Emily Ames Otken

Emily Ames Otken is a third-year medical student at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport School of Medicine pursuing her medical doctorate. She is serving as the LSU Health Shreveport Executive Council Student Body President.

Although born in Baton Rouge, Emily was raised in Denham Springs, Louisiana. Emily is a 2022 Ogden Honors graduate of Louisiana State University A&M where she earned a degree in Biological Sciences with minors in Political Science and History, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Emily was an LSU 2020 Homecoming Representative as well as a recipient of the Love Purple Live Gold 2022 Legacy and Agent of Change awards. While at LSU, Emily served as the President of Alpha Epsilon Delta, LSU’s pre-medical honor society, the Vice President of the Student Philanthropy Council, and a three term Director of Transportation and Safety for LSU Student Government. Through her work in Student Government, Emily was awarded the Association of Past Presidents of the LSU Student Body Student Incentive Award. Emily held several director positions as a member of the Delta Tau chapter of the Alpha Phi sorority while at LSU. Emily was selected as a member of the Louisiana State University Tiger 12 Class of 2022. She also served as a Congressional Intern in Washington D.C. and in Baton Rouge and was an active volunteer in the Greater Baton Rouge Area.

In her first two years of medical school, Emily has worked with numerous organizations throughout the Shreveport community including the HUB: Urban Ministry and the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home. She cofounded the Shreveport Chapter of the Christian Medical and Dental Association and served as President of the Internal Medicine Pediatrics Interest Group. Emily is an Area Health Education Center Scholar through which she has focused her attention on Louisiana’s underserved communities. As an AHEC Scholar and Liaison, Emily helped foster a relationship between the Community Renewal International Friendship Houses and AHEC and coauthored lesson plans on a variety of healthcare topics including Nutrition, Diabetes, and Personal Hygiene. She served as the Director of Student Services for the Executive Council of LSU Health Shreveport through which she worked on Mental Health and Wellness initiatives.

After medical school, Emily plans to attend residency and specialize in pediatrics. She intends to return to Louisiana to practice as well as continue to serve her home state through her volunteer efforts.