HJNO Mar/Apr 2023

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  MAR / APR 2023 59 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com $20,000 in scholarships to support outstand- ing students who may not otherwise choose a pre-med track. • $500,000 for the LCMC Health Medical Pathways Fellowships to provide $10,000 to $20,000 in graduate fellowships to exem- plary Xavier pre-med students who have expressed intention to attend and complete medical school in Louisiana and ultimately practice in the state. • $500,000 for the LCMC Health Medical Path- ways Home Stipends aimed at supporting Xavier alumni who have completed medical school in the U.S. and have been accepted into a residency program with either LCMC Health, LSU School of Medicine, or Tulane School of Medicine. Xavier University of Louisiana is a nationally ranked Historically Black College and Univer- sity (HBCU) that has a rich history of guiding and nurturing students from undergraduate studies to graduate programs. LCMC Health is a grow- ing healthcare system that provides exceptional patient-centered care at world-class facilities, including academic medical centers in partner- ship with LSU and Tulane University. Ochsner Health Names NewRiver Region Chief Operating Officer Ochsner Health recently named Thomas Rhodes chief operating officer of the River Region over- seeing Ochsner facilities in Kenner, LaPlace, Destrehan, and Luling. Rhodes hails from Hous- ton, bringing with himmore than 20 years of expe- rience in healthcare. Rhodes began his healthcare career as a mem- ber of the critical care transport team at Texas Medical Center. Throughout his career, he has held various roles including pulmonary service line director, director of rehab services, director of operations, and system chair of the pulmonary council for Houston Methodist Hospital System. Most recently, Rhodes was responsible for hos- pital operations at Houston Methodist West and Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospitals. “Joining Ochsner Health is truly an honor. I am thrilled to work with my extraordinary colleagues in continuing Ochsner’s vision of inspiring health- ier lives and stronger communities,” said Rhodes. As COO, Rhodes will oversee operations and progress toward addressing the 2,475 unfilled full- time nursing positions projected in New Orleans by 2025. Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans Awarded Palliative Care Certification from The Joint Commission Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans (OMC- New Orleans) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Palliative Care Certifi- cation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare orga- nization’s commitment to providing safe and qual- ity patient care. LCMC Partners with Xavier University LCMC Health announced a $1.5 million gift to Xavier University of Louisiana to create and retain a diverse physician workforce in Louisiana. This gift will support select undergraduate students and medical school residents with direct financial assistance, making an immediate impact on the diversification of Louisiana’s healthcare workforce. According to the National Academies, the num- ber of Black students in science, engineering, and medicine in the United States has remained dis- proportionately low over the past several decades. Several factors, including financial barriers, have contributed to these low numbers. By provid- ing direct financial assistance to Xavier students and alumni, LCMC Health will help address this disparity. “LCMC Health has a strong history of support- ing our communities with the best possible care, which includes investing in the healthcare lead- ers of tomorrow,” said Greg Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health. “Since our inception, we’ve been commit- ted to taking on an active role in preparing young talent to become the future of healthcare. Build- ing on our longstanding relationship with Xavier University’s College of Pharmacy, our medical pathways program will expand our partnership efforts, allowing us to address inequities that exist in the physician workforce and increasing access to high-quality education and opportunities for students and young professionals.” LCMC Health has dedicated this gift in honor of Xavier University’s president emeritus, Norman C. Francis, JD, a civil rights leader who is renowned in the world of higher education. During Francis’ 47 years as president of Xavier, his alma mater, the school’s enrollment nearly tri- pled. The nation’s only Black Catholic university became the leading producer of Black undergrad- uates who complete medical school and ranked first nationally in the number of Black students earning undergraduate degrees in biology and life sciences, chemistry, physics, and pharmacy. Francis is a U.S. Army veteran and the first Black graduate of Loyola University School of Law. As a civil rights leader, he showed moral courage and vision by housing the Freedom Riders at Xavier in the 1960s and representing civil rights activists as a young lawyer. During his four-decade ten- ure as Xavier’s president, Francis advised eight U.S. presidents and earned more than 40 honorary degrees. As a civic leader, he co-founded Liberty Bank, where he remains chairman of the board. Francis also co-chaired the Louisiana Recovery Authority after Hurricane Katrina, while also lead- ing Xavier’s hurricane recovery efforts. With this donation, Xavier University and LCMC Health continue the work of Francis with ground- breaking programs that eliminate barriers and cre- ate pathways to success. “Xavier’s continued success is best achieved with partnerships and the financial support of extraordinary and committed institutions like LCMC Health,” said Francis. “When organizations like LCMC Health step up in such a meaningful way, Xavier students will have an immediate ben- efit that will make it more financially feasible for them to enter and graduate from two prestigious medical schools — Tulane and LSU — a pathway for Xavier students who are committed to practic- ing medicine in Louisiana.” “We are thrilled and grateful that LCMC Health has honored Dr. Francis, and we are so excited for the talented pre-med students at Xavier who are beneficiaries of this extraordinary gift. We look forward to a continued relationship with LCMC Health,” said Justin Augustine, chairman of Xavier University’s board of directors. LCMC Health’s gift will support three initial programs: • $500,000 for the LCMC Health Medical Path- ways Program, which will provide $15,000 to