HJNO Jul/Aug 2022

60 JUL / AUG 2022  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS Hospital Rounds Region of Ochsner Health and CEO of Ochsner St. Mary. “Despite unprecedented adversity rural provid- ers continue to display resiliency and a steadfast commitment to their communities,” said Michael Topchik, national leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “Honoring the Top 100 is one of the highpoints of our year. We are delighted to rec- ognize the exceptional performance and innova- tion of this year’s recipients, particularly in light of the extraordinary challenges facing America’s rural health safety net.” Children’s Hospital NOWelcomes Charles Hemenway, MD, as Service Line Chief for Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders Children’s Hospital New Orleans welcomed Charles Hemenway, MD, a board-certified pedi- atric hematologist oncologist, as service line chief for its Center for Cancer and Blood Disor- ders. Hemenway will serve as clinical lead over the nationally recognized and newly renovated and expanded Center for Cancer and Blood Dis- orders, which treats more than 1,100 children with cancer or blood disorders each year. Hemenway most recently served as director of the combined MD/PhD program at the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago. A graduate of Middlebury College and the Uni- versity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, he completed a residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at University of Florida/Shands Hospital and a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncol- ogy at Duke University Medical Center. Thibodaux Regional Welcomes JohnathanWise, MD, to theMedical Staff Thibodaux Regional Health System announced the addition of Johnathan Wise, MD, obstet- rics and gynecology, to the active medical staff. He is available to care for patients at Thibodaux Regional Women’s Clinic located at 604 N. Aca- dia Rd. Suite 500, in Thibodaux. Wise graduated from Nicholls State University and received a medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreve- port. He completed a residency and internship in obstetrics and gynecology at University Health Shreveport. Wise is board-certified by the Ameri- can Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Wise specializes in prenatal care and delivery, annual exams, wellness care for women of all ages, infertility, urogynecology, and gynecologic cancer diagnosis. He is skilled in both robotic and lapa- roscopic surgical techniques. Smith Appointed to Hood Memorial Hospital Board of Commissioners The Tangipahoa Parish Council has appointed John “Tree” Smith of Amite to the Board of Com- missioners for Hood Memorial Hospital. The council appointed Smith at its Feb. 14 meet- ing to fulfill the unexpired term of Arthur Mauterer, MD, who resigned from the board for personal reasons. The current term will expire January 2024. Smith retired in January of this year from the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court’s office after 36 years of service under four different administra- tions. He has pastored Mt. Canaan Baptist Church in Arcola since 1994 and worked as a reserve ser- geant with the Amite City Police Department since 2015. Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health, Children’s Hospital New Orleans Explore Collaboration Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health and Chil- dren’s Hospital New Orleans announced that they have entered into a non-binding agreement to explore structures within which the organizations might work together in support of the children and families each serves. A letter of intent that was signed recently states that the two systems will explore collaborating in the delivery of pediatric health services, with a uni- form, elevated standard of care for the communi- ties that the systems currently serve. LakeviewRegional Employee Named Outstanding Respiratory Therapist of the Year Melissa Smith, a respiratory therapist at Lakev- iew Regional Medical Center, was named Out- standing Respiratory Therapist of the Year by the Louisiana Society for Respiratory Care (LSRC) at its 50th annual educational meeting and exhib- its in Baton Rouge. Melissa has worked as a respiratory thera- pist for 35 years, caring for neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients with lung disorders. She is a trained smoking cessation counselor and helps people change their lives by quitting smoking. She is the Lakeview respiratory educator and leads the department in the performance of pulmonary function tests. Melissa is also an active member of the Louisiana State Respiratory Care Board. 15 Ochsner Health Hospitals, Partners Receive ‘A’ Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2022. This national distinction recog- nizes achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital. OMC – New Orleans is one of 15 Ochsner Health hospitals and partners across the Gulf Johnathan Wise, MD John “Tree” Smith