HJNO Sep/Oct 2024

38 SEP / OCT 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS   Healthcare Briefs present at the Slidell clinic, he pre-signed pre- scriptions, including for opioids and other con- trolled substances, to be distributed to individ- uals there whom he did not see or examine. In 2016, Talbot hired another practitioner who, at Talbot’s direction, also pre-signed prescriptions to be distributed in the same manner at the Slidell clinic in exchange for cash deposited into the Medex account. The evidence also demonstrated that Talbot falsified patient records to cover up the scheme. With Talbot’s knowledge, individuals filled their prescriptions using their insurance benefits, thereby causing healthcare benefit programs including Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana to be fraudulently billed for prescriptions that were written without an appropriate patient examination or determina- tion of medical necessity. The jury convicted Talbot of one count of con- spiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense con- trolled substances, four counts of unlawfully dis- tributing and dispensing controlled substances, one count of maintaining a drug-involved prem- ises, and one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. He is scheduled to be sen- tenced on Oct. 23 and faces a maximum pen- alty of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to com- mit healthcare fraud and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the other counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. LSUHealth NewOrleans Student Selected for NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative LSU Health New Orleans announced that LaMiah Hall, a medical student in the School of Medicine, has been selected to participate in the National Football League's Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative. This prestigious opportunity will see Hall completing a clinical rotation with the New Orleans Saints sports med- icine department during the 2024 training camp. Originally from Decatur, Alabama, Hall's aca- demic journey led her to Xavier University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2019 followed by a Master of Public Health in 2020. Engaging deeply with the New Orleans commu- nity, she volunteered with STEM NOLA, a leading nonprofit in STEM education, from 2015 to 2021, serving as the organization’s operations coordina- tor. Currently pursuing a medical degree at LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Hall anticipates graduating in 2025 with a keen inter- est in orthopedic surgery. The NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative, a collaboration between the NFL, NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS), and Professional Ath- letic Trainers Society (PFATS), aims to bolster the pipeline of diverse students pursuing careers in sports medicine. This year, students from 21 med- ical schools across the country will be matched with NFL clubs, marking the second consecutive year of the Saints' involvement in the program . STHS Parenting Center Reaccredited as Certified AutismCenter St. Tammany Health System’s Parenting Cen- ter has been reaccredited as a Certified Autism Center by the International Board of Credential- ing and Continuing Education Standards (IBC- CES), underscoring the health system’s commit- ment to providing exceptional care and support to the autism community. The Parenting Center was initially named a Cer- tified Autism Center in 2022, one of several health system departments to earn the distinction. Oth- ers include the health system’s St. Tammany Pedi- atrics practice, its Bone and Joint Clinic, as well as the Pediatric Emergency Department and pediat- ric inpatient unit at its flagship St. Tammany Par- ish Hospital. To become a Certified Autism Center, a facili- ty’s staff is required to complete autism-specific training and certification to ensure they can bet- ter interact with clients who have autism or sen- sory sensitivities, and to ensure them that the staff can be trusted and are there to help. The center’s achievements, which aim to enrich the learning experience for children and caregiv- ers alike, include the introduction of visual tools for interactive classes as well as a video series produced by the health system’s Communica- tions Department. The development of a sensory area at the annual Monster Mash fundraiser fur- ther highlights the center's innovative approach to inclusivity and sensory-friendly environments. The positive feedback from employees regard- ing the specialized training they received as part of the certification process reflects the center's commitment to professional development and enhanced care. LSUHealth NO Announces Research on Remdesivir’s Novel Immunological Effects LSU Health New Orleans announced the pub- lication of a groundbreaking study led by Giulia Monticone, PhD, in the prestigious journal EMBO Reports . The study’s publication is live at https://doi. org/10.1038/s44319-024-00189-4. This study unveils that the antiviral effects of the COVID-19 drug remdesivir are primarily due to a novel immunological mechanism rather than direct antiviral activity. The study details how remdesivir’s novel immunological effects are mediated by a newly described mechanism. This discovery paves the way for a new class of drugs that enhance immunity while also targeting viruses, potentially improving the effectiveness of vaccines against viruses and cancers and boosting immunity against certain cancers. This research was funded by the U.S. Depart- ment of Defense (DOD) Discovery Award (W81XWH-21-1-0078) and marks a signifi- cant advancement in immunological drug development. Collaborative efforts with Southern Research in Birmingham, Alabama, are already underway to develop and optimize this new class of agents. “We are thrilled to have our work recognized by EMBO Reports,” said Monticone. “This publica- tion underscores our commitment to advancing knowledge in the field of immunology and drug development.” Three DePaul Community Health Centers Associates Named Health Care Heroes by NewOrleans CityBusiness DePaul Community Health Centers’ (DCHC) Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Frank A. Folino, FACHE; Executive Director of Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse, and