We salute those who - New Orleans City Business

40% of us will develop cancer.Wouldn’t you like to know where you stand?Today, Ochsner not only treats more cancer patients than anyone else in Louisiana – we’rehelping more people prevent it as well. Introducing the new Cancer Screening Clinic atOchsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Here, we help you know where you stand withcancer by evaluating genetic and hereditary factors that can predict your risk and byperforming skin cancer screenings, biopsies and more.ochsner.org/cancerscreeningFor a Free Cancer Risk Assessment, go online or call 866-431-8212 for anappointment today. A few minutes of prevention could be worth a lifetime of cure.Everywhere you need us ṬM© 2009 Ochsner Health System (ochsner.org) is a non-profit, academic, multi-specialty,healthcare delivery system dedicated to patient care, research and education.

2009s p o n s o r e d b y :Mercedes-Benz of New Orleans3727 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, LA (504) 456-3727

We salute those whofind it in their heartsto help others.Themostimportantthingsinlife–spendingtimewithfamilyandfriends,buildingcommunities,andhelpingothers–allbeginwithenjoyinggoodhealth.AtUnitedHealthcare,we’recommittedtohelpinghealthcareprofessionalsprovidethebestqualitypreventiveandclinicalcaretotheir patients.We’re pleased to recognize the 50 outstanding men and women selected as the CityBusiness2009 Health Care Heroes.unitedhealthcare.com© 2009 United HealthCare Services, Inc. Insurance coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates. Administrative services provided byUnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates. Health plan coverage provided by or through United HealthCare of Louisiana, Inc. UHCLA431958-000

Inside:2009Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Past honorees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Health Care Heroesevent photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39Animal careKaren Miller Becnel . . . . . . . . . . .8Chris Fabacher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8First respondersDan Russo, Dax Russo,Jason Russo . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Linda Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . .11NursesDiane Abbondante . . . . . . . . . . .13Elizabeth Buras . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Rosa Bustamante-Forest . . . . . .15Cheryl Carter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Darlene Gondrella . . . . . . . . . . .16Donna Guzman . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Kim Haley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Paula Harrelson . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Dianna Lauve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Kathy Steiner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Mark Stockstill . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19PhysiciansGlenn Casey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Pui Chun (Joan) Cheng . . . . . . .21Michele Cooper . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Frank DellaCroce andScott Sullivan . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Joseph Epps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Sander Florman . . . . . . . . . . . . .23Ana Hands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23Timothy Harlan . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Peter Hertzak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24William Johnston . . . . . . . . . . . .25Leslie Levenson . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Steve Levine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Sam Lucas, Dennis Mello,Chris Snyder . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Robert Post . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Erich Richter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Carlos Rodriguez-Fierro . . . . . . .28Hector Ventura . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28ProfessionalsStephen Baldwin . . . . . . . . . . . .29Matthew Curole . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Richard Gaiennie . . . . . . . . . . . .30Robert Gardner . . . . . . . . . . . . .31Thomas Grimstad . . . . . . . . . . .31Geoffrey Nagle . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Melba Perez-Berguno . . . . . . . .32Mackie Shilstone . . . . . . . . . . . .33Diane Sieta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33Lillian Stiegler . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Debra Thibodeaux . . . . . . . . . . .34Steve Worley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35VolunteersViola Cochran . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Christine Dittmann . . . . . . . . . . .36Betty Dugas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37Joseph Heintz . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37Walter Melan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38Mattie Schouest . . . . . . . . . . . . .38Health CareHeroesPublished by the NOPG LLC111 Veterans Memorial Blvd.,Suite 1440, Metairie, La. 70005504-834-9292; Fax: 504-837-2258.Publisher and president: D. Mark SingletaryAssociate Publisher: Lisa BlossmanManaging Editor: Greg LaRoseNews Editor: Christian MoisesAssociate Editor: Autumn C. GiustiArt Director: Alex BorgesAccount Executives: Liz Baldini, Jeanne Farrell,Cassie Foreman, Ginger Graf, Coco Evans JuddProduction Manager: Julie BernardFramed ArticleGOOD NEWSIS WORTH REPEATING!Articles are reformatted to fit on either one or two pageswith “As seen in CityBusiness” on the top of the page. Articlesize is 8 1/2” x 11”.Framed articles take approximately 1 month to completeDigital ReprintCityBusiness will reformat the article or list with “As seen inCityBusiness” on the top of the page and send it to you inPDF format. Total Cost: $500Contact Monique Brignac(504) 293-9724 • email: moique.brignac@nopg.comNew Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 5

IntroductionHealth Care Heroes honorsheartbeat of New OrleansPutting ALL thepieces together...Quality patient care begins the minute you pull up to our door.Quality patient care is made up of many pieces – the valet who greetsyou in the driveway, the person who admits you with a smile, thehousekeeper who cleans your room, the nurse who takes your bloodpressure, the doctor who listens to your heart. At Tulane MedicalCenter, we don’t just practice medicine, we shape your entire healthcareexperience. Congratulations to our diverse group of 2009 Health CareHeroes, each of whom plays a vital role in creating the best qualitypatient care experience for every person who arrives at our door.Tulane Medical Center Health Care HeroesStephen BaldwinVice President of OperationsSander Florman, MDDirector of Abdominal TransplantTimothy Harlan, MDMedical Director of Outpatient ClinicsKathy Steiner, RNDirector of Adult Care ServicesIt’s not just medicine,it’s TULANE medicine.www. t u l a n e h e a l t h c a r e . c om504-988-58001415 Tulane AvenueNew Orleans, LA 70112Christian MoisesNews EditorLife or death.That’s pretty much the order of the day formost of the 2009 Health Care Heroes.And while they often face grueling, heartbreakingsituations, it’s caring for people thatmotivates them.The 55 honorees who make up the third annualHealth Care Heroes class have proved their commitmentto the region based on their professionalaccomplishments and perseverance. As always,choosing finalists posed a big challenge for theselection panel, as the stories, accomplishmentsand contributions to the health care communitymake every nominee so deserving.In the program’s third year, honorees discusstheir most challenging, memorable, difficult orrewarding experience, and the stories are powerful.Many honorees selected this year have pulled frompersonal experience to relate with and help care fortheir patients.Countless others have gone beyond their clinics,hospitals and offices to immerse themselves in surroundingcommunities, in the process providingcare to the city’s less fortunate and foreign languagepopulations.Divided among six categories — animal care,first responders, nursing, physicians, professionalsand volunteers — our honorees are quite literallythe region’s life support.This year’s two animal care heroes show theircommitment to patients that cannot defend themselvesor communicate when they need help.The four first responders — three from the samefamily — represent the best of health care’s frontline, including emergency medical technicians,paramedics and police.Eleven nurses are honored this year for providingcare in the face of adversity, serving as modelsof professionalism to their peers.The 20 physicians selected this year offerexpertise to a struggling local health care industry.Despite increased patient loads, more serioushealth issues and budget crunches, these doctorsroutinely show their dedication.The 12 health care professionals honored thisyear have contributed to returning a high standardof health care to the region. Their responsibilitiesrange from financial work and creating hospitalmenus to training some of the world’s top athletes.This year’s six volunteer honorees have devotedtheir time and specialized skills as non-payrollaides to help patients and clinic visitors feel comfortable.CityBusiness thanks each of them for their tirelesseffort and the difference they are make in thewelfare of the community.Congratulations to the Health Care HeroesClass of 2009.•News Editor Christian Moises can be reached at 293-9249 or by e-mail at christian.moises@nopg.com.6 Health Care Heroes

Health Care HeroesPast honorees2008ANIMAL CARERobin BeaulieuJoe DalgoKelly KreiderGiselle MoisesLiz SaylorFIRST RESPONDERSBriana BriscoeRyan BrownJullette SaussyCecile TeboChris WiltNURSINGLillian AgnellySheri BergerShane BrossetteBryan DeanAnthony DiGerolamoKerry JeaniceBrian MahlJoan RooneyDebbie SchmidtzStella WrightPHYSICIANSMilton AndersonNicolas BazanLisa BazzettDaniel BouchetteBryan BertucciMichael BrothersCharles BrownRandall BrownJocelyn Tinsley GreelyEmile LaBrancheGabriel LasalaRobert MatheneyNorman McSwainThanh NguyenEboni PriceElmore RigamerKen RoyAlfred RobichauxMilton SeilerJim SmithKeith Van MeterMark WorkmanPROFESSIONALSBonnie ArtonRedfield BryanJohn CelmentsJames DotyBill FoxRobert HawleyJohn LemoineBarbara MoffettMark PetersDwayne ThomasVOLUNTEERSElsie OlivierPhilip OlivierTheresa TrosclairJessie Williams2 0 0 7Don’t Trade It.Donate It.ANIMAL CAREAndrew GutterJames RiopelleFIRST RESPONDERSSteven BrownMichael GuillotNURSINGPatricia BerryhillLorris BouzigardJan HebertAnn KallaunerAlice Craft KerneyPatrice KimballAnna KokesMary MacGregorEvelyn RandolphWayne RauLena RiordanJoan RooneyJennifer SteelSally TusaNathalie WalkerCynthia WarrenRay YakelisPHYSICIANSStephen BardotLionel BourgeoisRoland BourgeoisJay BrooksGerald CohenJoseph Crapanzano Jr.Frank CulicchiaKaren DeSalvoRaja DhurandharSander FlormanJuan GershanikJoseph GuariscoVicky HebertKevin JordanRonald LiuzzaKevin MartinezRichard MeyerPaul NathanSteven RossSwati ShahCharles ThomasNajeeb ThomasGerald VockePROFESSIONALSJames Spencer CampbellBruce ClementD. Scott CrabtreeVirginia DavisLes HirschLynn Hobbs-GreenSarah HoffpauirLarry HollierCorey MarvelWilliam PinskyPatrick QuinlanWarner ThomasBasil ThoppilLynn WitherspoonRichard ZuschlagVOLUNTEERSCheron BrylskiJohn DeCampDavid DiazBarbara HylandCurtis JacobLester JohnsonSalvador PazRudy SampeyShirley TueroCARS TRUCKS BOATSIS YOUR JUNKER A CLUNKER? By donating your oldcar, truck or boat to Bridge House today, you get apossible tax deduction. The money we raise resellingyour donated vehicle helps pay for substance abusetreatment for about 500 people in ourcommunity every year.FREE TOWING &SAME DAY PICK-UP504.598.3355www.bridgehouse.orgBuilding a Bridge to the Future.We’re building a new, larger, permanent facility at the corner of S. Dupre and EarhardtBoulevard. Our goal is to increase the quality and availability of treatment in ourcommunity. To help with our expansion fund call 522.2124 ext. 14 for information.New Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 7

ANIMAL CAREKaren MillerBecnelPosition: owner, The Cat Hospital of MetairieAge: 60Family: husband, Tim; stepchildren, Chris, 32, Lauren, 28; 15 cats between her home and clinicEducation: bachelor’s degree in veterinary science and doctor of veterinary medicine, Texas A&M UniversityLike many veterinarians rescuing andcaring for animals immediately afterHurricane Katrina, Dr. Karen Miller Becnelwas greatly affected by the severity of conditionsin which animals were left behind.She and The Cat Hospital staff picked upanimals trapped inside homes and wanderingthe streets and transported them back tosafety, nursing, feeding, hydrating and givingthem medications to help them stay alive.“There was this one cat who was trappedfor eight weeks in a home and was brought tous. This cat had such a little spark left, but hemade it and we helped it survive,” MillerBecnel said. “The whole situation made merealize that you should never give up and alsohow tough animals are, and as long as it is theright situation to save them and prolong theirlives, you have to try what you can.”Miller Becnel received a certificate ofappreciation from Alley Cat Allies for herrescue and health care work after Katrina.“The conditions were so severe, and somany animals needed help. It was unlikeanything I had ever seen in my 30 years ofpractice.”Miller Becnel began as a veterinarian in1973 when she opened the East GentillyVeterinary Hospital. She also openedCrowder Animal Hospital in 1980 and TheCat Hospital of Metairie 10 years later. In1998, she sold Crowder Animal Hospitaland concentrated on just felines.“I have a special affinity and love for all animals,but a special affinity for cats,” said MillerBecnel, who owns 15 cats between her homeand clinic. “They’re my favorite animals.”The 60-year-old said the most interestingthing about her practice over the years hasbeen how much people have grown attachedto their pets, and the reward, she said, “nevergets old when I can bring their pets back tothem happy and healthy.”•— Tommy Santoraphoto by Frank Aymamiphoto by Frank AymamiANIMAL CAREChris FabacherPosition: veterinarian and owner, Metairie Small Animal HospitalAge: 55Family: wife, Pat; daughters, Courtney, 26, Megan, 24Education: bachelor’s degree in animal science, Louisiana State University;doctor of veterinary medicine, LSU School of Veterinary MedicineDr. Chris Fabacher began his career as ayoung kid who always had an intenseinterest in a wide variety of pets.“I’ve always enjoyed taking care of animals,”Fabacher said. “I’ve had snakes, rats,turtles, cats and dogs and loved them all.”That interest earned Fabacher a summerjob at the hospital that eventually becomehome to his veterinary practice.“I spent my summers working closely withDr. (Tom) Melius at Metairie Small AnimalHospital,” Fabacher said. “I was impressedwith the work he was doing and grew to lovetreating animals and helping them get better.”Although he sees the rewards of his job fairlyregularly, Fabacher said nothing was nearlyas rewarding as the work he did in the aftermathof Hurricane Katrina, when he used hispersonal boat to rescue people and animalsthroughout Old Metairie.“I parked it at the hospital parking lot beforethe storm to get it out of the water, but it becamea very valuable tool in the days after the stormpassed,” Fabacher said. “I became a linkbetween our clients and the animals they mayhave left behind. I was able to get animals out ofhomes and bring them to the hospital wherethey could have food, water and shelter.”In addition to taking care of animals,Fabacher also opened the hospital to otherresponders in the area rescuing people andanimals.Fabacher said much has changed in thealmost 20 years he has been practicing veterinarymedicine. He said improved equipmenthas made his job a tad less dirty and maybe alittle easier, but treatment costs have become achallenge.“It is a big problem, especially in today’seconomy. It’s not like human medicine, whereinsurance can help. It is hard to see clients haveto decide what to do with an animal that hasbecome a part of a family.”•— Robin Shannon8 Health Care Heroes

2009s p o n s o r e d b y :THE GLAZER’S COMPANIES OF LOUISIANA IS THE PROUDDISTRIBUTOR FOR KETEL ONE VODKA IN LOUISIANA!The Nolet family has distilled Ketel One Vodka for over 300 years at the Nolet Distillery inSchiedam, Holland. Ketel One Vodka is distilled from 100% wheat in alembic copper pot stills,filtered over loose charcoal, and rests in tile lined tanks until ready. Ketel One Vodkais consistently named one of the world’s top spirits for quality and taste.Ketel One Vodka is named after the original, copper pot still, “Distilleerketel #1,”and is handcrafted in small batches. The alcohol content of this spirit is 80 proof.

FIRST RESPONDERSDan RussoPosition: deputy chief, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s OfficeAge: 60Family: wife, Frances; children, Dax, 32, Jason, 30Education: bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Loyola UniversityFrom left:Dax, Dan andJason Russo.Photo courtesy Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s OfficeDax RussoPosition: robbery sergeant, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s OfficeAge: 33Family: wife, Melissa; children, Dax Jr., 21 monthsEducation: Rummel High School alumnusJason RussoPosition: enforcement sergeant, Louisiana Department ofWildlife and FisheriesAge: 30Family: wife, Jennifer; children, Jace, 4, Jonathan, 1Education: Rummel High School alumnusIn tragedies big and small, Dan Russo has played a vitalrole. Now his two sons, Dax and Jason, are following in thetradition.“When you are a patrol officer, you are the first one on thescene,” Dan said. “We get there before the fire department,we get there before anybody. And a lot of times you are in asituation where you have to take action immediately.”Working as a recovery team commander at the 1982 Pan-Am crash site in Kenner, Dan performed the grim task ofretrieving bodies.“My team alone picked up 71 bodies. That’s somethingthat is hard to forget.”Dan’s dedication prompted his son, Dax, to follow himinto law enforcement. First working on patrol, then gangenforcement and now the robbery division with theJefferson Parish Sheriff ’s Office, Dax has also served as anemergency first responder.“During a hurricane, for example, everybody becomesactivated. The whole department goes to a 12-hour shift.We basically back up the patrol divisions and whatever goeson, whether it’s an accident or trying to get someone to shelter,we are ready to pitch in,” Dax said.A former Marine Corps Reserves sergeant, Dax rememberswatching his father help accident victims.“A lot of times we were in a car and he stopped becauseof an accident,” Dax said. “And now I do it and my son isexperiencing the same thing.”Dan’s example also has inspired his youngest son, Jason.An enforcement agent with the Louisiana Department ofWildlife and Fisheries, Jason, in a hurricane, serves on thefront line of search and rescue operations.“Any time a hurricane has entered the Gulf, our departmenthas mobilized and been prepared to move people toBaton Rouge,” Jason said.During Katrina, he helped move residents out of aMetairie nursing home and later conducted search and rescueoperations in the Lower 9th Ward.•— Garry Boulard10 Health Care Heroes

FIRST RESPONDERLinda ThompsonPosition: emergency medical services supervisor, East Jefferson General HospitalAge: 56Family: husband Richard Barham; children, Rachel, 34, Richard, 30Education: paramedic certificate, Nunez Community Collegephoto by Frank AymamiLinda Thompson was just a couple ofcredit hours short of her bachelor’sdegree in nursing when she took a course inemergency medical services that changedher career plans.The paramedic profession, a relativelynew career choice when compared with centuries-oldnursing, better suited Thompson’spersonality, which she describes as type-A,achievement-driven.She enjoys the responsibility, independenceand immediate satisfaction that comeswith being a first responder.“You work better under stress than not,”Thompson said of those drawn to the profession.“You have to make snap decisionsand stand by them.”She finds the result rewarding.“Just to see that you make a difference.Youcan have someone going from near death todying and have them recover. It’s up to you.”She recalled an experience early in hercareer when the first paramedics on thescene were unable to resuscitate a 76-yearoldsuffering from cardiac arrest. Thompsonarrived with the second unit and resuscitatedthe patient en route to the hospital.“He gave up and it’s like, we didn’t,”Thompson said. “At 76, you still have a lot oflife left.”The patient lived another six years. Hisgrandson, a volunteer fireman who rode inthe ambulance with Thompson at the time,is now a psychiatrist.“It’s the ripple effect of saving someone; somany people are affected,” said Thompson,who typically spends just 20 minutes or sowith the families of those she treats.She supervises paramedics in her currentposition, building their confidence and makingsure the emergency medical services unitruns smoothly as some 90 patients comethrough the center daily.Thompson also recruits and mentors othersthrough East Jefferson General Hospital’spartnership with Delgado CommunityCollege, addressing a paramedic shortage.•— Diana ChandlerWHY ARE WEHERE?BECAUSE TODAY’SNEW ORLEANSNEEDSTOMORROW’SBEST HEALTH CARE.AT TOURO,WE’RE NOTWAITING FORTOMORROW.Touro Infirmary congratulates the 2009 CityBusiness Health Care Heroes. Thank you to all of our employees, physicians andvolunteers for continuing our 156-year legacy of service. Touro is proud to lead the way to tomorrow’s health care.JOAN CHENG, M.D. ROBERT GARDNER, Ph.D. DIANNA LAUVEMICHELE COOPER, M.D. KIM HALEY, RN WALTER MELANCHRISTINE DITTMANNPAULA HARRELSON, RNJOIN THE TOURO TEAM.CALL 504-897-7011OR VISIT WWW.TOURO.COM.New Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 11

photo by Tracie Morris SchaeferNURSEDiane AbbondantePosition: surgical services director, River Parishes HospitalAge: 52Family: husband, Richard; daughters, Lisa, 26, Kristen, 24Education: bachelor’s degree in nursing, Seton Hall UniversityAlthough she retired from her nursingcareer at River Parishes Hospital inLaPlace in March, Diane Abbondante continuesto use her medical knowledge to carefor her elderly parents and uncle.“I have a heart for the elderly,” saidAbbondante, who spent most of her careercaring for patients with multiple traumas andgunshot wounds.When she was young, Abbondante’s illgrandmother lived with her family.“I really wanted to be able to help her,”she said. “I got to witness how the nurseshelped her.”Abbondante went on to earn her bachelor’sdegree in nursing from Seton HallUniversity. In 1982, she moved to NewOrleans, where she raised a family withher husband, Richard, and worked as anurse for River Parishes Hospital for thepast 30 years.She was certified in perioperative nursing,working for 15 years with surgerypatients. At retirement, she was director ofsurgical services River Parishes Hospital,managing operating rooms, the post-anesthesiacare unit, the central sterile department,endoscopic suites and the ambulatorysurgery unit.“My greatest accomplishment was tohave all of my nurses certified in their specialties,”said Abbondante, whose staff hadthe lowest turnover rate at the hospital.“Almost everybody who was eligible to becertified was certified.”She is proud to watch young nurses inher field develop professionally and personally.And although she is passionateabout caring for the elderly, Abbondante islooking forward to also helping to care forher first grandchild due in September.•— Amy Ferrara SmithNURSEElizabeth BurasPosition: registered nurse, Slidell Memorial HospitalAge: 30Family: husband, Gene; son, Beau, 3Education: licensed practicing nurse program, Delgado CommunityCollege; bachelor’s degree in nursing, Louisiana State University;pursuing master’s degree in nursing, Southeastern Louisiana Universityphoto by Tracie Morris SchaeferElizabeth Buras missed out on the challenges that camewith Hurricane Katrina but did have to stare down a fewhurdles when Hurricane Ivan tore through the Gulf Coast inSeptember 2004.Buras was working as a nurse in the intensive care unit atChalmette Medical Center when the call came down that thehospital needed to be evacuated as soon as possible.“We had to fly our ICU patients by helicopter fromChalmette to Baton Rouge and eventually to Lake Charles,”Buras said. “Each nurse at the hospital was responsible forone critically ill patient. I found the whole experienceextremely exciting.”Still, Buras said the trip was not without its mishaps. Asthe helicopter was leaving Baton Rouge for Lake Charles,Buras said the pilot left the gas cap off the fuel tank.“We get into the air and we all of a sudden smelled gasolinein the cabin,” Buras said. “He had to land the chopperand start again. It was pretty tense.”Although the work after Ivan hasn’t quite been as exciting,Elizabeth Buras, left, discusses a patient with Slidell Memorial Hospital nurse Brenda Jackson.Buras said she couldn’t see herself doing anything other thannursing. She said she once intended to go to medical school,but “taking the long way” gave her a new appreciation forbeing a registered nurse.“I get great satisfaction out of helping people. I lovethe constant patient interaction that I get every day. I liketalking with families and teaching patients and familymembers about illness and what to do to treat and preventthem.”Buras said she appreciates the close-knit, family atmosphereat Slidell Memorial Hospital, which took her in afterKatrina. She said she hopes to eventually move on to a smalloutpatient clinic she can call her own.•— Robin ShannonNew Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 13

MACKIE SHILSTONEInspires people to achievetheir goals through innovativepersonal life coaching andexpert fitness training.LINDA THOMPSON, EMTServes as the front lineof care for our community.FRITZ HEINZThrough volunteering,he exemplifies selflessness.CHERYL CARTER, RNDelivers compassionatecare in the sometimeschaotic world of theEmergency DepartmentWILLIAM JOHNSTON, M.D.As a neurosurgeon,he helps patients regaintheir quality of life.today…We celebrate five distinct livesbuilt around ONE COMMON THEME –service.While they have each chosen their own path, these five individuals represent what is best, not only inhealthcare, but in every aspect of life. They have dedicated their lives to the service of others.Yes, we congratulate them. More importantly, we thank them for helping build aculture of caring that our community has come to expect.East Jefferson General Hospitalwww.ejgh.org

NURSERosaBustamante-ForestPosition: program director and nurse manager, March of Dimes,Daughters of Charity Services of New OrleansAge: 55Family: husband, Larry; children, Geoffrey, 32, Lauren, 29, Rafael, 23Education: bachelor’s degree in nursing, Vanderbilt University; master’sdegree in public health, Tulane University; master’s degree in nursing,Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of NursingNorma’s story resembled that of 90 percent of the lowincomemigrant and mostly Hispanic expectant mothersRosa Bustamante-Forest has treated during the past twoyears on the mobile health unit she directs.“I was just there for her,” Bustamante-Forest said. “Assoon as I met Norma, I knew I’d done the right thing.”Bustamante-Forest is referring to having left a 25-yearcareer in academia to return to patient care. She started in thenursing field 34 years ago in a hospital maternity ward.Norma, a pseudonym, was pregnant, suffering from a historyof child abuse, incest and rape, and worried about thehealth of the two young daughters she’d left behind in ElSalvador with her mother. Norma worked in New Orleans,sending what little money she could to her mother, daughtersRosa Bustamante-Forestoffers health advice to patientSantos Martinez at the Marchof Dimes Mom and BabyMobile Health Center.and six younger siblings at home.“Emotionally and spiritually, she was broken,”Bustamante-Forest said of Norma. “Her physical aches andpains were really a manifestation of her broken spirit andemotional pain."A native El Salvadoran herself, Bustamante-Forest spokeNorma’s language and understood the struggles growing upimpoverished in the Central American country, althoughtheir childhoods were different.Norma gave birth to a healthy child, but her stresses continuedthrough unemployment and having to sleep on agarage floor with her husband and newborn.Bustamante-Forest gives kudos to her three-member crew,including Shannon Psingstag, nurse-midwife, LillieAcezedothe medical assistant and office manager, and healthpromoter Collying Salinas, who, along with the obstetricsgynecologyunit at Louisiana State University MedicalCenter, gave Norma all the help she needed.As Norma rebounded, she proudly told Bustamante-Forest of the flea market booth she was able to rent on theWest Bank, selling odds and ends.“Without us,” Bustamante-Forest said, “I think Normaprobably would not have received care.”•— Diana Chandlerphoto by Tracie Morris Schaeferphoto by Frank AymamiNURSECheryl CarterPosition: emergency department director, East Jefferson General HospitalAge: 54Family: husband, David; children, Brad Vandevender, 35, Dana Kelley, 28, Brandon Kelley, 26Education: associate’s degree in nursing, Gulf Coast Community College; bachelor’s degree inhealth arts, St. Francis UniversityAs director of East Jefferson GeneralHospital’s emergency department,Cheryl Carter sees up close the traumas andtriumphs of life — and she likes it that way.“This is an area of the hospital that hasquick rewards and quick turnarounds,” saidCarter, who has been with EJGH since theearly 1990s. “Someone may come in who is atdeath’s door, and the next day you see that thatperson survived and realize it is most likelybecause of the things that were done by ourteam in this department.”Overseeing a staff of about 80, Carter hasplayed a crucial role in developing the hospital’spsychiatric emergency department.“We partnered with our psych unit and nowactually have psych nurses who live in the emergencydepartment,” Carter said. “They are ableto interview patients and start therapeutic interactionsand, because of their perspective andtraining,have a lot of resources at their fingertipsthat the emergency nurses may not have.”That perspective means that an emergencyroom patient who may have more challengesthan just physical problems is treated at manylevels, Carter said.Because Carter has emerged as a mentor toher fellow nurses as well as an expert whokeeps up with regulatory issues, she has frequentlybeen thrust into leadership positions,most recently serving as chairwoman for theEmergency Nurses Association’s local chapter.Last summer, Carter led an outreach programfor two hospitals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa,as floods were ravaging the region.“The idea was to present ourselves as livingtestimony to the fact you can be hit by a hugeflood and still live,” Carter said, referring to thework she and members of her staff at EJGHdid for some 12 straight days after Katrina hitNew Orleans.Bringing with them care packages full ofNew Orleans food, Carter governed the teamwith a guiding principle.“When you are involved in the huge job ofcleaning up after a flood, just having one mealyou don’t have to cook is a big plus.”•— Garry BoulardNew Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 15

NURSEDarlene GondrellaPosition: case management and patient access services senior director, West Jefferson Medical CenterAge: 39Family: husband, Randy; son, Randall, 9Education: bachelor’s degree in nursing, Louisiana State University School of Nursingphoto by Frank AymamiFor Darlene Gondrella, the threats of hurricanesKatrina and Gustav put her 17-year nursing career to the test.“Hurricane Katrina was very challengingin that here I was at the hospital, and my familywas off evacuating,” said Gondrella, whoremained at the hospital for nearly two weeksafter Katrina. “We had no power for threedays, no water and no air-conditioning. It wasa very challenging environment.”Three years later, as a member of WestJefferson Medical Center’s leadership team,Gondrella helped to evacuate patients forGustav, when forecasters predicted the WestBank would take a direct hit. In just a fewhours, Gondrella and her team of threeemployees arranged for patient transport aswell as the organization of relevant documents,copies of medical records, medications,treatment supplies and personal items.She went without sleep for 46 hours tocomfort patients and their families and toensure the safety of the hospital and the staffwho remained in the building.“I learned that I’m capable of doingthings that I didn’t know I was capable ofdoing,” Gondrella said. “We had to overseeand manage the evacuation of the number ofpatients who we evacuated.”Gondrella said her team evacuated atleast 70 dialysis patients in about two hours.When it was time for patients to return to thehospital, Gondrella’s team also organizedtheir arrival.“To me, it’s a rewarding experience to bethere as a patient advocate. Whatever theirneeds are, we take care of it.”•— Amy Ferrara SmithNURSEDonna GuzmanPosition: registered nurse in the medical intensive care unit, Slidell Memorial HospitalAge: 46Family: husband, Javier; daughters, Meli, 28, Letti, 27, Holly, 25, Vicky, 23Education: associate’s degree in nursing, Pearl River Community Collegephoto by Tracie Morris SchaeferDonna Guzman calls nursing her secondcareer. Her first career was raisingfour daughters.“When they all got old enough, I said tomyself I am ready to do something that Icould be proud of and my family could beproud of, and that door opened up to nursingschool,” Guzman said. “I have fallen inlove with it. I like spending time withpatients. They all have different stories.And every day, you just try to make a differencethat does good for the patient.”Guzman has been a registered nurse formore than 15 years, with 11 years spent atSlidell Memorial Hospital and seven yearsin its medical intensive care unit.“It’s a little more intense than the otherdepartments and you have to react quickerand faster than normal,” Guzman said. “Iactually used to think it was the departmentbehind closed doors for the elite andspecial nurses, like the wizard behind the16 Health Care Heroescurtains. But since being here, I have reallyblended in and become accustomed tothe fast and critical pace.”Guzman said her nursing career wasfirst impacted during her orientation at St.Tammany Parish Hospital. One of her firstjobs was to help care for a 40-year-oldDown syndrome patient who was very sickwhen she was admitted.“She was lethargic, unconscious andjust not doing well. All I remember is notifyingthe nurses as things kept gettingworse, and they all rushed in and out of theroom to keep trying to save her, but sheended up dying,” Guzman said.“I was a young nurse at the time anddidn’t know as much as I should have, stilllearning on the fly. It made me work harderearly in my career to give everything Icould to study this profession and be thenurse I am today.”•— Tommy SantoraDonna Guzman administersmedicine to patientCatherine Long.

NURSEKim HaleyPosition: registered nurse, Crescent City Physicians Inc. atTouro InfirmaryAge: 36Family: husband, Ron; children, Emma, 10, Ally, 8, Zachary, 4Education: bachelor’s degree in nursing, Louisiana StateUniversity — New OrleansHelping female cancer patients moves Kim Haley beyondfocusing on their hardships to appreciating theirstrengths as overcomers.“It teaches me never to give up and to always to havehope,” said Haley, who began her career 14 years ago as aninpatient oncology nurse. She has worked with Touro gynecologiconcologist Dr. Joan Cheng, arranging outpatient carefor the past seven years.Haley coordinates Cheng’s patient load, assessing patientneeds and coordinating treatment and follow-up care. Sheencounters women of all ages and socioeconomic levels whoimpress her with their ability to balance family, work, treatmentand dreams without dropping the ball.“They juggle all of these entities along with being apatient and a cancer survivor,” said Haley, rememberingone patient with whom she’s developed a friendship overrecent years. The patient did everything right, takingexcellent preventative care of herself, Haley said, but stilldeveloped a gynecologic cancer.“When I see everything that she does and recall everythingthat she’s been through, it’s just inspirational,” Haley said. “SheRegistered nurse Kim Haley checks Shawanda Jones’ temperature.knows exactly what’s going on ... exactly what the end resultwill be. She still continues to be treated and continues to fight.”Haley had no particular desire to become an oncologynurse while in school, but was placed on an oncology floor asher first assignment after graduation. She already had developedsensitivity to the overwhelming challenges cancerpatients face, as her mother underwent treatment for lymphomaduring Haley’s college days.“I learned that you really need a health care advocatewhen you’re going through all that” and navigating the mazeof treatment, Haley said. “It makes me feel better if we canhelp them make that transition.”And she has no plans to leave anytime soon.“My goal is to make this process as seamless as possible.If I can make it easier for the patient ... that’s my purpose.”•— Diana Chandlerphoto by Frank Aymamiphoto by Frank AymamiNURSEPaula HarrelsonPosition: oncology nurse, Touro InfirmaryAge: 52Family: husband, Andrew; dogs, Hank, WillieEducation: nursing degree, Wesley Medical Center School of NursingPaula Harrelson checks onchemotherapy patient CynthiaJouillian at Tour Infirmary’soutpatient oncology center.In the 25 years since earning her nursingdegree, Paula Harrelson has worked in intensivecare, surgery and recovery units.It’s her experience overcoming a personalhardship, though, that has shown her whereshe really needs to be.“Having lived through breast cancer, somethingchanged in me,” Harrelson said. “I knewI could put myself in the shoes of someone withcancer and could make a difference in theirlives and inspire them. That’s when I decidedto take my life and career in a new direction.”In 2005, just one year removed from herown battle with breast cancer, Harrelson accepteda position with Hematology and OncologySpecialists, where she delivered chemotherapyto outpatients and assisted them with billingand prescription issues. She now does similarwork at an outpatient clinic at Touro Infirmary,where she has made it her mission to spreadhope and relief to her patients and their families.“I’ve been cancer free for five years, but gettingthere and getting through the treatmentwas tough,” Harrelson said. “I understand thepain and suffering these patients go through.Some think they won’t get through it. But youalways do, and I use myself as an example.”Harrelson said she takes time to get to knowall of her patients personally to identify theirindividual medical, nutritional and emotionalneeds. She finds it is just another way to keepthem going on the right track.She has even helped develop EnCourage, asupport group that addresses some the issuesaffecting younger women with breast cancer.“My partners felt there needed to be a communityin the city where young women can goto find answers, share experiences and provideeach other with support and hope.”•— Robin ShannonNew Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 17

NURSEDianna LauvePosition: radiation therapist and radiation oncology supervisor,Touro InfirmaryAge: 48Family: husband, Russell; children, Candace, 20, Carlee 16Education: bachelor’s degree in science, University of St. Francis;pursing master’s degree in health care management, University ofNew Orleansphoto by Frank AymamiDianna Lauve supervises what she calls a top notchteam of health care professionals in Touro Infirmary’sRadiation Oncology department.She has worked as a radiation therapist at Touro for 23years, a course she strategically charted after witnessingseveral family members suffer with cancer.Before obtaining a bachelor’s degree in science, Lauvesaid she trained in X-rays and used it “as an avenue to getinto therapy school” so she would have the proper credentialsto work with cancer patients. The rest was history.Contrary to what some may think and often ask, Lauvesaid she’s not pessimistic about her career or responsibilitieswith working with cancer patients. Rather, she said herstance is and has always been: “How can I help you getthrough this process.”And the mantra applies to patients and their families,particularly when the patient is a child. Lauve saidChildren’s Hospital refers all of its cancer patients to herRadiation therapist Dianna Lauve prepares Tina Miceli for a CAT scan.department for treatment. In such cases, she said a parent’spain is often more evident than the child’s pain.“The kids don’t know what they’re going through buttheir families sure do,” she said.Even in those situations, Lauve said the rewards have atendency to come full circle to remind her that she helpedsomeone during a trying process.“We might have treated them (child patients) 10 yearsago, but when they come back just for a checkup or just tosay hi, that’s what’s rewarding,” she said. “Working in thisfield helps people put life into perspective each and everyday. I can honestly say that I’ve never taken a day or aminute for granted.”•— Nayita WilsonNURSEKathy SteinerPosition: adult services director, Tulane Medical CenterAge: 64Family: sons, Jeffrey, 45, Brad, 42, Tad, 39; 13 grandchildrenEducation: diploma in nursing, Rockford Memorial Hospital School ofNursing; bachelor’s degree in nursing, Rockford College; master’s degreein nursing, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Centerphoto by Frank AymamiAfter more than 30 years in nursing, Kathy Steiner hasone thing to say about her retirement: It’s not going tohappen.“It’s too much a part of me. Nursing is a piece of who Iam, and if I were to retire, I would never know what to do.This is where I want to be,” said Steiner, 64, who has beendirector of adult services at Tulane Medical Center sinceJanuary 2005.Steiner, a member of the Tulane Medical Center staff for 24years, manages seven units in the hospital, overseeing the dailyissues of those departments and mentoring the nursing staff.“One thing about management is you work through otherpeople, and that gives you the latitude to make an impactthrough other nurses around here,” Steiner said. “Every dayit’s about patients getting the kind of care we want to beknown for. I call it situational leadership because it’s a constantlychanging and challenging environment with the qualityof patient care our top priority.”Steiner said she fell in love with nursing at RockfordCollege in Illinois, and her time spent nursing in the intensiveFrom left: Valeria Patterson, Kathy Steiner and Raven Moore discuss the day’s patient load.care unit validated her career choice.“This may sound cliché, but I just remember sitting withpatients and I knew I could make a difference. It was that feelingI had inside me,” she said. “Nursing is a calling, and if Ican touch someone’s heart, I have made a difference.”In addition to her daily management responsibilities,Steiner is also working with Tulane Medical Center staff tocontinue to rebuild the hospital to pre-Hurricane Katrinastatus. Like much of the staff, Steiner was evacuated from therooftop of the hospital’s garage after the storm.“My staff needed to see positivism. They needed to knowwe were still a team, a family that was going to stick together,survive and come back.”•— Tommy Santora18 Health Care Heroes

NURSEMark StockstillPosition: chief nursing officer, Slidell Memorial HospitalAge: 47Family: wife, Tania; children, Jeffrey, 21, Alex, 19, Brandon, 14,Torrie, 14, Ethan, 2Education: associate degree’s in nursing, Pearl RiverCommunity Collegephoto by Tracie Morris SchaeferMark Stockstill chats with Slidell Memorial Hospital nurse Valerie Matherne.In more than two decades at Slidell Memorial Hospital,Mark Stockstill has overseen a growing nursing staff andan ongoing expansion of the hospital’s technological supportsystem.But no matter how much things change at SMH, Stockstillremains true to the principles that lured him to health care inthe first place.“I used to be in law enforcement, and as a deputy I wouldrespond to the scene of an accident. But then I would end upjust standing there for 15 or 20 minutes until the ambulancecame, not knowing what to do,” Stockstill said.That’s when he became interested in studying emergencyservices.“I didn’t like the idea of not being able to do anything whensomeone was in need of help.”That philosophy continues to guide Stockstill. Frequently,he tells staff members to treat their patients the way they wouldwant their mother treated. As an organizer of the hospital’sCritical Action Team, Stockstill has spearheaded an effort toenhance patient care.“The CAT was in response to a challenge put out by theInstitute for Health Care Improvement,” he said. “Their initiativewas to save 100,000 lives, and one of the subcomponentsof that was a rapid response team.”At SMH, the team’s efforts have reduced cardiac arrestcases by more than 50 percent.The system works like this: When nurses on the regularunit have a patient they think is not doing well, they enact therapid response team. Then, nurses from the intensive care unitand emergency department assess the patient and make treatmentdecisions on the spot.As a member of SMH’s senior management team,Stockstill, a former U.S. Air Force flight nurse, also has workedto develop and implement the hospital’s overall care mission.“It’s something we take very seriously. Our overallemphasis has been and remains on patient safety and customersatisfaction. To that end we have insisted upon keepingour staff at levels we think are safe and well above theindustry standard.”•— Garry BoulardWake Up!IT’S TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT BUSINESSSubscribe now and get the Book of Lists valued at$59 as part of your paid order.Call 1-800-739-8836to order your subscription andsave up to 60% off the newsstand price!New Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 19

Real heroes: Professionals Named Healthcare HeroesDonna Guzman, RNThe most outstanding thing about Donna is she trulytakes to the seriousness of treatment like you would yourown family. She is consistent, empathetic and a strongpatient advocate. She borders that line between “Not MyJob” and “Do the Right Thing.”Joseph M. Epps, MDAfter losing everything—home and 25-year practice inNew Orleans—during Hurricane Katrina, the doctorbegan a practice once again in Slidell for a very neededspecialty. Dr. Epps, a Neurosurgeon practicing full timeand taking call in the SMH Emergency Room, is anintegral resource for our community hospital.Elizabeth Buras, RN, BSNLiz demonstrates her compassion for humanity in thecare she delivers to each patient as well as to his or herfamily members in every word she speaks, every smileshe delivers and every gentle touch extended to calma fear and share a moment of encouragement. She istruly “The Role Model” for the entire unit.Mark Stockstill, RN, CNOMark is a vital part of the SMH Senior ManagementTeam, carefully balancing administrative acumenwith direct patient care. He led a Critical Action Teamas part of the “100,000 Lives Campaign,” conductedby the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, to greatsuccess. He has lobbied for top-of-the line equipment,including a new Telemetry monitoring system that, onits first day of use, alerted nurses that a patient was incrisis and a life was saved.Viola CocranIf you wanted a living symbol of a communityhospital, you wouldn’t have to look farther than ViolaCocran. Even before SMH officially opened Nov., 16,1959, she was there, working with other volunteersto create Slidell’s community hospital and keep itrunning smoothly when there were just three regularemployees. Since that time, she has logged over 38,000volunteer hours at SMH.Matthew CuroleThe word “No” is not in the vocabulary of NutritionalServices Director Matt Curole. He has created a familylikeatmosphere for his department. To encouragehealthy eating habits and weight management, helaunched a “biggest loser” contest among his teamand expanded the contest into a 16-week, hospital-widecompetition. His positive attitude and the attitude of hisstaff have been contagious around the hospital.photo by Frank AymamiPHYSICIANGlenn CaseyPosition: anesthesiology chairman, Ochsner Baptist Medical CenterAge: 54Family: wife, Eileen; children, Colin, 26, Blair, 24, Mairin, 18Education: bachelor’s degree, Louisiana State University; doctor of medicine, LSU MedicalCenter and University of Texas Medical Branch at GalvestonDr. Glenn Casey, chairman of anesthesiologyat Ochsner Baptist MedicalCenter, faced what he calls his greatest careerchallenge when the former Baptist MemorialHospital faced extinction after HurricaneKatrina.“The greatest aspect of my career wastrying to revive the (Baptist MemorialHospital) campus after Katrina while tryingto maintain the integrity of the medical staff,”Casey said. “We’ve made great strides.”After much persistence by Casey andother medical personnel to keep the hospitalopen, Ochsner Health System purchasedthe 80-year-old facility in October 2006.Casey’s connection to the hospital is notonly related to his own career, but also the40-year medical career of his father, Dr.Byron Casey, who practiced anesthesiologyat Baptist Memorial Hospital from 1948-89.“I always enjoyed talking to him aboutthe practice of medicine,” Casey said.At the time of the purchase, Glenn Caseywas also elected Ochsner Baptist MedicalCenter’s medical executive committee president,a position he held until 2008.“It’s quite rewarding to deal with patientson a daily basis who have a need for the servicesyou provide them.”Casey’s leadership has helped the hospitalstaff grow to 250 community physicians.Its capability has also expanded toinclude the handling of nearly all medicaland surgical cases, with the exception oftrauma, obstetrics, open-heart and neurologicalsurgery.It presently operates 43 private medicalor surgical beds, 12 intensive care unit beds,six operating rooms, two cardiac catheterizationlabs, two endoscopy suites, an imagingcenter and a full-service emergency room.For Casey, his greatest career challenge isalso his greatest feat.“My greatest accomplishment is theresurgence of Baptist.”•— Amy Ferrara Smith20 Health Care Heroes

PHYSICIANPui Chun“Joan” ChengPosition: gynecologic oncologist, Touro InfirmaryAge: 45Family: husband, Bradley Bartholomew; children, Alexandra, 9,Chloe, 9, Isabella, 5, Tristen, 3 monthsEducation: bachelor’s degree in biology, Duke University; doctorof medicine, Tulane University School of MedicineDr. Pui Chun “Joan” Cheng was a fellow in gynecologiconcology at the University of Southern Californiawhen she treated a teacher who had been diagnosed withovarian cancer.“She was in the last couple of years of her life and was verysick with numerous problems caused by the cancer,” Chengsaid. “All I could remember about this woman was how shenever stopped living her life, how she lived every day to thefullest and kept doing all the things she enjoyed until shepassed away.”Cheng said the experience inspired her, and she tells herpatients no matter what illness or adversity they encounter,they should live in the present and face their problems witha solid foundation of hope.Cheng has been at Touro Infirmary since 2007 and waspreviously at Tulane Medical Center for 10 years. She is alsoa member of the Touro Cancer Center Steering Committeeand helped form a monthly support group for women withgynecologic cancers.Dr. Joan Cheng reviews pelvic scans with patient Nicole Smith.“Just listening to cancer patients lends a great deal of supportto them,” she said. “They are going through a very difficulttime in their lives, and so much of what we do is helppeople understand their illnesses and overcome the fears ofwhat is going on in their body. It’s challenging because youtake care of complex patients, but I also find my specialtyvery rewarding when you solve complex problems.”Cheng is also shaping young doctors at Tulane andLouisiana State University as a professor in the obstetricsgynecologydepartment.“It’s extremely important to teach young physicians aboutour specialty and serve as role models for our young physiciansin training.”•— Tommy Santoraphoto by Frank AymamiPHYSICIANMichele CooperPosition: internal medicine doctor, Crescent City Physicians Inc. at Touro InfirmaryAge: 43Family: husband, Todd Larche; children, Kristen, 8, Todd Jr., 3Education: bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, Xavier University; doctor of medicine, Louisiana StateUniversity Medical Schoolphoto by Frank AymamiDr. Michele Cooperchecks out Renee Hayes.Anative New Orleanian and resident ofeastern New Orleans, Dr. MicheleCooper is doing the best she can to bringnormalcy back to residents still trying torebuild their lives nearly four years afterHurricane Katrina.“I feel a lot of satisfaction when I see howhappy my patients are to be able to find qualityhealth care or primary care in the neighborhoodthey have lived in for so long andare trying to bring back,” said Cooper, aninternal medicine doctor with Crescent CityPhysicians Inc. at Touro Infirmary.“(New Orleans) East had a very vibrantmedical community prior to the hurricane,and it was basically wiped out. It’s rewardingto be able to help return this small but importantelement to the area. There are still veryfew physicians practicing out here, and westill have a very long way to go.”Cooper had been practicing medicine ineastern New Orleans for four years beforeKatrina flooded her office with more than 6feet of water and destroyed her home. Eightmonths pregnant with her second child andhaving a mother with Alzheimer’s disease,Cooper thought it best to leave New Orleansfor a while. She moved to Maryland, whereshe stayed for a year before returning hometo her practice.Cooper said coming back after the stormwas a challenge for her, especially in thosefirst few weeks.“No one was here, nothing was out there.It was dusty, desolate and dismal. It wasworth it to come back because there were somany patients out here that felt neglected andbelieved nothing was coming back here.”Cooper was a practicing pharmacist for10 years before turning to the field of treatment.She said a need to do more for herpatients drove her to medical school.“I don’t want to say that pharmacy lacksimportance, but I just felt that I could contributemore in medicine,” Cooper said.•— Robin ShannonNew Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 21

PHYSICIANSFrank DellaCrocePosition: co-founder, Center for Restorative Breast SurgeryAge: 42Family: wife, Janet; children, Hannah, 13, Nicolas, 10, Holley, 7Education: bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine, Northeast Louisiana University;doctor of medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Centerphoto by Tracie Morris SchaeferScott SullivanPosition: co-founder, Center for Restorative Breast SurgeryAge: 44Family: wife, Michele Cooper; daughters, Alexis, 9, Elle, 5Education: bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering, Tulane University;doctor of medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences CenterFrank DellaCroce, left,and Scott Sullivan.Drs. Frank DellaCroce and Scott Sullivan bring an individualappreciation for the aesthetic to their joint practiceat the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery.Sullivan’s distaste for the staid appearance of traditionaldoctors offices blends with DellaCroce’s appreciation ofwomen’s maternal qualities and natural anatomy, leading to aspa-like setting where patients enjoy aesthetically pleasingresults.“I still can’t stand going into a doctor’s office and it’s likea bus station. It’s so impersonal, sitting on chairs and everyonestaring at each other,” said Sullivan, who as a child battlingrecurring bronchitis dreaded physicians in white coatsand hospitals that smelled of rubbing alcohol.“I appreciate the artistry that is a woman’s body,”DellaCroce said. “To see that lost, harmed or hurt throughsurgical treatment, for me, is tragic.”The two bring years of innovation and experience to theirjoint practice dedicated to reconstructing the breasts ofwomen facing mastectomies in fighting cancer.They are noted for the sensitivity they display in preservingthe female form in the nipple-sparing mastectomy procedurethey pioneered, avoiding implants by using fat from thepatient’s body and leaving as little scarring as possible.Sullivan said they replace breast tissue with similar tissuefrom such parts of the body as the stomach, preserving a lifelikeresult and also considering the appearance of the sitefrom which tissue is taken.“It’s changing their life, retaining their femininity,” Sullivansaid. “What they are most afraid of is being deformed.”More than half their patients are from outside Louisianaand the United States.“It’s almost to the point that patients don’t want to leavethe doctor’s office,” Sullivan said. “We’ve had patients who,after going to the hotel (after recovery) decided to spend theday at the hospital.”•— Diana ChandlerPHYSICIANJoseph EppsPosition: neurosurgeon, Slidell Memorial HospitalAge: 67Family: wife, Shirley; daughters, Nikki, 34, Kelly, 30Education: bachelor’s degree in zoology, Howard University; doctor ofmedicine, Howard University College of MedicineFor Dr. Joseph Epps, a neurosurgeon at SlidellMemorial Hospital, medicine is a family tradition. Hisfather, Joseph, was a general surgeon, and his mother, Sara,was a social worker. While he became a doctor of medicine,his sister, Grace, earned her doctorate in medicaleducation.“My entire family was involved in the medical field,” saidEpps, who is the only neurosurgeon practicing full-time andtaking calls in Slidell Memorial Hospital’s emergency room.“I knew of nothing else.”Epps and his wife, Shirley, a registered nurse, maintain apractice in Slidell. Their daughter, Nikki, is an instructor ofanatomy and physiology at Colorado Technical University,while daughter Kelly will participate in a cardiology fellowshipat the University of Pennsylvania that starts in June.A native of New Orleans, Epps graduated from HowardUniversity in Washington, D.C., where he stayed for medicalschool, a residency in general surgery and a neurologyfellowship.When he returned to New Orleans, he set up his practice ineastern New Orleans and became the city’s first African-American neurosurgeon. Epps also was one of the first 10African-American neurosurgeons trained in the country.Throughout his career, Epps said his greatest accomplishmenthas been surviving and recovering from the aftermathof Hurricane Katrina, during which he lost his houseand practice. Through it all, though, Epps used his selfinventedelectronic medical record system that allowed himto forward displaced patients’ records to physicians throughoutthe country.Until the storm, he also acted as a clinical professor ofneurosurgery at Tulane University for nearly 30 years wherehe taught 20 residents about neurosurgery. Teaching othersabout medicine, he said, has been one of the most rewardingaspects of his career.“The interchange and education of those residents iswhat I feel most strongly about.”•— Amy Ferrara Smithphoto by Tracie Morris Schaefer22 Health Care Heroes

PHYSICIANSander FlormanPosition: associate professor of surgery and pediatrics, TulaneUniversity School of Medicine; director of abdominal transplantation,Tulane Medical Center and Children’s HospitalAge: 41Family: wife, Toby; children, Zachary, 10, Frankie, 7, Eric, 3Education: bachelor’s degree in philosophy, Brandeis University;doctor of medicine, University of Louisville School of MedicineDr. Sandy Florman and his team at Tulane UniversitySchool of Medicine perform an average of 200 organtransplants a year, but one recent transplant holds a specialplace in Florman’s heart.Two days before Christmas last year, Florman performedan auto kidney transplant on a 6-year-old boy,removing and repairing the organ rather than replacing itwith a donor organ. He had carried out the procedure ontwo adults but never on a child.The surgery was a success. Two months later, the boy wasoff his blood pressure medicine, back in school and doingwhat normal 6-year-old boys do, Florman said.“It’s an extremely uncommon procedure but the onlykind of surgery we could have done on him to save him,”Florman said. “It was a tremendous feeling to see that outcome.The family was eternally grateful, and that’s a big reasonwhy you do this, to see those kinds of success stories.”Florman is an associate professor of surgery and pediatricsat Tulane University School of Medicine and directorof abdominal transplantation at Tulane Medical CenterRegistered nurse Claudine Grobart chats with Dr. Sander Florman.and Children’s Hospital. In addition to surgical transplants,Florman and his team also handle non-transplantproblems related to the liver, kidneys and pancreas.“It’s not always about surgery and transplants. We havea group of medical and surgical people who put theirheads together and come up with a best treatment on apatient-by-patient basis,” Florman said.“It requires a team, a lot of people to make this happen,and I am fortunate to work with an incredible staff.”•— Tommy Santoraphoto by Tracie Morris Schaeferphoto by Frank AymamiPHYSICIANAna HandsPosition: international health and transplant services director, Ochsner Health SystemAge: 47Family: singleEducation: bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology, University of Monterrey inMexico; doctor of medicine, University of Zulia, Maracaibo in VenezuelaDr. Ana Hands has taken the lead on eliminatingcultural barriers for Ochsner HealthSystem’s patients by ensuring its staff is trainedto communicate and connect with patients ofvarious cultures.As director of international health and transplantservices, Hands coordinates languageinterpretation services for patients who speak alllanguages, including individuals who are hearingimpaired. She also has provided basic Spanishtraining for more than 400 Ochsner employeessince 2005 and plans on implementing basicEnglish training for Spanish-speaking employeesthis year.Hands said the employees’ training needsresulted from an increase in the local Hispanicpopulation after Hurricane Katrina. The influxrequired each Ochsner campus to provide“quality services” to patients in their own language,she said.Each year, Ochsner treats about 5,000 internationalpatients from places such as SaudiArabia, Central America and the Bahamas. A significantnumber are referrals from Puerto Rico,where socioeconomic issues are coupled withlanguage and education barriers, she said.In one case, a Puerto Rican patient was flownto Ochsner for emergency transplant, and Hands’staff worked to meet the patient’s one requestupon arrival — to have a hamburger. Her teamfulfilled the request without realizing it would bethe patient’s last meal — he passed away beforethe transplant.The incident remains fresh in Hands’ mindmostly because of the depth of gratitude shereceived from the patient’s wife and children,who said the service they received at Ochsnerexceeded the level of care they would havereceived in their home country.“I said to myself, ‘Wow, we must be doingsomething right,’” Hands said. “The kind of jobwe do, we make people happy even when theend result is not what we expect.”•— Nayita WilsonNew Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 23

PHYSICIANTimothy HarlanPosition: medical director, Tulane University Medical Group; assistant professor of medicine,department of internal medicineAge: 50Family: wife, MorganEducation: bachelor’s degree in anthropology, Emory University; doctor of medicine, EmoryUniversity School of Medicinephoto by Frank AymamiThere is nothing Dr. Timothy Harlanenjoys more than interacting with hispatients.“There is a limitation that any physicianhas in terms of how many patients they cansee in a day,” Harlan said. “If I am lucky, inthe morning, I can see a dozen patients. Idon’t think I will ever stop doing that. It is aterrific experience.”One of the reasons Harlan enjoys talkingto and getting to know his patients is becauseof what he learns from them.“Just by listening to what people aresaying, talking about lives and such, youcan really learn a lot. Interacting withpatients and being with patients and tryingto help them is a joyous way to spend theday — and that is a big part of my life.”Harlan moved to New Orleans in 2007and quickly embraced the health care challengesof the city as well as its culture, historyand people.“They go together,” said Harlan, who inhis free time maintains the Web sitewww.drgourmet.com, which is devoted tothe principles of eating well and eatinghealthy.As a result of his conversations withpatients and because of his own love forcooking, Harlan emphasizes healthy eatingany chance he gets. It is a mission he believesfolds in perfectly with the roots of NewOrleans, despite popular perceptions thatfood and how it is made and consumed inthe city is a decadent thing.“Louisiana Cajun and Creole cooking isthe distillation of the Mediterranean diet,”Harlan said. “A lot of our food … has beencorrupted by poor cooking techniques andhigh-processed and higher-fat ingredients.“But when you stop and consider thebasic foundations of the Mediterraneandiet, New Orleans has it all. This is whathas given us beans, healthy whole grains,rice. You can go on and on.”•— Garry Boulardphoto by Tracie Morris SchaeferPHYSICIANPeter HertzakPosition: owner, Hertzak Laser CenterAge: 62Family: wife, Diana Gillmore; children, Peter, 37, Allison, 21Education: doctor of medicine, University of Zagreb, CroatiaOn the surface, the cosmetic proceduresDr. Peter Hertzak performs are moreabout making his patients happy with the waythey look than making them healthier.But the results usually turn out to be morethan just skin deep.“Probably 80 or 90 percent of the time, Ihear from the patient that after having one ofthese procedures, they find that they haveturned a new leaf in their lives,” said Hertzak,who opened the Hertzak Laser Center inSlidell in 2006.“I’ve seen this especially after a tummytuck or liposuction, neither of which is aweight-loss procedure. But (the patients) havelater engaged in an active program of exerciseand lost weight. The procedure gives themthe initial stimulus, and then they followthrough.”Initially trained as a specialist in obstetricsand gynecology, Hertzak found his surgicalpatients often would inquire about the possibilityof a little extra nip and tuck while they wereon the operating table, so he decided to completeadditional training in cosmetic surgery.He’s performed more than 2,000 tummytucks and also does breast augmentation, bodycontouring, liposuction with fat transfer, suchas to the buttocks or breasts, and laser vaginalrejuvenation — a procedure he said “restores awoman’s intimate anatomy to the way it wasbefore giving birth to her first child.”His facility also provides nonsurgical proceduressuch as intense pulsed light hair andpigment removal and laser skin rejuvenation.A native of Croatia who arrived in Slidellin 1981 by way of Detroit, Hertzak is notedfor his compassion. When Hurricane Gustavwas approaching the area, he volunteered tobe the lone physician to stay at the Doctor’sHospital of Slidell.•— Sonya Stinson24 Health Care Heroes

PHYSICIANWilliam JohnstonPosition: neurosurgeon, East Jefferson General HospitalAge: 63Family: wife, Rosalie; children, Allison Deviney, 34, Guy, 30Education: bachelor’s degree in botany, University of Southwestern Louisiana; doctor of medicine,Louisiana State University Medical Schoolphoto by Frank AymamiDr. William Johnston acknowledges popularperceptions of neurosurgery oftenmake people uncomfortable, particularlywhen it comes to something like removing abrain tumor.“I sometimes feel that way myself,”Johnston said.But in a career spanning about fourdecades, Johnston has made strides in tryingto make the mysterious and complicatedseem less so.“I think it accomplishes nothing bytelling a patient something they might like tohear but you know you can’t come throughwith. And almost without exception, I havefound if you look a person right in the faceand tell them the truth, which includestelling them what they can do about a particularsituation, they will do a lot better than ifyou try to sugarcoat something.”After graduating from medical school,Johnston set up a practice in New Orleansbefore going to work for East JeffersonGeneral Hospital, where he is now the chiefof neurosurgery.And while he has treated thousands ofpatients, Johnston said some cases are stillsobering.“Typically we have a pretty good idea fromour pre-operative images studies what theproblem is exactly,” Johnston said. “The challengeis then to do as much as you can for thepatient, to find as much good time as you can.”But there are a lot of brain tumors thatcan be removed completely with a very goodoutcome, Johnston said. Not long ago, heand his team saw a man who had a hugebenign tumor that occupied the front half ofhis brain cavity.“He had lost his job and was having allkinds of troubles,” Johnston said. “He wasn’tfunctioning properly. Finally, someonedid a scan of his head and the tumor was discovered.We removed it and he has donevery well.”•— Garry BoulardPHYSICIANLeslie LevensonPosition: interventional cardiologist, Heart Clinic of LouisianaAge: 63Family: wife, Gayle; children, Lisa, 37, Lauren, 20, Jonathan, 20Education: bachelor’s degree in biology, Boston University; doctor ofmedicine, University of Vermont Medical SchoolDr. Leslie Levenson examines awireless EKG with EmergencyMedical Technician Ryan Brown.After Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Leslie Levenson saw a lot ofhis colleagues leave the New Orleans area for other businessopportunities. He also had several offers to leave the cityand take his practice elsewhere.“But I never considered leaving,” Levenson said. “I likeit too much here, and the residents of this city, comingback and rebuilding their homes and their lives, that’s aninspiration to me. I wouldn’t want any other patientssomewhere else.”The 63-year-old has called the West Bank of New Orleanshome for 33 years as an interventional cardiologist at theHeart Clinic of Louisiana. He also said the shortage of cardiologistsin the New Orleans area helped solidify his decisionto maintain his practice.Levenson said he wanted to be a cardiologist since he wasa kid and was inspired by Dr. James Gault, chief cardiologistat Penn State University, who mentored him while he was afellow at the school.“He made me really excited about cardiology andinspired me to do more. He made me realize … that wecan give people all kinds of medications and do all kinds ofphoto by Frank Aymamidifferent surgeries on them, but they also have to helpthemselves and participate in their health care — exercisingright, eating right and living right. That’s what I teachmy patients.”Coronary disease causes one out of every five deaths inthe United States, and 60 million Americans have some formof cardiovascular disease, according to the American HeartAssociation. Levenson said improvements in medicine,including better stents to prop open arteries, have enabledhim to better perform open-heart procedures.“Advances in technology and surgical equipment havebecome a lot more sophisticated in the past five years.Everything is more user friendly, keeping vessels open forlonger periods of time, helping both the doctors and thepatients.”•— Tommy SantoraNew Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 25

PHYSICIANSteve LevinePosition: pediatric intensive care unit medical director,Children’s HospitalAge: 59Family: wife, Shari; children, Jennifer, 26, Benjamin, 22Education: bachelor’s degree in sociology, State University of NewYork, Stony Brook; doctor of medicine, The Autonomous University ofGuadalajara, MexicoThroughout his career, Dr. Steven Levine, medical directorof the intensive care unit at Children’s Hospital, hasbeen instrumental in children’s medical care throughoutLouisiana.In 1985, he worked to help Ochsner Medical Centerbecome the first and only lung transplant center in the stateuntil Hurricane Katrina. He’s also helped increase the numberof beds at Children’s Hospital’s intensive care unit fromfour to 30.“We like to walk the walk, not just talk the talk,” saidLevine, who is board certified in pediatric pulmonary andcritical care. “We’re here to turn kids back to their parents.It’s very gratifying.”In June, Children’s Hospital will open its Michael JeffreyLupin Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for kids with life-threateningillnesses and injuries.“The kids we haven’t saved, they really crawl into yourhearts. It’s challenging,” he said.Levine came to New Orleans in 1979 to participate in apediatric pulmonary fellowship at Tulane University withphoto by Frank AymamiDr. William Waring. He credits Waring and Dr. AaronRausen, chairman of pediatrics at Beth Israel University inNew York when Levine did his pediatric residency there,with inspiring him throughout his career.“They taught me to never be complacent, to never giveup, to have patience with the kids and their families, and tomaintain an inquisitive mind.”Three years after working with Waring, Levine joinedChildren’s Hospital in 1981.“I thought this was an interim position,” he said. “But Ifell in love with the city, the ICU and Children’s.”•— Amy Ferrara SmithPHYSICIANSVictor LucasPosition: pediatric cardiology section head, Ochsner Health SystemAge: 47Family: wife, Betsy; children, Victor, 18, Nicholas, 16, Amanda, 10Education: bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology, SoutheasternUniversity; doctor of medicine, Medical University of South CarolinaDennis MelloPosition: pediatric and congenital cardiac surgery chief, OchsnerHealth SystemAge: 44Family: wife, Rachel; children, Chris, 12, Jack, 7, Olivia, 6Education: bachelor’s degree in biology, Yale University; doctor ofmedicine, University of Connecticut School of MedicineChris SnyderPosition: pediatric electrophysiology head, Ochsner Health SystemAge: 42Family: wife, Allison; children, Ainsley, 7, Katelyn, 5Education: bachelor’s degree in biology, Wayne State University;doctor of medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine26 Health Care HeroesPhysicians who have been exposed to health care systemsin underdeveloped parts of the world sayAmericans often don’t realize that many citizens of foreigncountries fail to receive even basic care.Drs. Victor “Sam” Lucas, Dennis Mello and ChrisSnyder went on a mission trip to Paraguay in November toperform cardiac work for people who would die if leftuntreated.Mello was making his fifth mission trip to Paraguay,where he performed cardiac surgery on children with congenitalheart diseases.“It’s life or death,” Mello said. “You feel like you’regiving a kid a new life.”Mello asked Lucas to join the mission to expand theavailable services to include curative catheter procedures,which prevent the need for open-heart surgery.“Their families are just as happy to have their kidshealthy as we are, and they never thought they’d be ableto get this care,” Lucas said.Snyder, who had been on a mission to St. Petersburg,Russia, with Mello, was there to perform electrophysiologyprocedures. While Snyder enjoyed caring for thepatients, he echoed a sentiment Lucas and Mello share —namely that the mission is just as much about teaching theParaguayan physicians as it is about treating the children.In the years since Mello started the Paraguay missions— he’s made 10 trips in the past eight years — the numberof procedures has grown dramatically. In his first year, heoperated on three children. The second year, seven.“Each year, we get to treat more and more, and providemore complex procedures,” Mello said.And each year, the Paraguayan surgeons the missionworks with become more proficient, the doctors said.The end goal is still in the distance,but it is a simple one.“Let every kid in the world get treated the same,”Mello said.•— Fritz Eskerphoto by Frank AymamiFrom left: Drs. Dennis Mello, Chris Snyder and Sam Lucas.

PHYSICIANRobert PostPosition: medical director, Daughters of Charity Services ofNew OrleansAge: 45Family: wife, Maggie Silio; children, Molly, 12, Lou, 9Education: bachelor’s degree in psychology, NorthwesternUniversity; doctor of medicine, University of Missouri-ColumbiaSchool of MedicineThe “medical home” model Dr. Robert Post uses as medicaldirector of the Daughters of Charity Services of NewOrleans gives patients an active role in managing their care.“We have a care management team that assists people in selfmanagingtheir chronic illnesses,”said Post,who manages communityhealth care centers in Bywater, Carrollton and Metairie.He also oversees the Neighborhood Health Partnership;the Seton Resource Center, which provides school-basedchild development services; the Integrated MobileAssessment Team, which does homeless outreach; and theLatino Health Access Network.Staff members also maintain disease registries and trackpatients who see specialists and obtain other health servicesat facilities outside the Daughters of Charity system. ForPost, the payoff for those efforts comes when patients’ healthcare outcomes are evaluated.“We’ve seen dramatic improvements in the results for peoplewith diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular disease,” Postsaid. “It’s rewarding because we know we’re impacting amuch larger population that we could individually see.”Post trained as a community health physician at CookCounty Hospital in Chicago, where he did his residency inDr. Bob Post works with Sister Mary John Code.family medicine. He practiced at a health center in Algiersjust before taking his current position 10 years ago.For Post, one of the greatest benefits of communityhealth care is that it reaches a patient population that traditionallyis at high risk for chronic illnesses but often haslimited access to medical services.“I believe access to primary care is the key to eliminatingany health disparities that we have. Unfortunately, in NewOrleans we have an inordinate percentage of the populationthat’s at risk. By providing high-quality primary care, we caneliminate some of those health disparities.”•— Sonya Stinsonphoto by Frank AymamiPHYSICIANErich RichterPosition: neurology department chairman, Louisiana StateUniversity Health Sciences CenterAge: 36Family: wife, Desiree; children, Ana, 9, Moses, 7, Abigail, 6,Adelaide, 18 monthsEducation: bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering,University of Florida; doctor of medicine, Ohio StateUniversity School of Medicine and Public Healthphoto by Frank AymamiEarly in his career, Dr. Erich Richter came across apatient with a severe tremor who could not pick up acup, write his name or do anything with his hands.To help the patient, Richter crafted a wireless pacemakerdevice that uses electrodes to stimulate specific parts ofthe brain and reduce involuntary movements and tremors.The tremors went away, and the patient was able to pickup a cup and take a sip of water.“It was about 10 years ago and I was just beginning mycareer, but that was the very first time that I realized I wantedto experience that kind of rewarding feeling over andover again,” Richter said. “It felt real good to help peopleand watch the patient respond the way he did.”Now, Richter is helping New Orleans patients withepilepsy and Parkinson’s disease as chairman of theLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterDepartment of Neurology.Richter came to New Orleans in 2007 from MercerDr. Erich Richter reviews a deep brain stimulator case with resident David Bulot.Medical School in Macon, Ga., and was lured to the areaby Frank Culicchia, chairman of the LSU Department ofNeurosurgery, to fill a void in the community for a functionalneurosurgeon — one who could treat movement disorders.Richter also saw the need to inform more NewOrleanians about various forms of brain diseases by startingthe Neurosurgery Information blog at http://neurosurgeryinfo.blogspot.com.“It provides a forum for the online exchange of informationabout diseases of the brain,” Richter said. “We havefour doctors in the neurology department who participate,and we answer all kinds of questions for people whomaybe they feel their own doctors haven’t answered, or ifthey’re still confused after their doctor visits.”•— Tommy SantoraNew Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 27

PHYSICIANCarlosRodriguez-FierroPosition: medical director, Cardiology Center at WestJefferson Medical CenterAge: 50Family: wife, Ingrid; children, Nicole, 17, Christina, 16,Carlos Gabriel, 13, Priscilla, 10, Julian, 9, Christian, 4Education: bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry,Florida International University; doctor of medicine, LeonardM. Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miamiphoto by Frank AymamiWhen a patient comes to a hospital suffering from aheart attack, it is literally a matter of life and death.Every second and every action counts and a doctor in sucha situation can bring a patient back to life.This is what makes Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Fierro’s jobchallenging and rewarding.A case that stands out involved a woman in her early30s who was rushed to the hospital because of a heartattack. The woman was pronounced dead and was receivingCPR and defibrillator treatments. Rodriguez-Fierroput a stent in one of her main arteries, the patient wasbrought back to life and she went home just four days later.What sticks out in Rodriguez-Fierro’s mind was howyoung the patient was to suffer a heart attack and how rapidlyeverything moved.“We worked on her so fast and we were able to bringher back,” Rodriguez-Fierro said.In addition to his emergency work in the New Orleansregion, Rodriguez-Fierro goes on missions to perform surgicalwork. He traveled to Managua, Nicaragua, and performedthe first open-heart surgery there after HurricaneMitch in 1998. He also did a medical mission in Hondurasshortly after Mitch and returned one week a month for fivemonths to provide general medical assistance.Rodriguez-Fierro is also involved in Doctors to theRescue, a charity that donates bicycles and toys to childrenof military families with a parent stationed in Iraq orAfghanistan.“It’s a selfish cause,” he said. “The most rewardingthing you can see is a smile on a kid’s face.”•— Fritz EskerPHYSICIANHector VenturaPosition: medical director of the advanced heart failure andcardiac transplant center, Ochsner Medical CenterAge: 58Family: wife, Laurie; children, Austin, 16, Lieghton, 15, Mariel, 13Education: doctor of medicine, National University School ofMedicine in Buenos Airesphoto by Frank AymamiFor Dr. Hector Ventura, success is not complicated at all.It’s simply treating patients at the clinic with care andensuring their medical needs are met.Ventura, medical director for Ochsner Medical Center’sadvanced heart failure and cardiac transplant department,said he sees an average of 22 patients a day, all of whom heand his staff follow before and after surgery.The Argentina native completed his medical residencyat the Central Military Hospital in Buenos Aires and latercompleted training in terminal medication and cardiologyat Ochsner. In 2007, Ventura participated in Ochsner’s700th heart transplant, one of only 10 transplant centersnationwide that have reached that benchmark.Ventura, who has worked at Ochsner for 25 years, hasgarnered numerous success stories throughout that journey.Three cases unique to Ventura involve three brothers,all of whom were diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a typeof heart diseases that enlarges and thickens the heart muscleand reduces its ability to pump blood.Ventura has worked with the family for the past six years.28 Health Care HeroesThe two oldest brothers underwent heart transplants successfully,and Ventura continues to monitor the youngest sibling.“They’re my patients and I’ll always work with them,”he said.Ventura said he always wanted to be a physician, but nothingin particular steered him toward cardiology.In medicine, he said, “regardless of what you do, you tryto help people get better, and that’s what I like about the job.”Ventura said he leads by example and believes he andhis staff are provided the tools they need to be successful.The ultimate contribution, he said, is to take care of thepatients.“Our job is to take care of the patients, and we do quitewell when we take care of that. The patients are the mostimportant thing. If we do that, we’ll be fine.”•— Nayita Wilson

PROFESSIONALStephenBaldwinPosition: vice president of operations, Tulane Medical CenterAge: 34Education: bachelor’s degree in finance, Louisiana State University;master’s degree in health administration, Tulane UniversityAt age 34, Stephen Baldwin, vice president of operationsat Tulane Medical Center, already has a wealthof experience from rebuilding a hospital that incurred$100 million in damage from Hurricane Katrina.After the storm, Baldwin led the rebuilding of Tulane’sCancer Center, a $12 million project that included construction,gathering staff and recruiting physicians, allfrom Tulane’s temporary location in Covington. After thecenter was rebuilt, Baldwin rebuilt anesthesia services byorganizing a team of seven anesthesiologists and 10 certifiedregistered nurse anesthetists.His next project was to lead an $89 million restoration ofTulane Medical Center’s hospital, including reopening itspharmacy, cafeteria and central sterile and operating rooms.The hospital was operational just one year after thestorm.“I’ve always been in health care,” said Baldwin, whoearned a master’s degree in health administration fromTulane University. “I started in a clinical EMS role, and Idecided to go into management. Health care is one of theprofessions in which you receive immediate gratification.”Baldwin began his career at Tulane Medical Centernine years ago as an administrative resident. He thenmoved into various managerial positions before becomingdirector of the Tulane Cancer Center.After serving as associate vice president of operations,he became vice president of operations. In both positions,he has directed the operations of physician clinics, clinicaland non-clinical departments and service lines. He also hasmanaged Tulane Medical Center’s emergency preparednessteam and led the emergency operations committee.Having already fulfilled numerous positions as a staffmember at Tulane Medical Center, Baldwin is looking aheadto his future: He hopes to become CEO of a hospital.•— Amy Ferrara Smithphoto by Frank AymamiLike the Book?You’ll love the electronic version!Use it to:-hunt for new business-enhance existing data-supplement job search-raise funds...and much more!!!ORDERNOWTo order your Electronic Version of the 2008-2009 Book of Listscontact Monique Brignac(504) 293-9724 • monique.brignac@nopg.comNew Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 29

photo by Tracie Morris SchaeferPROFESSIONALMatthew CurolePosition: nutritional services director, Slidell Memorial HospitalAge: 37Family: wife, Jamie; children, Elise, 13, Dominic, 11Education: bachelor’s degree in management, Nicholls State UniversitySome consider making a meal forsomeone to be an act of love.Matthew Curole, director of nutritionalservices at Slidell Memorial Hospital,puts his heart into the food he preparesfor workers, patients and families.“It’s a simple pleasure of life, and it’s soeasy to do,” Curole said.Being at a hospital can be stressful forpatients and their families, and food canbe a source of comfort, Curole said, especiallyfor people in south Louisiana.“It brightens someone’s day just to eata good meal and enjoy themselves. It’s oneless thing for families to worry about.”One of Curole’s most rewardingmoments came from organizing a“Biggest Loser” contest at the hospital tosee which staff member could shed themost weight over time.The competition was initially limitedto Curole’s department, where 15 workerslost a combined 185 pounds. Wordspread and the administration askedhim to take the contest hospitalwide,resulting in 57 employees losing morethan 550 pounds. One woman brokedown in tears of joy when she saw howmuch weight she had lost.“In addition to the impacts we canhave on the lives of our patients, I can havean impact on the staff that’s workinghere,” Curole said.Curole also participates in a numberof volunteer activities. He is the foodchairman and a cook for the TomatoFestival in Chalmette, where he alsoworks with Our Lady of Prompt Succorand helps its school prepare a pancakebreakfast with Santa Claus eachDecember.•— Fritz EskerPROFESSIONALRichardGaienniePosition: CEO, Bridge House Corp.Age: 71Family: wife, Barbara; children, Bill, 49, Michelle, 41, Dana, 40Education: studied business at Loyola UniversityRichard “Buzzy” Gaiennie has witnessed a lot of dramatictransformations in his 25 years in charge of BridgeHouse. One of his favorite success stories is that of KevinGardere, who now heads the major gifts fundraising departmentat the substance abuse treatment center.“Because of an automobile accident during his usingdays, he had a serious leg injury, and he’s had to have his legamputated,” Gaiennie said. “He’s overcome both alcoholismand an addiction to pain medication. He’s doing a great jobfor us as an employee.”Former residents make up nearly 40 percent of the 55-member staff at Bridge House. Since its inception, the facilityhas assisted more than 20,000 addicts in their recovery,using 12-step programs and various models of behavioraltherapy.Treatment at the nonprofit center also includes a componentcalled “working recovery.” Along with a clinical counselor,each resident is assigned a vocational rehabilitationcounselor.For Gaiennie, a recovering alcoholic who said his work isinspired by a spiritual awakening he experienced when hephoto by Frank Aymamiwas three years sober, running Bridge House is more of avocation than a job.“The best thing I’ve ever done with my life is being hereat Bridge House, and I’m extremely grateful for having theopportunity.”After a quarter-century at the helm of the center, Gaienniewill celebrate another milestone in October when BridgeHouse moves from its Camp Street location into a new35,000-square-foot, 104-bed facility at Earhart Boulevardand South Dupre Street. Bridge House will use its originalbuilding to house a women’s residential treatment facility,Grace House.“Statistics show that a person’s recovery is going to beconsistent with the stability of their work,” Gaiennie said.“We have identified that most of our people are emotionallyimmature and don’t know how to stay employed. So weinvest quite a bit in teaching them a work ethic.”•— Sonya Stinson30 Health Care Heroes

PROFESSIONALRobert GardnerPosition: psychosocial oncology director, Touro InfirmaryAge: 51Family: wife, Kim; daughter, Paige, 3Education: bachelor’s degree in business and psychology, AuburnUniversity; master’s degree in education, University of New Orleans;counselor education graduate, University of New Orleansphoto by Frank AymamiNearly 10 years ago, Robert Gardner lay next to his motherwho was dying from cancer. She said to him, “Dosomething with your life that matters. You’ll know what it iswhen you find it.”The message stuck with Gardner, who had owned a breadbakery in Memphis, Tenn., for 15 years and worked prior tothat in the food service industry. After his mother’s death, hemoved to Jackson, Miss., and began consulting businessesopening bakeries. During that time, Gardner was attendinggrief counseling.“My therapist said, ‘Have you ever thought about being inmy chair? The way you ask questions and talk about everything,you might be a good therapist.’”It was also the same time Gardner met his wife, Kim.They moved to New Orleans, where Gardner went back toschool to become a counselor.In 2006, cancer hit the homefront again. Kim was diagnosedwith cervical cancer, and Gardner was the first todeliver the message.“I actually told her, and I remember rehearsing in thecar exactly how I would break the news to her,” Gardnersaid. “It gave me another level of understanding of howcancer could affect healthy people out of the blue andDr. Robert Gardner chats with patient Mary Ann Hastings at a Gynocologic Cancer Support Group meeting at Touro Infirmary.change their lives, and gave me motivation to keep doingwhat I was doing.”Kim is in remission and almost 100 percent cured.Since joining Touro’s staff as director of psychosocialoncology, Gardner has developed a supportive cancer careprogram. In addition to counseling patients and their families,he also co-facilitates a weekly support group for caregiversof cancer patients at the American Cancer Society’sPatrick F. Taylor Hope Lodge.“My role is to help those affected by cancer become betterprepared to deal with the psychological, emotional andinterpersonal impact of their disease,” Gardner said. “Cancercan lead people down a path of hopelessness, and it’s my jobto be there for them to grasp the mechanisms in their life thatcan provide them hope.”•— Tommy SantoraPROFESSIONALThomas GrimstadPosition: CEO, Louisiana Mutual Medical Insurance Co.Age: 62Family: wife, Wina; sons, Thomas Jr., 34, John, 29Education: bachelor’s degree in zoology, University of Wisconsin; doctor of medicine, TulaneUniversity School of Medicinephoto by Tracie Morris SchaeferUnder the leadership of Dr. ThomasGrimstad, who became president andCEO of Louisiana Mutual Medical InsuranceCo. in January 2008, the company was able togive its Louisiana and Arkansas policyholdersa dividend for the second consecutive year.“The workers are really the ones whodeserve the credit,” said Grimstad, the fourthphysician to lead LAMMICO, an insurancecompany led by physicians that provides malpracticecoverage to doctors and other healthcare practitioners.“My ability to do that is because of what hastranspired for more than a quarter of a centuryat the company,” he said.For 18 years before joining LAMMICO,Grimstad worked as a physician of consultativepulmonary disease at West Jefferson MedicalCenter, where he was chief of staff in 1985.“I miss seeing patients and the interactionwith patients,” he said. “Doctors have a certainopportunity to do good and I miss that.”However, Grimstad said he takes pride inhis current work and the company.His connection with the medical field canbe traced back to his youth, when his mother,a physician, worked as an internist with a specialtyin dermatology. Grimstad said therewere not many women in the medical field atthat time in history.“Her graduating class had three womenout of 100 or so students,” he said. “She was apioneer in medicine. She encouraged all ofour family to obtain an education.”And this physician-turned-CEO still prideshimself on his ability to help others.“One of my greatest accomplishments isgetting to this point where I can help physiciansof this state at a broad level.”•— Amy Ferrara SmithNew Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 31

PROFESSIONALGeoffrey NaglePosition: director, Tulane Institute of Infant and Early ChildhoodMental Health; associate professor of psychiatry, Tulane UniversitySchool of MedicineAge: 43Family: wife, Gabriela; children, Jake, 9, Juliana, seven weeksEducation: bachelor’s degree in political science, Duke University;master’s degrees in social work and public health and Ph.D. inmental health policy research, Tulane Universityphoto by Frank AymamiGeoffrey Nagle is among a growing group of people whobelieve treating the social and emotional health of infantsand children is the best way to promote productivity and successas they mature, benefiting not only the children, but alsotheir families and society.Committed to the welfare of the very young, he left acareer in the entertainment industry to volunteer for 18months at hospitals and orphanages in Latin America beforecoming to New Orleans in 1995.“I had an impression as an outsider that it was going tobe the closest thing I could get to a third-world country inthe United States,” Nagle said referring to New Orleans.He was also eager to work with two noted experts in mentalhealth care, Dr. Charles Zeanah, who co-founded theTulane Institute of Infant and Early Childhood MentalHealth with Nagle, and Joy Osofsky.As the state coordinator of BrightStart, a comprehensiveearly childhood initiative administered by the LouisianaOffice of Public Health, Nagle has helped develop and implementQuality Start, a child care rating system. Quality Start isaugmented by a package of tax credits and incentives thatGeoffrey Nagle hosts a puppet show in the Mr. Rogers Castle at the Children’s Museum with Reese Kurt, left, and Nico Caputto.reward quality child care. Nagle said 40 percent of the centersin the state are enrolled in Quality Start.“The goal is to help all of those centers get to be a qualitycenter, at least three stars or above,” within five years. “It’s anambitious goal.”Quality Start infuses medical care, social and emotionalhealth initiatives, early childhood education, family supportand parenting education into its model.“The notion is that any one of those (alone) isn’t going toreally change the big picture,” said Nagle, adding that realchange will take 15 to 20 years if the system is sufficientlyimplemented. “We’ll know when we get there that we’re nolonger at the bottom.”•— Diana ChandlerPROFESSIONALMelba Perez-BergunoPosition: licensed clinical social worker, River Parishes HospitalAge: 53Family: husband, Fernando; children, Jonathan, 21, Robert, 18Education: bachelor’s degree in sociology and master’s degree in socialwork, University of Puerto RicoAs a social worker, it’s Melba Perez-Berguno’s job to helppeople through difficult times.Her most memorable case involved a widow who had nofamily and was suffering from a critical illness. The closestperson to the widow was her friend of 30 years, so when thetime came to pick someone to make important decisions forthe widow, her longtime friend was chosen.As a social worker, it was Perez-Berguno’s job to work as aliaison between the hospital and the court, as well as providesupport and education to the friend.Perez-Berguno often works similar cases where end-of-lifeissues become complex because the critically ill individualdid not specify in writing what his or her wishes were.“You have to coordinate and facilitate at different levels sothe process is correct,” she said.Through it all, Perez-Berguno is acutely aware of theemotional nature of her job and the stress these incidentsplace on her patients.“It touches us emotionally because it could be one of yourfamily members. It reminds you of issues we all have to dealwith sooner or later.”Perez-Berguno’s good deeds are not limited to her workat River Parishes Hospital. She tutors students in Spanish atRiverside Academy in Reserve and is an avid AmericanCancer Society supporter. She is a 12-year survivor of breastcancer, and her husband is a survivor of tongue and prostatecancer, so the cause is close to her heart and she often servesas a public speaker on battling cancer.In the end, her work — professional and volunteer — focuseson one thing: making a difference in the lives of others.“We don’t realize how much we impact other people.”•— Fritz Eskerphoto by Tracie Morris Schaefer32 Health Care Heroes

PROFESSIONALMackie ShilstonePosition: executive director, The Fitness Principle at East Jefferson General HospitalAge: 58Family: wife, Sandy; children, Scott, 22, Spencer, 17Education: bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in business administrationwith a focus on organizational development, Tulane University; master’s degree in nutrition,Goddard College; associate’s degree in physical education, Delgado Community Collegephoto by Frank AymamiWhen Mackie Shilstone joined theTulane University football team as awalk-on in 1972, he was a 140-pound splitend — so small that his college footballcoach said he’d never be respected as a professionalathlete.“I’ve had him eat those words 3,000times. If you listen to what people tell youyou can’t do, you don’t,” Shilstone said.Shilstone is widely known as a healthcoach to the stars, although he finds it difficultto put himself in one category.“I’m basically Special Forces. My athletesmanage to win with me.”When he slowed down enough for aninterview, he’d just left West Palm Beach,Fla., where he was training tennis champSerena Williams, with whom he’s workedwith for more than a year.Shilstone said he never imagined he’dbe in the position he’s in today, but after hisbig break in 1985, his fame has skyrocketed.That was when he coached MichaelSpinks in his upset of world heavyweightboxing champion Larry Holmes in 15rounds. Under Shilstone’s tutelage, Spinksbecame the first light heavyweight to winthe title.“When Michael won, it was history and itliterally put me on the map worldwide,”Shilstone said. “Before I knew it, I becamean athlete of athletes.”Shilstone has worked with more than3,000 athletes during the past 25 years.“The toughest thing is to take a winneralready because you’ve got so much to lose,”he said. “If I do my job, you probably won’tnotice it because the athletes are going toperform up to what they can do.”Shilstone’s clients have included winnersand record holders in numerous sports, buthe considers his family his greatest achievementyet.•— Diana Chandlerphoto by Frank AymamiPROFESSIONALDiane SietaPosition: case management reimbursement supervisor and business andindustry liaison, West Jefferson Medical CenterAge: 52Family: children, Jason, 32, Jamie, 29Education: L.W. Higgins High SchoolDiane Sieta may wear different hats at WestJefferson Medical Center, but one thingremains constant: She’s calm.Overseeing the release of patients, Sietaand her division ensure patients have everythingthey need to continue recovery oncethey leave the hospital.“We make sure patients have their transportation,home health and rehabilitationneeds arranged so they can make a safe transitionhome,” said Sieta, a 23-year veteran of thehospital.Sometimes Mother Nature interferes withher day-to-day responsibilities, and that’swhen Sieta does the work that makes hermost proud. When Hurricane Gustav rolledinto the Gulf of Mexico, it fell on Sieta andher group to organize the evacuation of 90patients and arrange for any medical needsthat might arise during their airlift from NewOrleans.“When the final call was made to evacuate,we started looking at what each patient neededand identified all of the potential medical equipmentneeds of the patients. We copied chartsand records for transport, but we were calm andquiet, going about our duties and preparationsthat many weren’t aware what was happening.”After the storm passed, it was Sieta whomonitored and arranged the safe return of thepatients, frequently calling each of them sothey knew they were not forgotten.Sieta is proud of how her division ralliedduring a two-week period to safely return thepatients.“These were members of our community,and we would not stop until we got them home.”She’s also proud of her own resilience duringthe storm.“I’ve never been more amazed. Since thehurricanes, I have found in myself things that Inever knew I had in me. I would be proud tostay again during the next hurricane.”•— Abby KralNew Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 33

PROFESSIONALLillian StieglerPosition: professor, Southeastern Louisiana University Department ofCommunication Sciences and DisordersAge: 50Family: husband, Bernard; sons, Ben, 28, Joey, 25, Daniel, 22Education: bachelor’s degree in speech language pathology, NichollsState University; master’s degree in communication disorders, LouisianaState University Medical Center; Ph.D., speech language pathology, LSULillian Stiegler recalled a recent conversation with a motherwho has brought her autistic child to SoutheasternLouisiana University’s Department of CommunicationSciences and Disorders for 12 years.“She said, ‘I remember that first day when we talked, I feltlike you gave me my son back,’” said Stiegler, a professor andspecialist in autism spectrum disorders.After pondering the comment, Stiegler came to understandthe mother was talking about the hope she found fromthe consultation. Stiegler was able to point out the boy’spotential to lead a fulfilling life in spite of his diagnosis.The boy has developed into a person with a terrific senseof humor with a group of friends and a keen interest in girlsand movies, she said. Stories such as this are, for Stiegler,“the best part of the job.”One of the worst parts is her frustration at the pull ofunfounded “miracle cures” — from removing mercury fromthe bloodstream to hyperbaric oxygen chambers — on desperateparents, as well as the belief that autism is caused byimmunization.In 2004, the producers of the Lifetime Television movieLillian Stiegler reads with Jack Dahl, 3, at Southeastern Louisiana University’s speech-language-hearing clinic.“Miracle Run,” which was filmed in New Orleans and basedon a true story about a single mother of autistic twin boys,tapped Stiegler’s expertise. Her first look at the script toldher she had her work cut out for her. For instance, the writershad a scene with the young children comforting theirmother when she was crying.“That’s not what you would expect a child with autism todo — certainly not a young child,” Stiegler said. “Very often,they have a lot of difficulty reading other people’s emotions.”Stiegler recruited parents to help with the project, andthey were able to add valuable insight to improve the script.•— Sonya Stinsonphoto by Shannon DieciduePROFESSIONALDebraThibodeauxPosition: radiation therapy department office manager, WestJefferson Medical CenterAge: 35Family: daughter, Darion, 11Education: John Ehret High SchoolThe images of the June flooding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa,looked all too familiar to Debra Thibodeaux.“It looked like Katrina all over again,” she said. “We knewexactly what those people were going through and what theywere in need of. I figured we had to find a way to help.”So the radiation therapy department office manager at WestJefferson Medical Center spearheaded efforts throughout themedical complex to help an Iowa hospital recover from thedevastation caused by the flooding. As a result, West Jeff raisedmore than $1,000 and sent 50 boxes of supplies and personalcare items to help employees at Mercy Medical Center.“It was one of the most gratifying things I have ever donesince I have been at West Jeff,” she said. “It’s rewardingbecause of what we went through with displacement afterKatrina and knowing how people helped us, so it was onlyright that we give something back.”Thibodeaux is no stranger to organizing fundraisers. Shesupervises 13 employees and is responsible for organizingevents for the department and its patients, includingAmerican Cancer Society events such as the West BankRelay for Life and an open house for West Jefferson’sCyberKnife Center.She also serves as a member of the hospital’s Pink TeaCommittee. Each October, the hospital honors breast cancersurvivors at a special event. Last year, the event was a luncheonwhere pink tea was served. In addition to the meal, eachguest received a bag filled with goodies and had a chance towin door prizes. Thibodeaux helped plan the event, stuffedgift bags, garnered donations and served lunch.“I interact with many patients undergoing cancer treatmentand their families and know firsthand the challengesinvolved, so you have to have an upbeat attitude and be committedto this department and patients,” she said. “Thesepatients come to you six to eight weeks at a time and becomepart of your family, and you have to treat them that way.”•— Tommy Santoraphoto by Frank Aymami34 Health Care Heroes

Congratulations to ourwonderful Healthcare HeroesRobert Post, MDandRosa Bustamante-Forest, RNphoto by Frank AymamiPROFESSIONALSteve WorleyYour Medical Home!Ensuring 100% Healthcare Access &Coverage For All ©Position: president and CEO, Children’s HospitalAge: 60Family: wife, Patty; children, Laura, 39, Cliff, 27; three grandchildrenEducation: bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityWhen Steve Worley came to NewOrleans to work for Children’sHospital 28 years ago, it was a small-scalerehabilitation clinic for children.Now, having served as president andCEO for 23 years, the hospital is a nationallyrecognized pediatric and academic medicalcenter. When he was earning his master’sdegree in business, Worley had a summerinternship in nursing at the MedicalCollege of Virginia. During the internship,something clicked.“It just grabbed me and I’ve been doing itever since,” Worley said.The team atmosphere is somethingWorley emphasizes when discussing his lovefor the medical industry.“You just end up working with a lot ofbright, enthusiastic people.”Worley views the hospital’s responseduring Katrina and its subsequent resurrectionas the hospital’s biggest challenge.There were more than 100 patients in thehospital during Katrina’s landfall, and everyone of them was successfully evacuated tohealth care facilities elsewhere. After makingsure the patients were cared for, the challengewas bringing the hospital back to itspre-Katrina status.More than 600 employees relocated afterthe storm, and Worley and his staff had toreplace them, a feat that has been accomplished.Since then Children’s Hospital hasexceeded its pre-Katrina capacity, caring forabout 60,000 children in a year.“We’re taking care of more children thanever before.”All of this is a testament to how muchWorley cares about his adopted city and itsresidents — he and his wife moved to thecity 28 years ago and they haven’t left since.“Our city needs exceptional health care,”Worley said. “If you are fortunate enough toachieve the opportunity of working for asuccessful, high-profile organization thatmakes a difference in people’s lives, has agreat reputation and whose sole purpose isdoing the right thing, it doesn’t take long torealize you should hold on to that opportunityfor as long as you can. ... It’s been a greatrun for us.”•— Fritz EskerBywater/St. Cecilia4201 N. Rampart St.New Orleans, LA 70117(504) 941-6041Uptown3201 S. Carrollton Ave.New Orleans, LA 70118(504) 207-3060Metairie111 N. Causeway Blvd.New Orleans, LA 70002(504) 482-0084New Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 35

VOLUNTEERViola CocranPosition: volunteer, Slidell Memorial HospitalAge: 86Family: daughters, Suzanne, 55, Debbi, 52, Marlene, 51; five great-grandchildrenEducation: Biloxi High School alumnaphoto by Tracie Morris SchaeferSlidell was just a city of dirt roads whenViola Cocran moved there, and SlidellMemorial Hospital was still a concept waitingto be built.“I was just going there helping whereverthey needed me,” mostly in administration,”Cocran said.She recalls the days in 1959 when thehospital staff met at City Hall to prepare forthe new facility. She’s logged 38,000 volunteerhours at the hospital since then.Cocran typically starts her day at 6:30a.m., ahead of many others. “Good morning,Miss Viola,” workers greet her as theyarrive.“That’s what they call me. ‘Hey, MissViola,’ they’ll holler at me. It’s very rewardingto volunteer. I’m not a nurse, but I canrun errands for them.”She types, files, binds, faxes, staples,confirms meetings, makes phone calls,receives guests and attends special events.One of her daughters drives her to work.During the past 50 years, she’s workedin several areas of the hospital, includingpatient care.“Somebody may need some water. I usedto do that, just to make them feel happy andthat somebody cares for them. People get sobored.”Cocran said she’s volunteered for solong, she can’t remember the names of thepeople she’s helped over the years. But sheenjoys reading the many letters of thanksshe’s received.“They make me feel so wonderful, youknow.”At 86, Cocran said she’s rarely beensick. In April, she was dreading an eyeoperation that promised to sideline her fora day.“I hate staying home. I love to be withpeople. I’ve been so healthy, but with theold age, getting old, everything starts tohappen.”•— Diana ChandlerVOLUNTEERChristineDittmannPosition: volunteer, Touro InfirmaryAge: 42Family: husband, Steven; son, Drake, 11Education: bachelor’s degree in journalism, MichiganState UniversityChristine Dittmann wants cancer patients to know it’sno longer the death sentence it used to be.She’s living proof.Dittmann, a four-year ovarian cancer survivor, hasundergone 45 chemotherapy treatments and three surgeriesin the past four years. She is doing maintenancechemotherapy three times a month for the rest of her life tosurvive a disease with no cure.“Cancer is not the death sentence it once was,” she said.“You can fight it with support from your family andfriends, and 99 percent of it is about attitude.”Dittmann has been using her firsthand experience tohelp other women cancer patients by volunteering for thepast two years at Touro Infirmary. She is the co-facilitatorfor the hospital’s monthly gynecologic cancer supportgroup and has worked with Dr. Robert Gardner, the hospital’sdirector of psychosocial oncology and her gynecologiconcologist, to create a newsletter for women withgynecologic cancer.GIRL (Gaining Insight into Real Living) Talk debuted inDecember, and in it Dittmann shared her story and a poemshe authored, “Glory, Glory,” which was published nationallyin the May/June 2008 Coping with Cancer magazine.Dittmann also contributes to the gynecologic oncologynewsletter for Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge and isworking with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance to starta training program called Survivors Teaching Students formedical and nursing students in Louisiana. The programlets ovarian cancer survivors tell their stories to students inthe hopes more women will be diagnosed earlier. Onceimplemented, Dittmann will be trained to go to the medicalschools to share her story.Before being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Dittmannhad a 20-year career in health care marketing for varioushospitals in Louisiana, a background, she said, that hashelped her with her volunteer work.“It just felt like it was a natural calling for me to helpothers,” she said. “With my background, I could helpother patients cope with what they were going throughand give them hope.”•— Tommy Santoraphoto by Frank Aymami36 Health Care Heroes

VOLUNTEERBetty DugasPosition: auxiliary member, West Jefferson Medical CenterAge: 79Family: sons, Mirtile, 59, Jay, 45Education: L.H. Marrero High SchoolAt the age of 79, Betty Dugas is one of West JeffersonMedical Center’s most dedicated auxiliary volunteers,clocking in three days a week to assist the medical staff.“It’s very rewarding,” said Dugas, who started volunteeringat the hospital 22 years ago. “It gives me something to doinstead of staying home.”After retiring from a 28-year career with the JeffersonParish Clerk of Court and experiencing the death of her husbandand a son, Dugas decided she “had to find somethingto do.”A friend encouraged her to volunteer at West JeffersonMedical Center, a place Dugas remembered since highschool as a sanctuary for her ill relatives. Through the pasttwo decades, Dugas has volunteered more than 24,000hours.Many of those hours involved work with the WJMCAuxiliary’s Junior Volunteer Program, a hospital servicegroup comprised of teenagers who share an interest in healthcare careers.Dugas made certain that each young volunteer received anobligatory orientation before their summer work, and sheworked hard to match each teen’s assignment preferencewith the appropriate hospital department. At the end of theprogram, Dugas also volunteered to oversee the planning andexecution of the Junior Volunteer Recognition Program.Along with many of the hospital’s employees and a groupof her Auxiliary peers, Dugas found herself on duty duringHurricane Katrina and the storm’s aftermath. For more thana week, she remained at the hospital, beginning her day at 6a.m. without knowing the day’s assignments.While she is called upon to help with many different tasks,Dugas said one of her duties is to inform others about thehospital’s services.“I love to give information,” she said.•— Amy Ferrara Smithphoto by Frank AymamiVOLUNTEERJoseph HeintzPosition: Spanish teacher, East Jefferson General HospitalAge: 85Family: singleEducation: bachelor’s degree in French and English, TulaneUniversity; doctor of the University, philosophy, University of ParisWhen retiree Fritz Heintz showed up at East JeffersonGeneral Hospital a couple of years ago to volunteer,he expected to be put to work in the gift shop. A friend whosent him there told him they needed a man to help lift bigpackages, Heintz said.But once the volunteer services supervisor checkedHeintz’s resume and saw he had extensive experience as alanguage teacher, he was assigned instead to teach Spanishto staff members needing to communicate with the area’sgrowing post-Katrina Hispanic population.Heintz’s students include therapists, nurses and othervolunteers who work at the hospital’s Wellness Center. Heteaches basic Spanish, intermediate medical Spanish andintermediate nonmedical Spanish, conducting four classestwice a week.Heintz has taught Spanish and French at every levelfrom elementary school to college. Immediately before hisretirement in 1985, he did a 10-year stint at St. BenildeCatholic School in Metairie, where he discovered heenjoyed working with students at the grammar school level.“That’s the place where you can really teach those kidsphoto by Frank Aymamiand influence them,” he said.A former Navy officer, Heintz indulged his wanderlustfor many years after retiring from the military. His travelstook him to France, where he studied philosophy at theUniversity of Paris; Osaka, Japan, where he taught philosophyto military personnel and gave English lessons to theJapanese; and Mexico and Spain, where he took universitycourses in Spanish.At EJGH, Heintz has learned to be flexible when his students’workload sometimes prevents them from keeping upwith their Spanish lessons as much as they would like.“My students are wonderful to me. I hope I am makinga difference in their lives and in the hospital.”•— Sonya StinsonNew Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 37

VOLUNTEERWalter MelanPosition: volunteer, Touro InfirmaryAge: 86Family: wife, Betty; children, Bryan, 53, Melissa, 51; stepdaughters, Lisa, 43, Pamela, 36, Janine, 32Education: graduated from Samuel J. Peters High Schoolphoto by Frank AymamiWalter Melan takes pride in helpingpeople navigate Touro Infirmary as avolunteer attendant at the DelachaiseInformation Desk, stationed on the walkwaybetween the Buchman Building andthe hospital.“I’m not as grumpy looking like somepeople. I try to be friendly and talk to people,”Melan said.But what truly separates the 86-year-oldfrom others is a commitment to spend fourhours at the hospital most weekdays beginningat 7:15 a.m.“Sometimes I’ll have two, three or fourpeople come in looking for directions. Youdon’t want to run them all around the hospital,”he said. “I try to give them the shortestand straightest way to where they wantto go.”Melan began volunteering at Touro in1992, about a year after the death of hisfirst wife, Althea, a dialysis patient therefrom 1979-91. Melan retired from the NewOrleans Public Belt Railroad in 1982 andhad made many friends at the hospital overthe years. Volunteering seemed a naturalthing to do, he said, since he was accustomedto waking up at 4 a.m.As it turned out, he found plenty tooccupy his time at Touro, including hiscurrent wife, Betty, whom he met in thecafeteria and married in 1995.“We started going out. … We decidedto get married. We were interested in mostof the same things.”And even though he was hospitalizedthree times last year with cardiovascularproblems, he intends to continue volunteeringas long as his health permits.“I’m feeling all right. As long as I’mable, I’m gonna keep coming here,” hesaid. “I’d rather be up here where they gotpeople. I can talk to people.”•— Diana ChandlerWalter Melan provides directions to Colleen DeFraites at the Delachaise Desk at Touro Infirmary.VOLUNTEERMattieSchouestPosition: Auxiliary member and craft committee chairwoman,West Jefferson Medical CenterAge: 81Family: children, Marian, 46, Herbert Jr., 51, Georgette, 47;three grandchildrenEducation: Ponchatoula High School alumnaphoto by Frank AymamiIn 1977, when her three children left home, Mattie Schouestwanted to start a new chapter in her life. She chose to go toWest Jefferson Medical Center to help her community.“I needed to find something to occupy my mind and mytime,” Schouest said. “Volunteering with the Auxiliary gaveme another outlook for my life. I got to be involved with otherpeople, and I made some marvelous friends. They gave apurpose to my life, and I hope I brought some good spiritand efforts to the hospital.”What may have started as a refuge and release from everydaylife turned out to be anything but temporary; 33 yearslater, Schouest is still a member of the hospital’s Auxiliary.“I don’t go as often as I would like because it can be hardfor me to get around, but I plan to try and go once a monthto check-in and visit with my friends,” Schouest said.Without sounding boastful, Schouest speaks fondly of allof her accomplishments since joining the Auxiliary.She and other volunteers started a craft club in 1979that did not have a specific area in the hospital where theycould work. So she opened her home and invited theother volunteers.“We would drink tea, have lunch and talk while we madecrafts to help raise money,” she said. “We also held bazaarsand sponsored other events to support different projects.”Schouest is quick to talk about her grandson, who is graduatingfrom Tulane University in May with a master’s degreein public health.“I like to brag about it,” she said. “I am hopeful that he willstart medical school.”“I hope I had some influence on his choices.”•— Abby Kral38 Health Care Heroes

Honoringthe HeroesNearly 300 people attended the 2009 Health Care Heroesreception May 14 at the New Orleans Museum of Art.Medallions were presented to the 55 honorees upon arrivingand CityBusiness Publisher Mark Singletary recognizedeach honoree later in the evening. These photos and morecan be seen on the CityBusiness photo gallery atwww.neworleanscitybusiness.com.Photos by Frank AymamiHonoree Rosa Bustamante-Forest with husband, Larry.Honoree Dan Russo, left, and Brian Landry.Dana Kelley, left, with mother and honoree Cheryl Carter.New Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 39

Honoree Dianne Lauve with husband, Russell.From left: Honorees Mattie Schouest, Diane Sieta, Darlene Gondrella and Betty Dugas.Mercedes Benz representatives Harry Anderson, left, Christopher Stuben and Leo Flotron.Honoree Geoff Nagle and wife, Gabriela.Honorees Stephen Baldwin, left, and Dr. Richard Gardner.From left: BCI representatives Tom Russo, Steve Russo, Linda Moya and Michael Minix.40 Health Care Heroes

Glen Golemi, left, and Pat Quinlan.Honoree Frank DellaCroce and wife, Janet.Honoree Viola Cocran, center, with daughters, Suzanne Mabie, left, and Debbie Cocran.Honoree Dr. Glenn Casey, left, and A.J. Vallon.Honoree Chris Fabacher and wife, Pat.New Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 41

Front row, from left: Sue Pitoscia, honorees Kim Haley and Robert Gardner, and Michael Sniffen. Back row:Dale Mertens and honorees Paula Harrelson, Dr. Michele Cooper and Dianna Lauve.Dr. Michele Cooper with husband and honoree Dr. ScottSullivan.Clockwise from left: Glazer’s representatives Eric Myers, John Ruffin, Lee Thomas, Michael Brewer,Lisa Nguyen and Sharon Floyd.Kimberly Shelton, left, and honoree Debra Thibodeaux.From left: Michael Griffin, Jennifer Magee and honoree Dr. Robert Post.Danita Sullivan, left, and honoree Kathy Steiner.42 Health Care Heroes

2009s p o n s o r e d b y :THE GLAZER’S COMPANIES OF LOUISIANA IS THE PROUDDISTRIBUTOR FOR MAKER’S MARK IN LOUISIANA!At Maker’s Mark we embrace a rich tradition of bourbon making thatspans six generations. In fact, we’re so proud of our family that we’ve developeda heritage team to travel the world educating folks on the finer pointsof Maker’s Mark Bourbon and bourbon in general.New Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 43

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