NANCY DAWES - Ochsner.org

Outreach
Healthcare With Peace Of Mind TM 2008
NANCY DAWES
New Orleans resident, artist,
breast cancer survivor
: Breast
Assured p4
: Small Cure
Big Difference p8
: (Hear) and Now p10

Inside
outreach
Up Front
P 2-3
Goodbye Gustav
Make Life Happen
Heal the Burn
Healthy Living
P 4-7
Breast Assured
Game Day
The Flu or Not the Flu
Weight No More
:Up Front
goodbye gustav
Dear Ochsner
Friends and Family,
In the wake of Hurricane Gustav, we at
Ochsner are very grateful. We hope that you also
weathered the storm safely. Thanks to a carefully
designed and well-executed disaster plan,
Ochsner had limited disruptions in service, and
most importantly, no loss of life. I am grateful for
the successful efforts of so many in very
challenging circumstances. Gustav was the first
test of the new procedures put in place since
Hurricane Katrina, and we’re pleased with the
results. Here are some highlights:
• Of our seven hospitals, the six facilities with
emergency services remained fully operational,
even Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge
and Ochsner St. Anne, which were in the
2
Reaching Higher
P 8-11
Small Cure Big Difference
(Hear) and Now
Inside Ochsner
P 12-13
Check Us Out
Welcome New Physicians
Reaching Out
P 14-16
Fun on the Run
Ochsner in the Community
Ongoing Events
Upcoming Events
Support Groups
Are We
Talking
To You?
Go to www.OchsnerOutreach.org
and tell us what kind of articles
you’d like to read in Outreach.
Make Life H
Be an organ donor
This year at Ochsner Medical Center in New
Orleans, the Multi-Organ Transplant Institute
celebrated several milestones in its organ
transplant program with more than 1,300
kidneys, 1,000 livers and 700 hearts
transplanted. These milestones are thanks
to the generosity of the donors and their
families, who saw through their grief to save
the lives of others.
“You see the good that you can do when you
donate an organ to a person who is dying,” says
Dr. Hector Ventura, Section Head of Heart Failure
and the Heart Transplant Program at Ochsner.
“The more donations there are, the more lives
we can save.”
Ochsner’s legacy of being a leader in organ
transplantation began with Dr. John Ochsner,
who performed the first heart transplant
on the Gulf Coast in 1970. Today, Ochsner has
grown to one of the country’s leading transplant
centers in both volume and outcomes.
George Loss, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., Section Head
of the Abdominal Organ Transplant Program and
Abdominal Transplant Surgeon, explains, “You
have to have that commitment and Ochsner
has that commitment. We have a lot of
experience. Our patients are doing well. It’s
a powerful combination.”
1-866-Ochsner www.ochsner.org

hardest-hit areas. The five facilities that used
generator power for a short period of time kept
air conditioning running, keeping our staff and
patients comfortable in a frightening situation.
And for a time, Ochsner Medical Center –
Baton Rouge was the only hospital in the
Baton Rouge region able to perform surgery.
• Ochsner prepared ahead of time. All hospitals
were prepared to be completely self-sufficient,
with enough power, medical supplies, drugs,
food and water to last for two full weeks.
• We were able to assist area hospitals by sharing
fuel and receiving patients when those facilities
were at risk. In fact, Ochsner Medical Center
in New Orleans received 25 patients and was
prepared for more.
• The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans
received ten babies from regional hospitals,
increasing our nursery to 34 babies! The unit
stayed cool, well stocked and well cared for as
nurses remained nearby the entire time.
• Ochsner’s 1,200 essential employees who rode
out the storm within our hospitals received
hot meals and sleeping accommodations.
Additionally, in Baton Rouge, employees were
allowed to buy gas from the hospital and other
necessities at a makeshift “Och-Mart” as the
city faced shortages. Family members and pets
of employees were taken care of in all regions.
• Over 500 patients stayed in Ochsner hospitals
through Gustav, including four babies who
were born during the storm. Each patient could
have one family member stay with them.
• A few days post-Gustav, all facilities were
running as usual. On Friday, September 5th,
one day after the evacuation order was lifted,
we performed four transplant surgeries and
began performing cath lab procedures.
While Hurricane season doesn’t close
until November 31st, I hope these
illustrations provide peace of mind that
all Ochsner hospitals and employees
are ready and dedicated to meet your
healthcare needs today, and in a
disaster. As always, we remain
“everywhere you need us.”
Patrick Quinlan, M.D.
Chief Executive Officer, Ochsner Health System
The NICU took expert care
of 34 fragile babies.
appen
SAVE A LIFE
Make your wishes known.
Register at www.lopa.org,
Ycall 1-800-521-GIVE,
or go to any Louisiana DMV.
Plus, call 1-888-306-9748
or watch Health Link
videos on Ochsner’s
Transplant Program at
www.ochsner.org.
How Ochsner Compares
Dr. Loss explains that one reason for the Abdominal Organ
Transplant Program’s success is that its experienced physicians
have a keen eye for choosing donor organs and a streamlined
process for getting them transplanted quickly. “We have access
to livers that other programs don’t use. We never use a bad liver,
but we do use good livers with bad stories,” he says. “And we
improve the odds of them working by implanting them quickly.”
heal the burn
Barrett’s esophagus, a complication of reflux, occurs when tissue in
the lower esophagus is damaged.
“We want to prevent Barrett’s from progressing to esophageal
cancer,” says Dr. Ramon Rivera, Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopist,
Department of Gastroenterology at Ochsner Medical Center in New
Orleans. “The risk of developing cancer is 30 to 125 times higher in
people who have Barrett’s esophagus than in people who do not.”
Dr. Rivera recommends radiofrequency ablation to treat Barrett’s.
The FDA-approved procedure, in which damaged tissue is destroyed,
has extremely low complication rates and is 98 percent effective.
Reflux itself still needs to be treated with medication and lifestyle
changes. “This does not take care of the reflux,” says Dr. Rivera. “It
takes care of a complication of reflux.”
£ Call the Department of Gastroenterology at 1-888-306-8274 for more
information and to learn about other treatments for reflux.
3
LIVER TRANSPLANTS
QUALITY
Ochsner National
MEASURE Average Average
Organ waiting time 20-30 days 20 months
Graft failure rate 0.5% 2-7%
1 month patient survival 99% 96%
1 year patient survival 94% 87%
Time on ice under 5 hours 91% 35%

[”
:Healthy Living
“I can’t stress enough the
importance of journaling
during treatment.
Nancy DaweS
breast cancer survivor
4
DID YOU KNOW?
Ochsner’s Tansey Breast
Center is the only true
comprehensive breast
center in the Gulf South,
with dedicated breast
radiologists and direct
collaboration and
treatment planning
across disciplines.
Breast
assured
Early detection is key to surviving breast cancer
After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Nancy Dawes, an art teacher in the New Orleans Public School System
for 20 years, retired. She began painting full-time and loved it. Just days after an art show in January 2008,
she found a large lump in her breast. “I was appalled that I had not noticed it until then,” Nancy says.
“I was so consumed with my painting for three years, I realized that I was no longer attuned to my body
and healthcare regime.”
Dr. John Cole, Chairman of Hematology and Oncology at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, says
that although breast cancer awareness remains high, many women still don’t undergo regular screenings.
Dr. Cole says, “There are many reasons, but the message is: It’s an important thing to check off your list
of things to do for yourself.”
The current recommendation is for women to have a baseline mammogram between the ages of 35
and 40, followed by annual mammograms starting at age 40. For those with certain risk factors — such
as a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) or multiple family members with breast cancer — a baseline
mammogram may be recommended earlier.
While mammograms and self-exams are the best first steps, doctors are also utilizing breast MRIs
(magnetic resonance imaging) as a tool for screening women at high risk for breast cancer or who have
dense breast tissue. “MRIs can give us a clearer picture for certain women,” says Lynette Mauterer, R.N.,
Nurse Practitioner and Quality Director of Clinical Services at Ochsner’s Lieselotte Tansey Breast Center,
across from Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. “But it’s important to discuss their benefits and
limitations with a breast specialist.”
With awareness, better screening tools and always-improving treatment options, breast cancer
patients have more reason than ever for hope.
-BREAST FRIENDS
Learn more about the
breast cancer prevention,
detection, treatment and
support services available
at Ochsner’s Lieselotte
Tansey Breast Center.
Call 1-888-306-8817.
1-866-Ochsner www.ochsner.org

Q A
Why GO & DIGITAL?
Q Why go digital for mammograms?
A While traditional film mammography is good at
helping doctors detect breast cancers, digital
mammograms offer slight improvements in detection,
particularly for younger patients and those with
denser breast tissue.
It’s also quicker, and we can magnify and post
process the images on the monitor, which may make
abnormalities easier to identify. Traditional films can
be lost — some were damaged during Katrina — or
may be difficult to retrieve, but digital files are easily
retrievable so we can quickly compare previous
mammograms against new images to see if subtle
changes are happening. Ochsner is now using digital
mammography.
£ To schedule a digital mammography appointment,
call the location nearest you:
Ochsner’s Lieselotte Tansey Breast Center: 504-842-6406
Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner: 504-712-2800
Ochsner Health Center – Metairie: 504-842-6406
Ochsner Health Center – Marrero: 504-842-6406
Meet the Doctor
DANA smetherman, M.D.
Section Head, Breast Imaging
at Ochsner Medical Center in
New Orleans
5
AStonishing detail
The same high-definition technology that allows you to enjoy
every tiny detail of the big game on TV is now helping detect
and prevent colon cancer. Every colonoscopy performed
at Ochsner uses high-definition equipment, giving physicians
a clear, easily manipulated view, even detecting previously
hard-to-see flat polyps.
“The image is much clearer,” says Dr. Aldo Russo, Section Head
of Gastroenterology at Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge.
“The details are accentuated, making it easier for us to detect and
prevent colon cancer.”
“It allows us to do a quicker, safer, more accurate exam,” agrees
Dr. David Beck, Chairman of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Ochsner Medical Center
in New Orleans.
£ Have your first colonoscopy when you turn 50, or younger if you are at higher risk for
colon cancer. If you’re due, get a referral from your physician and call 1-888-212-6995 in
Baton Rouge or 1-888-306-9325 in New Orleans to schedule your colonoscopy.

:Healthy Living
The FLU
OR NOT
The FLU?
6
GAme Day
Super food choices are now available at the Louisiana Superdome
Ochsner Health System and Elmwood Fitness
Center have joined forces with Centerplate to
bring healthy food choices to Saints fans at
the Louisiana Superdome. Every concession
stand will feature at least one option that is
lower in fat and calories, while still keeping
the stadium feel. For example, low-fat turkey
hot dogs on light whole wheat buns will be
available where regular hot dogs are sold,
and blackened chicken sandwiches will be an
alternative to the fried variety.
“Nothing is being taken away — your
favorite splurge will still be there,” says Molly
Kimball, R.D., C.S.S.D., Registered Dietitian
at Elmwood Fitness Center. “But now there
will be healthy choices everywhere, from
the suites to general concessions on the
concourse.” The Ochsner Eat Fit logo (shown
below) on the menu board will indicate the
healthy options. Nutrition information will
be posted nearby, making it easy for you to
enjoy a guilt-free game day.
If you’re tailgating in the parking lot or
watching the game at home, you can still
get into the spirit with healthy food choices.
Try this chili recipe as part of your celebration.
Meet the Registered dietitian
Molly Kimball, R.D., C.S.S.D.
Elmwood Fitness Center,
a service of Ochsner
1.866.Ochsner 1-866-Ochsner www.ochsner.org
GAME DAY CHILI
1 pound extra lean ground beef
(at least 93% lean)
1 onion, chopped
3 cans diced tomatoes (not drained)
1 can tomato sauce
1 can white beans
1 can red beans
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp cumin
1 cup salsa
INSTRUCTIONS
In a large skillet, brown ground beef
and onion until thoroughly cooked.
Drain and pour into a large pot. Add
the rest of the ingredients and cook
on low heat for 8 hours.
Nutrition facts per serving:
310 calories; 10g total fat;
2g saturated fat; 0g trans fat;
45g carbohydrates; 10g dietary fiber;
19g protein; 593g sodium
Serves 8
Do you know what’s ailing you?
The flu and the average cold might be two miserable
peas in a pod, but many of us often confuse the two,
even though they are actually dramatically different.
Many viruses can bring on a cold, but the Influenza A
and B viruses are the only causes of the flu. These viruses
share many of the same symptoms, but a general rule of
thumb is that the flu comes on suddenly, unexpectedly
and usually with a vengeance. Colds are generally milder,
and don’t typically lead to serious complications.
According to Dr. Richard Deichmann, Associate
Medical Director of Adult Primary Care at Ochsner
Medical Center in New Orleans, the flu is characterized
by high fever, joint pain, muscle aches, fatigue and chills.
You might also experience a runny nose, dry cough,
headaches, eye pain or a sore throat.
“You’ll usually know when the flu comes on and you
shouldn’t second-guess yourself,” Dr. Deichmann says.
“Some people can even tell you the exact time the flu
hits them. It can be that intense.”
On the flip side, a cold can sneak up on you, beginning
with signs of drowsiness, a few sneezes and a muffled
cough, leading to a runny, stuffy nose. If you do have a
fever, it will be low.
“There could also be some muscle aches, runny eyes
or scratchy throat,” Dr. Deichmann says. “But it’s
generally milder than the flu and you can usually just
treat it yourself with over-the-counter medicine and
good personal care.”
Dr. James Tebbe, Vice President of Medical Affairs
at Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner, says influenza is
normally treated with Tamiflu®, an antiviral medicine.
This treatment is effective in adults who take it
within 48 hours of when the symptoms are noticed,
with many feeling better 30 percent faster than
with other methods.
“Identifying and responding to the flu quickly is
an important step in treatment,” says Dr. Tebbe.
“Additionally, each Fall, you might want to consider
receiving a flu vaccination to prevent getting the
flu in the first place.”

[
BEFORE
The flu comes
on suddenly,
unexpectedly
[The and flu with comes a
on vengeance. suddenly,
unexpectedly
and with
a ven-
YOUR BEST SHOT
Flu shots are given
ithroughout the area in
October and November.
Call 1-888-306-8791 or
visit www.ochsner.org
to find a location
near you.
WeiGHT No More
Healthy living starts now
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle isn’t always easy, but a three-month comprehensive
weight and lifestyle management program called Weight No More from Ochsner’s
Elmwood Fitness Center can guide you along.
“Our main objective is to teach people the daily habits they need to learn to make
lifestyle changes,” says Tavis Piattoly, M.S., R.D., Director of Health and Fitness at
Elmwood Fitness Center.
The program is individualized for each participant, based on fitness test results.
The intensity of strength and cardiovascular training increases over three phases.
To enroll, participants must have a medical evaluation and clearance by their own
physician or Dr. Matthew McQueen, a Family Practitioner at Primary Care Sports
Medicine. Weight No More includes:
ü Cardiopulmonary exercise stress testing
ü Metabolic study
ü Monthly tracking of weight, blood pressure and circumference measurements
ü personal training for three months or 36 sessions
ü Six nutrition consultations with a licensed nutritionist
ü Heart rate monitor
ü Three-month membership to Elmwood Fitness Center
The goal is to maintain healthy habits every day. “It’s not just a weight-loss
program,” says participant Carl Angelica, who has lost weight, lowered his blood
pressure and gotten his diabetes under control. “It’s a way of life.”
AFTER
Carl Angelica lost 50 pounds
and eight inches from his waist
in five months, and continues to
maintain his healthy lifestyle.
GET FIT Visit
www.elmwoodfitness.com,
call Tavis Piattoly at
1-888-306-8471 or e-mail
tpiattoly@ochsner.org
to learn how to join Weight
No More and about all
Elmwood Fitness Center
has to offer.
‰
7

:Reaching Higher
[“I had no pain and had to
remind myself that I was
recovering from surgery.”
BRENDA DUMAS
uterine cancer survivor
8
small cure
big diFFERENCE
Meet the robot that helps treat cancer
Five centuries after his death, Leonardo da Vinci, the
“Renaissance Man” known for his inventions and
paintings, is still influencing the world. Today, Ochsner
is using a robot named after him — the da Vinci®
Surgical System — to help treat uterine cancer patients.
The da Vinci, also used for other delicate surgeries, such
as prostatectomies, has numerous benefits for the
surgeon and patients alike.
the advantages
Treatment for early-stage uterine cancer will begin
with a hysterectomy, in which the patient’s uterus, cervix,
fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed. A lymph node
dissection is also done to determine more information
about the cancer and whether or not it has spread.
Standard, open-abdominal surgery requires a large
incision, a several-day hospital stay, a long recovery and
narcotics, and can result in significant scarring.
A robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy requires
five small incisions. Surgeons insert the instruments into
the patient and guide the four-armed robot via a console
next to the patient. A camera shows exactly what is going
on inside the patient’s body and the instruments are 100
percent controlled by the surgeon.
“With regular laparoscopy, you are operating with
instruments that are like chop sticks — it is difficult to
get into risky places,” says Dr. Lisa Bazzett, Gynecologic
Oncologist in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at
Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. “But with the robotic
technology, it is similar to moving around with your hands;
you can move 360 degrees. It is the best of both worlds.”
As a result, patients have significantly less pain, fewer
complications, less scarring and a shorter hospital stay.
The majority of patients don’t need narcotics, which helps
them recover faster.
Dr. Richard Kline, Section Head of Ochsner’s Gynecologic
Oncology Division, emphasizes, “Robotic-assisted surgery
is an easier surgery that allows for a quicker recovery.”
Doctors Kline and Bazzett are two out of fewer than 1,000
U.S. surgeons who perform this procedure.
DID YOU KNOW? Doctors Kline and
Bazzett are two out of fewer than 1,000 U.S.
surgeons who perform robotic hysterectomy.
GETTING ON WITH LIFE FASTER
“Robotic surgery is a godsend,” says Brenda Dumas,
a uterine cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with uterine
cancer in 2007 and treated by Dr. Kline with a roboticassisted
laparoscopic hysterectomy.
1-866-Ochsner www.ochsner.org

clinical trials
Clinical trials can offer some patients therapies that are
designed to better target their specific cancer. Yet, of
the 1.3 million people who will be
diagnosed with cancer this year,
only 3 to 5 percent will
participate in clinical trials.
Ochsner Cancer Services
has enrolled more than
2,200 patients into clinical
trials over the past 10
years and currently has
103 trials in progress.
The American Society of
Clinical Oncology recently
recognized Ochsner for its efforts
in clinical trial participation.
UGET THE SCOOP
Watch a Health Link video
about robotic surgery
at www.ochsner.org
“She was severely affected by
or call 1-888-304-4796
Hurricane Katrina so I thought she
for more information.
was a perfect candidate for this
surgery,” says Dr. Kline. Brenda was
tending to an ill relative in addition to
trying to rebuild her life after Katrina
demolished the places where she lived and worked.
Dr. Kline wanted to get Brenda back to normal faster so
she could tend to these other areas of her life.
“I had no pain and had to remind myself that I was recovering
from surgery. I felt good so it was deceiving that I was still
healing inside,” says Brenda, who is now cancer-free, singing
in her church choir again and looking forward to moving
out of her FEMA trailer and into her renovated home
this fall. “Everyone should take advantage
of robotic-assisted surgery.”
CoMforting care
When patients need chemotherapy, they can go to the Chemo Infusion
Unit at Ochsner Medical Center – West Bank, where they will be met
with a very caring staff.
“We are very attentive to the physical, emotional and mental stress that
our chemotherapy patients are going through,” says Melissa M. Adams,
R.N., C.N.O.R., B.S., M.H.C.A., Assistant Vice President of Surgical Services
at Ochsner Medical Center – West Bank. “The staff offers empathy and
compassion to patients struggling to fight cancer. We take the time
to listen to the patients and their families about what the diagnosis of
cancer means to them.”
In addition to an exceptional staff at the Unit, patients can find many
of the comforts of home, including comfortable recliners, warm blankets,
flat screen TVs, refreshments, iPods to listen to music or podcasts, and a
library with a large variety of books.
£ To learn more about the Chemo Infusion Unit at Ochsner Medical Center –
West Bank, call 1-888-306-1405.
9
APRIL 2008 Kevin Carberry,
defensive end for the New Orleans
Voodoo, visited patients in the
chemotherapy infusion center
at Ochsner Medical Center
in New Orleans.

:Reaching Higher
Q A
WHY tonsilLECTOMY?
&
10
Meet the Doctor
Kimsey RodriGuez, M.D.
Pediatric Otolaryngologist in the
Department of Otolaryngology
at Ochsner Medical Center
in New Orleans
£ For more information
on the Department of
Otolaryngology, call
1-888-306-2048.
Q What are the reasons
for removing a
child’s tonsils?
A While most tonsillectomies
are performed to treat
large and obstructive
tonsils, a recent study from
the University of Michigan
has found another benefit
to removing tonsils. If
a child has persistent
snoring and/or wakes up
frequently at night, he or
she probably will not be
able to fully regenerate
energy. This leaves the
child tired and in some
cases hyperactive. (In
extreme cases, the child may
actually be misdiagnosed
with ADHD.) Removing
the tonsils allows for better
breathing, a better night’s
sleep and may also solve
some behavioral issues.
OLISTEN UP
Call 1-888-306-1643
to find an Ear, Nose and
Throat Specialist or to learn
more about the Cochlear
Implant Program.
1-866-Ochsner www.ochsner.org
The first words Gwen Garber, shown with son Scott, heard after 30 years
of deafness were “What do you want for Christmas?” She jokingly asked
for a luxury car and a lavish vacation.

[
“My everyday life has changed. I can
go to the store, have conversations
and even use drive-up windows.”
SCOTT GARBER
cochlear implant recipient
(HEAR)
AND NOW
Cochlear implants restore hearing
Imagine waking up one morning not being able to hear.
In 2003, it happened to Scott Garber. He woke up one
morning completely deaf in his left ear. The Berwick, La.
resident had been wearing hearing aids since he was 26
years old and was used to not hearing well, but his sudden
hearing loss was a shock.
Scott saw Dr. Timothy Molony, Neurotologist at Ochsner
Medical Center in New Orleans, who recommended a
cochlear implant to restore his hearing.
One month after the outpatient procedure, Scott was
hearing again. He now has almost perfect hearing and
enjoys life much more. “I wish I had a cochlear implant
since day one and had not waited 12 years for complete
hearing loss to get it,” says Scott.
What Is a cochlear implant?
A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device that
stimulates the hearing nerve in the cochlea (inner ear)
and allows those with severe hearing loss to hear again.
It has two main parts:
ü internal The internal implant is placed under the
skin and into the inner ear.
ü external The external speech processor has a
microphone and a battery pack with a coil and a cable.
The speech processor picks up sound and sends electric
pulses to the implant. The electrodes then stimulate the
hearing nerve to send signals to the brain, which recognizes
the signals as sound. The processor can be programmed
to the patients’ specific needs and degree of hearing loss.
DID YOU KNOW? According to
Cochlear TM , a leading manufacturer of
implant systems, Ochsner Health System
is the largest provider of cochlear implants
in the Gulf South. Ochsner has performed
more than 300 implants without a single
operative complication.
Who Can Benefit?
Ochsner has helped more than 300 people with severe
hearing loss regain their sense of hearing through cochlear
implants since 1990. Dr. Molony explains, “These implants
are appropriate for people who have such severe hearing
loss that hearing aids have not worked, who have nerve
hearing loss in both ears or serious, continuous hearing loss
for a long time.”
Both young children and adults who have been born
with the ability to hear and then lose it are good candidates
for the implant. Babies born deaf can receive an implant at
1 year of age to restore their hearing.
Dr. Molony says, “The bottom line is that, for the
appropriate people, cochlear implants are a huge
breakthrough and a wonderful thing to do.”
Scott is so thrilled with his implant he has spoken at
hearing seminars to advocate cochlear implant use. “I am
the best salesman for cochlear implants,” he says. “I talk to
everyone I can about them.” He even talked his mother into
having one — Gwen Garber had lost her hearing at 28 and
could not hear for 30 years. She now enjoys life with vigor
like her son.
About one month after having implants, Scott and his
mom were hearing sounds that they haven’t heard in years,
including doorbells, dogs barking and music.
“My everyday life has changed. I can go to the store,
have conversations and even use drive-up windows.
I still have ‘selective hearing’ though,” Scott muses.
“I can now be more involved in work, but I try to do that
as little as possible!”
11

:Inside Ochsner
careers at
ochsner
Ochsner has clinical, professional
and support staff opportunities
at all of our locations throughout
southeast Louisiana.
Meet the Registered Nurses
Kim Guidry, R.N.
Ochsner Medical Center – West Bank
Teddy Thompson, R.N.
Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge
ó
LEARN WHY Ochsner
is a “Best Place to Work”
and explore a new career at
www.ochsner.org/careers.
Contact Human Resources
at 1-888-306-7432 for
more information.
check us out
12
New and improved programs, facilities and services are now available
Ochsner continues to grow our capabilities to serve the community better than ever.
GRAND
OPENING
Ochsner Baptist Medical
Center’s full service
Emergency Room will open
in January 2009.
OCHSNER
BAPTIST
Ochsner’s Pain
Management Program,
now at Ochsner Baptist
in New Orleans, offers
comprehensive consultative
and interventional pain
management provided by
Doctors Hazem Eissa, Tarun
Jolly, M. Ali Khan, Eric Royster
and Nurse Practitioner
Sherry Farrington.
1-866-579-9099
OB/GYN services are now
available at the Ochsner
Baptist Women’s Pavilion,
provided by Doctors Elizabeth
Lapeyre, William Sargent,
Margaret Roberie, Veronica
Gillipsie, Charles Farris and
Anna White.
1-866-409-6495
The Laser Vision Center
at Ochsner Baptist has
reopened. Led by Dr. Pulin
Shah, the center offers the
latest technologies in
refractive surgery, including
the IntraLase LASER and
the VISX CustomVue laser.
Consultations and follow-up
with the center’s expert
staff are free.
1-866-662-1368
Ochsner’s Allergy
Department, now located
at Ochsner Baptist, offers
comprehensive evaluation
and management of allergic
diseases and disorders of the
immune system. Treatment
is provided by Doctors
W. Edward Davis, Manuel
Lopez, Cathryn Hassett,
Maxcie Sikora and Larry
Montelibano.
1-866-471-8243
OCHSNER
KENNER
The Emergency Room at
Ochsner Medical Center –
Kenner is now renovated,
equipped and ready to
handle your emergencies.
Waiting time is shorter,
thanks to a new layout
and triage process.
504-464-8015
1-866-Ochsner www.ochsner.org

DID YOU KNOW? In 2008, Ochsner
Health System staff physicians and
community physicians* together claimed
133 of the 350 spots in New Orleans
Magazine’s “Top Doctors” list.
WELCOME NEW PHYSICIANS
Ochsner consistently attracts top physicians, from primary care providers to sub-specialists, to join
our team. Below are new physicians who have joined our network of Health Centers and Medical
Centers from February 1 through August 31, 2008.
New OB/GYNs have joined
the staff at Ochsner Medical
Center – Kenner. Doctors
W. Ryckman Caplan, Michael
Cohen, Vincent Culotta,
Christine Jordan, Amy Truitt,
Alfred Wiedemann and
Michael Wiedemann are
accepting new patients.
1-866-816-9490
OCHSNER
NORTH SHORE
Ochsner’s ImPACT Concussion
Management Program
utilizes sophisticated
computer testing developed
to help evaluate recovery
following a concussion. Led by
Doctors Aaron M. Karlin and
Joshua Leblanc at Ochsner
Children’s Health Center in
Covington, ImPACT includes
a pre-season baseline test
and post-injury tracking.
1-866-438-5104
Shamsa A. Ali, M.D. Hospital Medicine — Covington
Samer A. Ali-Hasan, M.D. Interventional Cardiology
David Q. Alleva, M.D. Radiology — Baton Rouge
Terence J. Alost, M.D. Emergency — West Bank
Michael J. Bates, M.D. Cardiothoracic Surgery
Helen C. Bezbak, M.D. Internal Medicine — Kenner
Anthony C. Bianco, M.D. Child Psychiatry — St. Anne
John F. Brown, Jr., M.D. Emergency — West Bank
David S. Bruce, M.D. Transplant Surgery
Stuart Busby, M.D. Sleep Medicine
W. Ryckman Caplan, M.D. OB/GYN — Kenner
William J. Carter, M.D. Hospital Medicine
Karen R. Cockerham, M.D. Emergency — West Bank
Michael B. Cohen, M.D. OB/GYN — Kenner
Vincent A. Culotta, Jr., M.D. OB/GYN — Kenner
Michael C. Cunningham, M.D. Interventional Cardiology
Jeffrey A. Dedelow, M.D. Radiology
Patrick M. Dennis, M.D. Emergency Medicine
Wendy J. G. Doneyhue, M.D. Ophthalmology — Slidell
Jason B. Falterman, M.D. Anesthesiology
Amanda G. Fontenot, M.D. Internal Medicine — Marrero
Kenneth A. Gaddis, M.D. Neurology — Baton Rouge
Rajiv B. Gala, M.D. OB/GYN
Veronica C. Gillispie, M.D. OB/GYN
Arthur G. Grant, III, M.D. Interventional Cardiology
Bogdan A. Grigorescu, M.D. OB/GYN
Kristin A. Herbert, M.D. Emergency — West Bank
Jamie B. Huddleston, M.D. Neurology — St. Anne
Rebecca A. Hutchings, M.D. Emergency
Louis O. Jeansonne, IV, M.D. Surgery — Baton Rouge
Jeannie Y. Jo, D.P.M. Podiatry — Marrero
Natalia M. Jolliff, D.O. Physical Medicine & Rehab
Christine W. Jordan, M.D. OB/GYN — Kenner
Satish V. Karnik, M.D. Urology
Amarnath A. Kathresal, M.D. Nephrology
M. Ali Khan, M.D. Pain Management
Sammy Khatib, M.D. Cardiology/Electrophysiology
David S. Kirsch, M.D. Radiology
Jean M. Kunjummen, M.D. Radiology
Jeffrey S. Kuo, M.D. Emergency
John M. Langley, M.D. Emergency — West Bank
Georgia S. Lea, M.D. Neurology
Matthew H. LeBoeuf, M.D. Emergency Medicine
Leland C. Lenahan, III, M.D. Emergency — West Bank
Andrea J. Linscott, Ph.D. Pathology
Alberto M. Lopez, M.D. Hospital Medicine — West Bank
Kenneth C. Malmstrom, M.D. Hospital Medicine — West Bank
D. Anthony Mazzulla, M.D. Ophthalmology
All physicians practice at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans unless otherwise indicated.
Tara S. Mitchell, M.D. Pediatrics — Slidell
Lawrence E. Montelibano, M.D. Allergy
Melissa M. Montgomery, M.D. Urology — Baptist
Judy M. Moreau, D.O. Pediatrics
Daniel P. Morin, M.D. Cardiology/Electrophysiology
Rebecca A. F. Murray, M.D. Pathology
Arup K. Nath, D.O. Hospital Medicine
Zola M. N’Dandu, M.D. Interventional Cardiology
Onajefe S. Nelson-Twakor, M.D. Cardiology/Electrophysiology
Robert E. Noll, Jr., M.D. Vascular Surgery
Wendy T. Oberdick, M.D. Family Medicine — Slidell
Sophia A. Omoro, M.D. Otolaryngology — North Shore
Olusegun O. Osinbowale, M.D. Vascular Medicine
Angela M. Parise, M.D. OB/GYN
Rajan A. Patel, M.D. Interventional Cardiology
Amanda P. Pham, M.D. Radiology
John S. Phillips, M.D. Emergency — West Bank
Brian L. Porche, M.D. Emergency Medicine
Nikolaos G. Psomas, M.D. Emergency — West Bank
Christopher G. Rao, M.D. Family Medicine — Slidell
Phillip L. Reed, M.D. Emergency — West Bank
Ricardo V. Romero, M.D. Gastroenterology
Eric I. Royster, M.D. Pain Management
Jairo I. Santanilla, M.D. Pulmonary/Critical Care
Scott R. Seals, M.D. Hospital Medicine
Shaun P. Setty, M.D. Cardiothoracic Surgery
Maxcie M. Sikora, M.D. Allergy
Paul F. Stahls, III, M.D. Hospital Medicine
Charles R. Stephens, M.D. Emergency — West Bank
Olawale A. R. Sulaiman, M.D. Neurosurgery
Katherine L. Swain, M.D. Pediatrics
Nancy N. Thomas, M.D. OB/GYN — Covington/Lakeview
Mark A. Thompson, M.D. Cardiology
Amy E. Truitt, M.D. OB/GYN — Kenner
Salvador Velazquez, M.D. Cardiology — Baton Rouge
Anna M. White, M.D. OB/GYN
Alfred G. Wiedemann, M.D. OB/GYN — Kenner
Michael A. Wiedemann, M.D. OB/GYN — Kenner
Derek A. Wierzbicki, M.D. Emergency — West Bank
Nathaniel S. Winstead, M.D. Gastroenterology
î
NEED A DOCTOR?
Services are available
through a network of
Ochsner Health Centers
and seven regional Medical
Centers. To find a physician
near you, please visit
www.ochsner.org or
call 1-866-383-5742.
13
* Community physicians have privileges at Ochsner facilities, but are not employed by Ochnser.

14
Fun
:Reaching Out
ONGOing eVENTS at Ochsner
Golden Opportunity is a membership
program for seniors age 50 or better that
promotes an active, healthy lifestyle, with
more than 10 wellness, educational and
social events offered each month, plus
travel opportunities.
£ To learn about upcoming events,
call the location nearest you.
New Orleans: 1-888-306-2189
West Bank: 504-391-5353; TTY 504-207-1226
Baton Rouge: 225-755-4984
Hello Health is a healthcare seminar series for the
community. Reaching from New Orleans, the Bayou, the
West Bank, to the North Shore and to Baton Rouge, each
week a relevant and important health topic or current
medical trend is discussed. Discussions are led by a
physician or a healthcare expert at either a restaurant or
other convenient location.
£ Visit www.ochsner.org/hello health or call 1-888-306-2318
for upcoming topics and locations. Tune in! Hello Health is now
on TV every fourth Monday of the month on LAE–TV at 8 p.m.
HELLO HEALTH
A WEEKLY SEMINAR SERIES FOR THE COMMUNITY
on the run
P
Get on board
Want the mobile unit to
visit? Visit www.elmwood
fitness.com for the criteria
and application. Or to learn
more, view the Mobile Fitness
Unit video on Ochsner
Video Health Links at
www.ochsner.org.
“On the Move” worked
with 4th and 5th graders
at Samuel Green Charter
School in New Orleans twice
a week for five months.
On the Move takes “I Can Do It” on the road
“We’re the second fattest state for kids,” says Douglas Moodie,
M.D., M.S., Chairman of Pediatrics at Ochsner Medical
Center for Children in New Orleans. “The growing childhood
obesity epidemic and the continual reduction of P.E. classes in
schools has us headed in the wrong direction.”
In response to this crisis, Elmwood Fitness Center launched
its “I Can Do It” program a few years ago. The program has
been very successful in teaching children about exercise and
nutrition as the basis for a healthy lifestyle. But it was only
reaching the kids who came to the center. That’s why
“On the Move,” a mobile fitness unit, was built.
“On the Move” operates out of a custom 50-foot long
truck filled with kid-friendly exercise equipment and a
demonstration kitchen. It expands to 12 feet wide when
parked and includes an awning and an outdoor entertainment
system to reach kids inside and out. Air conditioning and
plasma screens add to the fun and comfortable environment.
“The mobile unit was a six-year dream of mine,” says
Michael Heim, Youth Fitness Manager at Elmwood Fitness
Center. “We want to give kids a positive experience and
inspire their confidence.”
The Mobile Fitness Unit
was named a CityBusiness
[“Innovator of the Year” for 2008.
1-866-Ochsner www.ochsner.org

Surgical
Weight Loss
Support Group
Meetings
Dates & TIMEs
12–1 p.m.
October 21
November 18
December 16
5:30–6:30 p.m.
October 21
November 18
December 16
Location Brent House Conference
Center at Ochsner Medical Center in New
Orleans: Caldwell and LeJeune Rooms
(2nd floor)
£ Call 1-888-204-7844 for
more information.
OUTREACH
OCHSNER in the community
FEBRUARY 13, 2008
Students from area colleges and
universities participated in a job
shadow day at Ochsner Medical
Center in New Orleans where
they learned about careers at the
hospital in a broad variety
of disciplines.
MARCH 8, 2008
Staff from Ochsner Baptist Medical
Center helped build a new
playground in the Uptown area for
a charter school in New Orleans.
MARCH 8, 2008
Junior Girl Scouts earned the
Science Discovery badge by
completing activities at
Ochsner Medical Center in
New Orleans.
MARCH 18, 2008
Michelle Atzenhoffer, from Ochsner
Baptist Medical Center, visited
Samuel J. Green Charter School
in New Orleans to teach students
how to stay healthy with good
hand-washing habits.
15
rock and ride
The 4th annual Rock and Ride to fight
childhood obesity will be held November
15. The fundraising event features spinning
to live music and proceeds benefit the
“I Can Do It” program.
£ Call 1-888-306-3199 for more
information on the Rock and Ride
or the Mobile Fitness Unit.
MARCH 19, 2008
Merit students from George Cox
Elementary School in Gretna were
given a tour of the operating rooms
at Ochsner Medical Center –
West Bank.
APRIL 11, 2008
Staff from Ochsner Medical
Center – West Bank dug into a
landscaping project at George
Cox Elementary School, the first
step in creating an outdoor
reading sanctuary.

:Reaching Out
Cancer Support
General Cancer
Support Group
dates
October 2
November 6
December 4*
Time 6–7:30 p.m.
Location Ochsner Medical
Center in New Orleans: Cardiology
Auditorium (3rd Floor)
Prostate Cancer
Support Group
dates
October 9
November 13
December 4*
Time 6–7:30 p.m.
Location Ochsner Medical
Center in New Orleans: Cardiology
Auditorium (3rd Floor)
Breast Cancer
Support Group
dates
October 14
November 11
December 4*
Time 6–7:30 p.m.
Location Ochsner’s Lieselotte
Tansey Breast Center across from
Ochsner Medical Center in
New Orleans: Resource Room
(1st Floor)
* combined group meeting
£ Call 1-888-238-4045
for more information
about cancer support
groups or to be placed
on the mailing or
e-mail list.
THE GIVING SPIRIT
Party 4 Peds
Party 4 Peds (formerly known as Double Shot Under
the Big Top), a circus-themed party to raise money for
pediatric programs at Ochsner, features kids’ activities
including inflatables, arts and crafts, music from Radio
Disney and more. Adults will enjoy food from some of
the best restaurants in town and a silent auction.
date Saturday, October 18
Time 4–7 p.m.
Location Between the Ochsner Children’s Health Center
and the Tansey Breast Center at 1315 Jefferson Highway, across from
Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans
PRICE $50/adults, $20/children, $250/patron packages
(2 adults, 4 kids + gift)
£ For more information or to buy tickets, call 1-888-206-4221
or visit www.ochsner.org.
TREE OF LIFE
Tree of Life brightens the holiday season with tributes honoring
or memorializing loved ones and colleagues. Ornaments
with the honorees’ names are hung on the trees
at a tree-decorating ceremony. You may also
purchase a permanent memorial with
an inscribed brick to be placed on the
Ochsner Pathway.
£ To purchase an ornament or a brick,
call 1-888-321-6358.
HOPE CHESTS
Breast cancer patients in the Baton Rouge
area are invited to join Hope Chests, a
patient-led and organized education and
support network. Hope Chests meets the
first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the
third floor lobby of Ochsner Health Center
at 9001 Summa Avenue in Baton Rouge.
£ Call Sydney Prescott, R.N., M.S.N., NP-C,
at 225-761-5296 for more information.
Are We
Talking
To You?
Go to www.OchsnerOutreach.org
and tell us what kind of articles
you’d like to read in Outreach.
Clinic Foundation
1514 Jefferson Hwy.
New Orleans, LA 70121
TM
NON-PROFIT
US POSTAGE
PAID
Ochsner CLINIC
FOUNDATION
OHS-002