HJNO Mar/Apr 2026

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  MAR / APR 2026 49 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com curriculum approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and led by a trained life- style coach. Participants meet weekly during the first six months, followed by once- or twice- monthly sessions during the second half of the program. The program emphasizes gradual weight loss, increased physical activity, and stress reduction, while also offering peer support as participants learn practical skills to improve their long-term health. For more information or to enroll, call the STHS Diabetes Education Department at (985) 871-5983. Ochsner Children’s Heart Program Surgical Results Recognized Ochsner Children’s congenital heart program has once again achieved surgical results that rank among the best nationally, according to the most recent data analysis from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). This distinction, based on analy- sis of results over a four-year period, places Och- sner’s outcomes within the top 10% of programs nationally. Historically known as the three-star rat- ing, this distinction signifies that the program’s outcomes are statistically shown to be “excep- tional.” The data also show that Ochsner signif- icantly exceeds national norms, especially in the most complex surgery categories. David Yu, MD, is Manning Family Children’s New Senior Vice President, CMO David C. Yu, MD, began his role as Manning Family Children’s new senior vice president and chief medical officer on Feb. 1. Yu earned a bachelor’s degree and his medical degree at Tulane University, where he also did his residency training. He completed a clinical fellow- ship in the Division of Pediatric Surgery at the Uni- versity of Alabama School of Medicine. He serves on the faculty at both LSU Health Sciences Center and Tulane University School of Medicine. Yu has served as associate program director for LSU’s Surgery Residency program and program director for Tulane’s Surgery Residency program. Yu has also held medical staff leadership roles, including chief of surgery, vice president, presi- dent, and past president of the medical staff for Manning Family Children’s. At Manning Family Children’s, he spearheaded the development of major multidisciplinary pro- grams including the hospital’s trauma, burn, and wound care programs, and worked closely with leaders across LCMC Health and the broader community to advance the Manning Family Chil- dren’s Level II Pediatric Trauma Center. Terry King, MD, wins PrinceMahidol Award for Cardiac Innovation Terry D. King, MD, a senior pediatric cardiolo- gist at Ochsner Children’s, has been named the 2025 Prince Mahidol Award Laureate in the Field of Medicine. This global honor recognizes King’s pioneering work in developing minimally invasive cardiac treatments, which have aided patients with congenital heart defects worldwide. In 1975, King and his colleague, Noel Mills, MD, achieved a medical milestone: the first success- ful nonsurgical closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD). Their co-invented device, known as the King-Mills Cardiac Umbrella, could be inserted through a catheter, eliminating the need for open- heart surgery. Affiliation Between Ochsner Health and Allegiance Health SystemAnnounced Allegiance Health System (AHS) and its network of hospital facilities signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) toenter intoan affiliation with Ochsner Health (Ochsner) to enhance patient care coordination and clinical innovation throughout rural Louisiana. This affiliation is not a merger or acquisition. AHS and Ochsner will remain independent and main- tain their current ownership, operations, financial, and management responsibilities. The collabo- ration represents a mutual focus on solving the healthcare challenges facing rural communities, enhancing access to care and improving health outcomes and the quality of life for patients the organizations serve. STQNAnnounces Medical Director’s Award for Q4 2025 Karmynah Helaire, MD, received the St. Tam- many Quality Network’s Medical Director’s Award for the fourth quarter of 2025 in recognition of her spearheading the development of the St. Tam- many Health System (STHS) Refill Clinic. The STHS Refill Clinic program has established protocols for accurate completion of patients’ medication lists and focuses on expedited med- ication refills. Helaire received a medical degree from LSU School of Medicine and a master’s degree in pub- lic health from LSU School of Public Health. She also served as a general medical officer in the U.S. Army. She completed a residency in the LSU Rural Family Medicine Program and is board-certified in family medicine. She sees patients at the St. Tammany Physician’s Network clinic in Folsom. n Karmynah Helaire, MD, received the St. Tammany Quality Network’s Medical Director’s Award for the fourth quarter of 2025.