HJNO Mar/Apr 2023

56 MAR / APR 2023  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS Hospital Rounds Gala Event Raises $170K to Support Local Cancer Patients Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and Terre- bonne General Health System’s signature fun- draising event, The Gala Goes to Mardi Gras, returned to Houma on Jan. 13 for the first time since 2019. With more than 275 guests in atten- dance, the event raised over $170,000 to support cancer patients and their families in the Bayou Region. Terrebonne General Health System’s Allison Cazenave Receives National Clinical Excellence Award Terrebonne General Health System board-certi- fied specialist in oncology nutrition Allison Caze- nave, RDN, CSO, LDN, was chosen to receive the Morrison Healthcare National Clinical Excellence Award. Cazenave is the only board-certified spe- cialist in oncology nutrition (CSO) in the Bayou Region and one of eight CSOs in the state. Each year, Morrison Healthcare chooses one registered dietitian to receive the National Clinical Excellence Award. This recipient is selected out of 1,500 registered dieticians across the country working in facilities of all sizes and serving a wide range of populations. This clinician has exhibited excellence in clinical programming, outcomes, and innovative program development. Cazenave began working at Terrebonne Gen- eral Health System as an inpatient dietitian, then transitioned to working for Terrebonne General | Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, where she gained the 2,000 hours needed to acquire the CSO certification. St. Bernard Parish Hospital Names Assistant Vice President of Operations St. Bernard Parish Hospital (SBPH) recently named Kim Ellender its assistant vice president of operations, effective Dec. 4. Ellender’s creden- tials include more than 20 years of experience in healthcare management across Louisiana and Texas. Since 2018, Ellender has served at SBPH in vari- ous leadership roles, including manager of clinic operations, director of clinic operations, and, recently, director of operations, specialty clinics, and hospital surgical services. Ellender is a graduate of the University of South- west Louisiana (currently known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette), where she earned a Bachelor of Science in business and marketing, followed by a Master of Business Administration. OLOL Children’s Health, Children’s Hospital NO Announce Affiliation Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health and Chil- dren’s Hospital New Orleans announced an affilia- tion, beginning a new and pivotal chapter where the two leading providers of pediatric healthcare in Louisiana will partner to improve the health of children across Louisiana. “Sharing a passion for the well-being of chil- dren, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health and Children’s Hospital New Orleans have similar histories of innovation, accomplishment, and a steadfast commitment to the children and families across our communities,” said Chuck Spicer, pres- ident of Our Lady of the Lake Health. “By working together, we aim to make meaningful progress in improving child health outcomes, which here in Louisiana are among the worst in the nation. We believe that a healthier future for our children hap- pens together.” This month, agreement terms were finalized to establish the framework in which the two children’s hospitals will collaborate in the delivery of pediat- ric health services. The affiliation, which took effect Jan. 1, 2023, creates opportunities for immediate collaboration to improve access to and the qual- ity of pediatric healthcare in Louisiana. “Our affiliation offers new and exciting opportunities for innovation,” said John R. Nick- ens IV, president and CEO of Children’s Hospi- tal New Orleans. “We know that we can do more together. For example, we will be able to join forces in the recruitment of pediatric sub-special- ists, retention of top talent, and our commitment to build centers of excellence for pediatric care, close to home.” The pediatric affiliation is planned to develop over two phases, with phase one focused on enhancing pediatric activities in Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes. Children’s Hospital New Orleans will be responsible for day-to-day oper- ations of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health through a co-managed approach with committees comprised of board, physician, and other leaders across the two organizations. In phase two, the organizations will work together to create a statewide network for chil- dren’s specialty care, which will impact the life- long health of children and future generations of Louisianans. In the coming months, the organizations will work to prioritize opportunities that will serve as the foundation for the phased approach of the affiliation. LSU-LCMCHealth Cancer Center Announces NewChief Administrative Officer The LSU-LCMC Health Cancer Center announced Stephanie Haydel Kleehammer, MBA, as its new chief administrative officer and associ- ate director for administration. As the CAO, Kleehammer will serve as an execu- tive leadership teammember, working closely with the cancer center director, John H. Stewart IV, MD, MBA, FACS, to lead and oversee research admin- istration, finance, and operations. Kleehammer will manage a growing staff that encompasses all administrative aspects of the can- cer center. She will play a key role in advising LSU and LCMC Health senior leaders to ensure that all infrastructure and operations are aligned with NCI expectations to successfully attain its prestigious designation and Cancer Center Support Grant. Kleehammer comes to the cancer center after serving as executive director of the Louisiana Veterans Research and Education Corporation (LAVREC) for nearly 10 years. At LAVREC, she Allison Cazenave, RDN, CSO, LDN