LSU Health Shreveport celebrates 49 graduates during summer commencement

LSU Board of Supervisors member Raymond “Randy” Morris conferred the degrees.

Before the ceremony, graduates and faculty participated in one of LSU Health Shreveport's most recognizable commencement traditions. Accompanied by a brass band, graduates second lined across campus in full academic regalia. The Louisiana-style processional featured umbrellas and school-themed handkerchiefs, with members of Shreveport's Krewe of Harambee helping lead the celebration.

Commencement speaker Adegbenro Fakoya, MD, MSc, MBA, PhD, FIMC, Professor and Vice Chair of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, challenged graduates to carry both scientific excellence and compassion into their careers.

“Every heart has chambers, every hand contains the same intricate architecture, every brain contains memories, fears and hopes, yet no two lives are identical,” Fakoya said. “Healthcare asks you to understand what is universal, but a great healer honors what is individual.”

Among the graduates was Alex Finney, PhD, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science after previously receiving her doctorate in Cell Biology and Anatomy from LSU Health Shreveport.

After years spent conducting laboratory research, Finney returned to the classroom to pursue an additional certification that would allow her to work more directly with patients through clinical laboratory encounters.

Finney praised the Medical Laboratory Science faculty for preparing students for life beyond graduation.

“The instructors here are truly special,” she said. “They care about our success and ensure that we're prepared for the clinic and for our board certifications.”

Ella Otken earned a Master of Physician Assistant Studies after a path to healthcare that began with volunteer work following the devastating 2016 floods in her hometown of Denham Springs, Louisiana. Witnessing volunteers come together to help her family and community inspired her interest in service and eventually led her toward medicine. She chose LSU Health Shreveport's Physician Assistant Program after hearing about its reputation from her sister, who earned a medical degree at the institution.

“Shreveport was honestly the place where I felt at home,” Otken said. “From day one, the faculty wanted us involved in patient encounters and clinical work. They've really pushed us and challenged us every step along the way.”

Fellow Physician Assistant Studies graduate Cynthia Garza Martinez hopes to use her education not only to care for patients, but also to help communities better understand their health.

“I really want to educate my patients one day so they can live their best life and take care of themselves and their family members,” said Garza Martinez.

The School of Graduate Studies also celebrated groundbreaking student achievements, including those of Nilu Dhungel, PhD, who earned a doctorate in Molecular and Cellular Physiology.

After nearly eight years at LSU Health Shreveport as a student researcher and graduate student, Dr. Dhungel said the institution provided an environment that felt like family.

“It is a very close-knit community,” she said. “I felt very supported by my advisors, my friends and my colleagues. I am forever grateful for my time at LSU Health Shreveport.”

The 49 graduates leaving LSU Health Shreveport on Saturday will now enter careers spanning clinical medicine, laboratory science, communication disorders and biomedical research. While their educational paths differ, they leave with a common mission: improving lives through healthcare, science and service.