Shreveport, La. – The LSU Health Sciences Foundation (LSUHS Foundation) hosted the 14th annual An Evening for Healers on Thursday, September 11, at the Shreveport Convention Center. The event raises essential funds to help LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) to recruit top-tier faculty, invest in cutting-edge equipment, and enhance student programs and scholarships across its three schools. Over the past 14 years, the event has raised more than $3.5 million to support LSU Health Shreveport’s greatest needs.

An Evening for Healers also honors the lifesaving work of Shreveport-Bossier community’s first responders, physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and other healthcare providers who have made a lasting impact on patients at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport.

This year’s event honored more than 50 first responders and health care professionals and told their patients’ stories through inspiring documentaries.

In November 2024, Clint Bickham suffered a severe spinal injury after falling from a tree while hunting in the woods. Unable to move his legs, he called for help and was rescued by the Caddo Parish Fire Department with assistance from friends. Bickham was transported to Ochsner LSU Health, where he underwent emergency spinal surgery to stabilize shattered vertebrae and relieve pressure on his spinal cord. Following inpatient rehabilitation, he returned to Shreveport to continue therapy at the LSU Health Shreveport School of Health Professions and Sciences Faculty Rehabilitation Clinic.

“I’m so thankful for the care I received. Without the teams at Ochsner LSU Health and the rehabilitation clinic, I wouldn’t be able to play with my kids, I wouldn’t be able to go to work, and spend time with my family,” said Bickham. “Because of them, I’m able to enjoy life again. I wouldn’t be here without them.”

In 2022, Temper and Xavier Williams faced heartbreak and hope when they lost one twin at 14 weeks and fought to save the other. At just 22 weeks, Temper delivered baby Jubilee via emergency c-section at Ochsner LSU Health St. Mary Medical Center. Weighing only 14 ounces, Jubilee was rushed to the NICU, where she spent nearly four months. Today, she’s thriving at home—thanks to the expert care and swift action of the Ochsner LSU Health team.

“Ochsner LSU Health really exceeded expectations with saving my daughter and helping her be who she is today,” said Jubilee’s father, Xavier Williams. “I will be forever grateful for all that they did –– and continue to do –– for our family.” 

Healthcare remains a key sector that drives the economy in north Louisiana. LSUHS has a direct economic impact of $600 million annually in the Shreveport region. Combined with the economic impact of our practicing alumni ($2.4 Billion), LSUHS overall has a total economic impact of over $3 billion annually on North Louisiana.

“LSU Health Shreveport is humbled and grateful by the continued financial support of An Evening for Healers,” stated Dr. Lester W. Johnson, Interim Chancellor of LSU Health Shreveport. “The funds raised at this event allow LSUHS to pursue time sensitive opportunities which have and will continue to be instrumental in the strengthening of our health sciences center.”

Ochsner Health is the presenting sponsor for An Evening for Healers. Ochsner Health and LSU Health Shreveport will celebrate seven years of their partnership this year. The Ochsner LSU Health System of North Louisiana was launched in 2018 with a vision to improve access to care and patient care quality, upgrade facilities, expand patient-centered technology, support the medical school and expand research. Together, they have accomplished that and more.

“Over the past seven years, the partnership between Ochsner and LSU Health Shreveport has transformed healthcare in North Louisiana,” said David Callecod, chief executive officer of Ochsner LSU Health. “By combining our strengths, we’ve not only improved access to quality care but also advanced medical education, research and innovation. This collaboration exemplifies how our community benefits when organizations share a vision for healthier communities and a brighter future.”

This year, a portion of the funds raised will support the purchase of a piece of equipment for the NICU at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, a Giraffe Warmer. These advanced pieces of medical equipment provide a stable, warm and carefully controlled environment for newborns, particularly premature or critically ill infants, who cannot regulate their own body temperature. With their open design, Giraffe Warmers also allow care teams to maintain immediate access to the baby while delivering lifesaving interventions.

“LSU Health Shreveport plays an essential role in advancing healthcare and medical education in north Louisiana,” said Kevin Flood, President & CEO of the LSU Health Sciences Foundation. “When we support LSUHS, we’re helping to recruit exceptional faculty, foster groundbreaking research, and contribute to high-quality care for our community—today and for generations to come.”

More information can be found at www.lsuhsfoundation.org/healers or by calling the LSU Health Sciences Foundation at 318-861-0855.