HJBR Nov/Dec 2023

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  NOV / DEC 2023 63 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com health issues through self-examinations and reg- ular screenings. BRG’s Vincent Shaw, MD, Appointed to State Commission Focusing on Perinatal Care Vincent Shaw Jr., MD, CAQSM, FAAFP, a fam- ily medicine physician at Baton Rouge General (BRG), has been appointed to Louisiana’s Com- mission on Perinatal Care and Prevention of Infant Mortality. The state commission includes mem- bers from various healthcare fields, and Shaw joins BRG’s director of women’s services Erika Moss, DHA, MBA, BSN, RN, who has represented the field of neonatal nursing on the commission since 2021. The commission was established to research and review all state regulations, guidelines, poli- cies, and procedures that impact perinatal care and to make recommendations to the legisla- ture and secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health. In addition, the commission is respon- sible for providing a plan that the state can adopt to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies, sick infants, and infant mortalities. Shaw has practiced medicine for 20 years and serves as the program director for BRG’s family medicine residency and sports medicine fellow- ship programs. He also serves as a lieutenant col- onel in the U.S. Army Reserve and is a team phy- sician for Louisiana State University and Southern University. Woman’s to Open LA’s First Inpatient Mental Health Unit Dedicated to Pregnant, PostpartumWomen Woman’s Hospital will open Louisiana’s first inpatient mental health unit solely dedicated to serving the specialized needs of pregnant and postpartum women. A perinatal mental health unit is scheduled to open at Woman’s in Septem- ber 2024. “Mental health challenges are a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in our coun- try. A perinatal mental health unit at Woman’s Hos- pital will be designed to address these issues as we strive to move the needle on maternal health and mortality rates,” says Senior Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer Cheri Barker Johnson, MSN, RNC-OB. A perinatal mental health unit at Woman’s will be one of only several in the United States dedicated solely to the specialized needs of pregnant and postpartum women. The proposed 10-bed unit at Woman’s will allow mothers time with their new- borns, as their condition permits, which is a critical step in the healing process and allows them to be among others facing similar challenges. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, maternal mental health conditions, such as anxiety, perinatal and postpartum depres- sion, and birth-related PTSD are among the most common complications of pregnancy and child- birth, affecting one in five women. Of those affected, 75% go untreated. Additionally, mental health conditions are a leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States. “As the largest provider of maternity care for women in Louisiana, it’s our responsibility to address all aspects of perinatal health. By meet- ing the needs of women experiencing preg- nancy or postpartum-related mental health con- ditions, Woman’s Hospital advances our mission of improving the health of women and infants,” says Rene Ragas, president and CEO of Woman’s. Ochsner Offers Tuition Assistance to Aspiring Nurses, Doctors Ochsner Health expanded its Ochsner Schol- ars program for aspiring nurses and physicians ready to fill critical healthcare shortages in local communities. Ochsner announced tuition assistance for 100 nurse scholars pursuing Associate Degree in Nurs- ing (ADN), Licensed Nurse Practitioner (LPN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and Accel- erated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degrees this spring to students across Louisi- ana and Mississippi. Ochsner is also covering tuition for up to 10 physician scholars interested in pursuing careers at Ochsner in primary care or psychiatry. “To advance our mission, it’s critical that Ochsner provides high-demand, high-wage job opportu- nities to fill workforce gaps in communities that need us most,” said Missy Sparks, vice president of talent management for Ochsner Health. “By aligning education curriculum to support industry needs, we can advance great careers in equitable and inclusive ways.” Ochsner Physician Scholars is a program for medical students admitted into the LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine (LSUHS School of Medicine) or The University of Queensland Och- sner Doctor of Medicine (MD) program. Selected medical students receive a payment fromOchsner Health intended to be used for medical school expenses. In exchange, the students must commit to work in an Ochsner Health facility for five years after they complete their residency. The application deadline for Ochsner Physician Scholars is March 1, 2024. Only medical students interested in pursuing careers in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine Primary Care, Internal Medicine Pediatrics Primary Care, or Psychiatry are eligible. Ochsner will name up to five Ochsner Scholars from LSUHS School of Medicine and up to five from The University of Queensland Ochsner Doc- tor of Medicine (MD) program. Over the summer, Ochsner awarded its sixth Physician Scholar award to LSUHS School of Medi- cine student John David Sawyer, who is planning a career in psychiatry. This spring, the first Ochsner Physician Scholar, Mary Curet, MD, is expected to complete her final year of Family Medicine resi- dency. She plans to join Ochsner’s staff in June. Our Lady of the Lake Children’s HealthWelcomes Chad “Mac” Manuel, MD Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health wel- comes Chad “Mac” Manuel, MD, to its team of medical professionals. Manuel joins the Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health pediatric neurology team. Manuel received a Bachelor of Science in bio- chemistry from Louisiana State University. He earned a medical degree from LSU Health Sci- ences Center in New Orleans and completed a child neurology residency and epilepsy fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nash- ville, Tennessee. He is an active member of the Child Neurology Society, American Epilepsy Society, and American Academy of Neurology. He provides clinical care for general neurology patients and also special- izes in the diagnosis and management of epilepsy. OLOL’s Children’s Hospital’s