Graves Lecture Series to spotlight CSC alumnae

Carla Dowdy, the Chief Medical Officer of Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association, and Lyndsi Slusarski, a Physician’s Assistant, will present about how their experiences at CSC as a former student-athlete and an athletics graduate assistant influenced their journeys to success in the healthcare industry, Thursday, Jan. 23, in the Math Science Center of Innovative Learning (COIL) Lecture Hall 017 at 3 p.m.

Dowdy, while earning her degree in Human Biology, played women’s basketball for CSC from 1996 to 2000. After working at Chadron Medical Clinic, she pursued graduate studies at A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona, where she attended Physician Assistant School. Dowdy worked in several emergency departments in Arizona prior to moving to New York City for a brief period. Dowdy currently works as the Chief Medical Officer and Emergency Room Physician Assistant at Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association in Ekalaka, Montana. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership.

Slusarski also earned her degree in Human Biology from CSC in 2000. Prior to attending the University of South Dakota’s Physician Assistant School, she spent a year serving as a graduate assistant for Chadron State’s women’s basketball team while also working at Chadron Medical Clinic.

After completing a medial mission trip to Africa, Slusarski began her career in family practice and later transitioned to dermatology. She has been practicing dermatology at the Rapid City Medical Center for 19 years.

Drawing from their experiences on and off the court, Dowdy and Slusarski will discuss how their history in athletics laid the foundation for their careers in the health field.

“Both Lyndsi and Carla are deeply proud of their alma mater and have worked hard to achieve their current success,” said co-organizer of the event and Professor Dawn Brammer. “The discipline, teamwork, and leadership skills developed through athletics often translate will into career settings where collaboration, resilience, and problem-solving are essential.”