in memoriam

John Kern Cotter, MD, passed away peacefully in his home in 2022. He graduated from the School of Medicine in 1980 and went on to have lengthy career in emergency medicine. He was living in Shreveport at the time of his passing.

Chris Duggan, a research associate in the Department of Ophthalmology, passed away in October 2022. He was a beloved member of the Ophthalmology team who dedicated most of his career to LSU Health Shreveport. Just before his passing, Chris was recognized as a 35 Years of Service Honoree. He is survived by his only daughter, Rayna.

Donald Horton, a director emeritus and longtime board member of the LSU Health Sciences Foundation, passed away October 20, 2022 at the age of 88 with his family at his side. Upon his retirement from the board in 2015, his fellow directors unanimously designated him as a director emeritus. He and his wife, Ruby, were very generous to LSU Health Shreveport over the years. From supporting What’s Up Doc, An Evening for Healers, and various departments, Mr. Horton was always there to help. His legacy will continue through the endowment he and his wife created, the Don & Ruby Horton Generosity of Spirit Award. This honor is presented each year to a graduating medical student who exhibits leadership, generosity, and a philanthropic spirit through volunteer service.

Joe Miciotto passed away on December 3, 2022 at age 72 surrounded by loved ones. Joe gave over 40 years of dedicated and exemplary service to LSU Health Shreveport. He began his career in 1975, rising through the ranks and becoming the hospital CEO in 2001. During his tenure as CEO of then Confederate Memorial Hospital and LSU Medical Center, significant growth and improvements occurred to include being named the #1 public hospital in America. Joe finished his career as Director of Campus Operations for LSU Health Shreveport. He was beloved and widely known for his unwavering work ethic and dedication to patients, students, residents and colleagues. In March of 2021, the Joe Miciotto Graduate Medical Education (GME) Conference Room was dedicated in his honor.

Dr. Keith Payne, former Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine faculty, peacefully passed away in early January. Dr. Payne completed his residency and fellowship at LSU Health Shreveport after attending medical school at UT Houston. Following his training, he joined the faculty in 1981 and spent 35 years in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical

Care Medicine. He served as the division’s fellowship Program Director for a decade as well as Division Chief for the last 15 years of his career. Dr. Payne was known for his dedication to training the future generation of physicians and his empathy and ability to connect with students, colleagues and patients.

Kenneth Peterson, PhD, passed away on Monday, April 24. At the time of his passing, he was a current Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology. He joined the LSU Health Shreveport faculty in August of 1988 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University School of Medicine. During his 35 years of service, Dr. Peterson earned a reputation of being an excellent teacher and scientist, and his research is currently being used to guide genetic engineering experiments aimed at constructing stable Vibrio cholerae mutants that may be useful for the development of a cholera vaccine.

Dr. Margaret Ann Springer, a School of Medicine alumnus, passed away on March 7 after a tenacious battle with dementia. Dr. Springer graduated from LSU Health Shreveport in 1987 and went on to become a pediatrician who specialized in neonatal intensive care and child abuse medicine. She worked for the CARA Center and with CASA and The Gingerbread House in Shreveport, serving the community’s most vulnerable children, while also advocating for them as an expert witness in the courts.

Dr. Daniel Strain passed away on May 3 after a lengthy illness. Dr. Strain worked in Shreveport as a prominent pulmonary physician, and was a third-generation Willis Knighton physician, where he spent most of his career. He also was a faculty member at LSU Health Shreveport and at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center.

Dr. John Wilson passed away peacefully in March of 2023. Dr. Wilson spent his career advocating for the medical betterment of children. His contributions to the health of children and clinical pharmacology, including his efforts to ensure that protections for drug safety and efficiency were the same for children as they were for adults, were recognized by peers and government officials including President Bill Clinton. At the time of his retirement in 2015, Dr. Wilson was a Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine, Chief of Clinical Pharmacology and Director of the Children’s Clinical Research Center at LSU Health Shreveport.