HJNO Nov/Dec 2025

36 NOV / DEC 2025  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS   Healthcare Briefs Thibodaux Regional Welcomes Alex Thibodeaux, MD, to the Medical Staff Alex Thibodeaux, MD, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist (physiatrist), is now seeing patients at Thibodaux Regional Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic in Thibodaux. Thibodeaux earned an undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and received a medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. He also completed a residency in phys- ical medicine and rehabilitation at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Thibodeaux is a member of the Ameri- can Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabil- itation and the American Medical Association. Thibodeaux specializes in the nonoperative, conservative management of disorders of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, brain, and spinal cord. He approaches each patient from the perspective of overall wellness and function with focus on minimizing pain and disability and improving function and quality of life. Thibodeaux is able to perform a variety of in-office ultrasound- guided procedures as well as nerve conduction studies. FDA Addresses Acetaminophen Controversy Martin A. Makary, MD, MPH, commissioner of Food and Drugs at the FDA issued a message to physicians on September 22 about the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy. The let- ter reads: “In recent years, evidence has accumulated suggesting that the use of acetaminophen by pregnant women may be associated with an increased risk of neurological conditions such as autism and ADHD in children. Some studies have described that the risk may be most pro- nounced when acetaminophen is taken chroni- cally throughout pregnancy to childbirth. These concerns may be magnified by the fact that a very young child’s liver may still be developing and thus a child’s ability to metabolize the drug may be limited. “To be clear, while an association between acet- aminophen and autism has been described in many studies, a causal relationship has not been established and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature. The association is an ongoing area of scientific debate and clinicians should be aware of the issue in their clinical decision-mak- ing, especially given that most short-term fevers in pregnant women and young children do not require medication. “In the spirit of patient safety and prudent med- icine, clinicians should consider minimizing the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy for rou- tine low-grade fevers. This consideration should also be balanced with the fact that acetamino- phen is the safest over-the-counter alternative in pregnancy among all analgesics and antipyret- ics; aspirin and ibuprofen have well-documented adverse impacts on the fetus.” Thibodaux Regional Welcomes Meagan Smith, MD, to the Medical Staff Pediatrician Meagan Smith, MD, is now seeing patients at Thibodaux Regional Pediatric Clinic in Thibodaux. Smith earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hat- tiesburg. She received a medical degree from University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson and completed a residency in pediat- rics at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. Smith is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. LHA Names Beverly Gladney VP of Clinical Affairs Beverly Gladney, MD, has joined the Louisiana Hospital Association (LHA) as vice president of clinical affairs. In this role, she will lead clinical and professional initiatives for the LHA and its member hospitals, with a focus on physician-hos- pital integration, professional education, quality improvement, and patient safety. She most recently served as executive vice pres- ident and chief of clinical quality and education at SCP Health. Her career includes leadership positions at Baton Rouge General Medical Cen- ter and faculty appointments at LSU Health Sci- ences Center and Tulane School of Medicine. She has participated in medical education as a clinical assistant professor, clerkship director, residency education coordinator, and preceptor across mul- tiple training programs. She earned a medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreve- port and completed an emergency medicine res- idency at Earl K. Long Medical Center in Baton Rouge. She also holds graduate degrees in edu- cation from Louisiana State University and an undergraduate degree from Northwestern State University. DePaul Community Health Centers’ April Johnson, DBH, Named a Health Care Hero by NewOrleans CityBusiness DePaul Community Health Centers’ (DCHC) Behavioral Health Specialists Manager, April Johnson Dumas, DBH, LCSW, BACS, has been named a 2025 Health Care Hero by New Orleans CityBusiness . Health Care Heroes honors health- care nurses, physicians, professionals, and vol- unteers in the New Orleans area for their indus- try achievements and community involvement. Johnson Dumas received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from the Alex Thibodeaux, MD Meagan Smith, MD