Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group

Brian Galofaro, MD

With recent ribbon cuttings in Covington, new facilities in Slidell, and plans to break ground on a new campus in the spring, Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group is one of the fastest-growing providers on the Northshore. Specialists rotate through clinics, so patients don’t have to travel for specialized care. It is a physician-led, mission-driven and faithbased organization, seeking to provide patients with options in receiving care. With working clinicians involved in every decision, patient care remains the focal point of everything they do.

“Our Lady of the Lake is a well-known name. We’ve been around for years; however, people hear that and think about the hospital in Baton Rouge,” says Dr. Brian Galofaro. “But we’re more than that. We are part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, which consists of eight regional and specialized hospitals, over 1,300 providers, and clinics located throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. Our goal is to continue to strengthen and expand that vast presence on the Northshore, to provide our community with enhanced access care.”

When asked about what makes Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group unique, Dr. Galofaro has a ready answer. “The most important thing to me is that it’s a faith-based organization. That’s very important to me and the care I provide to my patients. Our mission is to take care of patients—but especially those most in need. Our core values are service, reverence and love for all life, joyfulness in spirit, humility and justice. Every decision I make is based on those values.”

Consistent, high-quality care means not only addressing current patient needs but also providing care in the future. Dr. Galofaro says, “We are passionate about being a teaching organization. When you have an academic role, you have to provide the most up-to-date and cutting-edge medicine—for students as well as patients.”

The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System also trains residents full-time. “We train our residents to do just about anything a patient might need. Studies show most physicians will practice within 50-70 miles of where they train. We have medical education programs right here in our own community. It’s important for us to do that.”

Dr. Galofaro stresses the importance of continuing to take basic measures to protect health during the pandemic: wash hands, wear masks and get vaccinated. “But one of the most important things is having a primary care physician, a medical home. Your doctor is your quarterback. If you need help or advice, you always have that person you can go to. If people have questions or concerns, there’s a lot of misinformation, so talk to your doctor about what you’re hearing. We want to make sure you get actual, accurate information.”

And don’t delay routine appointments and screenings, he adds. Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group has telehealth options that allow patients to contact their medical team at any time, right from home. “It’s so important to have continued access to medical care,” Dr. Galofaro says. “You can send a question directly to your provider. We don’t want the pandemic to delay care or routine prevention and screening.”

70411 Highway 21, Covington, 985-400-5566 • 728 West 11th Avenue, Covington, 985-730-7195