LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Confers 114 Degrees

The Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine proudly celebrated its 47th annual Veterinary Medicine Commencement on Monday, May 15, conferring 114 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. The ceremony, presided over by Oliver A. Garden, BvetMed, PhD, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA, dean of the school, was graced by the presence of esteemed individuals, including LSU Women's Basketball Coach Kim Mulkey as the commencement speaker.

Laurie Lipsey Aronson, representing the LSU Board of Supervisors, conferred the degrees, and Meera Patel (Class of 2023) opened the ceremony. Program speakers also included distinguished guests, Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Roy Haggerty, PhD; and Kimberly Little, DVM, president of the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association. Patrick Hall, DVM (LSU 2023), closed the ceremony.

Students who received Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees, senior awards, and internships and residencies are listed below alphabetically by state/country, hometown, and then last name:

ALABAMA

Shane Manasco, DVM, from Birmingham, Ala., will begin work in a small animal practice in Wilmington, N.C.

Reed Joseph Haley, DVM, from Mobile, Ala., will begin work in a diagnostic medicine internship at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

ARKANSAS

Ashlyn Taylor, DVM, from Benton, Ark., received the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Foundation Jack R. Redman and Elizabeth G. Redman Scholarship. Dr. Taylor will begin work in a small animal practice in Little Rock, Ark.

Emily Marie Carroll, DVM, from Bentonville, Ark., will begin work in a large animal practice in Diamond, Mo.

Brianna Ellen Hedges, DVM, from Bentonville, Ark., received the Edward Lloyd Mitchell Award, ACVP Award of Excellence in Clinical Pathology, the American Association of Feline Practioners Proficiency Award, the Arkansas Redman Outstanding Senior Award, the Companion Animal Surgery Certificate of Merit, and the Merck Academic Excellence Award. Dr. Hedges will begin work in a feline exclusive practice in Boise, Idaho.

Laura-Lynn Elise Johnson, DVM, from Hot Springs, Ark., will begin work in a mixed animal practice in Little Rock, Ark.

Caitlyn K. Corbin, DVM, from Jonesboro, Ark., will begin work in a small animal practice.

Lauren Nicole Wise, DVM, from Little Rock, Ark., will begin work in a small animal practice in Keller, Texas.

Stanford Townsend Mosley, DVM, from Sheridan, Ark., received the Oncology Certificate of Merit. Dr. Mosley will begin work in a mixed animal practice in West Fork, Ark.

Erin Davis Sterling, DVM, from White Hall, Ark., received the Certificate of Excellence in Equine Medicine & Surgery. Dr. Sterling will begin work in a mixed animal practice in Maryville, Tenn.

CALIFORINIA

Aleksandar Raicevic, DVM, from Escondido, Calif., received the Oncology Certificate of Merit. Dr. Raicevic will begin work in a small animal practice in Lafayette, La.

Young Hun Cho, DVM, from La Mirada, Calif., received the American College of Veterinary Radiology Award, the Audrey Engelhart Scholarship in Shelter Medicine, and the Companion Animal Surgery Certificate of Merit. Dr. Cho will begin work in a small animal internship in Houston, Texas.

Saba Morsali, DVM, from Mission Viejo, Calif., received the Texas Equine Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Morsali will begin work in an equine internship in Ocala, Fla.

Vardui Khorikyan, DVM, from Tarzana, Calif., received the Companion Animal Medicine Certificate of Merit Award and the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology Award. Dr. Khorikyan will begin work in a small animal practice in Pasadena, Calif.

FLORIDA

Guadalupe Espinoza-Martinez, DVM, from Brandon, Fla., received the Companion Animal Surgery Certificate of Merit Award. Dr. Espinoza-Martinez will begin work in a mixed animal practice in Tampa, Fla.

Renee N. Kalaf, DVM, from Brandon, Fla., will begin work in a small animal/wildlife emergency medicine in Brandon, Fla.

Chelsea C. Larkin, DVM, from Jupiter, Fla., received the Dean’s Honor List of Scholastic Achievement and membership in Phi Zeta. Dr. Larkin will begin work in a small animal practice in Tampa, Fla.

Lynzy Rose Rochelle, DVM, from Merritt Island, Fla., will begin work in a small animal practice in Baton Rouge, La.

Faith Adams Ruegge, DVM, from Miramar, Fla., received the American College of Veterinary Pathologists Award of Excellence in Anatomic Pathology. Dr. Ruegge will begin work in a small animal practice in New Orleans, La.

Savannah Rose Porter, DVM, from Pensacola, Fla., will begin work in a small animal practice and aquarium exotics in Shreveport, La.

Natalee Ann Judson, DVM, from Tampa, Fla., received the Robert B. Lank, DVM, Memorial Scholarship. Dr. Judson will begin work in a production swine medicine in Pipestone, Minn.

GEORGIA

Darius Jhalil Statham, DVM, from Atlanta, Ga., received the Companion Animal Medicine Certificate of Merit Award, the Oncology Certificate of Merit, and the Companion Animal Surgery Certificate of Merit. Dr. Statham will begin work in a small animal internship in Sandy Springs, Ga.

Babette Sanmartin, DVM, from Comer, Ga., will begin work in a small animal practice in Paradise, Nev.

ILLINOIS

Isabel Marie Grazian, DVM, from Barrington, Ill., received the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Certificate of Clinical Excellence (Small Animal) and the Audrey Engelhart Scholarship in Shelter Medicine. Dr. Grazian will begin work in a shelter medicine Internship in Baton Rouge, La.

KENTUCKY

Kayla Brianne Leimer, DVM, from Lexington, Ky., will begin work in a small animal internship in Metairie, La.

LOUISIANA

Rennie Anthony Mira, DVM, from Alexandria, La., received the Companion Animal Medicine Certificate of Merit Award, Oncology Certificate of Merit. Dr. Mira will begin work in a small animal practice in Prosper, Texas.

Bailey Elizabeth Clouatre, DVM, from Ama, La., received the IDEXX Proficiency in Companion Animal Medicine Award. Dr. Clouatre will begin work in a small animal practice in Destrehan, La.

David Nielsen Barry, DVM, from Baton Rouge, La., received the Oncology Certificate of Merit. Dr. Barry will begin work in a small animal internship in West Lafeyette, Ind.

Rebecca Broussard Banker, DVM, from Baton Rouge, La., will begin work in a small animal internship in Boston, Mass.

Sydney Hall, DVM, from Baton Rouge, La., received a membership in Phi Zeta and will begin work in a small animal medicine internship at LSU Vet Med in Baton Rouge, La.

Hannah Zoe Hegwood, DVM, from Baton Rouge, La., received the Certificate of Excellence in Equine Medicine & Surgery. Dr. Hegwood will begin work in a small animal emergency medicine in Metairie, La.

Kylie Elizabeth Landry, DVM, from Baton Rouge, La., will begin work in a small animal internship in Baton Rouge, La.

Elyse Lorraine Thornhill, DVM, from Baton Rouge, La., received the Oncology Certificate of Merit. Dr. Thornhill will begin work in a small animal practice.

Wyatt Andrew Comeaux, DVM, from Belle Chasse, La., will begin work in a small animal practice.

Carlea Nicole Clemens, DVM, from Blanchard, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Bossier City, La.

Megan L Daggett, DVM, from Brusly, La., received the Certificate of Excellence in Equine Medicine & Surgery. Dr. Daggett will begin work in a mixed animal practice in Baton Rouge, La.

Morgan Ellise Marino, DVM, from Brusly, La., received the Companion Animal Medicine Certificate of Merit Award, the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana Award, the American College of Veterinary Opthalmologists Award, and the Oncology Certificate of Merit. Dr. Marino will begin work in a small, exotic, and wildlife practice in Virginia Beach, Va.

Tobi S. Mangum, DVM, from Calhoun, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Lafayette, La.

Kara Elizabeth Hernandez, DVM, from Cut Off, La., will begin work in a small/mixed animal practice.

Tara Madelyn Falgoust, DVM, from Delcambre, La., will begin work in a small animal practice.

Anne Katherine Landry, DVM, from Delcambre, La., will begin work in a mixed animal practice in Abbeville, La.

Leah Miller Fuselier, DVM, from Denham Springs, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Walker, La.

Savannah Michelle Billings, DVM, from Destrehan, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Baton Rouge, La.

Samantha Laneze Dantin, DVM, from Destrehan, La., received the Merck Academic Excellence Award. Dr. Dantin will begin work in a small animal practice in Conroe, Texas.

Gabrielle Rosario, DVM, from Destrehan, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Spring Hill, Fla.

Rachel Leigh Schaffhauser, DVM, from Gaithersburg, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Little Rock, Ark.

Jena Marie Dicharry Van Houten, DVM, from Gonzales, La., received a membership in Phi Zeta and will begin work in an exotic animal practice in Loxahatchee, Fla.

Rachel Renee Eddy, DVM, from Gonzales, La., received the Companion Animal Surgery Certificate of Merit Award. Dr. Eddy will begin work in a small animal practice.

Meghan Elizabeth Melugin, DVM, from Gonzales, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Ocean Springs, Miss.

EJ Hanhart, DVM, from Greensburg, La., will begin work in a mobile diverse mixed animal practice in Greensburg, La.

Meagan Elizabeth Leathem, DVM, from Gretna, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Henderson, Nev.

Annie Elizabeth Moore, DVM, from Haughton, La., received the Companion Animal Surgery Certificate of Merit Award and the Certificate of Excellence in Equine Medicine & Surgery. Dr. Moore will begin work in a small animal practice in Bossier City, La.

Hannah Claire Dartez, DVM, from Jennings, La., will begin work in a mixed animal practice in Jennings, La.

Brayton Ann Hammes, DVM, from Lafayette, La., received the Oncology Certificate of Merit, Merck Academic Excellence Award. Dr. Hammes will begin work in a small animal practice in Lake Charles, La.

Sarah Ann Edwards, DVM, from Lake Charles, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Metairie, La.

Emily Catherine Curlin, DVM, from Metairie, La., will begin work in a small animal emergency medicine in Chicago, Illinois.

Jenna Grice, DVM, from Metairie, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Mandeville, La.

Patrick Gately Hall, DVM, from Metairie, La., received the Dr. Barry Robert Memorial Scholarship. Dr. Hall will begin work in a lab animal medicine residency in Baton Rouge, La.

Dray Prescott Richmond, DVM, from Metairie, La., received the Oncology Certificate of Merit and the Companion Animal Surgery Certificate of Merit. Dr. Richmond will begin work in a small animal practice.

Madison Grace Rigdon, DVM, from Metairie, La., received the Companion Animal Medicine Certificate of Merit Award. Dr. Rigdon will begin work in a small animal practice in Jacksonville, Fla.

Kierra Johnchelle Coleman, DVM, from Monroe, La., received the Bayou Kennel Club, Inc. Scholarship. Dr. Coleman will begin work in a small animal practice in Dallas, Texas.

Mark Joseph Laird, DVM, from Monroe, La., received the Companion Animal Medicine Certificate of Merit Award and the Oncology Certificate of Merit, Merck Academic Excellence Award. Dr. Laird will begin work in a small animal practice in Monroe, La.

Paige Price Medaries, DVM, from Monroe, La., received the Louisiana Cattlemen's Association Clinical Proficiency Award. Dr. Medaries will begin work in a mixed animal practice in Jonesboro, La.

Elizabeth J. Benton-Levith, DVM, from New Orleans, La., will begin work in a small animal internship.

Oilvia Mariana Swiber, DVM, from New Orleans, La., received the Dechra Award for Excellence in Equine Sports Medicine. Dr. Swiber will begin work in a equine surgery internship.

John Michael Stalling, DVM, from Oak Grove, La., received the Certificate of Excellence in Equine Medicine & Surgery. Dr. Stalling will begin work in a small animal practice in McKinney, Texas.

Alexandra Nicole Cheramie, DVM, from Plaquemine, La., received the Kaytee Outstanding Senior Award in Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine. Dr. Cheramie will begin work in a exotics internship in Oklahoma City, Ok.

Katie N. Bakalis, DVM, from Shreveport, La., received the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana Award, the Avian Research Scholarship, and the Companion Animal Medicine Certificate of Merit Award. Dr. Bakalis will begin work in a small animal internship.

AnnaClaire Catherine DeFriend, DVM, from Shreveport, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Bossier City, La.

Alexis P. Haddock, DVM, from Shreveport, La., will begin work in a small animal practice.

Zoey Lex, DVM, from Shreveport, La., received the Merck Academic Excellence Award. Dr. Lex will begin work in a small animal internship in Urbana, Ill.

Madeline Renee McGee, DVM, from Shreveport, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Athens, Ga.

Sydney Rae Mouser, DVM, from Shreveport, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Shreveport, La.

Natasha Loretta Prentiss, DVM, from Shreveport, La., received the Companion Animal Medicine Certificate of Merit Award, the Dechra Award for Excellence in Dermatology, and the Merck Academic Excellence Award. Dr. Prentiss will begin work in a mixed animal practice in Akron, Ohio.

Marissa Jeanne Oster, DVM, from Slidell, La., will begin work in a public health veterinarian in Fort Morgan, Colo.

Hannah Elise Barrilleaux, DVM, from St. Gabriel, La., received the Certificate of Excellence in Equine Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Barrilleaux will begin work in a mixed animal practice in Tylertown, Miss.

Marilynn Elizabeth Bailey, DVM, from Stephensville, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Baton Rouge, La.

Georgia Nicole Hansen, DVM, from Sulphur, La., received the Companion Animal Surgery Certificate of Merit. Dr. Hansen will begin work in a small animal practice in Flower Mound, Texas.

Preston Russell, DVM, from Terrytown, La., will begin work in a small animal practice in Comer, Ga.

Rachel David, DVM, from West Monroe, La., received the Companion Animal Surgery Certificate of Merit Awrd. Dr. David will begin work in a small animal practice in Hammond, La.

Sharon Nanette Gaines, DVM, from West Monroe, La., received the Outstanding Food Animal Senior Student Award. Dr. Gaines will begin work in a large animal practice in Summerville, Ga.

Katelyn M. Minchew, DVM, from West Monroe, La., will begin work in a mixed animal practice.

Tyler Marie Yglesias, DVM, from Zachary, La., received the Theriogenology Clinical Proficiency Award and the Dean Peter F Haynes Equine Award. Dr. Yglesias will begin work in a Internship in Navasota, Texas.

MASSACHUSETTS

Madison M. Smith, DVM, from Southampton, Mass., will begin work in a small animal practice in Northampton, Mass.

MICHIGAN

Teagan Marie MacDonald, DVM, from Flint, Mich., received the Certificate of Excellence in Equine Medicine & Surgery. Dr. MacDonald will begin work in a mixed animal ambulatory or equine race track medicine.

Max Veenema, DVM, from Grand Rapids, Mich., received the The Hershey Comeaux Memorial Award of Excellence, the Dr. Rickey Broussard Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice, the American College of Veterinary Surgeons Proficiency Award (Small Animal), and the Oncology Certificate of Merit. Dr. Veenema will begin work in a small animal internship in Lynnwood, Wash.

MISSISSIPPI

Lindsey Anderson Foto, DVM, from Gulfport, Miss., will begin work in a small animal emergency medicine in New Orleans, La.

Laura Ansleigh Thibodeaux, DVM, from Natchez, Miss., received the Dechra Award for Excellence in Small Animal Medicine, Oncology Certificate of Merit. Dr. Thibodeaux will begin work in a small animal internship in Athens, Ga.

NEW JERSEY

Kevin Cali, DVM, from Randolph, N.J., received the Merck Academic Excellence Award. Dr. Cali will begin work in a small animal internship in Tinton Falls, N.J.

OHIO

Evan Spangler, DVM, from Cincinnati, Ohio, will begin work in a small animal practice.

Alyssa Rose Smith, DVM, from Elyria, Ohio, received the Merck Academic Excellence Award. Dr. Smith will begin work in a small animal practice in Oberlin, Ohio.

PANAMA

Jade Martindale, DVM, from Panama City, Panama, received the Companion Animal Medicine Certificate of Merit Award and the American College of Veterinary Surgeons Proficiency Award (Large Animal). Dr. Martindale will begin work in a mixed animal practice in Washington, Ga.

Jennifer Olinde, DVM, from Panama City, Panama, received the Companion Animal Medicine Certificate of Merit Award, LVMA Outstanding Student Award, Merck Academic Excellence Award. Dr. Olinde will begin work in a small animal practice in Waynesville, N.C.

PENNSYLANIA

Amy Crumlich, DVM, from Duncannon, Penn., will begin work in a small animal practice in Johnson City, Tenn.

PUERTO RICO

Jose Israel Suarez Rodriguez, DVM, from Hatillo, Puerto Rico, received the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Certificate of Clinical Excellence (Large Animal), the Robert Rosenthal Senior Student Award for Proficiency in Clinical Oncology, and the Companion Animal Surgery Certificate of Merit. Dr. Suarez Rodriguez will begin work in a small animal internship in Athens, Ga.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Macy L. Zawada, DVM, from Columbia, S.C., will begin work in a small animal emergency medicine internship in Katy, Texas.

SOUTH KOREA

Ye Jin Lee, DVM, from Seoul, South Korea, will begin work in a small animal practice in Norwalk, Calif.

TENNESSEE

Meera Kamlesh Patel, DVM, from Arlington, Tenn., received the Certificate of Excellence in Equine Medicine & Surgery. Dr. Patel will begin work in a small animal practice in Las Vegas, Nev.

Morgan Suzanne Pearson, DVM, from Arlington, Tenn., will begin work in a small animal practice in Las Vegas, Nev.

TEXAS

Edelicia Marie Garcia, DVM, from Edinburg, Texas, received the Robert B. Lank, DVM Memorial Scholarship, Certificate of Exellence in Equine Medicine & Surgery. Dr. Garcia will begin work in a Food Animal Internship in Baton Rouge, La.

Kevin Loo, DVM, from Houston, Texas, will begin work in a small animal practice in Houston, Texas.

Megan Renee Lowery, DVM, from Houston, Texas, will begin work in a small animal practice in Friendswood, Texas.

Sarah McDonnell, DVM, from Houston, Texas, will begin work in a public policy organization in the areas of public health and agriculture industry.

Heather Lee Smith, DVM, from Houston, Texas, will begin work in a small animal rotating internship in New Orleans, La.

Chris Tri Thanh Nguyen, DVM, from Katy, Texas, received the Oncology Certificate of Merit. Dr. Nguyen will begin work in a small animal emergency medicine in Houston, Texas.

Alexandra Cerrato Cesarek, DVM, from Kingwood, Texas, received the Merck Academic Excellence Award. Dr. Cesarek will begin work in a small animal internship in Athens, Ga.

Olivia Keishon Johnson, DVM, from San Antonio, Texas, received the Dean’s Honor List of Scholastic Achievement and will begin work in a shelter medicine in San Antonio, Texas.

Jessica Ellen Murgatroyd, DVM, from Seabrook, Texas, will begin work in a small animal practice in Austin, Texas.

Haley Kent, DVM, from Spring, Texas, will begin work in a small animal practice in The Woodlands, Texas.

Ivy Lynn Sudduth, DVM, from Tyler, Texas, received the Companion Animal Medicine Certificate of Merit Award. Dr. Sudduth will begin work in an exotics and small animal practice in Tyler, Texas.

UNITED KINGDOM

Danielle Lauren Greenspan, DVM, from Oxford, U.K., will begin work in a zoological medicine.

VIRGINIA

Andrea Leatrice Kirkpatrick, DVM, from Chantilly, Va., will begin work in a small animal practice in Southfield, Mich.

Connor Jordan O'Brien, DVM, from Haymarket, Va., received the Companion Animal Surgery Certificate of Merit. Dr. O'Brien will begin work in a small animal practice in Metairie, La.

WASHINGTON

Morgaine R. Angst, DVM, from Bothell, Wash., received the Dean’s Honor List of Scholastic Achievement, Phi Zeta membership, Companion Animal Medicine Certificate of Merit Award, the Heartland Veterinary Partners Business Award, and the Certificate of Excellence in Equine Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Angst will begin work in a small animal internship at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

About LSU Vet Med: Bettering lives through education, public service, and discovery

The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 33 veterinary schools in the U.S. and the only one in Louisiana. LSU Vet Med is dedicated to improving and protecting the lives of animals and people through superior education, transformational research, and compassionate care. We teach. We heal. We discover. We protect.