HJNO Jul/Aug 2024

48 JUL / AUG 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS   Healthcare Briefs Novel Non-Addictive, Non- Toxic Painkiller Developed at LSUHealth NewOrleans LSU Health New Orleans announced the discov- ery and clinical advancement of a new non-opi- oid therapeutic candidate for treatment of acute, chronic, and neuropathic pain and migraine headaches which does not have the organ toxic- ity or addiction potential of other currently-avail- able pain therapeutics. Nicolas Bazan, MD, Boyd Professor and director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence, led the team that discovered this innovative therapeutic and is the senior author of this week’s publica- tion in Nature’s Scientific Reports. This new peer- reviewed manuscript provides in-depth insights into the novel compound’s activity and mecha- nism while also confirming gene expressions and signaling networks in the brain that are critical to managing and treating pain. Bazan said, “Our research offers hope for mil- lions suffering from pain while also providing a pathway to counteract addiction. This extensive study also validates the entrepreneurial and trans- lational potential of the research conducted at the LSU Health Neuroscience Center of Excellence. By understanding and harnessing the brain’s own mechanisms, we are addressing the opioid crisis by developing safer, more effective pain manage- ment solutions for people worldwide.” LSU Health New Orleans has exclusively licensed the patents defining the family of non- opioid pain therapeutics to South Rampart Pharma to advance this new, safer painkiller to the market. With support from institutional, fed- eral, and venture funding, the lead compound (SRP-001) now has successfully demonstrated safety and efficacy in Phase 1 human clinical tri- als. Recently, the FDA granted Fast Track des- ignation for SRP-001 for acute pain treatment, acknowledging its potential to address a critical unmet medical need and ensuring the drug will advance into more comprehensive clinical trials. Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine Announces Founding Dean, Location in Downtown NewOrleans at Benson Tower Xavier University of Louisiana (Xavier) has announced continued progress with Ochsner Health (Ochsner) to launch their Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM). The new medical school will be in the burgeoning BioDistrict New Orleans, located downtown in Benson Tower next to Caesars Superdome. At a XOCOM signing celebration on April 29, Xavier and Ochsner officials announced that Leonardo Seoane, MD, FACP, executive vice president and chief academic officer of Och- sner Health, will serve as the new HBCU medical school’s founding dean. The announcement follows votes by the Xavier University of Louisiana Board of Trustees and the Ochsner Health Board of Directors in Feb- ruary to approve the formation of the new med- ical school. On Monday, officials announced XOCOM’s founding board of directors, which includes Xavier and Ochsner appointees: • C. Reynold Verret, PhD, president, Xavier University of Louisiana. • Pete November, CEO, Ochsner Health. • Trevonne M. Thompson, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT, associate dean, admissions, University of Illinois College of Medicine. • Matthew Block, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, Ochsner Health. • Gary C. Butts, MD, executive vice president, diversity, equity and inclusion, Mount Sinai Health System. • Veronica Gillispie-Bell, MD, MAS, FACOG, senior site lead and section head, Wom- en’s Services, Ochsner Kenner; medical director of quality, Women’s Services, Och- sner Health; medical director of Minimally Invasive Center for Treatment of Uterine Fibroids, Ochsner Health; associate pro- fessor, Ochsner Clinical School. • Gregory N. Rattler Sr., managing director, JP Morgan Chase. • Deborah Grimes, RN, JD, MSHQS, senior vice president and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, Ochsner Health. Slated to be the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) medical school in the Gulf South when it opens. AVALA Surgery Center Opens in Galleria Medical Campus AVALA Surgery Center announced its grand opening in the Galleria Medical campus. The cen- ter specializes in pain management, gastroenter- ology, and colon-rectal procedures. K. Samer Shamieh, MD, chief medical officer at AVALA, said, “We are thrilled to expand AVA- LA's footprint to the Southshore, bringing our culture of trust, innovation, collaboration, and quality care to a broader community. Our com- mitment goes beyond providing medical services; it is about restoring trust between physicians and our patients, where every individual's needs are met with empathy, every idea is embraced with enthusiasm, and every interaction fosters mutual respect and understanding. With the opening of the AVALA Surgery Center, we embark on a jour- ney to transform healthcare delivery, one patient, one physician, and one team member at a time.” AVALA Surgery Center is located in Galle- ria Medical, 3100 Galleria Blvd., Suite 305, in Metairie. LDHRecognizes 32 Birthing Hospitals Achieving Louisiana Birth Ready Designation The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collabora- tive (LaPQC) recognized 32 hospitals that have achieved Louisiana Birth Ready or Birth Ready+ Designation for committing to practices that improve quality and outcomes for women giv- ing birth. “Hospitals have a critical role to play in the health of our mothers giving birth,” said Ralph Abraham, MD, secretary for the Louisiana Depart- ment of Health. “I congratulate all of the hos- pitals who have been granted this designation, and express my thanks for the hard work being done to ensure every woman can have a safe, dignified birth in Louisiana. It is also important to acknowledge the leadership of our Bureau of Family Health, which strives every day to improve maternal health outcomes.” The LaPQC, which is a program within the Office of Public Health’s Bureau of Family Health, began the Louisiana Birth Ready Designation in 2021. Hospitals receive this honor through a rigor- ous application and review process by the LaPQC Birth Ready Designation committee. Applica- tions are reviewed and renewed annually. Many of the hospitals awarded designation have been