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VSU Distinguished Alumni
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PROFILES
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YOUR GUIDE TO VALDOSTA’S PEOPLE, PLACES AND BUSINESSES
VSU TWO VALDOSTA CITIZENS NAMED Distinguished Alumni
Dr. Elizabeth Flail and Don Luke were recently honored by the Valdosta State University Alumni Association with top awards at the association's Distinguished Alumni Dinner in October. Flail was named the recipient of the 2022 College of Science and Mathematics Distinguished Alumna Award. Luke was named the 2022 Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) honoree.
Dr. Elizabeth Flail with Dr. Richard A. Carvajal, president of VSU. Photo by Paul Leavy
Dr. Elizabeth Flail - THE 2022
his honor has inspired me to refl ect back on my time at VSU and set new goals for my future,” she said. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2007, with summa cum laude honors, Flail went on to graduate at the top of her class in medical school and complete a residency in emergency medicine at the University of Florida. She joined South Georgia Medical Center’s emergency medicine team eight years ago and currently serves as co-director of SGMC’s Emergency Department and Urgent Care.
As a frontline healthcare worker during the global health crisis known as COVID-19, Flail worked tirelessly to care for the sick and was instrumental in saving the lives of many area citizens. When she saw that her colleagues and other healthcare workers were dealing with burnout from the pandemic, she stepped up to o er reassurance and support, and she worked with SGMC to establish a wellbeing committee dedicated to improving the quality of life of healthcare providers. Flail, her husband, and her three children live in Valdosta, where they enjoy being active and serving others.
“We are a sports family,” she shared. “My kids are busy with baseball, dance, soccer, tumbling, and volleyball. We enjoy our downtime at Twin Lakes with our dog, Laney. I enjoy running, Heart Rize fi tness, and tennis.”
“t Flail and her family host an annual Coins4Cure fundraiser every September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Her son is a cancer survivor, and the family has raised more than $20,000 for CURE, an Atlanta-based nonprofi t dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through research while also supporting patients and their families.
Q: What are some highlights from your Valdosta State experience?
A: My fondest memories at VSU are from Greek life. Phi Mu gave me a sense of family and a resource for community involvement. My greatest achievement was receiving the student leadership award and highest academic achievement award.
Q: What advice do you have for current Valdosta State students? What do you wish someone had told you when you were in college?
A: My advice for students would be to set goals early and make a career plan. When you start college try and imagine where you want to be fi ve to 10 years from now. Use these four years to set a foundation for your future.
I wish someone had told me it’s a marathon not a race. I went straight from college to medical school then residency. No breaks. Youth and time pass quickly, so make sure you take time for personal growth and experiences.
DR. ELIZABETH FLAIL & DON LUKE / PROFILES P
Don Luke - THE 2022 GRADUATE OF THE LAST DECADE AWARD WINNER
“t here are so many amazing, talented VSU alumni in our community. To get an honor like this means that I need to work harder to be a positive impact to my community just to be worthy of receiving this award.” Luke grew up in nearby Nashville, Georgia, but he currently calls Valdosta home. Thirty-three years ago he joined the South Georgia Medical Center team as a phlebotomist and went on to earn a series of promotions. He currently serves as the administrative director over operations at SGMC’s Smith Northview Hospital. During the global health crisis known as COVID-19, Luke was instrumental in developing and operationalizing SGMC’s vaccination testing lines. This operation was one of the fi rst established in South
Don Luke with Dr. Richard A. Carvajal, president of VSU. Photo by Paul Leavy
Q: What are some highlights from your Valdosta State experience?
A: Being given the honor of being the Graduate of the Last Decade Award winner is by far the greatest highlight so far. There are so many others that it would be hard to list them all. Academically, being one of the fi rst students to go through the Healthcare Administration curriculum was a great experience. Finally, as an avid sports fan, I love being associated with a school that embraces the traditions associated with being part of a community that is Winnersville, USA.
Q: What advice do you have for current Valdosta State students? What do you wish someone had told you when you were in college?
A: Don’t let anything distract you from your goals. It is easier to accept “no” than to fi nd a path to “yes,” but perseverance will often lead to great rewards.
I wish someone had explained to me that “four years from now” is a lot longer than “four years ago.” Georgia and was recognized as one of the most e ective in Georgia. He also helped a team develop one of the fi rst monoclonal antibody infusion centers in the state to help reduce the e ects of COVID-19 on infected patients.
In his free time Luke enjoys going to the beach, spending time with his family, and giving back to the community. He is an honorary wing commander at Moody Air Force Base and a 2021 graduate of Leadership Lowndes, a yearlong educational program that inspires community members to build a better Lowndes County by enhancing their service leadership.
Luke earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management in 2014 and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration in 2016.
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