HJNO Jan/Feb 2022

38 JAN / FEB 2022  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS   Healthcare Briefs DePaul Community Health Centers Works with A.T. Still University to Start Local Physician Assistant Training Program DePaul Community Health Centers (DCHC), which operates 11 health centers in the greater New Orleans area, and A.T. Still University (ATSU), with locations in Mesa, Arizona, Santa Maria, California, and Kirksville, Missouri, recently exe- cuted a learning facilitation and clinical experi- ence agreement designed to train students from ATSU’s physician assistant (PA) programs. The first cohort of students began their year of training at DCHC in September 2021, and additional cohorts will arrive each subsequent fall. Students, in their second year of instruction, will train on-site with DCHC, where they will partici- pate in five clinical rotations. The clinical rotations include the disciplines of family medicine, internal medicine, women’s health, pediatrics and behav- ioral health. DCHC will also assist with securing emergency medicine, general surgery and an elective rotation for the ATSU students. Licensed PAs and other licensed providers at DCHC, along with designated ATSU faculty, are coordinating and supervising instruction and clin- ical rotations. DCHC’s Michael Griffin, DSc, MSPH, to Receive LPCA’s Community Health Care Excellence Award Michael G. Griffin, DSc, MSPH, president and CEO of DePaul Community Health Centers (DCHC), will receive the Louisiana Primary Care Association’s (LPCA) 2021 Community Health Care Excellence Award during the LPCA’s 38th Annual Continuing Education Virtual Conference on Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m. The Eric B. Taylor Lead- ership Award was established in 2012 in recogni- tion of Taylor’s contributions to the health cen- ter movement as executive director of the SWLA Center for Health Services. The award is presented to an outstanding non-provider staff member of a Louisiana Fed- erally Qualified Health Center who exemplifies passion and commitment to improving the care and quality of life for health center patients. The award recognizes a nominee’s years of service, developing responsibilities and specific contribu- tions to the health center community. Griffin’s most recent accomplishment surrounds establishing a clinical experience agreement with A.T. Still University (ATSU) designed to train stu- dents from ATSU’s physician assistant programs. The institution of osteopathic medicine has loca- tions in Mesa, Arizona, Santa Maria, California, and Kirksville, Missouri. The first cohort of stu- dents began their year of training at DCHC in September 2021, and additional cohorts will arrive each subsequent fall. Students, in their second year of instruction, will train on-site with DCHC, where they will partic- ipate in five clinical rotations. The clinical rota- tions include the disciplines of family medicine, internal medicine, women’s health, pediatrics and behavioral health. DCHC will also assist with securing emergency medicine, general surgery and an elective rotation for the ATSU students. DCHC operates 11 health centers in the greater New Orleans area. Suchit Patel, MD, PhD, Joins Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Houma Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Houma, a partnership with Terrebonne General Health Sys- tem, announced the addition of radiation oncol- ogist Suchit Patel, MD, PhD, to its medical staff. Patel will begin practicing at the Cancer Center’s Houma location on Nov. 1. Patel has been with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center for more than two years and has been practicing at the Cancer Center’s Baton Rouge, Hammond and Gonzales locations. The major- ity of his practice will now be focused in Houma. Patel is a summa cum laude graduate of New York Institute of Technology. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience from The Rocke- feller University and a Doctor of Medicine with Honors in Service from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. He completed a radiation oncology residency training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, where he served as chief resident, was awarded the Mor- timer J. Lacher Fellowship in radiation oncology and completed postdoctoral research. He has written a number of publications, delivered many presentations at oncology conferences and holds several active grants. CIS Earns Recognition for Blood Pressure Control Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) has been awarded Gold+ Status by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Med- ical Association (AMA) for its commitment to keeping patient blood pressure readings accu- rate and under control, ultimately reducing the number of heart attacks and strokes each year. CIS is one of about 300 physician practices and health systems being recognized nationally this year with the Gold+ status. This demonstrates a commitment to measurement accuracy while also reaching at least 70% blood pressure con- trol within their patient population. In fact, 82% of CIS patients have controlled blood pressure. CIS believes this number is attributed to many areas of quality control, such as proper training of its staff on how to take blood pressure prop- erly and accurately. “At CIS, we ask patients to return within 30 days for a blood pressure check in the clinic if the last blood pressure was elevated or if medi- cations were adjusted,” explained Mitzi Pellegrin, RN, process improvement analyst. “We also ask patients to record their blood pressure at home to provide us with a more accurate picture of their hypertension readings.” NeuroJust Opens Metairie Clinic for Treatment- Resistant Depression NeuroJust, a new interventional mental health clinic offering Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy, recently opened its doors in Old Suchit Patel, MD, PhD