Key Events Highlighted - Ochsner Health System

Spring/
Summer 2008
Key Events Highlighted
This issue of the Academic Update highlights key events in our academic year.
Over the past 3 months we have had a successful match, welcoming a talented group
of new residents who began their training with us in July; the graduation of the resident
class of 2008 as well as that of allied health professionals in radiologic technology
and respiratory therapy; and another successful Research Night that showcased the
important research taking place on our campus.
June brought the return of the Science, Technology,
Academics, and Research program, in which 12 incredibly
gifted high school students participated in 6 weeks of
intensive training and exposure to careers in science and
health care. The students represented six high schools
from across Orleans and Jefferson Parishes.
Our research activity continues to grow, with new
physicians and scientists coming on staff, bringing with
them opportunities for increased growth and collaboration.
Also, over the past months we have seen an increase in the
number of physicians being trained on the da Vinci® Surgical
System as well as training in laparoscopic techniques in our large animal
facility.
The next issue of the Academic Update will bring the introduction of the “green”
version of this publication: With the publication of the Fall/Winter issue, we will go
paperless and convert to an electronic publication. The move away from paper will
allow us to more effectively manage our costs, while at the same time reaching a larger
audience.
We look forward to the second half of this year as we continue to seek additional
collaborative opportunities to enhance our research and education activities.
1
Inside This Issue
Key Events Highlighted
1
Nursing Research
2
Baptist Library Opening
3
Research Night 2008
4-5
Community Outreach
6-7
GME Resident Match
8-10
Housestaff Commencement 11
Allied Health
12-13
Awards
14
News Notes
15
CME Conference
16
© 2008 Academic Division
Ochsner Clinic Foundation
All rights reserved.
1514 Jefferson Highway
New Orleans, Louisiana 70121
To contribute to the Academic Update
or for more information, contact:
tel: (504) 842-3761
fax: (504) 842-5137
email: [email protected]
Academic Update Staff:
Ethel Madden, MLIS, AHIP
Director, Center for Knowledge
Management
Lori Monteleone
Knowledge Management Team Lead
The Ochsner Journal Managing Editor
Barbara Siede, MS
Art Director
Marion Stafford, MS
Editorial Consultant
Rita Premo, MS
Senior Medical Editor
Donna Ohler
Editorial Assistant
Kathleen Hawkins
Special Services Coordinator
Nursing Research
Nurses’ Recognition of Delirium in the Hospitalized Older Adult
Delirium is considered a marker of both health care quality and patient safety:
Delirium is the most common complication associated with the hospitalization of older
adults. However, health care providers fail to recognize it more than 70% of the time. Six
medical-surgical units at Ochsner Medical Center (OMC) participated in a prospective
study investigating nurses’ diagnostic accuracy in detecting delirium in hospitalized older
adults. The purpose of the study was to enhance understanding of nurses’ recognition
of delirium in hospitalized geriatric patients to improve that recognition. Paired ratings of
the Confusion Assessment Method between researchers and nurses were analyzed for
170 patients (N = 555 observations). Delirium was detected in 7% of the sample. Findings
identified that nurses accurately detected delirium 25% of the time. Significant patient
characteristics that predicted nurses’ underrecognition of delirium included increased
patient age, increased length of hospital stay, a history of dementia, and hypoactive
(quiet) delirium. These findings support the work of others in describing the magnitude of
the problem and will help to direct strategies to improve delirium recognition.
Evaluating the Impact of Rounding on Patient Satisfaction and Clinical
Outcomes
Several medical-surgical units at OMC participated in the replication of a nationwide
study evaluating the impact of a proactive nursing rounding initiative on patient
satisfaction and clinical outcomes. Scheduled rounds were implemented to address three
key patient needs: pain, position, and bathroom. Results showed an overall decrease
in patient call volume; in some units, outcomes included improved pain management,
a decrease in hospital-acquired pressure ulcers, and a decrease in patient falls. An
unexpected finding was the high number of IV alarms responsible for patient calls. These
findings were similar to others in supporting the positive impact of proactive patient
rounds on clinical outcomes.
Assessing Nurses’ Readiness for Evidence-Based Practice
One of the strategic goals of the Center for Nursing Research was to develop a
nursing scholars program to facilitate the integration of evidence-based practice. To
develop a curriculum for the program, the learning needs of OMC nurses were assessed.
Nurses were surveyed using a modified version of an instrument used in a prior,
nationwide study. Findings indicated that the three top barriers to the implementation of
evidence-based practice included a lack of time, a lack of knowledge of evidence-based
practice, and a lack of skill in literature appraisal. These results were similar to those of
the national study (by Pravikoff). However, our findings uniquely identified differences
between demographic groups. Younger nurses and more recent graduates sought
nursing information from peers, whereas older nurses and those with more experience
as registered nurses sought information from journals and texts. In addition, nurses
with a longer tenure at OMC recognized the value of research and were more likely to
participate in research compared to those with a shorter tenure. These results have been
used to develop the curriculum for the Clinical Investigation Internship that began in May
2008.
Acuity-Adjusted Staffing, Nurse Practice Environments, and NICU
Outcomes
The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is participating in a nationwide study to
explore whether nurse staffing, nursing staff characteristics, and the nursing practice
environment contribute to differences in patient outcomes among NICUs. This study is
part of OMC’s ongoing participation in the Vermont Oxford Network collaborative for
improving neonatal outcomes. The data from this study are still being analyzed, with the
plan of repeating the study with a larger sample of NICU units nationwide.
To access the Academic Update online,
go to www.ochsner.org/publications.
2
Baptist Library Opening
Opening of Ochsner Baptist Medical Library and Archives
The Ochsner Medical Library and Archives is pleased to announce the recent
reopening of the medical library at Ochsner Baptist Medical Center in uptown New
Orleans. Founded in 1926 as Southern Baptist Hospital, the hospital is a neighborhood
institution where generations of New Orleanians have come to seek emergency
treatment, welcome their babies, and receive routine medical care.
Throughout the hospital’s history, its medical libraries and librarians have been
an important resource, supporting physicians, administrators, and the students and
faculty of the William Carey College School of Nursing (previously the Southern Baptist
School of Nursing, then the Mather School of Nursing). Archival records show that a
library existed in some form at the facility as early as 1931, when a handwritten
ledger was used to record books donated to and borrowed from the
Interns Library (Figure 1). The Mather School of Nursing
had its own library (Figure 2) and hired its first trained
librarian—who had a bachelor’s degree in library
science—in 1956. The hospital’s first physicians library
opened in 1969 (Figure 3).
After Ochsner Health System acquired Baptist in
fall 2006, librarians worked to secure space for a new
library, salvage library and archival materials from the
storm-damaged location, and bring a full range of library
services and resources to Baptist’s campus. The Baptist
branch of the Ochsner Medical Library and Archives had
its official grand opening in October 2007, initially operating
with limited hours for 2 afternoons each week. The new
Ochsner Baptist Medical Library and Archives is now open
to the public and staffed by a librarian 5 days
a week, serving physicians, nurses, staff,
patients, families, and the community. The library
houses the older portion of Ochsner’s bound journal
collection. The small print reference collection is supplemented by the
many electronic resources available from library workstations, including
more than 200 e-books and more than 1,000 electronic journals. The
library also offers a paperback reading collection for staff and visitors, as
well as a small meeting area (Figure 4).
In keeping with Baptist’s strong tradition of education and patient care,
the Baptist librarian serves as a liaison to Ochsner’s many support services
for medical, nursing, and research staff, including continuing medical
education programs, medical editing, medical illustrations, and federal
grant support.
The reopening of the library also provides a valuable opportunity to
preserve Baptist’s rich history as part of Ochsner’s archives program.
Retired and current staff members have donated materials to the Baptist
archives, including newsletters, scrapbooks, and promotional materials
dating back to the early 1940s. The library has also been fortunate to
inherit material from the archives of the Mather School of Nursing (Figure
5). We are excited and honored to play a role in preserving and promoting
the history of this important neighborhood institution.
Figure 5. Nursing history display just outside the entrance to the new Baptist
Medical Library and Archives, 2008.
3
Research Night 2008
Ochsner’s Fifth Annual Research Night was held on May
13 in the Brent House atrium on the main campus. Early in
the day, students from area high schools with which Ochsner
is partnering in various educational initiatives were given the
opportunity to review the 76 posters. Staff and employees were
also invited to review the submissions, and attendees were
awarded Pathway to Wellness credits. The formal presentations
began in the evening, with the lead investigator for each project
manning the poster to answer questions and lead a discussion
of the data. As in prior years, useful exchanges of information
occurred, with potential collaborations established in several
cases. Abstracts of the presentations were submitted to The
Ochsner Journal for publication.
The presentations spanned a wide spectrum of
basic, clinical, translational, and epidemiological science.
Studies on the determinants of medication adherence in
chronic illness were presented alongside reports on new
transplantation surgical techniques, the results of hospital
quality improvement initiatives, and basic science studies on
cancer stem cells, hormone receptor functions, new therapies
for osteoporosis, and new approaches to the therapy of
lymphoma, among many other reports. The evening’s program
attested to the breadth and quality of Ochsner research and
further emphasized the critical role that research of all types
plays in the intellectual vigor of the organization and in the
quality of care provided at Ochsner.
Research Night was once again successful in highlighting
ongoing research and in bringing clinicians, scientists, and
students together for an enjoyable and dynamic evening. The
productivity of Ochsner research continues to grow in scope
and quality. This year’s Research Night helped to make that
clear to all.
C.
A.
D.
E.
B.
4
K.
F.
L.
M.
G.
N.
H.
I.
A. Edward D. Frohlich, MD; Dinko Susic, MD, PhD
B. L to R: Ochsner’s 5th Annual Research Night Committee: Rachel Alonzo,
Rita Premo, Kristin Harney, Lori Monteleone, Nital Sheridan, Ethel Madden,
Barbara Attebery, Donna Ohler
C. L to R: Janice Piazza, RN, MSN, MBA; William Pinsky, MD; Marie A.
Krousel-Wood, MD, MSPH
D. L to R: Nattie D. Leger, RN, MSN; Grant Walker, BS, MA, AHRMM;
Flo Smith, RN, BSN, MPH, CEN, CCRN
E. L to R: Karen Rice, DNS, APRN, ACNS-BC, ANP; Shelley Thibeau, MSN,
RNC
F. L to R: T. Cooper Woods, PhD; Robert Gensure, MD, PhD
G. L to R: Tracey Lavezzi; Li Li, MD, PhD
H. L to R: Charles M. Kantrow, III, MD; Janice Piazza, RN, MSN, MBA; Serelda
Young; Gary Kreigh
I. Fred Rodriguez, III, MD
J. L to R: Barbara Siede, MS; Carl J. Lavie, MD, FACC, FACP, FCCP
K. L to R: Jayaraman Rao, MD; Maureen Cook, RN; Lynn Eckhardt, APRN
L. Praveen Mullangi, MD; Shannon Bergeron, NP
M. L to R: Kelley Schello, PHR; Stephanie A. Robinson, JD; Anthony Sharpe;
William R. Ramsey, MA, SPHR
N. L to R: Richard N. Re, MD; Jawed Alam, PhD
J.
5
Community Outreach
2nd Annual Ochsner Job Shadow Day
On Wednesday, February 13, the Academics and Human Resources Divisions hosted Ochsner’s second annual Job
Shadow Day. Students in attendance came from a host of local institutions, including Tulane University, the University of New
Orleans, Xavier University, and Delgado Community College. Students expressed interest in a broad range of fields, such as premedicine, pharmacy, nursing, human resources, and business services.
Student impressions of the program were overwhelmingly positive: On evaluations from the day, all of the students
responded that Ochsner representatives were accommodating, met their learning needs, and were warm, friendly, and inviting.
The students also said they would look into other opportunities that Ochsner has to offer. Additionally, 74.5% of the participants
reported that they would recommend participation in shadowing opportunities at Ochsner to other students.
Special thanks go to the Nursing, Radiology, Pharmacy, Emergency Department, and Allied Health staff and to all Ochsner
employees who played a critical role in making this event a success.
Ochsner’s Job Shadow Day was a part of the 2008 National Groundhog Job Shadow Initiative. Groundhog Job Shadow
Day was first conducted by the Boston Private Industry Council in 1996 as part of its school-to-work effort. Since then, the initiative
has expanded to become a nationwide effort to engage students in the world of work by demonstrating a connection between
academics and careers, helping to prepare students to join the workforce of the 21st century.
Loan Tran, Xavier University; Lillian Gordon, Xavier University; and Jeff Macaluso, PharmD Inpatient Pharmacy
Resident, during the 2nd Annual Job Shadow Day.
Perspective from a Basic Science Volunteer By Ty Nichols
As a pre-med student with one more semester before graduating from college, I sometimes wonder what
I’m getting myself into. The immense commitment required by medical school and the ensuing medical career has
led me to, once again, question my choice of profession. So that I could have a better understanding of the
options available to me, I decided to spend this summer working in a basic science research laboratory.
Thus, I find myself here at Ochsner. I am volunteering in the Pediatric Endocrinology Research
Laboratory, directed by Dr. Robert Gensure and Dr. Tulasi Ponnapakkam. There, I have been given
the opportunity to participate in projects with clinical applications and to experience professional
biomedical research firsthand. Additionally, I am responsible for writing the research paper for one
of the laboratory’s ongoing experiments. Because I am required to be in the laboratory only during
the day, I have also decided to volunteer in the emergency department one or two evenings each
week. There I am able to interact with patients and get an idea of the pace and diversity of the
emergency medicine setting. These experiences are helping me to get a better grasp of the direction
in which I would like to take my life; still, medicine seems to be the place for me. I am very glad to have
had this opportunity, and I am now, more than ever, eager for my medical career to begin.
6
High School Visit During Research Night
The Academic Division invited students from local high schools to participate in a special high school presentation of Research
Night, which included a hands-on activity in the iLab at the Jefferson Highway campus on Tuesday, May 13.
The students were greeted by the High School Research Night Ambassadors—Judith Gardner, MLIS, Information and Technical
Services Librarian, Medical Library and Archives; Caroline Reed, Academic Community Outreach Intern; and Amanda Riley, MLIS,
Outreach Librarian—who escorted the students throughout the
exhibits. After the exhibit tour, the students were taken to the
iLab where they participated in an activity led by Jawed Alam,
PhD, Co-Director of Molecular Genetics, and Michelle Peters
from Molecular Genetics.
At the close of the high school preview, Kaela M. Barnett,
MPA, Senior Administrator, Academic Community Outreach,
thanked the students for coming and being a part of the event, a
first for Ochsner, and encouraged them to continue their path to
health care by volunteering.
The students’ overall impressions of the day were overwhelmingly positive, and many stated that they liked having the
chance to meet some of the scientists, doctors, and clinicians at
Ochsner. Thank you to all who made this event a success!
For more information, please contact Kaela M. Barnett at
504-842-5321 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Deoine Reed, PhD, Infection Control Manager, with
Grace King students at the Research Night high
school preview.
Jawed Alam, PhD, co-director of Molecular Genetics, with Grace King students in the iLab
during the Research Night high school preview.
Blue Cross Support
of STAR Program
The Blue Cross Blue Shield
Foundation in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, awarded a grant of
$23,000 to fund the 2008 Science,
Technology, Academics, and
Research Program.
7
GME Resident Match 2008
On Wednesday, March 20, more than 15,000 graduating
U.S. medical students participating in the National Resident
Matching Program (NRMP) were notified where they will begin
their postgraduate medical training. “The Match,” conducted
annually by the NRMP, uses a computer algorithm to match
the preferences of applicants with the preferences of residency
programs to fill the training positions available at U.S. teaching
hospitals.
This year the number of available residency positions was
the highest in NRMP history. A total of 28,737 applicants vied
for 22,240 first-year residency positions; a record-high 15,242
were U.S. medical school seniors, 94.2 percent of whom
successfully matched to a residency program. Of those, 84.6
percent matched to one of their top three choices. There were
notable increases this year in the number of match applicants
from international medical schools and osteopathic schools
(which award the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree). More
than 10,300 graduates of non-U.S. medical schools applied for
U.S. residency positions through NRMP; roughly 4,650 (about
45 percent) were matched to a first-year position. Nearly 1,900
osteopathic graduates applied to the 2008 match, and 71.6
percent matched to a position.
Ochsner Clinic Foundation offered and filled 50 positions
in six specialties: anesthesiology, internal medicine (categorical
and preliminary), obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedic
surgery, radiology-diagnostic, and general surgery (categorical
and preliminary).
Our jointly sponsored programs with Louisiana State
University and Tulane University offered and filled 31 positions
through the match or independent appointments: ophthalmology
(8), psychiatry (11), pediatrics (10), and urology (2).
In addition to the NRMP “Core Match,” various subspecialty
disciplines at Ochsner offered 26 positions either through the
NRMP specialty match or independent appointments.
Following is the list of new interns, residents, and fellows in
Ochsner-sponsored and jointly sponsored programs, as of July
1, 2008. Please join us as we congratulate and welcome the
incoming class.
The NRMP is a private, not-for-profit organization established
in 1952 to provide an orderly and fair mechanism to match the
preferences of applicants to U.S. residency positions with the
preferences of residency program directors for those applicants.
The NRMP is sponsored by the American Board of Medical
Specialties, the American Medical Association, the Association of
American Medical Colleges, the American Hospital Association,
and the Council of Medical Specialty Societies. (Source: The
National Resident Matching Program: http://www.nrmp.org/)
GME Resident Match 2008
Ochsner-Sponsored Residency & Fellowship Programs
Name
John B. Adams, MD
Sara A. Adams, MD
Francisco C. Albuquerque, Jr., MD
Daniel M. Anderson, MD
Golnaz Kimia Aubin, MD
Heath D. Beckham, MD
Jonathan Bonilla, MD
Seth A. Brener, MD
Sarah S. Bright, MD
Jennifer L. Bruggers, MD
Joseph B. Byrne, MD
Elizabeth L. Clemons, MD
Edward M. Cullum, MD
Erin F. Dauterive, MD
Joseph M. Donaldson, MD
Nathaniel R. Duhon, MD
Genevieve C. Folse, MD
Jason F. Giardina, MD
Syed A. Gilani, MD
Juan M. Gimenez, MD
Raymond F. Grenfell III, MD
Asahel L. Gridley, MD
Program
CRS - Research Fellow
Anesthesiology
Vascular Surgery
Internal Medicine - Prelim
Radiology
Colon Rectal Surgery
Internal Medicine
Anesthesiology
Radiology
Orthopaedic Surgery
Sports Medicine
Internal Medicine - Prelim
Interventional Cardiology
OB/GYN
Internal Medicine - Prelim
Anesthesiology
Internal Medicine
Radiology
Interventional Cardiology
Radiology
Endocrinology
General Surgery
Medical School
Medical College of Georgia
Louisiana State University SOM - Shreveport
Universidade Federal do Ceara, Brazil
Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center SOM
University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham
Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Louisiana State University - New Orleans
Louisiana State University - New Orleans
Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans
Louisiana State University SOM - Shreveport
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
Louisiana State University SOM - Shreveport
University of Louisville School of Medicine
Louisiana State University SOM - Shreveport
Louisiana State University SOM - Shreveport
Louisiana State University - New Orleans
Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan
Louisiana State University - New Orleans
University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
8
GME Resident Match 2008
Ochsner-Sponsored Residency & Fellowship Programs (continued)
Name
Program
Rachel Griggs, MD
Radiology
Paul M. Gulotta, MD
Radiology
Alison C. Heidt, MD
General Surgery - Prelim
A’Dair W. Herrington, MD
OB/GYN
Olivia B. Hightower, MD
Internal Medicine
Ross M. Hogan, MD
General Surgery (Pre Urol)
Zehra Jaffery, MBBS
Cardiology
Shivani Jayaswal, MD
Anesthesiology
Tiffani M. Jones, MD
OB/GYN
Zeid M. Keilani, MBBS
General Surgery
Abdul M. Khan, MD
Internal Medicine
Logan J. Kosarek, MD
Anesthesiology
Austin T. Lutz, MD
General Surgery (Pre Urol)
Justin S. Lyman, MD
Rheumatology
Lauren W. Marlow, MD
Internal Medicine
Richard H. Marshall, MD
Radiology
Kenneth P. Metoyer, MD
General Surgery - Prelim
Ihosvani Miguel, MD
Endocrinology
Jonathan P. Nass, MD
Gastroenterology
Stacy R. Newman, MD
Internal Medicine
Bacel Nseir, MD
Infectious Diseases
Elizabeth L. O’Brien, MD
Internal Medicine
John-Mark O. Odero, MD
General Surgery - Prelim
Joseph S. Owen, MD
Cardiology
Brian J. Parker, MD
Internal Medicine
Hugh M. Parker, MD
Cardiology
Radha Pasala, MD
Internal Medicine
Timir K. Paul, MBBS
Cardiology
Sapa Pham, MD
Internal Medicine - Prelim
Michael A. Prejean, MD
Anesthesiology
Jill M. Prejeant, MD
Internal Medicine
Jeremy M. Rau, MD
Internal Medicine - Prelim
Jonathan M. Richards, MD
Internal Medicine - Prelim
Paul F. Rider, Jr., MD
Colon Rectal Surgery
Celtin Robertson, MD
Internal Medicine
Lucas B. Romine, MDOrthopaedic Surgery Anne P. Rowland, MD
Internal Medicine - Prelim
Frank J. Ruda, MD
Internal Medicine - Prelim
Korak Sarkar, MD
Internal Medicine - Prelim
Adriano Goncalves Silva, MD
Oncology
Manpreet Singh, MD
Internal Medicine
Katrina N. Slaughter, MD
OB/GYN
Suven Shankar, MBBS
General Surgery
Carla M. Taylor, MD
Internal Medicine
Amanda M. Turbeville, MD
General Surgery
Hernan D. Urrego, MD
General Surgery
Anil Verma, MBBS
Cardiology
John F. Vu, MD
Anesthesiology
Travis F. Wiggins, MD
Gastroenterology
Amit R. Yajnik, MD
Anesthesiology
George Zacharia, MD
Internal Medicine
Medical School
University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine
Louisiana State University - New Orleans
Medical University of the Americas
Louisiana State University SOM - Shreveport
University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson
Louisiana State University - New Orleans
Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad, India
Ross University, Dominica
Meharry Medical College
Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
University of South Alabama College of Medicine
Louisiana State University - New Orleans
University of Alabama School of Medicine
Louisiana State University SOM - Shreveport
University of Mississippi School of Medicine
Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans
Howard University College of Medicine
Facultad de Ciencias Medicas Pinar del Rio/Univ of Havana, Cuba
Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans
Medical University of the Americas
University of Tichreen, Syria
Louisiana State University SOM - Shreveport
University College, Dublin
University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson
Louisiana State University SOM - Shreveport
Mercer University School of Medicine
Deccan College of Medical Sciences
Dhaka Medical College, Bangladesh
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans
Medical University of the Americas
Louisiana State University SOM - Shreveport
Louisiana State University SOM - Shreveport
University of South Alabama College of Medicine
Meharry Medical College
University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
University of Vermont College of Medicine
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center SOM
University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine
Universidade Federal do Parana, Brazil
Medical University of the Americas
Florida State University College of Medicine
Kempegowda Institure of Medical Sciences
Saba University
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas SW Med
Maulana Azad Medical College, India
Louisiana State University - New Orleans
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
Louisiana State University SOM - Shreveport
9
GME Resident Match 2008
Ochsner Residents Continuing into Fellowships
Name
Fellowship
Previous Appointment
Rohit R. Amin, MD
Cardiology
Completed an Ochsner Heart Failure Transplant Fellowship
Surya Artham, MD
Cardiology
Completed an Ochsner Internal Medicine Residency
Rochelle Clementine, MD
Rheumatology
Completed a year as Chief Medicine Resident
Samir Patel, MD
Interventional Cardiology
Completed an Ochsner Cardiology Fellowship
Yabiz Sedghi, MD
Cardiology
Completed an Ochsner Heart Failure Transplant Fellowship Omar Shams, MD
Cardiology
Completed an Ochsner Internal Medicine Residency Stanley Thornton, MD
Interventional Cardiology
Completed an Ochsner Cardiology Fellowship Sreekanth Vasireddy, MD
Oncology
Completed an Ochsner Internal Medicine Residency Pridhvi Yelamanchili, MD
Cardiology
Completed an Ochsner Heart Failure Transplant Fellowship Nonaccredited Fellowships
Name
Program
Omolola Idowu, MD
D. Anthony A. Mazzulla, MD
David Peretz, MD
Amanda P. Pham, MD
Mark Thompson, MD
Status
Glaucoma
Retina/Vitreous
Hepatology/Transplant
MRI
Heart Failure/Transplant
Assistant Staff, Ochsner Clinic Assistant Staff, Ochsner Clinic Assistant Staff, Ochsner Clinic Assistant Staff, Ochsner Clinic Assistant Staff, Ochsner Clinic Jointly Sponsored Programs with LSU and Tulane Match and Independent Appointments
Name
Program
Medical School
Thor Agustsson, MD
LSU/Ochsner Psychiatry Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ghanim A. Aljomah, MD
Tulane/Ochsner Pediatrics
Univ. of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
James D. Atkinston IV, MD
Ochsner/LSU Urology Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans
Ephraim Atwal, MD
LSU/Ochsner Ophthalmology Coll. Med., Jagiellonski Univ., Krakow, Poland
Kannan Baskar, MD
Tulane/Ochsner Pediatrics
Sri Ramachandra University Medical College, Chennai, India
Sureshkumar Bhatt, MD
LSU/Ochsner Psychiatry Shri M. P. Shah Medical School, Jamnagar, India
Kelly Cannon, MD
LSU/Ochsner Psychiatry Louisiana State University - Shreveport
Krishnaveni Cheethirala, MD
Tulane/Ochsner Pediatrics
J.S.S. Medical College, Mysore, India
Rachel Csaki, MD
LSU/Ochsner Psychiatry Louisiana State University - New Orleans
Marshneil Deshmukh, MD
Tulane/Ochsner Pediatrics
Gov’t. Med. Coll., Nagpur Univ., Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Daniel Hanson, MD
LSU/Ochsner Ophthalmology Loma Linda University - Loma Linda
David Henderson, MD
LSU/Ochsner Psychiatry American Univ. of the Caribbean, St. Maarten, Netherland Antilles
Stephanie Hill, MD
LSU/Ochsner Psychiatry University of Texas - Galveston
Omotayo Idera-Abdullah, MD
Tulane/Ochsner Pediatrics
St. Georges Univ., Grenada, West Indies
Shaun Ittiara, MD
LSU/Ochsner Ophthalmology Wayne State University - Detroit
Melissa Anne Jimenez,MD
Tulane/Ochsner Pediatrics
American Univ. of the Caribbean, St. Maarten, Netherland Antilles
Vininder Singh Khunkhun, MD
Tulane/Ochsner Pediatrics - Triple Boards
Ross University, Dominica
Ben Lambright, MD
LSU/Ochsner Ophthalmology University of South Florida - Tampa
Kimberly Lavigne, MD
LSU/Ochsner Psychiatry Louisiana State University - New Orleans
Myo Thwin Myint, MD
Tulane/Ochsner Pediatrics - Triple Boards
Med. Coll. of Virginia - Commonwealth U. - Richmond
Yen Ngo, MD
LSU/Ochsner Ophthalmology University of California - Davis
Christopher O’Brien, MD
LSU/Ochsner Ophthalmology Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans
Kristine Olivier, MD
LSU/Ochsner Psychiatry Louisiana State University - Shreveport
Yahya Saeed, MD
LSU/Ochsner Psychiatry Ayub Med. Coll., Univ. of Peshawar, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Svetlana Sembrano, MD
LSU/Ochsner Psychiatry St. George’s Univ., Sch. of Med., St. George’s, Grenada, West Indies
Neha Seth, MD
Tulane/Ochsner Pediatrics
Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune Univ, India
Shipra Singh, MD
Tulane/Ochsner Pediatrics
Pramukh Swami Med. Coll., Sardar Patel Univ., Karamsad, Gujarat, India
Jeremy S. Speeg, MD
Ochsner/LSU Urology Louisiana State University - New Orleans
Jonathan Staman, MD
LSU/Ochsner Ophthalmology University of South Florida - Tampa
Mary Summers, MD
LSU/Ochsner Ophthalmology St. Georges Univ., Grenada, West Indies
Gelana Zaharan, MD
LSU/Ochsner Psychiatry American Univ. of the Caribbean, St. Maarten, Netherland Antilles
10
House Staff Commencement
House Staff Commencement
On Tuesday, June 10, 75 Ochsner residents and fellows
completed their graduate medical training in 22 specialty
and subspecialty areas and were awarded certificates
of completion. The commencement ceremony was held
in the Brent House Conference Center, with a reception
immediately following. Hector O. Ventura, MD, Chairman,
Graduate Medical Education Committee, presented the
welcoming address. Edward D. Frohlich, MD, Alton Ochsner
Distinguished Scientist for the Ochsner Clinic Foundation,
introduced the evening’s commencement speaker.
William B. Kannel, MD, MPH, Professor of
Medicine and Public Health, Boston University School
of Medicine, presented the commencement address,
entitled Challenges to Consider in Practicing Specialty
Medicine. Immediately after the address, winners of
the annual Writing Awards and other awards were
acknowledged:
Jason K. Kim, MD, Vascular Surgery, received
the Case Report Award for his paper entitled DonorTransmitted Malignant Melanoma in a Liver Graft
Recipient. Kim received $200 and a certificate, and his
name will be engraved on a perpetual plaque hung at
the entrance to Monroe Hall.
Bijesh P. Maroo, MD, Cardiology, received the
Dean H. Echols Award for his paper entitled Secondary
Prevention in Elderly Patients Following Myocardial
Infarction: Are All Hydroxy-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme
A Reductase Inhibitors Alike? Maroo received $500,
a certificate, and his name will be engraved on a perpetual
plaque hung at the entrance to Monroe Hall.
Marideli C. Scanlan, MD, received the Edward D.
Frohlich, MD, Research Award for her paper entitled Adrenal
Incidentalomas Are Associated
With Excess Cortisol
Secretion That Resolves With Unilateral Adrenalectomy.
Scanlan received $1,000 and a certificate, and her name will
be engraved on a perpetual plaque hung at the entrance of
Monroe Hall.
Veronica Gillispie, MD, was the recipient of the Alton
Ochsner Resident Leader of the Year Award. This award was
developed to acknowledge the resident who symbolizes
Ochsner’s collective commitment to the patients we
serve. The award was presented by William W. Pinsky,
MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic
Officer.
The Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards
for 2008 were presented to William E. Davis, MD,
Department of Internal Medicine, and Robert J.
Treuting, MD, Department of Orthopedics, by Scott
Sugar, MD, President, Fellows Association. This award
is the highest honor given to a staff physician from the
house staff as an expression of appreciation for their
time, preparation, and devotion to teaching excellence.
Following the presentation of awards, certificates
were given to the graduating residents by their respective
program directors. The proceedings were concluded by
William W. Pinsky, MD, with a few words of reflection.
Jason K. Kim, MD (L), receives the Case Report
Award from William E. Davis, MD (R)
William E. Davis, MD (R), receives the
Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award from
Scott Sugar, MD (L)
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Allied Health
Eleven students graduated from the Ochsner/Our Lady of Holy Cross
College Allied Health Program in Radiologic Technology on May 3, 2008.
The commencement ceremony was held in the Brent House Conference
Center, and the address was given by Don Lecocq, a radiologic
technologist with extensive work in diagnostic and forensic radiology.
He spoke to the graduates about professional opportunities in the
imaging sciences and the importance of professional development and
continued education throughout their careers.
Upon completion of the Ochsner Radiologic Technology program,
all graduates received their Bachelor in Health Science degrees from Our
Lady of Holy Cross College. Additionally, all took and passed the national
American Registry of Radiologic Technology board examination, with a
class average score of 92, exceeding state and national averages and
placing the program graduates in the 96th percentile nationally.
The following radiology graduates received special awards presented
by Carl Tholen:
• Outstanding Academic Achievement: Melissa Murden
Murden completed her baccalaureate degree and professional
training curriculum with a 3.95 grade point average. She
graduated summa cum laude and was named Outstanding
Student in Allied Health by Our Lady of Holy Cross College.
• Academic Honorable Mention: Ashlie Randazza and Casey
Wagner
• Outstanding Student Technologist: Judy Lee
Lee was selected by the radiology staff physicians, residents,
and technologists as the most outstanding student.
She was recognized for demonstrating exceptional
radiographic clinical performance and personal qualities
in accordance with Ochsner’s guiding principles for
health care delivery. Upon graduating, Lee was employed
as a staff technologist in the Ochsner inpatient radiology
department at the Jefferson Highway campus.
• Leadership Award: Beth Digirolamo
Digirolamo was recognized for outstanding leadership.
She was the class president, and her leadership
attributes enhanced the accomplishments of her
class and contributed to its success at all levels of its
education. She was accepted to the radiation therapy
program at Delgado Community College and is employed in
the Ochsner inpatient radiology department at the Jefferson
Highway campus.
• Award of Merit: Casey Wagner
Wagner was recognized with an Award of Merit for her tireless
efforts in meeting the Ochsner expectation “Focus on Team.”
She has also been accepted to the radiation therapy program at
Delgado Community College to complete her education.
Diplomas and school pins were presented to the graduating
students by William Pinsky, MD, Executive Vice President for System
Medical Affairs and Chief Academic Officer, and the radiology program
faculty. The graduates recognized Marlys Sierra, RT(R), with their
Outstanding Technologist Award. Janice Piazza, RN, MSN, MBA,
Vice President, Academics, closed the ceremony with a few words of
reflection and encouragement to the graduates of the Class of 2008.
Radiologic Technology Program Faculty:
Carl J. Tholen, MEd, RT(R)(CT), is the Radiologic Technology Program
Director and Edward Bluth, MD, is the Medical Director for the program.
Chimene C. Pitre, BS, RT(R)(CT), and Hollie A.P. Fitzhenry, BS, RT(R)
(M), provide clinical and didactic instruction.
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Janice Piazza, RN, MSN, MBA
Academic Honorable Mention: Ashlie
Randazza and Casey Wagner
Outstanding Student
Technologist: Judy Lee
Respiratory Therapy Commencement 2008
The graduation ceremony for the Ochsner/Our Lady of Holy Cross College Program
in Respiratory Care was held on May 23, 2008, in the Brent House Conference Center.
The commencement speaker, Leonardo Seoane, MD, spoke to the graduates about
professionalism. Brad Burns, MD, is the Medical Director for the program. Mary LaBiche,
MEd, RRT, is the Program Director, and Erin Davis, MEd, MS, RRT, is the Director of
Clinical Education. This year’s graduates were Denisah Green, Saconda Stewart-Rice,
Elisha Stricklin, Adam Trosclair, and Kristin Wagner.
All graduates earned their associate’s degrees from Our Lady of Holy Cross College. At
the end of the summer semester, registry-eligible students will receive their baccalaureate
degrees. All of the students who took the Entry-Level
Certification Exam passed, a rate higher than the
national average.
The Outstanding Academic Award was presented
to Kristin Wagner. The
students voted on the
respiratory therapist who
was the most helpful in their
clinical training, and Della
Toups, CRT, who worked
with the students in the adult
intensive care unit, received
that honor.
Concluding remarks were
made by Janice Pizza, RN,
MSN, MBA, Vice President,
Academics. A reception
immediately followed.
New Allied Health Web Site
As Ochsner’s Division of Allied Health Sciences
celebrates its 38th year in providing academic and
clinical education opportunities, its Web site and
division logo have been redesigned to showcase the
professional opportunities available across our medical
system and academic affiliations.
Allied Health Sciences professionals comprise
more than 60 percent of the health care workforce,
play major roles in diagnostics and therapeutics, have
specialized skills and training in technology, and are
uniquely educated in treating disease, preventing
illness, and promoting health. The division provides
clinical education to more than 400 students annually
through two full-time, nationally accredited education programs: Radiologic Technology and
Respiratory Care.
The Allied Health Sciences programs, affiliations, and clinical partners have an honored
tradition of providing the highest quality of educational programs and clinical practice
to meet allied health workforce needs by graduating students whose pass rates on
credentialing exams far exceed national averages and by the full employment and placement
of our graduates.
As health care evolves, the allied health professions will emerge with technological
advancements in diagnostics, therapeutics, and informatics that will be vital to health care
delivery and the overall health and well-being of our patients. The Ochsner Allied Health
Sciences Division will continue to be at the forefront, fostering an academic and clinical
environment that attracts and supports competent, skilled health care professionals.
The division’s ultimate goal is to develop and implement value-added programs that
reflect job market and allied health workforce needs, while working collaboratively with other
educational institutions to achieve common educational goals. Please visit the new Allied
Health Web site at http://academics.ochsner.org/allied.aspx and feel free to provide your
feedback on its contents or any ideas for materials or information to include by sending an
e-mail to [email protected].
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Respiratory Care
Program Maximum
Accreditation
The Ochsner Respiratory Care Program
recently participated in its accreditation
site
visit
by
the
Committee
on
Accreditation for Respiratory Care. The
program once again was awarded a 10year accreditation, the maximum provided
by the committee. Congratulations to the
respiratory program faculty—Program
Director Mary LaBiche, MEd, RRT;
Director of Clinical Education Erin Davis,
MS, MEd, RRT; and Medical Director
Brad Burns, MD—for creating a clinical
education environment that allows the
respiratory program to excel.
Awards
2008 Alton Ochsner Award Relating Smoking and Health
The Selection Committee for the 2008 Alton Ochsner
Award Relating Smoking and Health is pleased to announce
its selection of Elizabeth (Terry) Fontham, DrPH, Dean and
Professor of the School of Public Health of the Louisiana State
University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, and Jonathan
M. Samet, MD, Professor and Chairman of the Department of
Epidemiology, Co-Director of the Risk Sciences and Public Policy
Institute, and Director and Founder of the Institute for Global
Tobacco Control of the Bloomberg School of Public Health of The
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, as this year’s winners.
Fontham received her undergraduate degree from Louisiana
State University and both her master’s and doctoral degrees in
public health from Tulane University. She was the senior author
of one of the earliest case-control studies demonstrating that
secondhand smoke predisposes passive smokers to lung cancer.
This report figured prominently in the evidence considered in
the 1986 Report of the Surgeon General, which concluded
that involuntary smoking was a cause of lung cancer in “never
smokers.” She had the foresight to recognize the need for a more
definitive study to establish the carcinogenicity of secondhand
smoke and to quantify the associated risk. This resulted in the
JAMA report, ever since referred to as the Fontham Study, that
provided the final proof that passive smoking causes lung
cancer.
Samet received his undergraduate degree from Harvard
University, his MD degree from the University of Rochester
School of Medicine and Dentistry, and his master’s degree
from the Harvard School of Public Health. He has made
important contributions to the overwhelming evidence on
the health hazards of active and passive smoking and to the
knowledge that radon and asbestos pollutants exacerbate the
role of cigarettes in producing lung cancer. His populationbased studies carried out in New Mexico provided the earliest
evidence of the risk of smoking in Hispanics and children; his
international population studies provided compelling evidence
for the direct role of cigarettes in producing lung cancer in U.S.
minorities and in other cultures.
These two tireless epidemiologists have made it possible
for us in recent years to witness the establishment of broad
public health policies prohibiting smoking in public places
throughout the United States.
Prior recipients of the Alton Ochsner Award have been
honored for work demonstrating important relationships
between tobacco consumption and nicotine addiction,
lung cancer and other malignancies, and lung function and
emphysema and other diseases, including atherosclerosis
and coronary heart disease. The award is named for the late
Alton Ochsner, MD, the first person to recognize that cigarette
smoking is the major factor underlying lung cancer.
The Alton Ochsner Award is supported by the Ochsner
Clinic Foundation and recognizes outstanding scientific
achievements that have provided pivotal insights into the
biological and clinical mechanisms that relate tobacco
consumption to human disease. This year’s Award winners
will share in a cash award, a special medallion, and a scroll,
which will be presented to them at the Annual Convocation of
the American College of Chest Physicians during its scientific
sessions to be held in Philadelphia on October 26, 2008.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE, 2008 ALTON
OCHSNER AWARD RELATING SMOKING AND HEALTH
Edward D. Frohlich, MD, Chairman
Alton Ochsner Distinguished Scientist
Ochsner Clinic Foundation
New Orleans, LA
Robert W. Anderson, MD
The David C. Sabiston, Jr., Professor
and Chairman (Emeritus)
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC
Aram V. Chobanian, MD
President Emeritus
Dean Emeritus, School of Medicine
John I. Sandson Distinguished
Professor of Health Sciences
Boston University
Boston, MA
William B. Kannel, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine and Public Health
Boston University School of Medicine
BU/Framingham Heart Study
Framingham, MA
William W. Pinsky, MD
Ochsner Health System
Executive Vice President, System Medical Affairs
Chief Academic Officer
Ochsner Clinic Foundation
New Orleans, LA
Research Conference Winner
Sugar S. Postoperative Pain Control in Total
Knee Arthroplasty, 2nd place Original Research
Category, 34th Annual Gulf Atlantic Anesthesia
Residents’ Research Conference (GAARRC),
New Orleans, LA, April 2008.
Frank A. Riddick, Jr., MD
Chief Executive Officer Emeritus
Department of Philanthropy
Ochsner Clinic Foundation
New Orleans, LA
Richard N. Ré, MD
Scientific Director
Ochsner Clinic Foundation
New Orleans, LA
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News Notes
A Historic Donation
The Medical Library and Archives has
received The Classics of Medicine
Library, a collection of 208 volumes, as a
donation from Carl Kardinal, MD, Associate Section Head, Hematology/Oncology,
of the Ochsner Cancer Institute upon his
retirement. Titles in the collection include
The Genuine Works of Hippocrates, On
the Motion of the Blood, and Dreams and
Interpretations. The books will be available
for check-out by Ochsner employees by
October 1.
Carl Kardinal, MD
Congratulations Dr. Woods!
Reference @ the Point of Care
T. Cooper Woods, PhD, has received funding as a part of a
COBRE grant to the LSU Health Sciences Center, and the
Greater Southeast Affiliate of the American Heart Association
has awarded him $165,000 to support research.
The Medical Library and Archives was awarded
the Outreach Express Grant by the National Library of
Medicine. With this funding, the library purchased laptops
for long-term patients to use in their hospital rooms.
The laptops provide access to the many online health
resources available from the library’s Web page, such as
MedlinePlus.
Librarians Nital Sheridan, MLIS, AHIP, and Jessica Delgado, MLIS,
show the library’s resources to nurse Tammy Mayer in the Mother
Baby Unit.
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CME Conference
Gulf Coast Update in Pediatrics
The 4th Annual Gulf Coast Update in Pediatrics was held June 27-29, 2008, at the
Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The purpose of this conference was to
update generalists in all areas of preventive care, so that they will able to completely
care for, and refer when indicated, children with more complex medical problems.
It is essential that these health care professionals remain current in all areas of
pediatric medicine. Daniel Bronfin, MD, Vice Chairman, Department of Pediatrics and
Section Head, General Pediatrics, and Douglas Moodie, MD, Chairman, Department of
Pediatrics, served as the conference directors. They invited Ochsner faculty from a
variety of pediatric specialties—including pulmonology, neonatology, medical genetics,
neurosurgery, otolaryngology, allergy/immunology, physical medicine and rehabilitation,
nephrology, infectious diseases, and hospital medicine—to discuss the newest
discoveries and advances in patient care. A total of 76 participants were in attendance
from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The Ochsner Continuing Medical
Education (CME) department provided eight American Medical Association Physicians
Recognition Award Category 1 credits to physician participants. The conference was
very well received by participants. Several Ochsner physicians attend every year,
looking forward to this valuable educational opportunity. The CME department received
$5,000 in grant support from Mead Johnson. The 5th Annual Gulf Coast Update is
currently being planned for summer 2009.
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