HJBR Mar/Apr 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  MAR / APR 2022 35 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com good candidate for the treatment, contact your provider or medical professional. Ochsner Opens COVID-19 Clinic on O’Neal Campus Ochsner Baton Rouge has opened Ochsner Baton Rouge Vaccine Clinic, a new COVID-19 testing and vaccination site at 1770 Physicians Park Drive on the O’Neal Lane campus. The previous clinic site, located at the former Runnels School, 17255 S. Harrell’s Ferry Road, closed on Jan. 30. The new clinic, across the street from Och- sner Medical Center – Baton Rouge, will offer expanded hours for drive-thru PCR testing, as well as Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses and boosters for eligible children and adults. Clinic hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m.-noon on weekends. Rapid tests are not available at this location. LOPA Sets NewRecord for Organ Donation in 2021 In 2021, for the first time, Louisiana had 242 organ donors who provided 763 organs to wait- ing transplant recipients. The number of donors increased 15% over last year, despite the chal- lenges of a continuing pandemic and the devas- tation of Hurricane Ida. There were also 479 people who donated tis- sue last year for use in procedures such as heart valve transplants for children born with congeni- tal heart defects, skin grafts for burn victims, and a variety of orthopedic rehabilitation surgeries. One tissue donor can provide life-saving grafts for up to 75 individuals. More than 62% of these donor heroes made the decision for themselves by registering in advance as donors. This action not only helps ensure an individual’s end of life decision is honored while also taking the burden off family members to make a decision during such a traumatic time. Throughout the year, LOPA remained focused on supporting the families of its donors, whether it was adapting remembrance ceremonies to socially distanced outdoor events or trying to find ways for loved ones to say goodbye with hospital visitation restrictions in place. In addition to organ and tissue donation, LOPA has a research team that identifies new projects to help with medical advancements and thera- pies. A particular area of focus in 2021 was brain donation, which not only provides families addi- tional donation opportunities but also helps with groundbreaking work in traumatic brain injury and autism research. “We are in a unique position to help facilitate transplant recipients getting a second chance at life and provide support to families on their grief journey,” said Kelly Ranum, LOPA’s CEO. “The selflessness of our donors and their families offer the potential for healing. With almost 2,000 peo- ple in Louisiana waiting for a lifesaving organ, it is important we continue to set and achieve bold goals so that we are able to help and heal even more individuals in the coming years.” Lauren Juneja, MD, and Sanjay Juneja, MD, Join Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Medical Staff Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has added two new medical oncologists to its medical staff. Lauren Juneja, MD, and Sanjay Juneja, MD, have joined the practice and are available to see patients at Mary Bird Perkins locations in the Baton Rouge area. Lauren Juneja, MD, received a Bachelor of Sci- ence from The Ohio State University and a Mas- ter of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology from Tulane University. She received a Doctor of Med- icine from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport, where she also com- pleted a combined hematology/oncology fel- lowship. She is triple board-certified in hematol- ogy, medical oncology, and internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is a member of Baton Rouge Oncology Group, Loui- siana Oncology Society, American Society of Clin- ical Oncology, and American Society of Hematol- ogy. Juneja previously practiced with American Oncology Network, located on Baton Rouge General’s Bluebonnet campus. Sanjay Juneja, MD, a native of Baton Rouge, received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Louisiana State University and earned a Doctor of Medicine at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport. Juneja completed a hematology/oncology fellowship from Feist- Weiller Cancer Center in Shreveport. He is triple board-certified in hematology, medical oncology, and internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Juneja’s professional member- ships include the Baton Rouge Oncology Group and Louisiana Oncology Society, where he is a member of the organization’s board of directors. He previously practiced with American Oncology Network, located on Baton Rouge General’s Blue- bonnet campus. He currently serves as the hospi- tal’s chief of oncology service line. The Junejas are members of Louisiana Hema- tology Oncology Associates. CDC Shortens Moderna Booster Dose Interval to 5 Months The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its recommendations for the Moderna booster, shortening the six-month inter- val between completing the Moderna COVID- 19 vaccine series and receiving a booster dose to five months. Earlier this week, the booster interval was Lauren Juneja, MD Sanjay Juneja, MD