S. Air Force for two years before practicing anesthesiology and chronic pain management in Shreveport and San Diego, California. He was also President of the Louisiana Society of Anesthesiologists and served as an Assistant Professor at LSU Health Shreveport.
Charles Hughston Whitaker, Jr., MD, passed away on August 20, 2024. Dr. Whitaker graduated from LSU Health Shreveport in 1991. He practiced as a neuromuscular neurologist at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, Connecticut.
Research. He was an active member of the American Society for Microbiology and the American Society for Virology.
Dr. Sapp and his wife, Conny, held a deep love for both the United States and Germany maintaining homes in both countries. He was known as both a colleague and mentor who could be counted on to assist anytime his intellectual knowledge or time was needed, as evidenced by his support and expertise to set up the Emerging Viral Threats Lab at LSUHS in record time in March of 2020 in response to the need for more COVID-19 testing. Dr. Sapp served the institution in a variety of capacities to include: Chairman of the Research Advisory Council (20112017), member of the predoctoral fellowship preview panel (2011-2019), and member of the Radiation Safety Committee (2011-2021). He was also a Senior Mentor for the Center for Applied Immunology and Pathological Processes COBRE and chaired the mentoring committee to oversee and guide junior investigators supported by this NIH COBRE grant.
An endowment has been established in memory of Dr. Sapp with the LSU Health Sciences Foundation. To make a gift to the Martin J. Sapp, PhD Memorial Endowment for Microbiology, visit www.lsuhsfoundation.org/sapp-endowment or call 318-861-0855
LSU Health Shreveport Honors Healthcare Professionals in 13th Annual Fundraiser, An Evening for Healers
The LSU Health Sciences Foundation (LSUHS Foundation) hosted the 13th annual An Evening for Healers at the Shreveport Convention Center on Thursday, September 12. This year’s event raised more than $587,000 in support of LSU Health Shreveport’s (LSUHS) mission to recruit and retain top faculty, acquire cutting-edge equipment, and support programs for students across all three schools.
An Evening for Healers also serves as a platform to honor and celebrate the Shreveport-Bossier community’s first responders, physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and other healthcare providers who each played a vital role in saving the lives of patients at Ochsner LSU Health.
This year’s event honored more than 50 first responders and health care professionals and told their patients’ stories through inspiring documentaries. Featured patient stories focused on pediatric cardiology services and the regional Burn
Center, highlighting the specialized care provided by Ochsner LSU Health.
Mackenzie Kelso was recruited to join the Louisiana Tech soccer team as a freshman for the fall 2023 season. During a practice held off-campus, Mackenzie suffered cardiac arrest, and unfortunately, no one at practice that day knew CPR. Mackenzie made remarkable progress over the course of her stay at Ochsner LSU Health, and she returned to Louisiana Tech for classes and soccer training a year later.
April 19, 2022 should have been a normal day for Clay Moock – but that day his life changed forever when a pipeline he was inspecting ignited and severely burned him. Clay was immediately taken to the regional burn center at Ochsner LSU Health. Clay endured hundreds of surgeries and life-threatening infections. He returned home 13 months later, greeted warmly by family, friends, and his large community of support.
To see the patient stories and photos from the event, visit: lsuhsfoundation.org/healers.
Healthcare remains a key sector that drives the economy in north Louisiana. LSUHS has a direct economic impact of $600 million annually in the Shreveport region. Combined with the economic impact of our practicing alumni ($2.4 Billion), LSUHS overall has a total economic impact of over $3 billion annually on North Louisiana.
David Guzick, MD, PhD, Chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport and Dean of the School of Medicine, recalls his first experience at Evening for Healers in 2023: “I quickly recognized what an extraordinary event An Evening for Healers is, both for our institution and our community. My vision for LSUHS is for our faculty and staff to “Aim High” in all we do. This motto took on a deeper meaning that night after witnessing the tremendous outpouring of support and the potential impact of what could be accomplished in our community and beyond by LSU Health Shreveport and the Ochsner LSU Health System,” stated Dr. Guzick.
responders and healers who make such an incredible difference to the communities we serve is a privilege.”
The Foundation presented event attendees with the opportunity to fundraise for a vital piece of criticalcare equipment at Ochsner LSU Health again this year, raising more than $25,000 during the event. The funds were matched thanks to a grant from the American Electric Power Foundation (AEP Foundation).
Ochsner Health is the presenting sponsor for An Evening for Healers. Ochsner Health and LSU Health Shreveport celebrate six years of their partnership this year. The Ochsner LSU Health System of North Louisiana was launched in 2018 with a vision to improve access to quality patient care, upgrade facilities, expand patient-centered technology, grow the medical school and expand research. Together, they have accomplished that and more.
“The stories we celebrate at An Evening for Healers are just a snapshot of the work that happens every day at Ochsner LSU Health and in our communities,” said Corwin Harper, Chief Executive Officer of Ochsner LSU Health System. “Our care teams do not accept ‘good enough.’ They go to great lengths to treat illness and injury, and in doing so, they save lives. When you combine the highest levels of expertise with empathy and unwavering compassion, the miracles of healing happen. Honoring the first
“We are grateful for the tremendous benefit that An Evening for Healers provides to our patients and our team,” said Chris Mangin, Chief Executive Officer of Ochsner LSU Health’s Academic Medical Center. “The funds raised this year will provide us the opportunity to purchase a transesophageal echocardiogram machine, which allows medical teams to quickly get a more detailed and accurate pictures of a patient’s heart than a traditional echocardiogram would. This is crucial in trauma, burn, and ICU settings where life-threatening issues need to be quickly assessed. Incorporating the latest technology into our medical training programs and clinical care services greatly enhances patient outcomes.”
Mike and Caitlin Busada, MD were the event chairs this year. Dr. Busada received her medical degree from LSU Health Shreveport in 2015, and now is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at LSUHS. She sees patients at Ochsner LSU Health’s Women’s Health Center.
“Each year, hundreds of the best and brightest students, residents, and fellows make Shreveport their home,” said Dr. Busada. “While here, they learn from some of the world’s preeminent physicians, professors, scientists, and allied health professionals. As a result, our community has access to some of the best and most cutting-edge health care in the world. This is never more evident than during An Evening for Healers, and we are so honored to be the chairs of this event.”
2024 An Evening for Healers Sponsors Thank You to our
Welcome Reception CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier
Valet In Memory of Fred and Willetta Moffitt
Invitation Sid Potts, Inc.
Program Brentwood Hospital
Healers’ Medals Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry
Lifetime Sponsor The Moffitt Family
CHANCELLOR SPONSORS
Presented By:
Dr. Susan and Ryan Gatti/Ryan E. Gatti, Attorney Dr. Dennis J. O’Callaghan
DEAN SPONSORS
Dr. David Guzick and Dr. Donna Giles Life Air Rescue
Liz and David Means
CHAIRMAN SPONSORS
Frances and Bill Comegys
LSU Health Shreveport Department of Anesthesiology
PROFESSOR SPONSORS
Michael T. Acurio, MD
LSU Health Shreveport Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SPONSORS
AEP Foundation
Balentine Ambulance Service
Susan Balser Berry/ Mrs. Oscar L. Berry, Jr.
Mike and Caitlin Busada, MD
Dr. and Mrs. William A. Byrd
Crestview Woods
W. Clinton Rasberry, Jr.
W. Clinton Rasberry, III
Sharon L. Dunn, PT, PhD, Dean, School of Allied Health Professions
FitzGerald Contractors, LLC
Fred L. Phillips Foundation
Betty Henderson
LSU Health Shreveport Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Tom and Sheryl Ostendorff/ Southern Research Co., Inc.
Connie and Donald Posner
Lynn and Armand Roos
Redstone, Oglesby, Tucker
Snell’s Orthotics and Prosthetics
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
SPONSORS
Eileen and Mike Adkins
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Willis Knighton Health Dani Zoorob, MD
Katie White and Dr. Keith White
Dr. and Mrs. Lacy H. Williams
BRF
Ellen and Wayne Brown
Campus Federal Credit Union
Cardinaux Wealth Advisors
Dr. Brett and Katherine Chapman
Cintas
Marianne and Stafford Comegys
Dewey and Gigi Corley
Cross Keys Bank
Cuban Liquor
Dermatology & Skin Surgery
Dr. David Clemons, Dr. Donald Posner, Dr. Anne Bryan, Dr. Laura
Haynie, Dr. Jason Romero, & Dr. Cooper Heard
Dethloff & Associates, Inc.
Dr. Jonathan and Kasey Eaton
Dr. John and Meredith Evans
Patrick and Lee Harrison
Rand and Susan Falbaum
Fire Tech Systems
Martha H. Fitzgerald
Leigh and Kevin Flood
Garden Park Nursing & Rehab Center LLC
Patty and Mark Garrett
GastroIntestinal Specialists, AMC
Heard, McElroy & Vestal, LLC
Hummingbird, King, & Butler
jweinland Group Benefits
Keith D. Peterson & Co., Inc.
Glenn and Ellen Kinsey
LAMMICO
LSU Health Shreveport Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
LSU Health Shreveport Department of Neurosurgery
LSU Health Shreveport Department of Radiology
LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine Class of 1973
LSUS Chancellor Robert Smith
Lusk Eye Specialists
Alexandre Malek
Anna and Justin Moore
Oceans Healthcare
Pafford Air One
Pafford EMS
Paragon Press
Parish of Caddo
Pierremont Office Park, managed by Vintage Realty Company
Powers Foundation
Prevot Design
Ashley and John Prince
Progressive Bank
Michele and Jon Q=Peterson
Querbes & Nelson
Regal Plastics
Romph Pou Agency
RoseStone Wealth Advisors
Drs. Peter and Jennifer Seidenberg
Shreveport Bossier New Car Dealers Association
Startup Prize: Focus on Health
Toni Thibeaux, EdD, MPH, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity Affairs
WK Spine & Pain Specialists
DRIVING COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Orr Auto Group’s Donation Fuels White Coat Scholarship Campaign
The Orr Auto Group has given over $100,000 to the LSU Health Sciences Foundation White Coat Scholarship campaign. The White Coat Scholarships support medical students at LSUHS and help ease the burden of debt.
“We love what LSU Health Shreveport provides for our community,” said Joel Robinson, Market President for Gregg Orr Luxury of Shreveport. “We want to invest in our community. This is where we live, work, and play, so it’s important to us to support local institutions like LSU Health Shreveport and their White Coat Scholarship campaign.”
Since 2021, the Foundation has awarded 40 scholarships to deserving and gifted students with diverse life experiences, including those from underserved or rural communities. Additionally, as our medical school class sizes continue to grow to address the physician shortage, so must the opportunities for students to attend the LSUHS School of Medicine to become the physicians of the future.
To learn more about the White Coat Scholarship campaign, visit: lsuhsfoundation.org/wcsc
LSU HEALTH SCIENCES FOUNDATION
Honors Medical School Graduates at Awards Convocation
Awards Convocation is a special time to acknowledge the accomplishments of graduating medical students. The LSUHS Foundation proudly acts as an intermediary between donors and students at this event. Below is the list of donor-funded awards and their recipients, who are selected based on criteria of each award.
Dr. David and Sharon Waddell for Orthopaedic Excellence awarded to Ryan Taylor, MD
Dr. Amy Ashford Yates Memorial Award in Pediatrics awarded to Jessica Elliott, MD
CREATE (Community Resilience, Experiencing Arts Through Engagement) Award awarded to Cameron Hewett, MD
Sheila Lanclos Memorial Award for Patient Care Excellence awarded to Brooke Bocklud, MD
John C. McDonald, MD Award awarded to Madison Catalanotto, MD
Aaron Selber, Jr. Leadership Award awarded to Ben Maxey, MD
Ike Muslow, MD Visionary Award awarded to Ross Dies, MD
Ascension Delgado Smith Excellence Award awarded to Kathryn White, MD
Don and Ruby Horton Generosity of Spirit Award awarded to Margaret Bourg, MD
Drs. Alice & Joe Holoubek LSU Founder Award awarded to Jordan Cross, MD
Jay M. Marion, MD Compassion and Spirit of Osler Award awarded to Ross Dies, MD
Reid Chadwick Memorial Award awarded to Alexa Zaheri, MD
Progress at The McDade House Progress at The McDade House
The McDade hospitality house will provide comfortable lodging for Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – FeistWeiller Cancer Center patients undergoing cancer treatment. Located just steps from Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport - St. Mary Medical Center, the McDade House is perfectly positioned to provide Feist-Weiller patients a restful place to stay while traveling away from home for treatment.
By restoring the McDade House, Feist-Weiller will be able to provide a low or no-cost housing option for patients who must travel to Shreveport-Bossier from outside of the area, getting them out of the hospital and into a safe, home-like environment.
Donors play a major role in making this hospitality home possible for Feist-Weiller patients, faculty, and staff. Our campaign goal is to raise approximately $2.1 million to include the cost of renovation and three years of operating expenses for the McDade House.
To learn more or make a contribution to the McDade House, visit lsuhsfoundation.org/fwcc-mcdade.
LSU HEALTH SCIENCES FOUNDATION Awards 20 White Coat Scholarships
In 2021, LSU Health Shreveport launched the White Coat Scholarship Campaign to ease the burden of debt, attract top students, and help students achieve their full potential. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have been able to award 40 White Coat Scholarships, including our 20 new Scholars in the Class of 2028.
Class of 2028 White Coat Scholars
Lane Amedio
Shiloh Bott
Patrick Crain
Natalie DuBose
Garrett Folds
Aubrey Goodman
Emmilee Henderson
Olivia Hubbard
Madilyn LeBlanc
Mary Lynch
Mills Manthei
Sarah Moore
Tessa Paul
Aiden Peterkin
Hunter Schwab
Yusra Soorya
Amjad Thaljeh
Donovan Turpin
Nicholas Veuleman
Judy Vu
Support the White Coat Scholarship Campaign with your
End-of-Year Gift
Continued funding to the White Coat Scholarship Campaign is critical to ensuring LSU Health Shreveport can award more scholarships for each class of incoming medical students.
95% of LSU Health Shreveport medical students are from Louisiana, and over 50% of our graduates stay and practice here. Scholarships are of vital importance to ensuring LSUHS can recruit and retain the best and brightest students from Louisiana.
Join us in creating life-changing opportunities for our future physicians with your end-of-year gift.
