Latest news with #OldDominionUniversity
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
ODU professor explains why public is seeing a surge of food recalls
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — There were nearly and it doesn't stop there, as already in the first half of this year, the FDA has reported a staggering 45. Whole cucumbers were recalled last week, over , and that has now expanded to 16 states, including Virginia. Within the last 24 hours a salmon product from Aldi was scrapped from shelves due to a life-threatening allergen in three states out west. And earlier Wednesday, that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood. These are prime examples of why there's a growing public concern. It's making consumers question what's safe to eat, and above all creates the greater risk for the development of foodborne illnesses. But are the recalls actually occurring more often? Professor Rishi Drolia, with the Old Dominion University biological sciences department, said food recalls may appear increased over time because of advanced technology used by the CDC, USDA and FDA to track foodborne illnesses. 'I think stricter regulations are very important for food safety and for public health,' he said. 'In the United States, there is a zero-tolerance policy for listeria monocytogenes. In some of the European countries, there is some tolerance. That means a certain amount of listeria can be still present in ready to eat foods, but here, the regulations are very strict.' Those tighter regulations help to track the outbreak faster through frequent checks of the processing plants, environmental sampling and sanitization. The other issue at hand is what the masses are consuming, along with lifestyle changes. 'People do not have time to cook,' Drolia said. 'The amount of ready-to-eat food products consumed has increased over the years. If you see, a majority of these outbreaks happen in a lot of fast food or raw food. And so in both the cases, what happens is that the people are consuming … food that is never cooked.' Drolia also stresses the importance of knowing if you are immunocompetent or immunocompromised. Many people have compromised immune systems and are not aware. 'For the majority of the foodborne pathogens, and including listeria monocytogenes here, the risk population is young, elderly, pregnant and immunocompromised,' he said. 'And so, if you are in one of those susceptible groups, that is when you could avoid high risk foods and those high risk foods are ready to eat meat that are uncooked, unpasteurized milk, raw vegetables, raw fruits [and] cheese that is made up of unpasteurized milk. He said to also thoroughly cook your food and practice safe food handling processes in your kitchen to avoid cross contamination. Those precautionary measures can help reduce illnesses, due to foodborne pathogens. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Medscape
23-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
‘Seismic' Shifts May Be Ahead in GI Care
This transcript has been edited for clarity. Hello. I'm Dr David Johnson, professor of medicine and chief of gastroenterology at Eastern Virginia Medical School and Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Welcome back to part 2 of my highlights from Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2025. I've selected another 10 presentations for you, in addition to the 10 presented in part 1 of this series. If you've registered for DDW 2025, you can access these abstracts or presentations at the conference website. If you haven't, you'll need to wait for the published manuscripts, which hopefully will arrive not too long from now. Secondary Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Prophylaxis The standard of care for prior spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is to place patients on an antibiotic, typically a quinolone. In this analysis,[1] researchers looked at the Veterans Affairs database of nearly 5200 patients with a first episode of SBP. Within this cohort, they identified those on secondary SBP prophylaxis with quinolone or Bactrim, as defined as continuous use with at least one documented refill. They observed that patients on secondary prophylaxis had strikingly higher rates of SBP recurrence as well as any non-SBP infections. This raises the important question of whether we are doing more harm than good with this treatment approach owing to bacterial resistance patterns and the risks of repeated exposure to quinolones, which is associated with the potential for tendon rupture and other complications. It also challenges the recommendations put forward in national guidelines. However, we'll need to wait and see how this plays out with further analysis before we consider revisiting those guidelines. Early TIPS for Acute Variceal Bleeding The results from the second study[2] I'd like to highlight were described at DDW 2025 as being potentially 'seismic.' Current guidelines recommend early transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) in patients with variceal hemorrhage, although this is rarely practiced. Researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to determine whether early TIPS actually improves outcomes in this setting. They analyzed trials with 689 patients, approximately half of whom received early TIPS and the remainder standard therapy. They observed no difference in all-cause mortality between these groups. However, the difference for the risk for rebleeding was striking — it was 80% lower in patients who underwent early TIPS. Surprisingly, early TIPS was not associated with an increased risk for hepatic encephalopathy and new or worsening ascites. These results suggest that when we treat patients with acute variceal bleeding, we really should consider early TIPS. Portal Hypertension Guidance DDW 2025 featured a great discussion led by Dr David Kaplan,[3] the primary author of the recent guidance on risk stratification and management of portal hypertension and varices in cirrhosis from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). Kaplan did a bang-up job, and I wanted to highlight a couple of crucial points. Firstly, he noted that if you have a patient with compensated cirrhosis, it should be the standard of care to assess them for clinically significant portal hypertension, defined as portal pressure gradient ≥ 10 mm. You'll want to ensure you can adequately evaluate for it in your locale. If you determine that the patient does have clinically significant portal hypertension, the new AASLD guidance endorses using carvedilol as prophylactic treatment. The use of pharmacotherapy precludes the necessity of screening endoscopy for most patients. This is another seismic shift, as we certainly have not been practicing that way. However, certain patients may have risks that do not make them eligible candidates for beta-blockers like carvedilol. In these instances, patients will require endoscopic intervention and evaluation. Kaplan also noted that the AASLD guidance discusses evaluating patients for whether they are candidates for preemptive placement of TIPS. Given that the 6-week mortality for acute variceal hemorrhage is in the 10%-15% range, this is something that we really need to be doing a better job at addressing. Predicting MASLD Earlier Another noteworthy study was presented in the liver population,[4] this one on the topic of predicting metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. A team of researchers from China analyzed proteomics data from UK Biobank participants. They looked at approximately 2700 proteins, identifying five that were highly accurate in predicting MASLD. These proteins had an approximate prediction accuracy of 86% at 5 years from onset and 76% at 16 years. Their predictive performance was improved when augmented with clinical biomarkers, such as body mass index and daily exercise, which increased the accuracy to approximately 90% at 5 years and 82% at 16 years. It should be noted that this study did not set out to establish causality between MASLD and how these proteins interacted. For that, we'll need to await further analysis. The researchers did externally validate their results in populations in China. While we'll need to see what the eventual published manuscript reports, these data do indicate that promising new MASLD predictors may be on the horizon. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists for MASLD Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have recently emerged as an alternative to bariatric surgery for managing obesity. In this study from Stanford Medicine, Beth Israel, and the Allegheny Health Network,[5] researchers retrospectively analyzed a cohort obtained from the TriNetX database over a 6-year period. They compared outcomes in patients with MASLD receiving either GLP-1 receptor agonists or bariatric surgery. Surprisingly, they found that patients who received GLP-1 receptor agonists had significantly lower rates of major adverse liver outcomes (0.6% vs 1.2%) and all-cause mortality (0.3% vs 1.4%). If patients are willing and able to undergo medical therapy with GLP-1 receptor agonists, then we may want to consider revisiting how we approach metabolic liver disease. We need a multicenter prospective trial to evaluate this, but I'm certainly relieved to see this may make a difference in eligible patients. Timing Matters in Biliary Necrotizing Pancreatitis Patients with biliary necrotizing pancreatitis are expected to undergo cholecystectomy. The axiom is to wait for 6 weeks if they have had complications, particularly a pseudocyst. We're already familiar with using this intervention earlier in patients who present with uncomplicated pancreatitis or cholecystitis. In this study,[6] researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients with biliary necrotizing pancreatitis, using data obtained from TriNetX. Their results suggested that it's better to delay cholecystectomy to beyond 16 weeks, given that it reduces the risk for adverse events without increasing mortality. Obviously, these patients still face the risk for recurrent biliary events, but delaying this surgery may be warranted in complicated biliary pancreatitis. 3D Tech Comes Up Short for Cancer Detection There was a study whose negative findings I think are worth mentioning. In it, researchers analyzed wide-angle transepithelial sampling with 3D analysis (WATS3D) as an adjunct to random forceps biopsies in patients with Barrett esophagus.[7] The technology has been suggested to have clinical benefit for detecting dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. This study from Europe, led by Jacques Bergman and colleagues, is the largest conducted to date on the topic. They found no significant diagnostic advantage for using WATS3D, which caught my attention given that guidelines have also not been able to fully endorse this technology based on existing evidence. During the 3-year follow-up, there were no cases of high-grade dysplasia or early adenocarcinoma confirmed by WATS3D that hadn't already been identified as at-risk via random forceps biopsies. This is a wake-up call that we should scrutinize its utilization. The juice may not be worth the squeeze. Microbiome Alterations in Esophageal Disorders The esophageal microbiome is a topic of particular interest to me. Therefore, I was pleased to see this study from Dr Mark Pimentel and his group at Cedars-Sinai,[8] who analyzed the small-bowel microbiome in patients with and without gastroesophageal reflux disease or Barrett esophagus. They found that there was a significant alteration in small-bowel microbiome changes in patients with these conditions, particularly linked with hydrogen sulfide–producing species. Anxiety/Hypervigilance Associated With Laryngopharyngeal Symptoms The next study[9] also relates to the esophagus, specifically to those patients with laryngopharyngeal symptoms who are often referred to us by our ENT colleagues. In this retrospective analysis, researchers evaluated adult patients presenting with both typical esophageal and laryngopharyngeal symptoms for symptom-specific anxiety and hypervigilance using patient-reported outcome measures. Patients with laryngopharyngeal presentation had a higher systemic burden as compared to those without this condition, particularly for hypervigilance. When treating these patients, I find it helpful to have them do diaphragmatic breathing. There are also emerging interventions in the form of virtual reality and gut-brain axis interventions, which may be worth considering in your practice. Extrapancreatic Cancer Risk in Chronic Pancreatitis Although we know patients with chronic pancreatitis are at an increased risk for pancreatic cancer, there have been few studies on extrapancreatic cancer. This provocative evaluation[10] comes to us from researchers at Johns Hopkins University, who looked at nearly 500 patients with chronic pancreatitis. They found that these patients had a threefold increase in the incidence of extrapancreatic cancers, in addition to an increased risk for pancreatic cancer. The most common extrapancreatic cancers were in the lung; however, bladder cancer, esophageal cancer, and a range of gastrointestinal cancers, including colon cancer, were observed as well. Smoking was associated with an almost three times greater incidence of extrapancreatic cancers. Among smokers, pack-year history was significantly higher in those who developed cancer. These results should encourage us providers who are entrusted with taking care of patients with chronic pancreatitis to do a better job. The delay between diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and extrapancreatic cancers and pancreatic cancer was approximately 8 and 6 years, respectively. We need to improve our monitoring of these patients following their chronic pancreatitis diagnosis. This year's DDW was as exciting as ever, with important new information. We'll look forward to reviewing the manuscripts for these studies when they arrive. But, hopefully, these abstract highlights provide you with some actionable guidance now that you can apply to your clinical management. I'm Dr David Johnson. Thanks again for listening.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
ODU to honor first responders in region at Crown Gala
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — It will be a night to remember for first responders as Old Dominion University unveils its first-ever Crown Gala Saturday at Chartway Arena, marking the culminating celebration of its National Endowment of the Arts initiative. Crown is one of 50 programs ODU has created in the last academic year through a $20,000 NEA grant. This final project is dedicated to those who aid and protect Virginia communities. 'I said, we cannot leave out our first responders,' said Millicent Lee, ODU director of community relations. 'And, understanding that with mental health, our first responders can sometimes be a little patchy for them to look at … because they are these superheroes that sometimes are not able to take their capes off.' Inside Norfolk's Chartway Arena, dozens of first responders will gather from across the region with area leaders, representing 16 localities in the Commonwealth. 'I'm hoping they feel when they walk in the room that everything was done with intention, that every single thing was thought out just for them,' Lee said, 'and that when they walk in, they can maybe loosen their tie even though it's black tie, loosen their tie just a little bit to really take in everything that's going to be done.' ODU will present 19 public service awards to the first responders, from categories like mental health, leadership and resiliency. The university will also introduce a brand new partnership with the Virginia Beach Police Department's 4th precinct, but its public relations director only gave a hint of the big reveal. 'It's going to be very community-based and community-minded what we're planning on doing with our first responders,' she said. 'And I'm almost willing to say that in the state of Virginia, I don't think anyone else has thought to do this yet.' U.S. Army veteran and life coach Derick Johnson will deliver the Crown Gala's keynote address, with live entertainment provided by the Fuzz Band. The event starts at 7 p.m. Saturday. It is not open to the public. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Medscape
16-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
10 Actionable, Easy Interventions for GI Conditions
This transcript has been edited for clarity. Hello. I'm Dr David Johnson, professor of medicine and chief of gastroenterology at Eastern Virginia Medical School and Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. I've just returned from Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2025 in San Diego, California, and want to give you the highlights. I selected several noteworthy abstracts, which I'm going to cover in two separate presentations. If you registered for DDW 2025, you can access these abstracts on the conference website. However, if you didn't register, you'll need to wait for them to come out in publication. Inulin: A Promising Prebiotic The first abstract I'd like to highlight comes from a translational study,[1] which offered important data related to the use of inulin, a prebiotic that enhances short-chain fatty acid production. In previous studies, the team of researchers from Montreal, Canada, demonstrated inulin-enhanced anastomotic healing in mice as part of testing its efficacy for preventing leaks following colorectal surgery. In this current study, they assessed inulin's ability to hinder colorectal cancer cell growth in mice 'humanized' with microbiota. They found that inulin had a dramatic effect in the form of decreased dissemination of liver metastasis and subcutaneous growth of colorectal cancer cells. Mechanistically, they ascribed this to activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor pathway in the gut, which seems logical. Inulin is a naturally occurring dietary fiber, found in many plant species including chicory root, and is readily available commercially. There's no known risk associated with inulin, which makes these results actionable now. In a separate study,[2] researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia conducted a double-blind randomized trial looking at inulin's effects in children with subclinical active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They showed that inulin supplementation was associated with a reduction in fecal calprotectin levels, as well as improvements in the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium . These findings indicate that shifts in microbial health and reduced inflammation can be achieved in children with IBD using supplements with this naturally occurring oligosaccharide. Inulin is simple to implement. While I'm not sure about its use in adults, I plan on immediately using it as an intervention for the populations identified in these studies. It seems to be a no brainer. Alternatives to FMT for Clostridioides difficile In December 2024, gastroenterologists faced a conundrum following the news that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) would no longer be available from OpenBiome. A real-world study,[3] presented at DDW 2025, sheds some light on possible alternatives to standard FMT by comparing it with the US Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments of Rebyota (fecal microbiota, live-jslm), which is usually administered via enema, and Vowst (fecal microbiota spores, live-brpk), which is administered via oral capsules. Researchers assessed C difficile recurrence within 8 and 24 weeks, with stratification of results based on the presence of other relative risks like bezlotoxumab and presence of IBD. At 8 weeks, there was a significantly lower risk of recurrent C difficile following treatment with Rebyota and Vowst, which were approximately 20% better when compared with standard FMT, a difference that was maintained out to 24 weeks. Although we no longer have access to OpenBiome, these other therapies seem to offer a comparable — and perhaps superior — intervention. The only caveat is that the improvement was statistically superior when Rebyota was administered via colonoscopy, which was more frequently done than via enema in this study, although the latter administration method showed improvement. This may simply be due to the larger number of people who received it via colonoscopy, but we'll have to wait and see. However, I don't think we need to step back from treatment for C difficile , given that we have these commercially available products. AI in Adenoma Detection We're all aware that artificial intelligence (AI) is being used in many gastrointestinal (GI) indications of late and showing how it can improve outcomes. This was proven again in a study[4] from King's College London, where researchers performed a randomized, open-label trial using GI Genius, an AI module. They analyzed the adenoma detection rate (ADR) among colonoscopists classified as either non-expert or expert, categories defined as having performed less than or more than 2000 lifetime colonoscopies, respectively. Furthermore, the experts had an ADR > 40%, which is within the range of typical standards. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE)/American College of Gastroenterology Quality Task Force recommends an ADR of at least 35%, so the experts on this study really were. Colonoscopies were performed at eight sites by 34 endoscopists, with an approximately 2:1 ratio for non-experts to experts. The findings showed that the ADR was improved by 9.5% when using the AI module. Interestingly, the experts' ADR actually decreased with the use of the AI module, and it seemed most beneficial for those with lower detection rates. There were three guidelines produced in 2025 regarding the use of computer-assisted detection colonoscopy. One says we should use AI, one says we shouldn't, and the third— from the American Gastroenterological Association — says that we don't have enough evidence to support it yet. All in all, the recommendations are very conflicting. However, for me, the evidence seems to clearly indicate that lower-end ADR is considerably improved with AI and makes a difference. Motivating Patients With Wearable Technology There were a pair interesting studies around the use of technological tools in GI indications. The first study[5] comes from Lynn Chang's brilliant research group, who analyzed outcomes in patients with irritable bowel syndrome wearing a Fitbit, a popular device used by approximately 38.5 million people. The researchers used the Fitbit to capture participants' daily step count and sleep data. It should be noted that there are data indicating that a Fitbit seems relatively comparable with polysomnography, which is the gold standard for monitoring sleep efficiency. The team found that increased daily step count and median hours of sleep were associated with lower irritable bowel syndrome severity. In the next study,[6] researchers from Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, conducted a prospective study with the Garmin vivofit, another activity tracker. The study essentially performed the same analysis, focusing on sleep and physical activity. However, in this case, they looked at preoperative and postoperative outcomes in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease undergoing colorectal surgery. Once again, researchers found that increased physical activity and optimal sleep efficiency improved outcomes. Specifically, they were associated with fewer surgical complications and decreased length of stay. As with some of the previously mentioned interventions, these wearable devices are commercially available. Together, the findings from these two studies indicate that wearable devices could be a very valuable self-management tool to encourage patients to monitor themselves, strive for improvement, and do so at a negligible cost. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Two studies offered important findings on the use of checkpoint inhibitors, which are being used more frequently for GI complications. In fact, GI immune-related adverse events account for up to 41% of adverse events in patients with IBD. The first study[7] comes from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Researchers looked at a retrospective cohort of patients with IBD treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors over an 11-year period, assessing for a variety of outcomes related to GI toxicity. They found that GI toxicity led to immune checkpoint inhibitor discontinuance in 72% of patients. Discontinuation was more common in patients with active IBD at treatment initiation and among those whose pre-treatment disease was more severe. This finding suggests how important it is to receive consultation and disease assessment from an IBD specialist. They can help proactively determine how to optimize immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy before it begins. Treating these high-risk patients really does call for a multidisciplinary care team. The second study[8] caught my attention because I was unfamiliar with the topic: immune checkpoint inhibitor-related esophagitis. Researchers conducted a retrospective study with a 15-year follow-up on patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy after receiving at least one dose of an immune checkpoint inhibitor. A diagnosis of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related esophagitis was confirmed by an expert GI pathologist. They identified 13 patients with symptoms, which were variable and included weight loss, dysphagia, anorexia, and nausea. Of the 13 patients, 54% had abnormalities on endoscopy. The takeaway is that we must perform biopsies when evaluating these patients. There are treatments available for esophageal toxicity. In this particular study, patients responded to proton pump inhibitors and budesonide, and some required an immunosuppressant medications such as biologics and systemic corticosteroids. Esophageal Complications With GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Another noteworthy study[9] delved into drug-related GI and esophageal-specific complications, in this case resulting from treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists. We see GI motility and anesthesia issues related to these agents, but this complication concerns the effect on esophageal dysmotility. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic assessed the association of GLP-1 receptor agonist exposure on high-resolution manometry findings obtained over a 10-year period. They identified 447 patients who had been exposed to these medications, with a final comparison cohort of 84 cases and 84 controls. They found very specific, integrated relaxation pressures were statistically different in the patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists. Distal contraction intervals were greater, as were the number of hypercontractile supine swallows, the incidence of hypercontractile esophagus, and the incidence of esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction. It's important to recognize this risk when performing manometry evaluations, and to be aware of the potential for new GI complications resulting from treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Ergonomics and Endoscopy The final study[10] in this video relates to endoscopy. I thought this was important, given the ASGE guideline on ergonomics for preventing endoscopy-related musculoskeletal issues. This study comes from a team of researchers in South Korea. Using a variety of monitors, they assessed the ergonomics of endoscopists, who tend to hold static and repetitive upper limb postures. They found that 52% of endoscopists' postures fell into the high-risk category. The wrist and lower arm segments were most affected, with notable strain also placed in the head and torso regions. Fellows were more likely to be at risk, which makes sense since they're less experienced. These findings indicate that ergonomic challenges persist, despite current recommendations that we need to do better. Ensuring a robust system and emphasizing robotic ergonomic training and monitoring are important for self-preservation as we get older and further along in our endoscopy career. Stay tuned for part two of my highlights from DDW 2025, which offers exciting new findings that you won't want to miss. I'm Dr David Johnson. Thanks for listening.
Associated Press
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
ODU Celebrates More than 2,700 Graduates During its 142nd Commencement Exercises
Norfolk, VA, May 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More than 2,700 students joined the ranks of Monarch alumni during Old Dominion University's 142nd commencement exercises this weekend. Family members and friends cheered on their graduates at ceremonies across campus recognizing the hard work and success they have achieved during their journeys at Old Dominion University. Close to 2,100 students gathered for the Main Undergraduate Ceremony at 9:30 a.m. on May 10 at Kornblau Field in S.B. Ballard Stadium. The event celebrated graduates of the Batten College of Engineering and Technology, the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, the Ellmer College of Health Sciences, Ellmer School of Nursing, the Strome College of Business, the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Sciences and the School of Cybersecurity. 'Please know that, like everyone here today, I am immensely proud of each of you — members of Old Dominion University's Class of 2025,' said President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D. 'As your membership in the Monarch Nation evolves with today's transition from students to alumni, that pride will continue to grow in the years to come. Congratulations to all of you!' The University bestowed an honorary doctorate of humane letters during the ceremony to award-winning actress, director and producer Meagan Good, who served as the featured speaker. Good began her remarks by talking about the many challenges she faced growing up in a small community in California. 'I was labeled a whirlwind of identities, none of which truly fit,' she said. 'But here's the thing: in that space of isolation, I discovered the power of authenticity. I realized that my uniqueness or difference wasn't a flaw — it was my strength.' Good, who began her career as a child actress and went on to star in television shows, music videos and feature films, including the 'Think Like a Man' series and 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,' encouraged the Class of 2025 to embrace their uniqueness. 'Because the world doesn't need another copy; it needs the original you,' she said. She described how setbacks in her journey as an actress — from nervous auditions to challenging roles — ultimately prepared her for something far greater and truly unimaginable. 'Perception is everything,' she said. 'Perception is actually reality. Embrace the lessons and perceive them as gifts to grow you stronger.' Good cautioned graduates not to rush to their destinations because, 'the journey — the highs, the lows, these lessons — that is where the magic happens.' She also enlisted graduates to lift others as they climb and to never sacrifice their integrity: 'Real success isn't just about reaching our vision of the top; it's about bringing others with you.' In closing, Good reflected on a time in her career when she questioned whether she was on the right path. After praying for guidance, she found clarity to know that 'I will win.' 'And standing here before you today, this — speaking life over and into the next generation — is a huge part of that purpose,' she said. 'It is one of the greatest honors of my life. To know every single part of the journey has never been in vain, but only a gift to remind you through experience. You, too, will win.' The University also bestowed an honorary doctorate of public service to The Honorable Don Scott, who represents the 88th district in Virginia's House of Delegates. In 2024, he was elected as the first Black speaker of the House of Delegates in the state's 400-year history. Speaker Scott served as a U.S. Navy officer and earned his law degree from Louisiana State University. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from Portsmouth in 2019 and was chosen as House Democratic Leader in 2022 before his selection as House Speaker last year. His unanimous election as speaker wasn't just symbolic – it reflected his ability to bring people together and to lead with both principle and purpose. Speaker Scott is a passionate and tireless champion for major investments in public education, criminal justice reform, affordable healthcare, and policies that fuel economic opportunity across the commonwealth. New this year, graduates moved across campus to individual college and school ceremonies after the main undergraduate ceremony. The individual ceremonies provided graduates the opportunity to celebrate their achievements with their closest peers and faculty mentors. Locations included S.B. Ballard Stadium, as well as Kaufman Mall, the Perry Library green space and Chartway Arena. 'As these commencement exercises draw to a close, I wish each and every one of you best wishes for a prosperous and successful life,' President Hemphill said. Commencement weekend kicked off Friday night in Chartway Arena with the Advanced Degree Ceremony for doctoral and masters students. John B. Ford, Ph.D., a Professor of Marketing and International Business, Eminent Scholar and Haislip Rohrer Fellow at Old Dominion University, addressed the approximately 650 students awarded educational specialist, master's and doctoral degrees. 'You have a lot to be proud of, and I know you are feeling relief and possibly some exhaustion as well — unfortunately, I cannot advise you to just relax,' Dr. Ford said. Instead, he shared four suggestions for the soon-to-be-graduates. First, he encouraged them to be lifelong learners and keep an open mind as they navigate life. Second, Dr. Ford urged them to travel, experience new cultures and be a 'valuable citizen of the world.' Third, he said to be humble and keep a collaborative spirit when working with others. Last, he acknowledged the loved ones and supporters who helped the students achieve their educational goals. 'You are all products now of this fine University, and we want you to realize that you represent us,' Dr. Ford said. 'Every one of you can make your own contributions to your fields of study and your industries, and we want you to go out and show the world what you can do. Make us proud!' The Class of 2025 Advanced Degree Ceremony for Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School and EVMS School of Health Professions at Old Dominion University will be held at 10 a.m. on May 17 at Chartway Arena. Alfred Abuhamad, MD, executive vice president for Health Sciences at ODU and dean of Eastern Virginia Medical School at ODU will provide keynote remarks, and 401 degrees will be awarded. Photo assets available on Dropbox. ### ABOUT OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY Old Dominion University (ODU), located in Norfolk, is Virginia's forward-focused public doctoral research university with more than 24,000 students. A top R1 research institution offering rigorous academics, ODU is recognized nationally for academic excellence, social mobility and access. Military friendly and home to an energetic residential community and robust initiatives that currently contribute $3.8 billion annually to Virginia's economy, ODU is a leader in the commonwealth. Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, founded July 1, 2024, represents the most comprehensive health sciences center in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Attachments Kenya Godette Old Dominion University 757-683-4988 [email protected]
