HJBR Nov/Dec 2023

42 NOV / DEC 2023  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs • Dust masks do not provide protection and will not protect from the smaller particles. • Check on your loved ones and neighbors, especially older adults. People at higher risk • Those with pre-existing respiratory and car- diovascular diseases. • People with heart diseases, such as con- gestive heart failure, angina, or other car- diac problems. • People with lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, or asthma. • Older adults with chronic health problems. • Children. • People who smoke. Shay Powell, APRN, FNP-C, Joins North Oaks Primary Care in Hammond Shay Powell, APRN, FNP-C, has joined North Oaks Primary Care in Hammond, a clinic of North Oaks Health System. Powell comes to North Oaks with five years of critical care nursing experience gained at North- shore hospitals. Powell obtained a master’s degree in nursing from Southeastern Louisiana University in Ham- mond. She is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, Powell earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and an associ- ate degree in nursing from Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit. North Oaks Primary Care in Hammond is located in Suite 201 of the North Oaks Clinic Building at 15813 Paul Vega, MD, Drive on the North Oaks Medical Center campus. Clinic hours of operation are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays. Cardiovascular Institute of the South Names NewExecutives Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) has named Crystal Williams, MHA, FACMPE, as chief operating officer and John Kazusky, MBA, as senior vice president of practice management. Moving into the COO role, Williams has more than 30 years of healthcare management experience. She previously served as the execu- tive vice president of practice management for the Bayou Region at CIS. Prior to that role, she served as an office manager for 26 years, man- aging many of CIS’s Bayou Region locations. Before beginning her role in healthcare manage- ment, she worked in other departments within CIS such as insurance, medical records, and tran- scription. Williams is a fellow of the American College of Medical Practice Executives, and she has served as president of the Louisiana Med- ical Group Management Association (MGMA) and its local chapter. Williams graduated from Nicholls State University in 2018 with a bache- lor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, and with minors in humanities, social sciences, and busi- ness administration. She also holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Loui- siana State University-Shreveport. Williams’ pre- decessor, Ryan Hebert, was named CEO earlier this year. “I am excited about the opportunity to serve as the COO for CIS and eager to continue our orga- nization’s mission of providing the highest qual- ity cardiovascular care available,” said Williams. “I am passionate about patient care and dedicated to supporting our physicians and team members to ensure that we can deliver world-class care. As COO, I am committed to driving operational excellence, fostering a culture of collaboration, and implementing strategies that align with our organization’s vision.” As the senior vice president of practice man- agement, Kazusky is overseeing all practice administrative duties within the organization, including management of staff and day-to-day clinic operations. He joined the CIS team in 2012 as a practice administrator in Zachary, and in 2017, he was promoted to regional practice administra- tor over the Baton Rouge area. Kazusky attended Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business adminis- tration. He then earned a master’s degree in busi- ness administration from Louisiana State Univer- sity in Baton Rouge. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to focus on our quality and outcomes for all of our clinics throughout CIS,” said Kazusky. “I am com- mitted to continue to utilize our highly skilled and specialized teams to drive cardiology care in our communities. Connecting action to our mis- sion has always been a passion of mine, and I am excited for the opportunities that will be pre- sented to CIS in the future.” LSUVet Med Announces NewDirector of Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine announced the appointment of Rhett Stout, DVM, PhD, DACLAM, as the new director of the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine (DLAM). With a journey spanning nearly three decades at LSU Vet Med, Stout has served as the associ- ate director since 2003 and as an instructor and then associate professor in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences since joining the fac- ulty in July 1997. DLAM holds a critical role as the central administrative division for the operation of LSU’s research animal holding facilities, ensur- ing the care and well-being of all teaching and research animals on the Baton Rouge campus. The program is accredited by the Association John Kazusky, MBA Crystal Williams, MHA, FACMPE