HISTORY | School of Graduate Studies
The School of Graduate Studies at LSU Health Shreveport was originally a part of the Louisiana State University Graduate School in Baton Rouge. When the School of Medicine in Shreveport was authorized in 1965, students in the School of Graduate Studies were able to take classes at the Shreveport campus, as well as in New Orleans. Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science degrees were offered in five basic science departments: Anatomy, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Physiology and Biophysics.
1974: The first class of graduate students on the Shreveport campus was accepted.
1978: The first Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree was awarded in Shreveport.
1974 - 2004: The School of Graduate Studies administrative structure consisted of coordinators, and later, assistant deans, located in Shreveport who reported to the School of Graduate Studies Dean in New Orleans.
- R. Don Brown, PhD - Coordinator of Graduate Studies (1974-1982)
- Harry Gilleland, PhD - Coordinator of Graduate Studies (1982-1984)
- Joseph Manno, PhD - Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies (1984-1992)
- Ronald Korthuis, PhD - Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies (1992-1996)
- Robert Chervenak, PhD - Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies (1996-1999)
- Leonard Seelig, PhD - Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies (1999-2000)
- Sandra C. Roerig, PhD - Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies (2000-2004)
March 2004: The Louisiana Board of Regents approved administrative separation of the School of Graduate Studies in Shreveport from the School of Graduate Studies in New Orleans. The School of Graduate Studies in Shreveport was placed under the leadership of the Shreveport Chancellor.
April 2004: The first Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Dr. Sandra C. Roerig, is appointed.
September 2017: Chris Kevil, PhD, named Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
2018: Kelly Tatchell, PhD, named Associate Dean for School of Graduate Studies.
May 2022: Jason Bodily, PhD, named Associate Dean for School of Graduate Studies.
Departments & Programs History
The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department was established on March 28, 1967. Dr. Guilford G. Rudolph of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine was appointed as the founding Department Chair in March 1967 to begin duties in the fall of 1967.
- Guilford G. Rudolph, Chair, 1967 - 1985
- Richard Courtney, Chair, 1986 - 1991
- Robert L. Smith, Acting Chair, 1992
- Robert E. Rhoads, Chair, July 1992 - September 2013
- Hari K. Koul, Chair, September 2013 - March 2016
- Stephan N. Witt, Chair, March 2016 - June 2022
- Kelly Tatchell, Interim Chair, July 2022 - present
The Pharmacology and Therapeutics Department was established on April 6, 1967. Dr. Helmut M. Redetzki of the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Medicine was appointed as the founding department chair and assumed his duties in the spring of 1968. In 2006, the name of the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Department was changed to Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience.
- Helmut M. Redetzki, Chair, 1967 - 1986
- Charles D. Wood, Acting Chair, 1987 - 1988
- Adrian J. Dunn, Chair, 1989 - 2005
- Nicholas E. Goeders, Chair, 2005 - present
The Anatomy Department was established on August 20, 1967. Dr. Adrian Reed of Tulane University was appointed as the founding chair of the Anatomy Department in August 1967. In 1989, the name of the Anatomy Department was changed to Cellular Biology and Anatomy.
- Adrian F. Reed, Chair, 1967 - 1977
- Richard G. Hibbs, Chair, 1978 - 1987
- Leonard L. Seelig, Acting Chair, 1988
- Leonard L. Seelig, Chair, 1989 - 2007
- John A. Beal, Acting Chair, 2007 - 2011
- William G. Mayhan, Chair, 2011 - 2016
- Kevin J. McCarthy, Chair 2016 - present
The Microbiology and Immunology Department was established on January 7, 1968. Emil Kotcher of the Louisiana State University International Center for Medical Research and Training in San Jose, Costa Rica was appointed as the founding department chair.
- Emil Kotcher, Chair, 1968 - 1983
- Rodney D. Berg, Acting Chair, 1984
- Dennis J. O’Callaghan, Chair, 1984 - 2018
- Martin J. Sapp, Chair, 2018 - present
The Physiology and Biophysics Department was established in 1969 with Dr. George R. Meneely appointed as the first department chair. In 1997, the name of the Physiology and Biophysics Department was changed to Molecular and Cellular Physiology.
- George R. Meneely, Chair, 1969 - 1977
- John N. Diana, Chair, 1978 - 1985
- Harold D. Battarbee, Acting Chair, 1986
- D. Neil Granger, Chair, 1987 - 2017
- Norman Harris, Interim Chair, November 2017 - June 2019
- Norman Harris, Chair, June 2019 - present
1991: MD-PhD program is established at LSU Health Shreveport.
2014: Clinical and Translational Distinction Track (CTDT) program established for PhD students.
June 2021: Master of Biomedical Science (Thesis) and Master of Medical Sciences (Non-Thesis) programs are established at LSU Health Shreveport.
May 2022: First class of Medical Sciences master’s students welcomed to campus.
September 2022: Pathology and Translational Pathobiology PhD program established at LSU Health Shreveport.
