HJBR May/Jun 2021

56 MAY / JUN 2021  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Hospital Rounds The new study, the global phase-three TRIDENT, will test the potential survival benefit of initiating Optune, a wearable, portable, treatment with electrical fields, simultaneously with radiation therapy. Jon Olson, MD, the Greater Baton Rouge area’s only board-certified, fellowship-trained neu- rologist/neuro-oncologist, practicing at The Neu- roMedical Center, will identify patients meeting the study criteria. Maurice D. King, MD, radiation oncologist, Mary Bird Perkins, explained that TRIDENT candidates will be referred to the Cancer Center where the clinical research team will enroll and navigate par- ticipants through the process, ensuring the proper protocols are followed for this study, as well as for other individuals when additional trials open. “The Cancer Center’s research team will report data and present findings to physicians and research organizations to help determine the best treatment decisions for individual patients,” said King. “All trials opened through the partnership will be made available to patients throughout the Mary Bird Perkins network in Southeast Louisiana, Southwest Mississippi, and beyond.” As part of this agreement, The NeuroMedical Center will also be included in Mary Bird Perkins’ National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) membership, along with LSU Health in New Orleans and Shreve- port and other partners. The goal of NCORP is to recruit more minorities and other underserved populations so they may benefit from cancer studies. “TRIDENT is the first of many brain-cancer related studies that will be made possible by this powerful partnership between The NeuroMedi- cal Center and Mary Bird Perkins,” said Olson. “It will undoubtedly increase the newest and most advanced clinical trials available for patients and allow us to conduct research and collaborate with radiation oncologists at the Cancer Center to determine the most effective way to treat glio- blastoma patients. It will also allow us to reach patients much more extensively.” The NeuroMedical Center and Mary Bird Per- kins, along with Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, have established relation- ships and other successful initiatives that made the decision to partner on research an easy one, according to Todd Stevens, president and chief executive officer, Mary Bird Perkins. Stevens said that the organizations worked together to bring the Gamma Knife Icon to Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Cen- ter in Baton Rouge several years ago, capitalizing on the expertise of each entity to ensure the maxi- mum effectiveness of the non-invasive technology used to treat cancerous and non-cancerous brain tumors, as well as other neurological disorders. In less than five years, more than 725 patients from five states received Gamma Knife treatments for 26 different conditions. Mary Bird Perkins radiation oncologists and The NeuroMedical Center physicians meet bi-monthly to discuss patient cases and the treatments that enhance cancer care and provide the most indi- vidualized treatment plan. “The professional expertise and experience that comes together for these team meetings is remarkable,” said Stevens. “Clinical research is the foundation for developing novel therapies and sets the stage for important advancements in cancer care. As Mary Bird Perkins celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, we are excited to extend our partnership with The Neuromedical Center and look forward to collaborating to pro- pel cancer care forward. Benjamin Boudreaux, chief executive officer, The NeuroMedical Center, agreed that the organiza- tions will be investigating other clinical trial pro- grams, services, and technologies for the grow- ing partnership. “It’s an exciting time because our organizations came together years ago to benefit patients, and we continue to grow this model because it works. With the combined expertise in neuroscience and cancer, people diagnosed with these challenging diseases have more options. They can stay closer to home and receive a treatment plan devised by some of the most talented physicians, scientists and support staff in the region.” JulieMartin, MD, Elected 2021 Chief of Staff of Woman’s Hospital Julie Martin, MD, FACOG, has been elected to a one-year term as the chief of the medical staff of Woman’s Hospital, the highest elected leader- ship position among the medical staff. Martin’s duties include the coordination of clin- ical improvement activities as well as chairing the Medical Executive Committee. As chief of staff, she will also serve on Woman’s Hospital Board of Directors. A practicing obstetrician and gynecologist with Louisiana Women’s Healthcare, she is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecol- ogy. Martin graduated from University of Wiscon- sin Medical School in Madison and completed an ob-gyn residency at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. She is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Our Lady of the LakeMarks 11 Years of Robotic, Minimally Invasive Procedures The Our Lady of the Lake continues its expan- sion as a destination center for robotic procedures in the Gulf South with the naming of the Our Lady of the Lake Robotic Surgery Institute. Since the program began in mid-2010, more than 7,300 robotic surgeries have been completed. “We imagined a program that would change the future for our patients. Today, our team of incredibly skilled surgeons have practiced their craft religiously and become the epicenter for robotic training in the Gulf South region,” said Scott Wester, president and CEO, Our Lady of the Lake. “The Our Lady of the Lake Robotic Surgery Institute is the result of their hard work and our team’s constant dedication to excellence.” The Our Lady of the Lake Robotic Surgery Insti- tute includes 18 robotic-trained general and spe- cialized surgeons in the areas of general surgery, thoracic, head and neck, urology, and colorectal. The institute also is home to six robotic surgical machines including the latest da Vinci Xi Surgical Julie Martin, MD