14 Memorial Medical Milestones • 2025 Issue 1 Sharon Semien, a seasoned registered nurse, has worked at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for over 35 years. She’s seen the healthcare landscape evolve, from her early days as a new graduate nurse on the 8th floor of the patient tower to her current role in the emergency department, where she spent much of her nursing career. But she’s not the first—or last—member of her family to work at Memorial. “Nursing runs in our blood. When I was a kid, I saw my mother’s nursing career and I wanted to be a part of that,” Sharon shares. Sharon’s mother, who retired from Lake Charles Memorial Hospital after more than 30 years of service in medicalsurgical nursing, continues to practice even today, in a part-time capacity, at 84 years old. Sharon often reflects on the impact her mother had on her own life, and now she has the privilege of watching her children carry that torch. Passing on a love of nursing What Sharon values most now is the fact that her children, CJ and Cloee, have chosen to follow in her footsteps, bringing their own passion and commitment to nursing at Lake Charles Memorial Health System. CJ, who graduated from McNeese State University in spring 2023, works in the emergency department at Memorial, continuing the family tradition of care. His journey to nursing was influenced by his mother’s unwavering passion for her work and the stability that a nursing career could offer. CJ focuses on making a difference during some of the most trying moments of a person’s life, which speaks volumes about his empathy and commitment to his patients. To him, the unique connection to the community that ER nurses experience makes the job especially meaningful. “You’re not just a nurse, but a friend,” he says. “You see people at their most vulnerable, sometimes at their worst, and you’re right there beside them.” Cloee, who also graduated from McNeese State University—just a year after her brother—works at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women in the Family Birth Center as a labor and delivery nurse. She’s always had a passion for nurturing others, and her work in labor and delivery is the perfect fit. “I see myself as a coach,” Cloee says, referring to her role in guiding women through the challenges and rewards of childbirth. ‘Nursing is in our blood’ For the Semien family, nursing is more than just a job—it’s a legacy
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