HJBR Sep/Oct 2024

38 SEP / OCT 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs of surgical services and previously as chief of urology, and has treated the community’s uro- logical needs for 12 years. She graduated from LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport then com- pleted an internship in general surgery and resi- dency in urology at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. A graduate of the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, Porta completed both an internship in general surgery and a residency in urology at LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport. Following residency in 2015, he returned to his native Baton Rouge to practice urology. Cockrell received a medical degree from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, then com- pleted a surgical internship at St. Louis Univer- sity and a urology residency at the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed a fellowship in urologic robotic and minimally invasive surgery. He has treated patients in Baton Rouge for seven years. Rosenzwieg earned a medical degree from LSU’s School of Medicine located there, followed by a residency in urology at the University of Okla- homa. She has cared for patients in Baton Rouge for three years. Premier Urology at Baton Rouge General is located in the Center for Health on the Bluebon- net campus, 9001 Summa Ave., Suite 440. Our Lady of the Lake Physician GroupWelcomes Surgical Specialists of Louisiana to the Northshore, Southeast Louisiana Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group (OLOLPG) welcomed Surgical Specialists of Lou- isiana’s three clinics in Covington, Slidell, and Metairie, further expanding its healthcare services across the Northshore and Southeast Louisiana. “We are thrilled to welcome Surgical Specialists of Louisiana to the OLOLPG family,” said James Craven, MD, president of Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group. This partnership increases the capacity for advanced surgical procedures and specialized care in the Northshore and Southeast Louisiana areas. Patients will have improved access to high- quality surgical care close to home, benefiting from a seamless continuum of care that ensures coordinated and comprehensive treatment plans. The Surgical Specialists are advanced lapa- roscopic surgeons. They have performed over 13,000 minimally invasive weight loss procedures in addition to over 10,000 minimally invasive gen- eral surgeries. These surgeons also perform revi- sion weight loss surgery. Maurice King III, MD, Joins Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center announced that Maurice King III, MD, radiation oncologist, joined Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s medi- cal staff on July 1. King obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Tulane University in New Orleans, where he graduated magna cum laude in 2005. He also earned two Masters of Science degrees, first from Tulane University in cellular and molecular biology, and then from Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia, in clini- cal and translational science. He earned a medical degree from the Louisi- ana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and completed an internship in internal medicine at Louisiana State University in Shreve- port. He also carried out a residency in radiation oncology at the University of Mississippi in Jack- son, Mississippi. King has previous experience working at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, having performed an elective in radiation oncology at the Cancer Cen- ter’s main location on Essen Lane while in medi- cal school. King’s father, Maurice King Jr., has served the community as a radiation oncologist for nearly 30 years and currently works at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. King will work at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Cen- ter’s main Essen Lane location and Baton Rouge General’s Bluebonnet campus location. FMOLHS Announces Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health Sys- tem (FMOLHS) has announced that Ryan Cross will serve in the newly created role of vice presi- dent of government affairs and advocacy. In his new role, Ryan will be responsible for monitoring and crafting state and federal policy in Louisiana and Mississippi and will oversee the health sys- tem’s public policy and advocacy efforts in each state. “Preserving access to life-saving healthcare ser- vices while creating a policy environment where our clinicians and research teams can lead the way in healthcare innovation is critical to provid- ing the best quality care for our communities,” said healthcare system CEO and President E.J. Kuiper. “Ryan’s work with our government offi- cials will help us to ensure that commitment is realized.” With 15 years of experience in public policy, Ryan has worked in the Louisiana Legislature and consulted on various political and issue cam- paigns across the country, ranging from local gov- ernments to presidential campaigns. In 2021, he led the effort to successfully pass the nation’s first ban on insurance companies and pharmacy bene- fit managers requiring hospitals to mail order phy- sician administered drugs. Since 2021, Cross has led FMOLHS’ efforts to enact meaningful legis- lation to protect patient safety, ensure access to care for all, and restrict policies that force physi- cians to leave our state. “I have been humbled to serve our healthcare ministry for the past seven years and I look for- ward to expanding the impact that we will con- tinue to make on the health and lives of the peo- ple of Louisiana and Mississippi,” said Cross. “By advocating for policies that protect access to healthcare and improve patient outcomes, we can make our communities healthier and more prosperous.” Ryan joined FMOLHS in 2017 as director of communications for Our Lady of the Lake Health Maurice King III, MD