We salute those who - New Orleans City Business

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