Memorial Medical Milestones 2020, Issue 3

memorial

Medical Milestones

F

baby fro m ng a i l th e e

nce

nsid ei

ca

l

Ju

the kids.

wi th

wi

th er the n n ladies, di

ness of breas i l e t

The

look easy.

Lunch

on

g

al l ng it and m i l g a g it kin

u

a zoom con g n fe ri

e c a l l. nc re

astfeedin gd Bre

2020 • Issue 3

e.

r.

bu t your own.

o

Worrying ab

u

ryone’s hea e v lt te

h,

e.

S and, the PM re

You Take Care of a Lot of Things.

Let Memorial Take Care of You. y, menop ooz au d s al

Meet the

New Addition

To The Memorial Family Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women recently expanded from 38 to 52 beds completing an $8.6 million, 15,410 sq. ft. wing to meet the growing demand for women’s services in our community.

Labor & Delivery

Testing & Diagnostics

Our Family Birth Center’s spacious birthing suites,

Our women’s support services offer prenatal programs,

nestled in a tranquil setting of gardens and waterfalls,

genetics testing, 3D mammography, bone density scanner,

have delivered 30,000+ babies since 2003 in a family-

128-slice CT scanner and lab services.

centered, childbirth experience.

Awards & Recognitions

Minimally Invasive Surgery

•

Louisiana’s only Center of Excellence by the American Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Our Family Surgery Center expanded from 4 to 6 operating suites providing minimally invasive gynecological

•

First Infant Safe Sleep certified hospital in Louisiana

and general surgery.

•

Louisiana’s highest breastfeeding quality designation: The Gift

Newborn Critical Care •

Our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which

Recognized by the March of Dimes and Louisiana

cares for the needs of ill and critically ill newborns, is

Hospital Association for our focus on eliminating

specially equipped and staffed by a team of dedicated

unnecessary early deliveries

registered nurses and neonatal nurses under the medical

Women are UNIQUE. Your healthcare should be too.

Memorial. Your healthcare is personal.

supervision of board-certified neonatologists. The NICU utilizes advanced transport incubators with state-of-theart ventilation and cardiac monitoring during transport of fragile infants.

2

memorial

Medical Milestones Pain Block 4 Post Mastectomy Pain Relief

Ben Thompson, MD, Earns Prestigious Recognition

What’s Your Risk

6

New Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool

What The Hormone!

8

The Answers to Weight Gain

Painful Fashion

Mastership 12

10

Shoes That Can Lead to Problems

Lake Charles Memorial Health System and its related entities comply applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not Newwith Doctors 14 discriminate on theFaces basisof ofMemorial race, color,Medical national Group origin, age, Meet the New disability, or sex.

Letters 18 Lake Charles Memorial Health System respecte les lois fédérales Receives Words of Praise enCancer vigueurCenter relatives aux droits civiques et ne pratique aucune discrimination basée sur la race, la couleur de peau, l'origine nationale, l'âge, le sexe ou un handicap.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System tuân th lu t dân quy n hi n hành c a Liên bang và không phân bi t i x d a trên tu i, khuy t t t, ho c ch ng t c, màu da, ngu n g c qu c gia, gi i tính.

Patient Non-Discrimination:

Language Assistance:

Lake Charles Memorial Health System and its related entities comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System offers language translation service free of charge to our patients and families, as well as assistance for those with visual or hearing impairments. Our House Supervisor can assist in connecting patients and families with assistance. Call 1-337-480-8430.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System respecte les lois fédérales en vigueur relatives aux droits civiques et ne pratique aucune discrimination basée sur la race, la couleur de peau, l'origine nationale, l'âge, le sexe ou un handicap.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System tuân th lu t dân quy n hi n hành c a Liên bang và không phân bi t i x d a trên tu i, khuy t t t, ho c ch ng t c, màu da, ngu n g c qu c gia, gi i tính.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System offers language translation service free of charge to our patients and families, as well as 3 assistance for those with visual or hearing impairments. Our

ATTENTION : Si vous parlez français, des services d'aide Page 10 linguistique vous sont proposés gratuitement. Appelez le 1-337480-8430.

ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-337-480-8430.

CHÚ : N u b n nói Ti ng Vi t, có các d ch v h tr ngôn ng mi n phí dành cho b n. G i s 1-337-480-8430.

PHYSICIAN REFERRAL • 1-800-494-LCMH (5264)

NEW PAIN MANAGEMENT IN

Dr. Amanda Ellington

Spread of ESP injection

She was able to finally have her surgery at the end of September performed by Memorial Medical Group Breast Surgeon Amanda Ellington, MD. As with most surgeries postoperative pain after mastectomy may persist in up to 60 percent of patients. Efforts to reduce postoperative pain and inflammation include a multimodal approach which aims to improve both short and long term pain. This multimodal approach includes administration of anti-inflammatory and narcotic pain medications in addition to more selective pain relief strategies including interventional anesthesia techniques.

A global pandemic, the strongest hurricane to every hit Louisiana and a follow-up hurricane two weeks later are all things JoAnn Johnson never would have imagined she would have to face, much less during a battle with breast cancer.

Johnson had a mammogram in July and discovered she had breast cancer. Her doctors put together a plan and the first step was a double mastectomy, but then Hurricane Laura set her sights on Southwest Louisiana.

“It was a crazy time,” Johnson recalls. “I evacuated to Oklahoma and was just really in a holding pattern with all the damage and power outages that had happened back home.”

Innovations

Dr. Kyle Nester

“In the age of the opioid epidemic crisis, our aim is to minimize and perhaps even eliminate the need for opioid medications while still providing excellent pain control and, in some instances, complete

4

BREAST CANCER SURGERY pain relief,” Ellington says. “A mastectomy brings with it all types of emotions and concerns from patients, and we want to make this procedure as stress free as possible and reducing pain associated with the surgery plays a big role.”

For more information about the ESP Block or the Memorial Breast Health Center, go to

That is why Dr. Ellington has teamed up with Memorial Hospital anesthesiologists with a new pain relief procedure to help patients recover faster post-surgery. In the past, epidurals and other more selective nerve blocks have been utilized to help combat postoperative pain in the upper abdominal and chest areas. More recently, a novel procedure called the Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESP Block for short) has been prescribed and may be performed by a physician anesthesiologist prior to procedures.

www.lcmh.com/breasthealth Current Breast Cancer Statistics:

“In our practice, we have been performing the ESP block prior to mastectomies with excellent postoperative pain relief and patient satisfaction,” says Memorial Medical Group Anesthesiologist Kyle Nester, MD. “The ESP block is found to come with less risks than an epidural, requires less pain medication later on and allows most patients to go home the next day.”

The ESP block is a procedure where an ultrasound guided regional anesthetic is injected into a specific location in the muscles of the back. This leads to a good 48-72 hours of pain relief immediately following the surgery during a time when pain can be at its worst.

•

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, accounting for nearly 30% of all newly diagnosed cases.

•

Every 2 minutes, a new case of breast cancer is diagnosed in the U.S.

•

In 2020, it is expected that more than 276,000 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed.

• An estimated 42,000 women will die of breast cancer in 2020.

“I think it’s great when physicians from different specialties can collaborate to improve the patient experience,” Dr. Ellington says.

• There are more than 6 million breast cancer survivors worldwide, 3.8 million of those are in the U.S.

Johnson, a retired nurse, found the ESP block to work as advertised.

She has had experience with similar never blocks having had one last year when she underwent shoulder surgery.

• Approximately 5-10% of breast cancers can be linked to known genetic mutations inherited from one’s mother or father.

“I didn’t have to take very much pain medicine as the pain was controlled and manageable. I really don’t care for opioids and how they make me feel,” Johnson says. “This was a nice alternative that helped me recover quicker and at the right time as Hurricane Delta would soon hit our area.”

•

5

Improvements in early detection and screening have led to a 40% decline in breast cancer deaths in the U.S.

PHYSICIAN REFERRAL • 1-800-494-LCMH (5264)

Are You at Increased Risk for Breast Cancer?

Memorial Can Help You Find Out.

Complete your high-risk breast cancer assessment online at

There is no laboratory testing or physical exam. It

www.lcmh.com/genetics.

is essentially just a series of questions.

6

“It is very important to identify a subset of the population that needs increased screening and/or earlier screening.”

Ellen Richardson, RN, Nurse Navigator Memorial Medical Group Genetics Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in the United States. There have been more than 275,000 new cases in 2020 so far and approximately 40,000 women will die of breast cancer this year. Prognoses have improved over the years and early detection is integral to survival rates. That means screening to detect cancer as early as possible, and understanding that some women and men may be more at risk than others is the next battle in the fight to defeat breast cancer.

“Most of the recommendations start screening for breast cancer annually with a mammogram at age 40,” says Memorial Medical Group Breast Cancer Surgeon Amanda Ellington, MD. “Overall lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 12.8 percent, but keep in mind that there are times in a woman’s life where she is at elevated risk. You’re at a higher risk at age 60 than you are at age 20.”

Looking at the incidence by age group can also be deceiving.

Patients less than 40 years old make up less than one-percent of cases of invasive breast cancer and 40-50 year old women make up less than two percent of cases. But, if every woman only started screening mammograms at age 50, 45,000 cases of breast cancer would be missed.

cancer. Every woman should have a risk assessment by age 25 or 30, and they stop being administered between ages 70-75.

There is no laboratory testing or physical exam. It is essentially just a series of questions.

These questions range from age of first live birth, personal medical history, any biopsies or breast findings in the past as well as a family history of cancer diagnoses—breast and otherwise. Using these tests, Ellington and her team calculate an individual’s risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime.

Anyone with a lifetime risk of 20 percent or higher qualifies as high risk, but what does that mean?

“High risk patients are screened differently than the general population,” Dr. Ellington says. “They are screened earlier than average patients and we add breast MRI to annual screening mammography. These women are getting a more sensitive test to try and pick up abnormalities due to their increased risk.”

Patients who are higher risk are also encouraged to have a professional breast exam every six months rather than annually, and there are further surgical interventions that could be recommended, depending on the patient and their personal degree of risk. An extreme example would be a bilateral mastectomy.

Five-percent of breast cancer cases are in women under the age of 40, which amounts to 13,000 cases a year. With most health organizations not recommending mammograms until age 40, that means that some women may not get the screening they need as early as they need. That’s where Ellington says genetics come into play.

“It’s very important to identify a subset of the population that needs increased screening and/or earlier screening,” says Ellen Richardson, RN, a nurse navigator with Memorial Medical Group Genetics. “We do that by stratifying patients with a breast cancer risk assessment. It is able to identify women or men with an increased risk who should be screened earlier.”

High risk populations are not the only people who will develop breast cancer, so it’s important for all women to follow the screening guidelines for breast cancer and to monitor any changes or symptoms they may be experiencing.

“Regardless of risk, always tell your physician about a breast symptom—whether it’s a mass, pain, et cetera,” Dr. Ellington stresses. “Regardless of your risk, those things need to be worked up.”

Complete your high-risk breast cancer assessment online at www.lcmh.com/genetics or contact Ellen Richardson at erichardson@lcmh.com.

Risk assessments are a quick and easy tool that women can use to determine if they are at a higher risk of developing breast 7

PHYSICIAN REFERRAL • 1-800-494-LCMH (5264)

What the Hormone!

PHYSICIAN REFERRAL • 1-800-494-LCMH (5264)

8

The story is so common that it’s become a trope. A husband and wife decide to get healthy, so they make lifestyle changes together. The man drops twenty pounds or more with ease, while the woman doesn’t lose an ounce. Why is this? The simple answer: hormones.

Dr. Joshua Bacon

“For the vast majority of human history, humans were tossed between the states of feast and famine. Women, being the source of new people, as well as having the ability to feed infants in the form of breast milk, had to be able to capture and maintain energy so that they could carry on producing and feeding the next generation,” says Joshua Bacon, MD, Memorial Medical Group Family Medicine.

For some women, however, weight gain can be attributed to insulin resistance. Most people think of insulin as a blood sugar hormone, but in the big perspective, it is a growth hormone.

Having persistent, excessive amounts of this growth hormone will often lead to weight gain. Insulin resistance is also a symptom in polycystic ovarian syndrome, a hormonal imbalance that can lead to fertility issues (among many other symptoms) in women of childbearing age. It is important for women to pay attention to their bodies for any hormonal changes that could indicate an imbalance.

This means that when it comes to losing weight, women are not only struggling with exercise and calorie restriction, but sometimes working against genetics that haven’t quite caught up to the 21st century. Hormones that are more present in women’s bodies than men are also the ones more likely to lead to weight gain.

“The most common things that I hear from patients that suggests I need to investigate their hormones are: a rapid weight gain, new hair growth or loss, facial hair, new onset acne, skin changes, changes in voice, changes in mood, changes in menstrual cycle,” Dr. Bacon says. “If an imbalance is found, it is something that can be treated with both medical and nonmedical interventions.”

“Women have vastly increased circulating levels of estrogen compared to men, and estrogen leads to the accumulation of fat tissue. Moreover, having increased levels of fat tissue leads to an increased level of estrogen, thereby making it even easier to store fat,” Dr. Bacon says. “These hormones are present at different levels throughout a woman’s life, leading different challenges at different times.”

Often, though, medication is not the cure-all. These medications help a patient with the hormonal derangements that can lead to weight gain, but losing the weight that a patient carries already will require education and diligence on what to do to decrease their levels of circulating insulin and increase their levels of glucagon.

For patients undergoing the changes of puberty, there is a surge of estrogen preparing the body to be able to tackle the challenges associated with reproduction. In the course of human history, much of that challenge was the lack of calories.

As such, when puberty hits, it can cause weight gain.

Conversely, when estrogen drops around menopause for older women, it can cause exhaustion and lack of energy which leads to weight gain. Estrogen is also a hormone that often keeps other illnesses at bay.

“Patients tend to develop acute and chronic illnesses more frequently than they did when they were younger, and this may lead to a state of stress,” Dr. Bacon says. “States of stress result in increases in endogenous steroids (stress hormones) which often can lead to weight gains.”

Dr. Bacon is accepting new patients at Memorial Medical Group on Nelson Rd. Call 337.480.7999. An entire list of primary care physicians can be found at www.lcmh.com or on page 17.

9

Fashionable Foot Pain

10

Foot issues are typically correctable, but the road to recovery is no walk in the park.

“Roomy shoes, arch support shoes are what I would suggest to prevent or to try to fix any sort of foot pain first,” Dr. Cryar says.

“There are other techniques that get a little more complex after that. Surgery is not something we jump into, but it can become necessary to fix the problem so it doesn’t lead to other issues.”

They say pain is beauty and this has never been truer with the type of shoes women tend to choose. If the shoe fits, wear it or if it is fashionable, but doesn’t fit well, people still wear it. Faced with the look of that latest fashion or best comfort for their feet, fashion will win almost every time. All this contributes to the downfall of one’s feet.

Foot pain problems can lead to issues higher up in the body if they are not corrected, such back issues, joint issues or even affecting your gait. So, if you are having a problem, don’t wait to come it.

“Plain and simple, feet need room and that is not something fashionable shoes tend to give,” says Kipp Cryar, MD, Memorial Medical Group Orthopedic Surgeon. “It’s not something people tend to want to hear, but the less fashionable the shoe, the better it tends to be for your foot.”

Dr. Cryar is taking new patients at the Orthopaedic Specialists office located on the Memorial Hospital campus. He can usually see patients the same day. To make an appointment, call 337.494.4900.

Dr. Cryar is fellowship-trained in foot and ankle surgery and sees issues that arise from bad footwear. Bunions, flat foot, hammertoes and planter fasciitis are some of the most common issues.

All issues are typically correctable, but the road to recovery is no walk in the park. Recovery can take months before you are back to your normal life. The best option is to prevent the issue in the first place by being kind to your feet.

“I do suggest anytime someone comes in with a foot issue, any foot pain really, that they need to switch to something with support,” Dr. Cryar says. “Some are better at taking my advice than others.”

Bunions come about as a result of not enough room in the toe box of a particular shoe. The big toe then gets pushed into the second toe and over time, a problem can happen. Flat foot is a result of not wearing any kind of supportive shoe. It is usually brought on by genetics, but if you are not wearing a supportive shoe it can make it worse. Hammertoe is similar to bunions where your shoe cramps your toes together causing them to curl up.

Dr. Kipp Cryar

Check out lcmh.com/orthopedics for more information.

11

Pulmonologist/Critical Care Physician Ben Thompson, MD Earns Mastership Status

Those elected to Mastership should be citizen physicians, educational innovators, humanists, and learner-teachers who inspire others to seek high standards and excellence in our cherished specialty of internal medicine.

Memorial Medical Group Pulmonologist/Critical Care Specialist Ben Thompson, MD, has been elected to Mastership by the American College of Physicians. Over the past year, unknown to Dr. Thompson, a number of his colleagues and peers have been assembling a dossier outlining the impact he has had on the community, the profession of medicine, medical science and his patients.

“It was a tremendous honor and really a huge surprise to get this news,” Dr. Thompson says. “It’s just wonderful to be recognized by your peers after practicing medicine here at Memorial for so many years, truly an honor.”

According to the American College of Physicians, Mastership is conferred only on a select number of worthy candidates who are deemed distinguished through a combination of achievements, including the practice of internal medicine, academic contributions to our specialty, and service to the College.

In making decisions about each candidate’s suitability for Mastership, the Committee considered qualities such as strength of character, integrity, perseverance, leadership, compassion, and devotion, as well as clinical expertise and commitment to advancing the art and science of medicine.

Emphasis was placed on service as a teacher and mentor, advocacy for quality in internal medicine, a commitment to social justice, deep interest in people, and the creation of communities of medicine.

Additionally, those elected to Mastership should be “citizen physicians,” educational innovators, humanists, and learner-teachers who inspire others to seek high standards and excellence in our cherished specialty of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Thompson has been at Memorial since 1982 and has watched the hospital grow and expand services along the way. He has watched it reach beyond the walls of Memorial Hospital itself, into a full-fledged health system that has four campuses and numerous clinics spread throughout the Lake Charles area.

“Watching this hospital grow into what it is today has been a joy to watch and be a part of,” Dr. Thompson says. “Having people put their lives and health into your hands is truly an honor and a privilege in itself, one that I have always taken very seriously. I feel very fortunate to have been blessed enough to be able to go through this life as a physician. An honor like this is very nice, but pales in comparison to people trusting you with their lives every day.”

13

PHYSICIAN REFERRAL • 1-800-494-LCMH (5264)

fa m i ly m e d i c i n e • fa m i ly m e d i c i n e • fa m i ly m e d i c i n e

Memorial welcomes our new family medicine specialists now accepting new patients Joshua Bacon, MD Family Medicine Specialist Joshua Bacon, MD, has degrees in biochemistry, biology and physics from the University of Arkansas. He went on to receive his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. His post-graduate training includes a family medicine residency at the University of Missouri.

4345 Nelson Road • Lake Charles • 337.480.7999

Deanna Daigrepont, MD Family Medicine Specialist Deanna Daigrepont, MD, is board-certified and sees patients ages 18 and older, with a focus on women’s health. Dr. Daigrepont has a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from Louisiana College in Pineville. She received her medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. Her post-graduate training includes a family medicine residency at the LSUHSC/Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program in Lake Charles.

1890 W. Gauthier Road, Suite 155 • Lake Charles • 337.480.5528

Ben Groves, DO Family Medicine Specialist Ben Groves, DO, is a board-certified and sees patients of all ages from newborns to senior citizens. Dr. Groves has a degree in biology from the University of Mississippi. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. His post-graduate training includes a family medicine residency at Danville Regional Medical Center in Danville, Virginia, where he served as Chief Resident. Before moving to Lake Charles, he worked at Sampson Regional Medical Center in Clinton, North Carolina.

2750 Aster Street • Lake Charles • 337.480.8900

Kira Groves, DO Family Medicine Specialist Kira Groves, DO, sees patients of all ages from newborns to senior citizens, with a focus on women’s and mother-baby health. Dr. Groves has a degree in biology and chemistry from Louisiana College in Pineville. She received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her post-graduate training includes a family medicine residency from Sampson Regional Medical Center in Clinton, North Carolina.

2750 Aster Street • Lake Charles • 337.480.8900

Christian LeBlanc, MD Family Medicine Specialist Christian LeBlanc, MD, has a degree in biology from McNeese State University.

He went on to receive his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans.

His post-graduate training includes a family medicine residency at the Memorial/LSUHSC Family Medicine Residency Program in Lake Charles.

4345 Nelson Road • Lake Charles • 337.480.7999 14

Hari Bogabathina, MD • Interventional Cardiology Hari Bogabathina, MD, is a fellowship-trained and board-eligible interventional cardiologist. He is boardcertified in cardiovascular disease, echocardiography, nuclear imaging and internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Bogabathina received his medical degree from NTR University of Health Sciences/Sri Venkateswara Medical College in Tirupathi, India. His post-graduate training includes fellowships in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology at LSUHSC in Shreveport. Dr. Bogabathina completed an internal medicine residency at UAB Montgomery Internal Medicine Residency Program in Montgomery, AL and an internship at St. Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, NY. 1717 Oak Park Boulevard, 2nd Floor • Lake Charles • 337.494.3278

Kipp Cryar, MD • General Orthopedics/Foot & Ankle Kipp Cryar, MD, is a fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon. He graduated from McNeese State University with a degree in chemistry. He went on to receive his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. His post-graduate training includes an orthopedic residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and a foot and ankle fellowship at the Florida Orthopedic Institute.

1717 Oak Park Boulevard, 3rd Floor • Lake Charles • 337.494.4900

Fidencio Davalos, MD • Pulmonology Fidencio Davalos, MD, a pulmonologist/critical care physician comes to Memorial from Harlem Hospital – New York Health and Hospitals, which is an affiliate of Columbia University. Before that he worked at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. He is board-certified in critical care medicine and board-eligible in pulmonary medicine.

Dr. Davalos has a Bachelor in Arts from Eastern New Mexico University. He received his medical degree from Autonomous University of Guadalajara School of Medicine in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. His postgraduate training includes an internal medicine residency at Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, New York, a fellowship in critical care medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital-Icahn School of Medicine and a fellowship in pulmonary medicine at Harlem Hospital – New York Health and Hospitals.

2770 3rd Avenue, Suite 350 • Lake Charles • 337.494.2750

15

PHYSICIAN REFERRAL • 1-800-494-LCMH (5264)

i n t e r v e n t i o n a l c a r d i o lo g y • o rt h o p e d i c s • p u l m o n o lo g y

Memorial welcomes our new specialists now accepting new patients

h o s p i ta l i st s • h o s p i ta l i st s • h o s p i ta l i st s

Memorial welcomes our new hospitalists

Ashton Adekanmdi, MD

Jasmin Demerson, MD

Family Medicine Specialist Ashton Adekanmbi, MD, serves as a hospitalist, treating and caring for patients admitted to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Family Medicine Specialist Jasmin Demerson, MD, serves as a hospitalist, treating and caring for patients admitted to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Adekanmbi holds a degree in biology from Prairie View A&M University. He went on to receive his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine, Roseau, Dominica.

His post-graduate training includes a family medicine residency at the LSU Family Medicine Residency Program at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria.

Dr. Demerson holds a degree in biology from Dillard University in New Orleans and a Masters of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health from Tulane University. She went on to receive her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica, West Indies. Her post-graduate training includes a family medicine residency at the LSU Family Medicine Residency Program at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria.

Joseph Dressler, MD

Shane Lee, MD

Family Medicine Specialist Joseph Dressler, MD, serves as a hospitalist, treating and caring for patients admitted to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Family Medicine Specialist Shane Lee MD, serves as a hospitalist, treating and caring for patients admitted to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Lee has a degree in biology from Baylor University. He received his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine, Bridgetown, Barbados. His post-graduate training includes a family medicine residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Dr. Dressler holds a degree in marketing from Louisiana State University and a Masters of Business Administration from McNeese State University. He went on to receive his medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. His post-graduate training includes a family medicine residency at the Memorial/LSUHSC Family Medicine Residency Program in Lake Charles.

Dr. Dressler was presented the LSU Health Sciences Center Department of Family Medicine Chairman’s Award during his recent commencement ceremony of the Memorial/LSUHSC Family Medicine Residency Program. Each year the residents vote on a graduating peer they feel most helped improve the residency program and helped fellow residents improve during their time in training.

16

memorial medical group physicians FAMILY MEDICINE Joshua Bacon, M.D. Deanna Daigrepont, M.D. Stewart Greathouse, M.D. Ashley Greenman, M.D. Dr. Ben Groves, D.O. Dr. Kira Groves, D.O. Donald Higgins, M.D. Carolyn Hutchinson, M.D. Percival Kane, M.D. Ameer Khan, M.D. Christian LeBlanc, M.D. Micah LeLeux, M.D. Gerald Mouton, M.D. Carl Nabours, M.D. Michael Seep, M.D. Robert Van Gossen, M.D. Joshua Whatley, M.D. MEMORIAL/LSUHSC FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY Bryan G. Barootes, M.D. Caroline Courville, M.D. Brian Gamborg, M.D. Brian Harrell, M.D. Alan LeBato, M.D. Bradley Loewer, M.D. Danette Null, M.D. Tuananh Pham, M.D. E. J. Soileau, M.D. MOSS MEMORIAL PRIMARY CARE & SPECIALISTS Muhammad Nazim, M.D., Family Medicine Mohammed Sarwar, M.D., Internal Medicine Muhammad Shaikh, M.D., Internal Medicine Mary Sherk, M.D., Family Medicine Eileen Piper, M.D., Gynecology Carlos Choucino, M.D., Infectious Disease INTERNAL MEDICINE Louise M. Becnel, M.D. Craig V. Broussard, M.D. Brian D. Clements, M.D. Craig A. Greenman, M.D. W. Gerry Hebert, M.D. Edward V. Hebert, M.D. Susan B. Ieyoub, M.D. Mir Akbar Khan, M.D. Mark D. Lafuria, M.D. Jason K. Langhofer, D.O. Ron M. Lewis, Jr., M.D. Cristian Romero, M.D. Lynn Speight, M.D.

IOWA MEMORIAL HEALTH CLINIC INTERNAL MEDICINE Kenneth Leger, M.D. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Said Cantu, M.D. Mario Valencia, M.D. Michael Wright, M.D. CARDIOVASULAR-THORACIC SURGERY J. Gregory Lugo, M.D. CARDIOLOGY Edward Bergen, D.O. Hari Bogabathina, M.D. Clay Hammett, M.D. Christopher Thompson, M.D. J. King White, M.D. John Winterton, M.D. Kevin Young, M.D. Charles Woodard, M.D. GASTROENTEROLOGY Sarpreet Basra, M.D. Frank J. Marrero, M.D. Khaled K. Nour, M.D. GENERAL SURGERY Amanda Ellington, M.D. Darin Doumite, M.D. Richard Shimer, M.D. INTERVENTIONAL SPINE Seth Billiodeaux, M.D. NEUROSURGERY Matthew Burton, M.D. Gregory Rubino, M.D.

OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY Brad Forsyth, M.D. David McAlpine, M.D. Gisele McKinney, M.D. Matthew Scroggs, M.D. Joseph Semien, Jr., M.D. Norman Stewart, M.D. ONCOLOGY/HEMATOLOGY Michael A. Bergeron, M.D. Michael L. Broussard, M.D. Leroy E. Fredericks, M.D. Mohammad Khan, M.D. ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY & SPORTS MEDICINE Brett Cascio, M.D. Nathan Cohen, M.D. Kipp Cryar, M.D. Alan Hinton, M.D. Matthew McCarley, M.D. PHYSICAL REHABILITATION Alyson Jones, M.D. PULMONOLOGY/CRITICAL CARE Robert Craig Broussard, M.D. Clifford Courville, M.D. Fidencio Davalos, M.D. Gary Kohler, M.D. Ben Thompson, III, M.D. RHEUMATOLOGY Gurjot Basra, M.D. UROLOGY Stacy McBroom, D.O. Farjaad Siddiq, M.D. John Upshaw, M.D. Kenneth Verheeck M.D.

For more information, call 1-800-494-LCMH (5264) or visit www.lcmmg.com

17

Letters ey nt staff. Th e ll e c x e n s a Center ha r e c n a C l ria er.

The Memo mily memb fa a s a w e sh rianne, like a M s M , m mo er treated my ring. I nev a c d n a arm efficient w le t n e g d kin They were eep doing K . e r e h t r e ft h t when I le h ig n t a r e out h worried ab n. Thanks io t c fe r e p on n’t improve a c u o Y . g e doin what you’r . d my mom n a e m f o e ar uch good c s g in k a t r fo

ours, Sincerely y . Weir Patricia M DeRidder

18

Prenatal and Family Education Classes Registration is required for all classes. For more information or to register, call 480-7243. All classes are held in the education rooms at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women, 1900 W. Gauthier Road. Tours are available after all prenatal classes and at 1:30pm on the first Thursday of each month.

ONE DAY PREPARED CHILDBIRTH CLASS Learn comfort, relaxation, positioning, breathing, and massage techniques for increasing the comfort level and enhancing the birth experience during this condensed version of the Prepared Childbirth Series. Recommended for the last 3 months of pregnancy.

January 30 • February 20 • April 17 • May 15 • June 12 • August 21 • September 18 • October 16 • November 13 8:30-11:30am • $20/Couple BREASTFEEDING CLASS Learn positioning, latch-on, early feedings and the importance of assessing baby’s intake during the Breastfeeding Class.

Recommended during the last 3 months of pregnancy.

January 30 • February 20 • April 17 • May 15 • June 12 • August 21 • September 18 • October 16 • November 13 12:30-2:30pm • $10/Couple SIBLING CLASS This class is recommended during the last three months of pregnancy. Preparing siblings for the arrival of a new baby can be as confusing as it is joyous. This class focuses on the unity of the family. Older siblings ages 2-10 are asked to attend with one or both parents. The children will have hands-on practice with dolls to learn how to interact with a new baby. Parents will receive informative guidelines and everyone will tour the mother/baby unit.

February 20 • May 15 • August 21 • October 16 3-4:00pm • $10/Family BABY CARE CLASS The Baby Care Class reviews newborn characteristics, general baby care, early parenting issues and community resources.

Recommended during the last 3 months of pregnancy.

January 30 • April 17 • June 12 • September 18 • November 13 3-4:30pm • $10/Couple INFANT AND CHILD CPR CLASS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS Learn and practice rescue for choking and CPR for infants. This is NOT a certifying or credentialing course, but is recommended for expectant parents, new parents and support persons.

January 27 • March 10 • May 12 • September 29 • November 17 5:30-7:30pm • $10/Person

19

PHYSICIAN REFERRAL • 1-800-494-LCMH (5264)

1701 Oak Park Blvd.

Lake Charles, LA 70601

Memorial Medical Milestones Matt Felder Director of Communications This is a publication from Lake Charles Memorial Health System. The information in this newsletter is intended to inform patients and potential patients about subjects pertinent to their care not as medical education. © 2020 Printed in U.S.A.

The Employee Assistance Fund was established to assist Memorial employees

who suffered loss and damage due to Hurricanes Laura and Delta. Many donors have stepped up to help. If you would like to donate, you can do so by going to https://www.lcmh.com/giving/donate-now/ and selecting the Employee Assistance Fund or call 337.494.3226.

Blue Cross Blue Shield President Michael Tipton (right) presents a $100,000 check on behalf of the The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation for the Memorial Foundation’s Employee Assistance Fund to Senior Vice President of Philanthropy Leif Pedersen (left).

Mitch Adrian, Chairman of the Memorial Health System Board, presents a check for $100,000 to Foundation Chairman Jackie Roe, as a matching gift for the Foundation’s Employee Assistance Fund. The board voted to match the Blue Cross Blue Shield donation.