HLS 24RS-3334 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 123
BY REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Tanner Ward for his exemplary compassion as a medical
student, leader, and ambassador of LSU Health Shreveport
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend Tanner Ward for his exemplary compassion as a medical student, leader, and
3 ambassador of LSU Health Shreveport.
4 WHEREAS, superior healthcare goes beyond the physical needs of patients by also
5serving their social and psychological needs; some individuals are gifted with the ability to
6see the needs of others even when those needs are not expressed; and
7 WHEREAS, Tanner Ward is an LSU Heath Shreveport medical student from Utah;
8he recognized that pediatric patients needed a space while hospitalized to relax and take their
9mind off their illness, and he began various community outreach programs to address his
10concerns; and
11 WHEREAS, Mr. Ward co-founded the Pars for Peds Golf Tournament in 2021 with
12a goal of raising sufficient funding to create a teen space at the Ochsner LSU Health
13Shreveport St. Mary Medical Center; the inaugural Pars for Peds golf tournament raised the
14funding required to create a designated teen lounge featuring video and arcade games; and
15 WHEREAS, Pars for Peds, which is held annually, currently has a goal of renovating
16a vacated atrium space at St. Mary Medical Center to incorporate a putting green that allows
17pediatric patients to feel like they are outdoors while getting exercise and sunshine indoors;
18the atrium now offers evening movies for hospitalized pediatric patients and their families
19and care givers; and
20 WHEREAS, Tanner also started a Cancer Survivor Walking Group for cancer
21patients at Feist-Weiller Cancer Center in Shreveport to address their need for social
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HR NO. 123
1interaction and development of healthy lifestyles; the first Cancer Survivor Walk in 2021
2attracted over one hundred walkers and a dozen vendors who provided goods and services
3to cancer patients; and
4 WHEREAS, the funds raised by the Cancer Survivor Walk supports the Cancer
5Survivorship Program at Feist-Weiller Cancer Center which provides mental health
6coaching, meal prep and nutritional guidance, massage therapy, membership at the YWCA
7Thriver's Program, and wellness coaching; and
8 WHEREAS, the third annual Cancer Survivorship Walk-a-thon welcomed over two
9hundred fifty attendees including cancer survivors from throughout north Louisiana, their
10families, caregivers, medical and allied health students, and staff of area cancer centers; and
11 WHEREAS, Tanner Ward, who will receive a medical doctorate degree on May 18,
122024, has proven himself to be an exemplary medical student, leader, and ambassador of
13LSU Health Shreveport by caring for patients beyond their physical needs and will
14undoubtedly be a remarkable physician.
15 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
16Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Tanner Ward for his exemplary compassion
17as a medical student, leader, and ambassador of LSU Health Shreveport and does hereby
18extend sincere gratitude to Mr. Ward for his remarkable leadership and organizational skills
19which have resulted in countless positive impacts on pediatric cancer patients and their
20families.
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)]
HR 123 Original 2024 Regular Session Jackson
Commends Tanner Ward for his exemplary comportment as a medical student, leader, and
ambassador of LSU Health Shreveport.
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