HJBR Nov/Dec 2023

64 NOV / DEC 2023  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Hospital Rounds Shaun Kemmerly, MD, Honored Shaun Kemmerly, MD, chief medical officer of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, was rec- ognized with the 2023 Master Pediatrician Award during the 2023 Crescent City Potpourri in New Orleans on Aug. 18. Kemmerly received a medical degree from Lou- isiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. She completed a pediatric residency at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Kemmerly is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in general pediatrics. Kemmerly served as chief medical information officer for Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospi- tal. In 2013, she was named chief medical officer of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, a role she presently holds. Children’s Hospital NO Receives $100K for Pediatric Cancer Research, Programs Children’s Hospital New Orleans recently received a $100,000 Impact Award from Hyundai Hope On Wheels that will support more than 1,000 children from across Louisiana and the Gulf South who are cared for by the hospital’s Center for Can- cer and Blood Disorders each year. “Receiving a life changing diagnosis is just that, totally life changing,” says Children’s Hospital New Orleans President and CEO Lou Fragoso. “Our hematology oncology team is second to none in creating an environment of hope, support, and comfort for children receiving treatment for can- cer or blood disorders and their families, most of whom spend months, even years in treatment with us here. The generous grant from Hyundai Hope On Wheels helps us amplify their impact.” The donation will be used to provide finan- cial assistance to families to help cover the cost of food and housing and toward improving the hospital’s cancer research database. Additional funds will support child life programming for can- cer patients, including games, art, and other ther- apeutic activities. “Every 36 minutes a child is diagnosed with pediatric cancer. It drastically changes their lives, with treatments including chemotherapy, radia- tion, and surgeries — during a time when they should be experiencing the simple joys of child- hood,” says Time Wallwork from Hyundai Motor America. “That’s why Hyundai Hope On Wheels joined this fight 25 years ago — to raise aware- ness, drive hope and to one day end childhood cancer.” Following the donation presentation, patients were invited to leave painted handprints on a Hyundai vehicle that will travel the nation during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month while the orga- nization awards $25 million in grants to children’s hospitals across the country. The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital provides treatment and trans- plantation for children with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, and other child- hood cancers and blood disorders. Our Lady of the Lake Partners with Southern University Athletics Our Lady of the Lake Health and Southern Uni- versity and A&M College have finalized a new partnership agreement aimed at providing com- prehensive care to student-athletes. The commitment establishes Our Lady of the Lake as the preferred healthcare provider of Southern Athletics. “We are committed to establishing and grow- ing an elite sports medicine program for Southern University and providing Jaguar student-athletes with the individualized care they need to perform their best,” said LaDonna Williams, senior vice president and COO of the Franciscan Mission- aries of Our Lady Health System. “It is an honor and a privilege to work with Southern University’s Athletic Department, coaches, and staff towards this goal.” The new agreement was announced with an on- field check presentation during the Southern Uni- versity football game vs. Jackson State on Sept. 9. “We are excited to announce our partnership with Our Lady of the Lake,” said Roman Banks, director of athletics for Southern University. “Our Lady of the Lake and SU Athletics share a commit- ment to excellence, and through this new partner- ship we will be able to combine our resources to continue providing our student-athletes with the best care in the country while further investing in their health and wellness at unprecedented levels during their time at Southern.” Woman’s Caroline Isemann Recognized by SHSMD Woman’s Hospital announced that Caroline Ise- mann, director of Epic communications and train- ing, has been recognized as one of the Society for Health Care Strategy and Market Development’s 2023 Rising Stars. Awarded annually, the Rising Star recognition honors SHSMD healthcare strategy professionals under the age of 40 who have demonstrated suc- cess, leadership, and a commitment to advanc- ing the healthcare profession through innovative work. Isemann has worked in the Baton Rouge health- care industry for more than a decade. She cur- rently oversees communications, training, and change management for the implementation of Woman’s electronic health record system, having previously served as the hospital’s communica- tions manager. n Caroline Isemann Shaun Kemmerly, MD