HJNO May/Jun 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  MAY / JUN 2024 39 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com transition out of their child-bearing years. Symp- toms can include irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, vaginal problems, bladder prob- lems, sleep disturbances, loss of bone density and higher cholesterol. Medication, including estrogen and progester- one, can help manage the conditions. The House Committee on Health and Welfare voted 12-0 for the bill, which will now go to the full Louisiana House for consideration. Printed with permission. O’Donoghue, J. “Lou- isiana considers Medicaid coverage for meno- pausal, perimenopausal treatment.” The Louisi- ana Illuminator, Mar. 30, 2024. https://lailluminator. com/briefs/medicaid-menopause/ LSU Announces Steve Nelson, MD, as Chancellor of LSU Health NewOrleans Steve Nelson, MD, will serve as chancellor of LSU Health New Orleans, pending a vote by the LSU Board of Supervisors. He has served as Interim Chancellor since the fall of 2021. As part of his role, Nelson will oversee comple- tion of the center's 10-year reaccreditation review cycle, a rigorous 18-month process designed to reflect the excellence of the program. "We are grateful to Dr. Nelson for shepherd- ing the LSU Health Sciences Center through this arduous but critically important process," said William F. Tate IV, LSU president. "His institutional knowledge and dedication to the center will no doubt lead to a positive outcome." Nelson’s career spans decades of progressively more senior academic medical leadership posi- tions while consistently maintaining significant National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, car- ing for critically ill patients, training hundreds of future healthcare professionals, and advancing healthcare policy to ensure optimal care for citi- zens across Louisiana. After graduating with honors from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Nelson earned his medical degree as a University Scholar at McGill University. At the Johns Hopkins Hospi- tal, he completed his residency in internal medi- cine along with a clinical fellowship in pulmonary/ critical care medicine and a research fellowship in pulmonary medicine. Nelson joined the faculty in 1984, ultimately becoming professor of medicine in 1994 and the John H. Seabury Professor of Medicine in 1995. He served as vice chair of research in the Depart- ment of Medicine and in 2005 was named chief of the section of pulmonary/critical care medi- cine. Nelson was appointed dean of the Medical School in 2007 and president of the LSU Health- care Network in 2009. "Throughout my years at LSU, I have focused on educating the future healthcare professionals who will practice and serve in Louisiana, promot- ing the health of our citizens, and facilitating the translation of scientific discovery to the bedside. I am grateful that President Tate has entrusted me with the opportunity to continue to build on the successes of this exceptional institution." Nurse Power Brunch: Essence Festival Edition Set for July 5-6 In a celebration of nurse empowerment, Nurse Power Brunch returns in an Essence Festival Edi- tion, led by founders Meisha Amia, MSN, RN, and Nicole Thomas, DNP, RN, CCM. Mark your cal- endars for July 5-6 for this event which will be held at The Royal Sonesta New Orleans on Bour- bon Street. Thomas said, "Nurses find, operate, and domi- nate in their power as a nurse." This year's theme, "Reimagining Nursing," invites professionals to rediscover their strength and influence in the evolving landscape of healthcare. Founders Amia and Thomas have cultivated an event that transcends the ordinary, providing a platform for nurses to connect, learn, and seize opportunities. The two-day experience features food, networking opportunities, and education that transcends boundaries. There will be panel dis- cussions, content creation sessions, and the opportunity to forge meaningful connections. For more information and registration, visit https://www.nursepowernetwork.com/ 2024nursepowerbrunch. Louisiana Healthcare Connections Members Highlight Medicaid’s Positive Impact on Business and Community Louisiana Healthcare Connections, a Medicaid health plan serving the Louisiana Department of Health and a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), has been a steadfast ally for two farmers and their families, offering cru- cial support during challenging periods. Maggie Long, the owner and operator of Mush- roomMaggie's Farm in St. Francisville, faced mul- tiple setbacks, including a devastating barn fire that left her husband, Cyrus, injured, and the sub- sequent challenges brought on by the COVID- 19 pandemic. Maggie Long shares, "Being a farmer is not easy. We had a barn fire after we had been up and running for only a year. Cyrus got burned, and everything just melted. We finally got going again and then COVID hit. So, we've had to essentially restart the business three times. It's just been one foot in front of the other since then." Despite these hardships, Louisiana Healthcare Connections has been a constant source of sup- port for Long and her family. Louisiana Health- care Connections has sponsored dollar-match programs of the Supplemental Nutrition Assis- tance Program (SNAP) at farmers' markets across the state, playing a crucial role in assisting farmers like Long by providing financial aid to both ven- dors and customers. Long expressed her gratitude, stating, "The SNAP-match program sponsored by Louisiana Healthcare Connections has been a tremendous help. People who come in and put down $20 get matched with another $20, so they leave with $40 worth of good food. And that's 20 extra dollars to one of the farmers.” Louisiana Healthcare Connections has not only been instrumental in providing financial support but has also ensured that Long and her family Steve Nelson, MD