StM News

In the bright glow of the Middle School science lab, seventh graders bend carefully over trays, scalpels poised. The sharp tang of formaldehyde hangs in the air as latex gloves snap and notebooks rustle. They’ve begun dissecting a squid, their first glimpse into the hidden architecture of life. 

For many Saints, this is where it starts: a spark, a fascination, a journey that may one day take them to an operating room, clinic, or research lab. That was the case for Georgetown graduate and current LSU Medical student Izzy Bartholomew ’21, who says she will never forget her seventh grade science class, taught by the legendary Warren Lind. 

“I remember it distinctly to this day, down to the smell of formaldehyde,” she said. “Ten years ago, Mr. Lind instilled a strong biology foundation in me, along with a deep understanding of frog dissection skills, and I have carried that knowledge with me to medical school. That class was my first real exposure to anatomy, and I absolutely loved it. It was, without a doubt, a formative part of my pre-medical journey.”

For nearly 80 years, a St. Martin’s education has represented a level of academic excellence that goes far beyond mastering facts. It has stood for a level of learning that awakens curiosity, sharpens critical thinking, and equips students to see connections others might miss. It’s about the moment a student leans closer to a microscope, it’s building the confidence to ask the next question, and the guidance of a teacher who knows a child by name and potential. For generations, those moments have opened doors to meaningful work in every field.

For Hunter Sikaffy ’18, a third-year medical student, it began early, with a way of thinking that St. Martin’s made habitual.

“From my time at StM in second grade in Mrs. Little's class, we were taught to think critically,” he said. “I can name each of my Lower School teachers and recount countless memories of them being kind to me and encouraging my intellectual curiosity.” 

Dr. David Bowman ’92, now president and managing partner of Richmond Eye Associates, frames it simply:

“Elementary and secondary education lays the foundation upon which everything else is built… the science and math education I received at St. Martin's was especially pivotal.”

Those early habits - curiosity, critical thinking, and kindness - become tools students carry into college labs, hospital rounds, and residency programs.

Dr. Ed Boldt ’75 points to foundational sciences and the school’s motto of Faith, Scholarship, Service as guideposts across his veterinary career.

“I feel St. Martin's creed of Faith, Scholarship, and Service was fundamental in shaping me into the man I am today,” he said. “I strived to uphold those goals, and I pray that I have been successful. St. Martin's was and is a family! When my family moved to Louisiana, I was given the choice of another private school in the area or St. Martin's. I am forever thankful that I chose St. Martin's!”

Rigor and Relationships

As students advance, St. Martin’s asks them to balance rigor with relationships - practice for the real work in any profession, including the medical field. Pediatrician Lauren Triay ’14 describes how that balance shaped her pediatric career:

“Between the rigorous academic curriculum, athletics, club involvement, and community service, St. Martin’s students learn the importance of being skilled in many different realms,” she said. “As a student at St. Martin’s, I would have to balance doing my homework, going to cheerleading practice and sporting events, and leading club meetings. This has helped me throughout college, medical school, residency, and even now as a fully licensed physician to keep up with my board studying, research, and chart review while still making time for the things I enjoy, such as exercising, volunteering in the community, and spending time with loved ones.”

Jill McCall Hahn ’04, a Psychiatrist at Integrative Behavioral Health, connects those same experiences to psychiatry and leadership:

“I learned how to make positive connections with others, how to think critically, how to reason, how to work with and get along with all types of people,” she said. “St. Martin’s taught me to be a present, loving, and empathetic human being with a heart for God.”

Ben Bone ’19, a second-year medical student at LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine, believes that the opportunities St. Martin’s provides—combined with the support of its dedicated teachers—prepare students to navigate the demands of college and beyond successfully.

“Because every student at StM is involved in multiple sports, clubs, and academics, we gradually perfect the balance of taking rigorous classes while also participating in activities that build your resume,” he said. “As a result, when StM alumni arrive at college, meeting friends, getting involved in what we love to do, and succeeding in our major comes seemingly effortlessly.” 

From Possibility to Pathway

Some alumni point to teachers who transformed a possibility into a pathway. Anna Catinis ’14, now Chief Dermatology Resident at Baylor College of Medicine, notes:

“St. Martin’s prepared me for this path by fostering intellectual curiosity and confidence in my ability to problem-solve,” she said. “The rigor of the coursework challenged me to think critically, while the close relationships with teachers showed me the value of mentorship and clear communication, skills I rely on every day in patient care. Leadership and service opportunities at St. Martin’s also helped me build the interpersonal skills that are essential in a field rooted in trust, compassion, and shared decision-making. The lessons I learned at St. Martin’s continue to guide how I grow as a learner, leader, and friend.”

Margaret “Garret” Paterson ’05, now a dentist and family practice co-owner, credits specific scaffolding that became a springboard to her career. 

“St. Martin’s played an integral part in where I am today,” she said. “It not only provided me with a fantastic education that I was able to build upon as my studies advanced, but it also provided me with a foundation to be successful in my studies and life in general. I found most of my first year of undergrad to be a review of concepts already learned at St. Martin’s… I not only passed with flying colors, but also ended up pursuing a degree in Biology.” 

A Legacy of Impact

The pattern of St. Martin’s teachers lighting sparks that lead students to discover their purpose has stretched across generations. Dr. Stephen McCollum ’74, an orthopaedic hand surgeon in Atlanta for 36 years, recalls how one StM teacher altered his trajectory:

“I will always be grateful for Mr. Graf, who stimulated my interest in the sciences, especially chemistry… His guidance and trust in me gave me the confidence to commit to the daunting task of a pre-medical curriculum,” he said. “St. Martin’s modeled integrity and academic rigor while emphasizing a well-rounded curriculum, which has been central to my success all these many years later.”

Just a year behind him, Dr. JB Benton ’75 shares a nearly identical story of inspiration and perseverance. He credits rigorous study habits and time management that carried him through dental school and competitive orthodontic training. “Mr. Graf, who taught chemistry and physics, was instrumental to my success,” he said. “I can say, unequivocally, that I would not be an orthodontist today without Mr. Graf… Entry to postgraduate orthodontic programs is extremely competitive, requiring applicants to be in the top 5% of their dental school class. There is no way on earth I would have been accepted into dental school and beyond without the four years I spent at St. Martin’s.”

Dr. Patrick Garvey ’93, professor of plastic surgery at MD Anderson, ties the throughline together: “Looking back, St. Martin’s played a central role in shaping not only my career but also the person I am today,” he said. “It was there that I learned perseverance, integrity, and community, and perhaps most importantly, that I had the potential to achieve far more than I thought possible. I am deeply grateful for those years and proud to be part of the St. Martin’s legacy.”

Across a large variety of specialties, Saints lead and serve. Another 1993 alumnus, Dr. Chad Aleman, describes teachers who “motivated [students] to perform to their highest potential,” lessons in teamwork from championship sports, and “an environment of academic curiosity that encouraged lifelong learning.”

Dr. Jennifer Moorhead Parkerson ’76 has retired after a 35-year career as a general pediatrician in the New Orleans area. She says coming to St. Martin’s after moving from Chicago, where she attended a much larger school, made her realize how grateful she is for the opportunity to attend St Martin's. 

“The small size and openness of the school provided a perfect space for a new student from ‘up North’ to be involved in everything from the school musical to sports, yearbook, and the school newspaper,” she said. “With this, there was an understanding that I had a responsibility to a larger community. This motivated my desire to practice pediatrics in New Orleans and guide a diverse community of parents in the care, development, and education of their children.

Leading with Purpose Today

Our alumni who have been appointed to leadership roles and who have taken the oath to care for others serve as reminders for our current students that the habits they practice today - attention to detail, perseverance, service - scale to leadership tomorrow.

Jonathan E. Schoen ’03 serves as the Burn Medical Director of the Burn Center at University Medical Center New Orleans and Associate Professor of Surgery at LSUHSC. He says that the call to serve was ingrained since Lower School. 

“From an early age, hearing the story of St. Martin de Tours dividing his cloak for a beggar always had an impact on me, in that acts of kindness and humanity towards others can and will be rewarded, even when unwitnessed,” he said. “The responsibility is, at times, a heavy load to bear, but it is a privilege every day that I get to walk into work and serve others.”

And the pipeline continues. Leven Green ‘21, a Physician Assistant student, recalls how Ms. Stacy Richards’s encouragement in biology and marine biology built confidence for hard classes and for mentoring others. 

“She was so encouraging while I navigated really hard classes, and even trusted me with the opportunity to tutor her granddaughter in math,” she said. “She loved what she did, and she helped give me confidence in myself as both a student and a person as I continue to navigate PA school.”

For Joseph DeCorte ’15, who is currently working on an MD-PhD at Vanderbilt, traces his scientific drive to St. Martin’s flexibility and mentorship.

“St. Martin’s clearly set no boundaries on the pursuit of academic interests – flexibility which is rare in high-school curricula that proved invaluable to my scientific career… St. Martin’s curriculum teaches students how to live its motto: Faith, Scholarship, Service. By building on this strong foundation, I’m now able to pursue a career as a physician-scientist that I find fulfilling, challenging, and exciting.”

From Classroom to Calling

Individually, these stories inspire. Together, they offer a picture of a school that sees limitless potential within its students and provides the springboard to a life of success, meaning, and purpose. When students are known by name, stretched by rigorous academics, grounded in faith and service, and coached by adults who believe in them, they discover durable passions, and those passions become lives of impact.

Today’s students practicing careful technique beside a patient teacher belong to the same tradition that led to hundreds of alumni now serving as pediatricians, psychiatrists, ophthalmologists, dentists, plastic and orthopaedic surgeons, veterinary specialists, physician-scientists, and more. The list is far from complete as St. Martin’s graduates continue to make their mark in every corner of medicine. Each has a story of inspiration that began here, in classrooms where dedicated teachers helped them see what was possible. 

Explore more alumni stories ➡️ 

What starts with a scalpel and a frog can lead, years later, to a white coat and a life of service. In our classrooms on Green Acres, the spark still catches. The classrooms still hum with discovery. And the story of Saints thriving in college and in life is still being written…one curious student at a time.