Dennis  J. O'Callaghan, PhD   

HLS 17RS-1243 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 35
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAGLEY

COMMENDATIONS: Commends Dennis J. O'Callaghan, Ph.D., for his many accomplishments and contributions to his field A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION To commend Dennis J. O'Callaghan, Ph.D., for his many accomplishments and contributions to his field.

WHEREAS, Dennis J. O'Callaghan, Ph.D., was named a Boyd Professor, the pinnacle of recognition among faculty members of Louisiana State University (LSU) and the LSU System's highest designated professorial rank; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Callaghan was named to the first endowed chair at the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, the Willis-Knighton Medical Center Endowed Chair in Molecular Biology; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Callaghan has taught approximately ten thousand graduate, medical, dental, and nursing students, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents, many of whom now have very successful careers; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Callaghan is recognized internationally for five decades of accomplished work in the field of herpesviruses; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Callaghan hasmore than two hundred peer-reviewed publications in prestigious international journals; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Callaghan has served as professor and chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport since 1984; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Callaghan served as chair of numerous NIH study sections, was a founding member of the American Society for Virology, and served as president of the American Society for Virology from 2000 to 2001; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Callaghan was elected as a fellow of the Molecular Medicine Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Callaghan has been awarded more than twenty-five million dollars in federal research grants, greatly benefitting LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport; and

WHEREAS, through his work in herpesviruses and through the sharing of his knowledge and skills with countless others, Dr. O'Callaghan has made an indelible mark on LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, the state, the nation, and the world.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Dennis J. O'Callaghan, Ph.D., for his many accomplishments and contributions to his field.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Dennis J. O'Callaghan, Ph.D.

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DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]

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HCR 35 Original    2017 Regular Session    Bagley

Commends Dennis J. O'Callaghan, Ph.D., for his many accomplishments and contributions to his field.

PROCLAMATION

     Whereas, one of the most accomplished scientists to ever live and work in Shreveport and in the state of Louisiana as reflected in being named a Boyd Professor, the pinnacle of recognition among LSU faculty members and in setting a LSU Health Shreveport record of being awarded $39,479,320 in external research funding.

     Whereas, through highly acclaimed service and accomplishments as the Professor and Chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at LSU Health Shreveport since 1984, the department became known and highly respected both nationally and internationally.

     Whereas, distinguished service and recognition includes but is not limited to being a Chairman of numerous NIH study sections and site visits, one of the founders and the 2000-2001 President of the American Society of Virology, a Fellow of the Molecular Medicine Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a 50+ year member of the American Society for Microbiology, elected member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Society for Investigative Pathology, the American Society for Cancer Research, the British Society for General Microbiology and a member of the International Advisory Committee of the XIV International Congress of Virology in Turkey. He served as Chairman of numerous NIH study Sections and Site Visits.

     Whereas, for the 2002 establishment of the Center for Molecular and Tumor Virology has been awarded fifteen consecutive years of NIH funding as on the largest groups of experts working in many areas of molecular and tumor virology worldwide, fostering the development and research careers of faculty members, and training more than 100 postdoctoral researchers and graduate students.

     Whereas, having taught over 10,000 graduate, medical, dental, nursing students, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents of which many went on to have prolific careers of their own.

     Whereas, the accomplishment of having more than 200 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious international journals while serving as Editor of Virus Research and on the editorial board of the Journal of Virology.

     Whereas, being internationally recognized for his knowledge and findings in the field of Herpesviruses bringing tremendous prestige to LSU Health Shreveport, the City of Shreveport, the LSU System and the entire region through his remarkable and accomplished career,

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ollie S. Tyler, Mayor of the City of Shreveport, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, March 13, 2018 as:

DR. DENNIS O’CALLAGHAN DAY

In the City of Shreveport and urge all citizens to celebrate adoption:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Shreveport to be affixed.

Ollie S. Tyler
MAYOR

SLS 18RS-1114 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 60
BY SENATORS GATTI, MILKOVICH, PEACOCK AND TARVER

COMMENDATIONS. Commends Dennis J. O'Callaghan, PhD, for nearly 34 years of service as Chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at LSU Health Shreveport.

A RESOLUTION

To commend Dennis J. O'Callaghan, PhD, for nearly thirty-four years of service as chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

WHEREAS, Dr. Dennis O'Callaghan came to the LSU Health Sciences Center to serve as chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and has remained in that position until his retirement earlier this month; and 

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Callaghan was named a Boyd Professor in 2002, the LSU systems' highest designated professorial rank, and in the sixty-year history of Boyd Professors, only seventy professors have reached this pinnacle of recognition; and 

WHEREAS, Dr. Dennis O'Callaghan, a 1958 graduate of Jesuit High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, is also the Willis-Knighten Endowed Chair of Microbiology, the first endowed chair at the LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport campus; and 

WHEREAS, during his tenure at the Shreveport campus, Dr. O'Callaghan developed the doctoral program in microbiology and immunology and established the Center for Molecular and Tumor Virology, known as CMTV, which was awarded fifteen years of funding by the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Research Resources, specifically receiving a five year $4.82 million grant in 2014 alone to continue and expand the CMTV facility; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Callaghan's contributions to research at the Shreveport facility are extensive, including being the first faculty member to be awarded a COBRE grant, provided through the National Institutes of Health to strengthen and support the institution's biomedical research infrastructure, which supported the CMTV, and he has secured thirty-nine million dollars in research funding which is more than any faculty member in the history of LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport; and

WHEREAS, beyond the campus in Shreveport, Dr. O'Callaghan is involved in his field of research on a local, national, and international level, serving two terms on the Microbiology National Exam Committee and as an external reviewer of doctoral students at several universities; and

WHEREAS, Dr. O'Callaghan has served on many national panels and study sections for research agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Science Foundation, the American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society; and

WHEREAS, nationally and internationally Dr. O'Callaghan has organized meetings for the International Herpesvirus Workshop and the American Society for Microbiology and he was a founding member of the American Society for Virology where he served two terms as program organizer and one year as president in 2000-2001; and 

WHEREAS, while Dr. O'Callaghan credits his colleagues, students, and postdoctoral fellows as essential to his accomplishments and he is especially appreciative of Dr. Ike Muslow for recruiting him to continue his career in Shreveport; and WHEREAS, Chancellor and Dean G. E. Ghali, MD, of LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport states that Dr. O'Callaghan is "an icon in our institution" continuing to cite his work ethic, focus, love of students, and his brilliance, all of which "will long be remembered and appreciated"; and

 WHEREAS, in honor Dr. O'Callaghan's contributions and achievements in the Shreveport institution, Mayor Ollie S. Tyler declared March 13, 2018, "Dr. Dennis J. O'Callaghan Day" in the city; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Dennis J. O'Callaghan's nearly thirty-four years at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, encompassing ground-breaking research, tens of millions of dollars in grant money received, and the expert guidance of thousands of students, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents has altered the academic and research standards and facilities in the disciplines of microbiology and immunology at this institution of higher learning and have left an indelible mark and a lasting legacy of the standards for which he stood as chairman, accomplishments of which he should be justly proud. 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Dennis J. O'Callaghan, PhD, for nearly thirty-four years of service as chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Dr. Dennis J. O'Callaghan in care of LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport.

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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.

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DIGEST
SR 60 Original    2018 Regular Session    Gatti

Commends Dennis J. O'Callaghan, PhD, for nearly 34 years of service as chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.