HJBR Sep/Oct 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  SEP / OCT 2024 37 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com medicine for 10 years. The secretary of the Department of Health is responsible for implementing the surgeon gener- al’s recommendations, overseeing fiscal matters, and ensuring the operations of the Department are carried out efficiently and effectively. Harrington is a former hospital system execu- tive with more than 25 years of service in both for-profit and not-for-profit health systems. He has a long record of developing innovative sys- tems that engage people with a focus on growing patient safety and prioritizing financial viability. Harrington was previously president of Christus Health Louisiana and president and chief oper- ating officer at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. Another key leadership change at LDH is the promotion of Chief of Staff Drew Maranto to undersecretary. In this role, Maranto will over- see the state Medicaid program, as well as eight administrative divisions with departmen- tal responsibilities for budget preparation, finan- cial planning, purchasing, personnel, accounting, data processing, and development of strategic and operational plans. ACS Provides Funds for Study on Aerobic Exercise and Colorectal Cancer Survivors The American Cancer Society (ACS) has approved funding for $28 million in new Extramu- ral Discovery Science (EDS) research and career development grants. The awards will fund inves- tigators at institutions across the United States starting in July 2024. Local researcher, Stephanie Compton, PhD, RD, LDN, was awarded $217,500 to research the impact of aerobic exercise on postprandial gly- cemic control and ectopic adipose tissue depo- sition in colorectal cancer survivors. Compton will conduct her study at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge from July 2024 through June 2027. “I am grateful and honored to have received this award from the American Cancer Society,” said Compton. “My goal is to study how lifestyle changes can help cancer survivors survive and thrive after diagnosis, and this award makes this possible. This research will help us understand more about how exercise can benefit survivors.” Colorectal cancer survivors are at higher risk of developing health conditions like type 2 diabe- tes following cancer treatment. As a result, high blood sugar from type 2 diabetes can contribute to the development other health conditions like heart disease, affecting a survivors overall quality of life. Compton’s study is seeking to improve the lives of cancer survivors by understanding how aerobic exercise may reduce the risk of devel- oping other health conditions following cancer treatment. Robert Veith, MD, Joins Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center announced that Robert Veith, MD, has joined Mary Bird Per- kins Cancer Center’s medical staff in Slidell. Veith obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemis- try from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and earned a medical degree from the Louisi- ana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He completed an internship in internal medicine at Memorial Hospital in Worcester, Mas- sachusetts and a residency in internal medicine at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He undertook a fellowship in hematology at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. For a period, Veith trained under Nobel Prize in Med- icine winner Edward Donnall Thomas, who was lauded for his work in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Veith practiced as an oncologist/hematologist in the Metairie area for several decades. Through- out his career he has held senior roles at Loui- siana State University’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences Center and has been a member of several professional societies including the American Society of Hematology, American Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Science, Ameri- can Federation for Clinical Research, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Southwest Oncology Group. He is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine, hematology, and oncology. Veith will work at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Cen- ter’s Slidell location, which offers clinic visits and soon, infusion services. FranUReceives National Acclaim as a 2024-2025 College of Distinction Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University announced its recognition as a 2024-2025 Col- lege of Distinction. Since its founding in 2000, Colleges of Dis- tinction has awarded schools for their successful implementation of high-impact educational prac- tices and hands-on learning. Its rigorous selec- tion process involves extensive research and detailed interviews with the institutions, accept- ing only those that adhere to the Four Distinc- tions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes. “A college degree opens the door to many opportunities,” said Tyson Schritter, chief oper- ating officer at Colleges of Distinction. “But a truly worthwhile education prepares students to thrive once they walk through that door. FranU’s curriculum encourages meaningful student-fac- ulty collaboration through experiential learning that is relevant and applicable to the real world.” To be listed among the Colleges of Distinction, FranU demonstrated its unique ways of helping students be active in their education NewUrology Group Coming to Baton Rouge General Baton Rouge General announced the addition of Premier Urology, a new clinic led by Ayme Sch- meeckle, MD; Ross Cockrell, MD; Wesley Porta, MD; and Meredith Rosenzwieg, MD. The new clinic is located in BRG’s Center for Health building, which houses the hospital’s new- est outpatient surgery center. Schemeeckle serves in a leadership role on the medical staff at BRG, currently as the chair Robert Veith, MD