Women in Business - North Oaks Health System

Honoring the Women of North Oaks Health System

North Oaks celebrates its extraordinary women leaders impacting their community and industry. Their determination, drive and success have helped position North Oaks as one of the Northshore’s largest community hospital organizations and the region’s most trusted partner for exceptional quality, safety and experience.

Michele Kidd Sutton, FACHE

Michele Sutton is president/CEO of North Oaks Health System, a nationally recognized healthcare organization with over 2,600 team members, which she has proudly served for 36 years.

Sutton is board-certified by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and just rotated off the Board of Governors, where she completed a three-year term ending on March 18, 2023. She also served ACHE on the Board of Regents representing Louisiana and was a past chapter president. Sutton is a longstanding member of the Louisiana Hospital Association, serving on the Board of Trustees and numerous committees, including HOSPPAC as its chair. She is also on the Board of St. Tammany Corporation’s Northshore Healthscape collaborative. Additionally, Gov. John Bel Edwards appointed her to serve on the Louisiana Emergency Funds Response Network commission representing service district hospitals.

She has successfully led the expansion of North Oaks’ medical staff and $250 million worth of facility upgrades, implementation of electronic health records and many new product/service lines, as well as the designation of the medical center as a primary stroke center and Level II trauma center, one of only six in Louisiana.

As the second largest employer in Tangipahoa Parish, North Oaks is a significant economic engine for the region. Reinvestment of excess revenue, combined with the buying power of its workforce, has an economic impact of more than $2 billion on the local economy.

North Oaks also proudly partners with various like-minded, socially responsible civic, business and service organizations to further the region’s prosperity and growth, such as Southeastern Louisiana University, Northshore Technical Community College, Hammond Rotary, Northshore Business Council, Tangipahoa Tourist Commission, Tangipahoa Parish Government, Tangipahoa School Board and Lions Athletic Association.

But, through all the accolades, Sutton credits North Oaks’ success to her team…her North Oaks family. The resiliency and dedication of her team could not have been more evident than through the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with Hurricane Ida — one of the worst storms in Louisiana’s history. Yet, North Oaks’ healthcare heroes prevailed in their unwavering focus on patient safety, satisfaction and care.

“Our patients and community are at the heart of what we do. We are committed to being our best when you, your family or friends are most vulnerable and need our help,” Sutton remarks. “With our community’s and team’s support, North Oaks Health System will continue to expand new service offerings, recruit top providers, implement innovative technology and procedures and strive to improve lives.”

Jaime Edwards, M.D.

Dr. Jaime Edwards is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with Magnolia Obstetrics and Gynecology at North Oaks Health System. A member of the North Oaks team for nearly 12 years, she serves as obstetrics & gynecology and pediatrics chairman for the North Oaks Medical Center Medical Executive Committee. She also serves as chairman of the health system’s Network Operations Council and Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee member. In addition, Edwards and her team helped facilitate North Oaks’ esteemed designation as a Birth Ready Plus Facility, positioning the health system as a leader in the state for delivering exceptional and safe birthing experiences. Because of Edwards’ leadership, North Oaks is also attracting more talented physicians to join its ranks.

Rainier Batiste, D.O.

Dr. Rainier Batiste is a young trailblazer who joined the North Oaks Medical Center staff in 2017 and currently leads the Hospital Medicine Program. She and her team have worked to continually enhance inpatient care at North Oaks and provide the best patient outcomes possible. Batiste serves as medicine department chairman for the North Oaks Medical Center Medical Executive Committee. She also serves on the Clinical Quality and Innovations subcommittee of the Network Operations Council. She is a board-certified internal medicine physician by the American Board of Osteopathic Internal Medicine.

Laura Leonards, M.D.

Board-certified by the American Board of Radiology, Dr. Laura Leonards is an interventional radiologist with North Oaks Imaging Associates. She serves as chairman of the Business Development subcommittee of the Network Operations Council. She helps to promote North Oaks’ innovative Interventional Radiology service line that uses minimally invasive image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat diseases. In addition to aiding in diagnosis, Leonards and her team are equipped with advanced technology to identify and correct vascular diseases and deliver cancer treatments directly to tumors, positioning North Oaks as a leader in patient diagnosis and treatment options.

Kathryn Dorhauer, M.D.

Board-certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology, Dr. Kathryn Dorhauer is an anesthesiologist with North Oaks Medical Center who liaises with the Trauma Surgery team. In addition, she oversees North Oaks’ Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) trauma team to ensure optimal patient safety and care. Dorhauer and her team helped North Oaks earn official verification from the American College of Surgeons and designation from the Louisiana Department of Health as a Level II Trauma Center. She is currently serving as the Medical Director of North Oaks’ Anesthesia Department and works to promote compassion, excellence and continuous quality improvement for the health system.

Learn how these leading ladies are helping to advance North Oaks' mission of improving lives every time and with every touch at www.northoaks.org.