The audience is requested to stand during the Academic Procession, the singing of the National Anthem, and the Benediction, and to remain in place until the Recessional has left the Arena. The Academic Procession Chief Marshal........................................................................................Michael Levitzky, Ph.D. Professor and Interim Head of Physiology Director of Basic Sciences Curriculum, School of Medicine Music...................................................Bienville Brass, under the direction of Joseph Skillen Bearer of the Mace......................................................Joseph M. Moerschbaecher, III, Ph.D. Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dean, School of Graduate Studies Procession of the Platform Party Faculty Marshals............................................................................................Andy Pellet, Ph.D. Interim Head, Department of Cardiopulmonary Science William P. Newman, III, M.D. Professor of Pathology Procession of the Faculty Procession of the Students Procession of the Candidates in Allied Health Professions Gonfalonier..........................................................................Patricia Leigh McDonald Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science Candidate Procession of the Candidates in Nursing Gonfalonier.....................................................................................Julie Cuicchi Hess Bachelor of Science in Nursing Candidate Procession of the Candidates in Public Health Gonfalonier...................................................................Brendan Lawrence Gallagher Master of Public Health Candidate Procession of the Candidates in Graduate Studies Gonfalonier................................................................................Melissa A. Burmeister Doctor of Philoshophy Candidate Procession of the Candidates in Dentistry Gonfalonier...............................................................................David Andrew Balhoff Doctor of Dental Surgery Candidate Procession of the Candidates in Medicine Gonfalonier..............................................................................Barrett Allen Johnston Doctor of Medicine Candidate Opening Proclamation............................................. Joseph M. Moerschbaecher, III, Ph.D. Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dean, School of Graduate Studies Our National Anthem........................................................................Jennifer Elizabeth Mills Doctor of Medicine Candidate Invocation...........................................................................................Mandy Flannery O'Leary Doctor of Medicine Candidate Welcome and Opening Remarks........................................................Larry H. Hollier, M.D. Chancellor Dean, School of Medicine Introduction of Commencement Speaker....................................Larry H. Hollier, M.D. Chancellor Dean, School of Medicine Commencement Address..................................... William L. Jenkins, M. Med. Vet., Ph.D. President, Louisiana State University System Presentation of the 2006 Allen A. Copping Excellence in Teaching Awards Presentation of Honorary Degree to Albert J. Stunkard M.D........................................................Larry H. Hollier, M.D. Chancellor Dean, School of Medicine and Claude Bouchard, Ph.D. Executive Director Pennington Biomedical Research Center Conferring of Degrees...............................................................................Jack Andonie, M.D. Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors Greetings...............................................................William L. Jenkins, M.Med.Vet., Ph.D. President, Louisiana State University System Benediction...............................................................................................Blair Paul Gremillion Doctor of Dental Surgery Candidate Closing Proclamation............................................... Joseph M. Moerschbaecher, III, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dean, School of Graduate Studies The Recessional O say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming Whose broad stripes and bright stars Through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watched Were so gallantly streaming And the rocket's red glare The bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night That our flag was still there O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave Francis Scott Key The following list of graduates represents the most accurate information available at press time. The appearance of a name on this program is presumptive of graduation but not conclusive. Professional photographers will record each graduate as the diploma is presented and color portraits will be available for purchase, if desired. Page 5 William L. Jenkins, M.Med.Vet., Ph.D. President, Louisiana State University System Dr. William L. Jenkins is President of the Louisiana State University System, which includes ten institutions on 10 campuses in five cities as well as 10 public hospitals in 10 cities. A native of South Africa, Dr. Jenkins received his professional veterinary medicine degree in 1958 and specialist credentials in 1968 from the University of Pretoria. In 1970 he received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia. After practicing veterinary medicine for four years, Dr. Jenkins joined the faculty at the University of Pretoria, advancing through the ranks to become professor and head of the Department of Veterinary Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology in 1971. In 1978 Dr. Jenkins moved to the United States and joined the faculty in the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology at Texas A&M University. In 1988 he was appointed dean of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, was named LSU's provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs in 1993, Chancellor of LSU in 1996, and President of the LSU System in 1999. Dr. Jenkins has taught extensively at both the professional and graduate levels. He also has been active in continuing education and has delivered more than 200 lectures and addresses to diverse groups in both the United States and abroad. He has published more than 60 scientific articles and has contributed 15 chapters to various textbooks. He is co-author of a textbook on veterinary pharmacology. Over the years President Jenkins has received numerous teaching and service awards and recognitions. He also has served on many boards and commissions at the local, regional, state, and national levels. Page 7 A Summary of the Research Contributions of Albert J. Stunkard, M.D. Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Dr. Stunkard has spent fifty-five years on research, to a great extent on obesity and eating disorders, continuously supported by the NIH. His more than 400 peer reviewed publications began in 1950 with what may be the first controlled trial of a putative psychotherapeutic agent (dibenamine), (it turned out to be ineffective). Much of Dr. Stunkard's research has attempted to determine the causes of human obesity, exploring the genetic bases of the disorder in both adoption and genetic studies. These studies established the very strong influence of genetic factors in human obesity and in the metabolism that accompanies it. He has also explored the environmental influences that interact with genetic ones, documenting for the first time the powerful effects of socioeconomic status on obesity. For the past 12 years he has been studying gene-by-environment interactions since birth, in children of either obese or lean mothers. Dr. Stunkard's research was among the first to quantify the physical inactivity that chara cterizes many obese persons and the problem of the disturbed body image that frequently accompanies obesity. His study of dietary restraint led to the construction of the Eating Inventory, a widely used instrument for the measurement of dietary restraint, disinhibition, and hunger. Dr. Stunkard has contributed to our understanding of the eating disorders characterized by overeating rather than classical disorders of under eating. In 1955 he described the night eating syndrome, a pattern of food intake characterized by a phase delay in the circadian rhythm of food intake. Shortly afterwards, he described another disorder of overeating, binge eating disorder. He continues to work on the night eating syndrome, recently demonstrating that it predisposes to the development of obesity and increases the body weight of persons already obese. Open-label and more recent double-blind studies have shown that the selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline is very effective in the treatment of the night eating syndrome. Treatment has been a major aspect of Dr. Stunkard's work on obesity, beginning with a 1959 paper that documented the unexpectedly poor effects of treatment. He conducted the first controlled trial of behavior therapy in the treatment of obesity and contributed to the widespread application of this modality. He has also explored the use of pharmacotherapy in obesity, including the first controlled trial of the powerful but controversial agent fenfluramine. Shortly after the introduction of these two forms of treatment he conducted the first controlled trials of their combination. Stunkard conducted the first research on the surgical treatment of obesity and showed its favorable psychological consequences. His studies on the popular very low calorie-diets contributed to their eventual discontinuation. In an effort to extend the range of treatment of obesity he has studied both commercial and not-for-profit programs, documenting their limited effectiveness and he described the great effectiveness of the Trevose Behavior Modification Program. He also conducted a large scale community health improvement program that was more effective in smoking cessation than in weight reduction. This program had a strong focus on treatment at the work site which included competitions between worksites. Finally, Dr. Stunkard has conducted what is probably the only study of the effects of psychoanalysis on obesity. It showed modest weight losses in persons undergoing psychoanalysis, even though weight was not targeted. Page 9 School of Allied Health Professions Presented by J.M.. Cairo, Ph.D., Dean Bachelor of CardIopulmonary Sciences Andrew Clark Huddleston Dane Edward Peters Amie Marie Lannes Ami Katherine Pinner Alisha Le Daniel Joel Simon Patricia Leigh McDonald Dustin James Ussery Bachelor of Science in Opthalmic Medical Technology Adrian Lyunette Colar Duong Thuy Nguyen Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services Rachelle Cyprian Master of Communication Disorders Leigh Anne Bouterie Allison Lynn McIntosh Diana Drury Clark Ashleigh S. Pipes Dominique Angela DeLelles Catherine Anne Porteous Emilie Yvonne Dill Gudrun Jennifer Stoffelmayr Amy Catherine Froeba Jessica Todd Szush Dana Michelle Gremillion Tracy Ann Towne Camille Luella Hodson Stacey Schneider Truaux Gennith Minet Johnson Heidi Mille Weber Jessica Inness Monteleone Master of Occupational Therapy Corey Patrick Boland Leslie Corinne Laine Angela Nicole Bolden Lauren Michelle Landry Tyra Shannee Brimmer-Christophe Angela Diane Maranto Amanda N. Gersch DiZinno Ashley Kristen Martin Michelle Yvonne Gesser Andrea L. Waters Mumford Mary Elizabeth Hill Alecia Joneida Oden Asha Michelle Hollingsworth Jana Lynn Strickland Kristine Ilene Knobloch Angela Natalia Toc Lori Anne Koepp Page 10 Master of Health Sciences Elizabeth Grace Bennett Rehabilitation Counseling Chantella Bowman Rehabilitation Counseling Jean Marie Brajuha Rehabilitation Counseling Mary Jane Hussey Rehabilitation Counseling Jennifer Linker Rehabilitation Counseling Adrianne Rose Lolan Rehabilitation Counseling Elizabeth Joan Maggiore Rehabilitation Counseling Jacqueline Reynolds Overton Rehabilitation Counseling Tiffany Jeanette Reed Rehabilitation Counseling Meredith Richoux Rehabilitation Counseling Michael Gerard Saussaye Rehabilitation Counseling Birgit R. Stahr Rehabilitation Counseling Lindsey Hope Sullivan Rehabilitation Counseling Kathleen M. Vicknair Rehabilitation Counseling Jennifer Waguespack Jubenville Occupational Therapy Page 11 School of Nursing Presented by Elizabeth A. Humphrey, Ed.D., Dean Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pablo R. Albores Rocquel Stephanie Johnson Andrea Nicole Alfonso Elizabeth Claire Keys Stephanie Marie Alfortish Brandi Guidroz Klibert Kate Mgbechikwere Anowi Jacqueline L. LaBorde Ashlee Nicolle Babst Sarah Elizabeth LeBlanc Tinka Ahysen Barrios Sharon Borrello Lafrance, RN Chandra Michele Baun Kari Lynn Magill Anna Katherine Blue Shannon Marie Manzella Trisha Ann Bonanno Kimberly L. Marcel Heidi Lane Bostick Melanie Ann Martin Lauren Melissa Boutte Sarah M. Meadors Ilusion Reyes Brabham Angela Mary Minto Jaime Lalonde Brown Anavernyel Neyland Anna Marie Bruce Tara L. Neyland Amy Renee Caballero Kim Louise Nguyen Holly LaCaze Cain * Lan Hong Nguyen Heather Nicole Carbajal Kimberly Nicole Noriea Melanie J. Caughman Christina Belle North Hannah Ruth Clark Theresa Chisaaka Obi-Imegwu Bill Cranford Jr. Katherine Ellen Palmintier Amanda Cherie Dixon Dionne Lynette Pitre * Thuy-Trang Thi Doan Lisa B. Plauche Donielle Theresa Doucette Wendy Lynn Ramirez Lovie Channelda Doucette Amber Elizabeth Randazzo Courtney Jane Fabacher Melissa S. Rhodes Kimberly Renee Fontenot Richard John Rieken Kristin Lucia Franco Amanda Marie Robert Emily Adele Freeland Meghan Elizabeth Scott Alicia Marie Geiling Christen Marie Severson Rachel Lynn Gray James Collier Sheasby IV Regan Nicole Grissom Paula Jeanne Simon Monique Catherine Guette Jess Mabagos Sta. Maria Alexis Elaine Hall Jill R. Steiner Mariah B. Handy Ashley Ann Thompson Julie Cuicchi Hess Shannon Leigh Vinson Alisha Faye Hinton Jessica Monique Wilson Haley Lynne Hulsey Lauren Frances Zuppardo Jennifer Marie Hymel Sachiko Mai ling Ikari * In Absentia Page 12 Master of Nursing Kimberly C. Abbott Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Michael S. Adams * Nurse Anesthetist Sarah Dart Andrews Nurse Anesthetist Henry Y. Au Nurse Anesthetist Kevin S. Benner Nurse Anesthetist Desiree Marie Bergeron Nurse Anesthetist Charles Kevin Bloodsworth Jr. Nurse Anesthetist Jesse Warren Bourque Jr. Nurse Anesthetist Kelli DeAnn Brian Nurse Anesthetist Don E. Carter Nurse Anesthetist Kelly Sayle Davis Nurse Anesthetist Melissa Stockstill Dekemel Nurse Anesthetist Regina Michelle Fracchia Nurse Anesthetist Leslie Rose Gachassin Nurse Anesthetist Alysia Sampey Gatlin Nurse Anesthetist Christopher Mark Gaudet Nurse Anesthetist Shawn Kevin Glendening Nurse Anesthetist Particia Gremillion Nurse Anesthetist Scott M. Guichard Nurse Anesthetist Troy James Gullage Nurse Anesthetist Julie Elaine Hale Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Stephanie Leigh Harper Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Leigh Elizabeth Herrington Nurse Anesthetist Carrie A. Johnson Nurse Anesthetist Jennifer Norris Kujath Nurse Anesthetist Tressy Netto Lauga Nurse Anesthetist Chris J. Ledet Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Yvette Bienvenu Lionnet Nurse Anesthetist Yolonda Rogers Mornay Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Michael Anthony Mudge Jr. Nurse Anesthetist Elizabeth Anne Nelson Nurse Anesthetist Kristian Thomas Nielsen Nurse Anesthetist Melanie Patterson Nuss * Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Frida M. Orrego Nursing Administration Dana Melancon Palo Nurse Anesthetist Kiley Michelle Pellerin Nurse Anesthetist Christopher Michael Perret Nurse Anesthetist Deidra Lewis Pierre Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Jodi Toepfer Powell Primary Care Nurse Practitioner * In Absentia Page 13 William Craig Renfrow Nurse Anesthetist Heidi B. Rodrigue Nurse Anesthetist Jeanne R. Russell Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Tina Martin Samaha Nurse Anesthetist Marie Margaret Schultheis Psychiatric Community Mental Health Nursing Caron Costello Slusser Psychiatric Community Mental Health Nursing Demetrice Hoskins Smith Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Anthony Vincent Stuprich Nurse Anesthetist Kriste Swoboda Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Chad Trosclair Nurse Anesthetist Jody B. Zanca Nursing Administration Page 14 Doctor of Nursing Science Eileen Creel Noto Major Professor: Dr. Patricia Lane Dissertation Title: The Meaning of Spirituality and Spiritual Nursing Care for the Ill Individual with no Religious Affiliation. Kimberly Jo Quiett Major Professor: Dr. Demetrius Porche Dissertation Title: A Longitudinal Quality of Life Analysis of Patients During the Acute Phase of Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant. Teresa W. Ryan Major Professor: Dr. Susan Rick Dissertation Title: The Lived Experience of Mothers Who Have Adopted Post-Institutionalized Children from Eastern Europe with Attachment Disorder * In Absentia Page 15 School of Public Health Presented by Elizabeth T.H. Fontham, Dr. P.H., Dean Master of Public Health Marlela Clark-LeBeouf Brendan Lawrence Gallagher Karen Ruth Gruszynski Damon T. Jenkins Krysten D. Jones Aaron Daniel Martin Prathima Nagireddy Donya D. Olcott Mandy F. O'Leary Alanna Michon Small John Kenneth Uffman * * In Absentia Page 16 School of Graduate Studies Presented by Joseph M. Moerschbaecher, III, Ph.D., Dean Master of Science D'Antoni Carmichael Dennis Program: Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology Major Professor: Dr. Michael Hagensee I-Ping Lee * Program: Cell Biology and Anatomy Major Professor: Dr. Hugh Xia Michelle S. Steinhardt Program: Neuroscience Major Professor: Dr. Walter Lukiw * In Absentia Page 17 Doctor of Philosophy Jody R. Arsenault * Program: Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Major Professor: Dr. Frank Park Dissertation Title: Constructing and Optimizing a Lentiviral Vector System for Gene Expression Specifically in Cardiomyocytes Melissa A. Burmeister Program: Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Major Professor: Dr. Daniel Kapusta Dissertation Title: Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Peptide (NOP) Receptor-mediated Regulation of Cardiovascular and Renal Excretory Function in Conscious Mice Paul A. Rogers Program: Physiology Major Professor: Dr. William Chilian Dissertation Title: Voltage-Gated K+ Channels Mediate Coronary Vasodilation to Hydrogen Peroxide and Increased Cardiac Metabolism. Timothy Paul Wakeman Program: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major Professor: Dr. Bo Xu Dissertation Title: Molecular Mechanisms of Chromium-induced Carcinogenesis * In Absentia Page 18 School of Dentistry Presented by Eric J. Hovland, D.D.S., Dean Associate of Science In Dental Laboratory Technology Justin Stephen Chi Jodi Catherine Conrad Cindy Oanh Ngo Garrett Lloyd Pizzaloto Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Sarah Marie Ardizone* Elizabeth Anne Johnson Heather Deshea Arledge Shana Odessa Juarez Emily Grace Baudean Laura Kathleen Knowles Julie Breaux Behan Stacy Marie Laborde Chantelle Maureen Burke Richlyn Maybrier Langley* Misti Lynn Carr* Kara Michelle LeBouef Brandi Michelle Cothren Jenny Christine Louviere* Valerie Mouille Daniel Elise Michele Luteman Christian Blair Daughenbaugh Amanda Lee Miller Gina Marie Deitering Leslie Ann Munch Sarah Katherine Denham Brigette Eskine Nunez Kylah Angele Duong Paige O'Neill Christy Foret Falgout Bridget Nichole Parker Regan Lane Fileccia Erin Elizabeth Phillips Jacqueline W. Gordon Jennifer Renee Prejean Sarah Elizabeth Guilliot Jenna Delcambre Rader* Tori Elise Hayes Emily Kathryn Scott Dara Melissa Hughes Rikki Leigh St. Upery* Holly Elizabeth Hymel Ebonny Tonsha Williams Bachelor of Science in Dental Laboratory Technology Alicia Ann Schmidt * In Absentia Page 19 Doctor of Dental Surgery Dominick Joseph Alongi Emily Marie Judice David Andrew Balhoff Gretchen Louise Juncker Christy Billings Barras Michelle Melancon LeBlanc Michael Wiley Bird William Randall Lenderman Kimberley Castille Bott Joseph Angelo Levatino Jason Bryce Botts Kenneth Michael Luminais, Jr. Tiffani Joy Branton Darren King Miller Shellie Varner Breland Benjamin Montegut Ory Stephen Craig Brisco, Jr. Robert David Ory, Jr. Angela Renee Broomfield Ashley Doucet Price David Alan Brown Robert Cory Ryan Jessica Palmisano Bruni Rhonda Leeann Sandlin Blair Michelle Bryson Eddy Waller Sherman II Jonathan Luke Chapman Amelia J. Slay Rebecca Harrison Charpentier Kayla Primeaux Soirez Jeana Elizabeth Conner Jon-Christian Northcott Stewart David Franklin Davenport Leanne Michele Thune Christopher Bradley Dickerson Lauren Sydney Thurmon Taro Miwa Digney Brent Jason Toups David Edward Donald Katherine Elizabeth Vo Shelly D. Ereth Matthew Thomas Waite* Michael Thomas Favaloro Ryan Anthony Walker Honey Russell Fiasconaro Courtney Weiler Wightman Laura Leigh Flattmann Mark Joseph Wightman Zachary Mason Goodman Brad Hudson Green Blair Paul Gremillion Brandy McCabe Hyde Anita Jayagopal Sean A. Johnson Page 20 School of Medicine Presented by Larry H. Hollier, M.D., Dean Doctor of Medicine Lauren Constance Anderson Christian Allison Fauria Brian Gerard Ashford Laura Elizabeth Finn James Courtney Bagot Ryan Thomas Foret Jaqwiana Samia Baker Corey Gerard Foster Natalie Elizabeth Ball Suzanne Patrice Foster Cody Blake Bellard Roger Nash Fox Lance Michael Black Matthew Carey Foy Michael Warner Blackstone Benjamin Paul Frischhertz Stephanie Catherine Boos Jason Brian Fuqua Stephen Joseph Brasseux Brandy Michelle Gallien Amy Claire Brazda Carl Martin Gauthier, Jr. Eric Russell Briggs Nicole Alice Giambrone Benjamin Lyons Brown Roxanne Elizabeth Girod Karyn Leigh Brown Brigitte Luquette Girouard Burnell Brunious Kelly Christine Graham Taniesha Lasha Buffin Emily Smith Grezaffi Tova Lynn Burge David S. Guerra Curtis Anderson Bush David Wayne Guidry Christen Switzer Cali Anu Priya Gupta Christina Marie Cannizzaro Melissa Diane Haggerty Dominic Stephen Carollo Nikki Patrice Harrison Vernon James Carriere, Jr. Christopher Chambliss Harrod Robert Andrew Causey Beth Alaina Harvey Jason Paul Champagne Henry Alexander Hawney Clay Steven Chandler James Huey Hebert Jonathon Casey Chapman Jessica Ann Hebert Kristin Bassett Chapman Melody Rose Heiskell Nicole Hebert Chauvin Tanya Larone Henry Jared Floyd Collins Eric James Hill Jared Rhead Cottam Jason Bradley Hill Henry Archibald Curtis, IV Jimmie Gene Holmes Samuel Colby Danna Michael Christopher Holmes Claude Marion D'Antonio, Jr. Tessa Marie Hue William Tanner Dawson Ryan Andre Jacob Stephen Michael Delvisco Jason Nathaniel Johnson Alison Corinne Derbes Barrett Allen Johnston Adrian Dobrescu Palmer Green Johnston Nancy Louise Dubuisson Jim Aubrey Jones Margaret Reiss Eagan Brandace Theresa Joseph Erin Farrell Jamie Perry Joseph Page 21 Yazen Amin Joudeh Greg Edward Parker Catherine Nguyen Keegan Connor Albright Patterson W. Bradley Kimbrough, III Jacob Ernest Perry Claire Westbrook Knobles Sarah Elizabeth Pivach Laurie Ann Kolder Amit Prasad Dorothy Ann Kora Richard Warren Pratt Sarath Vasanth Krishnan David Earl Pruett Benjamin Sue-ming Kuo Jennifer Duplantis Rea Carrie Elizabeth Laborde Mark R. Rice Keith James LaCour Ellen Cheney Roberts Karie Hudson LaFleur William Airth Rolston, IV Jennifer E. Laguaite Rebecca Claire Roques Oleana Naomi Lamendola Bret Jubin Rothaermel Louis Duy Canh Le Michelle Renee Salomon Brad Wayne LeBert Thomas Robert Saullo Jenny Lynn LeBoeuf Blane Adam Sessions Sharon Lee Theodore John Sikorski, Jr. Stacy Lane Lee Allison Michelle Simon Sunshine Arceneaux Little Elizabeth Catherine Skeins Alyssa Colleen Lyon Alanna Michon Small Benton Robert Marino Loretta Ann Sonnier Aaron Daniel Martin Shaun Robert Spinks Ryan Joseph Matherne Kerry Eric Sterling Marc Ryan Matrana Mark Austin Stevens Elizabeth Marie McDonough David James Story Stuart Lee Melton Daniel Glenn Stout Kendra LaShawn Michael Jonathan Michael Tate Jennifer Elizabeth Mills Temeka Lott Tate Gavin Joe Moreland Peter Gregory Taylor Mignonne Beaudoin Morrell Laurie Marie Theriot Andre Jean Mouledoux, Jr. Ka-Yan Tong Vicki Zemina Munson Erin Elizabeth Trahan John Joseph Nelson Hien Thai Tran Son Van Nguyen Brett Robert Travis James Alfred Nobles, Jr. Erik Anthony Trosclair Kaitlin Elizabeth Occhipinti John Llewellyn Uhl Andrea McDonald Ocmond Marie Olivia Ventre Tara R. Oden Thu Bao Trung Vu Mandy Flannery O'Leary Ruth Susanna Waterman Thomas Adam Oliver Mia Harris Weber Antoine J. Panossian Erin Marie Weeden Page 22 Raegan Kay Wetzel Hilliary Nicole White Stanford Kerry White Tanya Marie Wilke Katy Lynn Wiltz Todd Benjamin Young Khalid Mohammed Yousuf Page 23 The celebration of commencement is a rich tapestry of tradition. Each tradition adds to the pageantry and the majesty of one of the Health Sciences Center's most solemn, yet joyous occasions. The conferring of degrees is formal recognition that our graduates have attained mastery of the healing arts and sciences and are fully prepared to accept the sacred trust which will soon be bestowed upon them by their patients and clients. This is a very special day for the entire LSU Health Sciences Center family, and so that the meaning of this ceremony will be deepened and the celebration more fitting the magnitude of accomplishment of our faculty and students, the Health Sciences Center has woven a number of time-honored tradtitions into our commencement tapestry. Academic Regalia The origins of academic regalia date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. The long robe and hood were borrowed from clerical dress with a nod toward practicality for the warmth the costume provided in unheated and drafty halls. While proper academic dress was defined for the first time during the reign of Henry VIII at Oxford and Cambridge, it was not until the 19th century and, then only in the United States, that it was standardized. Colors were assigned to signify the various areas of scholarly pursuit. Green, the color of medieval herbs, was chosen for medicine, and golden yellow, representing the wealth produced by scientific research, was selected for the sciences. In 1932, the American Council on Education approved an academic costume code which, with few changes, is still used today. The principle features of academic dress are three: The gown, the cap and the hood. The Gown. The flowing black gown comes from the twelfth century. It has become symbolic of the democracy of scholarship, for it completely covers dress of rank or social standing beneath. Gowns with pointed sleeves designate the Associate and Bachelor's degree; long, closed sleeves are used for the Master's degree, with a slit for the arm; and round, open sleeves indicate the Doctor's degree. The gown worn for Associate, Bachelor's or Master's degree has no trimmings. The gown for the Doctor's degree is faced down the front with velvet and has three bars of velvet across the sleeves, in the color distinctive of the faculty or discipline to which the degree pertains. For certain institutions, the official colors of the college or university may appear on the gown or its decorations. The Cap. The freed slave in Ancient Rome won the privilege of wearing a cap, and so the academic cap is a sign of the freedom of scholarship and the responsibility and dignity with which scholarship endows the wearer. Old poetry records the cap of scholarship as a square to symbolize the book, although some authorities claim the mortar board is a symbol of the masons, a privileged guild. The color of the tassel on the cap denotes the discipline, although a gold tassel may be worn with any Doctor's gown. The Hood. Heraldically, the hood is an inverted shield with one or more chevrons of a secondary color on the ground of the primary color of the college or university. The color of the face of the hood denotes the discipline represented by the degree; the color of the lining of the hood designates the university or college from which the degree was granted. The academic colors used in LSU Health Sciences Center's commencement ceremony are green for medicine, lilac for dentistry, apricot for nursing, gold for allied health professions, dark blue for graduate studies, and salmon for public health. Page 24 The University Mace The academic mace comes from a heritage imbued with tradition and symbolism. Long held as a symbol of strength and authority, there are a number of theories about its origin. Although some say the word mace is derived from the French word masse, meaning club, one of the earliest references to a mace was an ebony-black effigy discovered in King Tut's tomb of "a King, gold-sandalled, bearing staff and mace". During medieval times, the mace of arms was cast as a weapon-a heavy staff or club often made of iron with a spiked end used by knights to penetrate and break armor. Bodyguards carried maces to protect their royals in processions. But by the 14th century, the use of maces was becoming more ceremonial, sometimes carried in processions of civil ceremonies with mayors and other dignitaries. The mace began to lose its warlike appearance, instead being adorned with jewels and precious metals. Maces were not used as weapons after the 16th century. The first dated record of the mace's transition to academics was in 1385 when a mace was carried at the University of Vienna. Today, the British Parliament, the Congress of the United States, and many other governmental bodies use stationary ceremonial maces. Increasingly more universities are embracing the enduring tradition of heralding their academic processions with a ceremonial mace, carried before the university leadership as an ensign of authority, dignity, succession, and the rich symbolism unique to each university. The mace of the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans was designed to define the Center and to reflect its missions and its heritage. The mace is topped with the mother pelican feeding her young taken from the Louisiana State Seal. The nest rests atop a custom- made purple glass globe, engraved with the names of the six professional schools of LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. The neck of the solid mahogany staff is finished in gold, adorned with the symbols depicting the four missions of the health sciences center-education, patient care, research, and outreach, as well as a representation of Hygieia, the daughter of Aesculapius and the Goddess of Health. The base is finished with the founding year, 1931, and decorated with a fleur-de-lis, to recognize the founding of the Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Page 25 A symbol of authority whose origins may lie in chains bearing portraits of monarchs given to scholars as signs of honor and favor, or in the badge of office said to date back to the age of chivalry when officials were more readily identifiable by their badges of rank, the chain of office is steeped in ceremonial significance. The Chain of Office of LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, fashioned in bronze, represents the authority and great responsibility of the Chancellor as head of the university. A medallion encircling the seal of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center engraved with the year of its founding is suspended by a chain incorporating symbols of the Center's fourfold mission. Education is represented by the books upon which the names of the six schools of the center are engraved. Patient care is represented by the stethoscopes, used in clinical disciplines spanning our schoob. Research is represented by the microscopes. Outreach is depicted by the hands reaching out to each other. The oak leaf clusters symbolize strength and longevity. The continuity of leadership is expressed by the plaques engraved with each Chancellor's name and years in office, as well as each Chancellor passing the medallion and chain on to the next. Page 26 A gonfalon is a flag that hangs from a crosspiece or frame. The first gonfalons were displayed in medieval Italy as an ensign of state or office as well as in ecclesiastical processions. From the Germanic compound gund-fanon (battle flag), gonfalons were also used as flags of battle. They are frequently seen at the heads of religious or military processions, always accompanied by "valets" or "honor guards". Many universities around the world have adopted them to lead academic processions as they comprise a unique and colorful ceremonial display. The gonfalons are made in the appropriate academic color for each school, and contain a visual element representing the academic discipline of the school, as well as the university seal. Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man is the symbol on allied health's golden gonfalon. Vitruvius, a Roman engineer of the first century B.C. influenced da Vinci's drawings of the human body. The drawing is based upon a model of ideal proportions which Vitruvius established and is the symbol most frequently representative of the specialties of the allied health professions. The nursing gonfalon is apricot and its symbol is the burning lamp of Florence Nightingale. Florence Nightingale was called "the lady with the lamp" because she used a lamp in her selfless duty in the Crimean War, although hers was a collapsible paper cylinder which protected the flame and diffused more light. The lamp has come to symbolize nursing to honor Florence Nightingale's enormous dedication and contributions to the nursing profession, as well as to represent the lamp of knowledge. The dentistry gonfalon is lilac with the official emblem for dentistry adopted in 1965. The design uses as its central figure a serpent entwined about an ancient Arabian cautery. The Greek letter (delta), for dentistry, and (omicron) for odont (tooth) form the periphery of the design. In the background of the design are 32 leaves and 20 berries, representing the permanent and temporary teeth. The graduate studies gonfalon is dark blue and its symbol is DNA, the building blocks of life. These building blocks are essential in the research done in the doctoral programs of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Biochemistry, Human Genetics, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Physiology. The medicine gonfalon is green, and its symbol is the caduceus, the staff with winding serpents topped by a pair of wings from Greek mythology that has come to represent the medical profession in the United States. In Greek and Roman mythology, the caduceus, like the staff of Aesculapius, was associated with healing and immortality. Both were used as printer's marks from the 16th century on, especially as frontispieces to pharmacopoeias in the 17th and 18th centuries. One theory postulates that as printers saw themselves as messengers of the printed word and thus disseminators of knowledge, they chose the symbol of the messenger of the ancient gods, Hermes. The United States Army adopted the caduceus as the official emblem of its medical department in 1902, cementing its use as such in this country. Hygieia, the Greek goddess of health, adorns the public health gonfalon. The granddaughter of Apollo and the most important of Asclepius' five daughters, Hygieia personifies physical and psychic health. She was said to relieve illness in humans as well as animals through diet and medication. Often depicted feeding a snake wrapped around her body, Hygieia was sometimes called "The Health". Derived from the Greek word, hygieinos, meaning healthful, Hygieia survives today in the word hygiene-a basic preventive discipline in public health. Page 27 Page 28