Ochsner
SPRING 2021
SERVE, HEAL , LEAD, EDUCATE AND INNOVATE
Resilience and Strength in the Face of Cancer Robert Merrick fought cancer five times— and won. Today, the survivor and New Orleans native is giving back, and encouraging patients on their own cancer journeys to never give up hope. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
• •
ow a vibrant young transplant H survivor is honoring the little girl who gave her new life (page 4) ealer, leader, educator: The lasting H legacy of Dr. Roy Gregory (page 7)
• T he operation of a lifetime: How
Dr. Yvens Laborde helps pull off Ochsner’s mass vaccination effort with calm and grace (page 11)
DE AR FR IE NDS, In Ochsner’s nearly 80-year history, we’ve demonstrated outstanding leadership during difficult times. Though this past year proved to be one of our most challenging yet, I’m tremendously proud of the way the entire Ochsner family came together. Though the pandemic tested our resolve, we rose to the occasion and continued to provide outstanding care to a growing number of people in the Gulf South and beyond. We changed lives, and saved them. In these pages, you’ll learn about people who received a second chance at life thanks to the Ochsner heroes who provided not only world-class treatment, but also demonstrated exceptional kindness and empathy in their bedside manner. You’ll also discover how many lifesaving treatments were made possible by the generous support
FOUNDATION BOARD PICTURED BELOW Standing from Left: Calvin Fayard Chadwick Landry Dr. Joseph Dalovisio VM Wheeler Wilmer ‘Bill’ Freiberg Pamela Steeg Steve Nathanson Norris Williams John Kennedy Cliffe Laborde
of our philanthropic partners—and why former patients choose to become donors themselves. Ochsner’s patient donors demonstrated resilience and courage in the face of
Seated from Left: Todd Johnson
tremendous challenges. They found beacons of hope in their darkest hours, and learned
Desiree Harrison
to cherish each moment, live fearlessly, and embody a spirit of service after a brush
Tommy Coleman
with mortality. If these patients—and this past year—can teach us one thing, it’s that we
Miles Clements
never know what life has in store.
Warner Thomas
When former patients and their families decide to give back to Ochsner, it’s a humbling experience. Though donors decide to give for many reasons, the common denominator
Lee Giorgio, Jr. Tommy Fonseca
among former patients is gratitude: for their life-saving treatments, for unparalleled care, and the fulfilling, meaningful lives they are choosing to live in recovery. Whether these generous donations go to developing cutting edge treatments, building state-of-the-art facilities, or offering scholarships to train the next generation of Ochsner leaders, they allow us to provide world-class care and fulfill our mission to serve, heal, lead, educate and innovate. In these pages, you’ll also find details about how Ochsner’s tireless medical professionals are fighting COVID-19 on the front lines at our vaccination sites. They’re
Not Pictured: Gayle Benson Robert Boh Frank Dudenhefer Greg Flores Paul Flower Sarah Freeman
putting our community first, and their work is proof that we’ll get through this—together.
Marcel Garsaud
Warner L. Thomas
Tara Hernandez
President & CEO, Ochsner Health
Michael Maenza
John Hairston
Karen Stall Catherine Burns Tremaine
Photo by Stephen Legendre
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OCHSNER EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP Warner L. Thomas President and Chief Executive Off icer Robert Hart, MD, FAAP, FACP Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Off icer Michael Hulefeld Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Off icer Scott J. Posecai Executive Vice President, Insurance Partnerships and Treasurer Pete November Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Off icer Leonardo Seoane, MD, FACP Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Off icer Tracey Schiro Executive Vice President, Chief Risk and Human Resources Off icer David Carmouche, MD Executive Vice President, Value-based Care and Network Operations, Ochsner Health Network President, Ochsner Health Network Mark Muller Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development David M. Gaines Chief Executive Off icer of System Retail Services and Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Michelle Dodenhoff Senior Vice President and Chief Development Off icer Jennifer F. Bollinger Senior Vice President of Consumer Strategy
OCHSNER MAGAZINE Lea Witkowski-Purl Maida Jones Megan St. Germain Editors
MARKETSMITHS CONTENT STRATEGISTS LLC Alizah Salario Custom Publishing Editor Amy Schraub Art Director
IN THIS ISSUE Two Hearts Intertwined
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Sara Nelles was a vibrant young woman with her whole life ahead of her. Then her liver failed. Here’s how a transplant saved her life, thanks to a local donor who is never far from her thoughts.
In Memoriam: Dr. Roy Gregory
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Remembering a pioneer in family medicine whose legacy lives on thanks to a generous scholarship in his honor.
Resilience and Strength in the Face of Cancer
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After beating cancer f ive times, New Orleans business leader Robert Merrick undertook a new project: helping to fund Ochsner’s Benson Cancer Center.
On the Front Lines: Dr. Yvens Laborde
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Ochsner’s mass vaccination sites help protect thousands of Gulf South residents against COVID-19. Here’s how one doctor makes sure everything runs according to plan.
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Eat Your Way to Well Is eating more foods the secret to wellness? You bet! Ochsner’s Molly Kimball shares how to think and eat abundantly this summer with a fresh, seasonal recipe.
To support philanthropy at Ochsner, please visit:
Glimpses
giving.ochsner.org
Marching bands. Mascots. Costumes. In true New Orleans style, these Ochsner heroes transformed vaccination sites into vibrant festivals.
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WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU! PLEASE SEND COMMENTS TO PHILANTHROPY@ OCHSNER.ORG. Cover photo by Daymon Gardner
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Two Hearts Intertwined: How Ochsner Gave Sara Nelles a Second Chance at Life By Maggie Serota | Photos courtesy of Sara Nelles
In 2015, 27-year-old Bay Area native Sara Nelles was thriving. She was making progress toward her MBA at Notre Dame de Namur University while working a fulfilling day job as the director of an after-school program. After earning her MBA, she aspired to begin a career in human resources. Sara was living away from her parents for the first time
in her life, having recently moved into an apartment with a friend just outside of Oakland. When she wasn’t working or studying, Sara was going out with her friends and enjoying her newfound independence. By all accounts, Sara was a vibrant young woman with a bright future ahead. “My life was blooming,” Sara recalled, “and then I got a fever that
lasted for two weeks.” Sara was born with a rare congenital liver disorder called Biliary Atresia which affects the bile ducts. She underwent a Kasai procedure to facilitate bile drainage when she was six weeks old and led an otherwise healthy life until she got sick—very sick—at age 27. The decline in her liver function was
Sara Nelles and her parents, Mitch and Janet Nelles, along with her sisters Miriam Hillman (far left) and Erica Nelles (far right).
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abrupt and severe. She became gravely ill in a very short amount of time. “I went from stage one to stage four liver function or liver cirrhosis in two and a half months,” Sara said. “I was dying. There’s no way of getting around that. I couldn’t walk. I had so much ammonia built up in my brain that I didn’t even know who I was.” Sara was living on borrowed time. She needed a liver transplant to save her life. If she stayed in the Bay Area, she was facing a two-year wait for a transplant. Her parents, Janet and Mitch Nelles, investigated other treatment facilities and were tipped off to Ochsner. Mitch fired off a quick email to Ari J. Cohen, MD, renowned transplant surgeon and Medical Director of the Ochsner Multi-Organ Transplant Institute. Mitch was stunned when he received a response from Dr. Cohen almost immediately. “He literally got back to me in minutes,” Mitch said. “He basically said, ‘Bring her out here. We’ll get her transplanted.’” And so they did. Upon arriving, the Nelles family was blown away by the attention, care and kindness they
Sara Nelles with her sister, Miriam Hillman, and her niece, Annie.
care, Sara grew close to the team who treated her, and still regards them as family. “She’s in contact with one of the social workers that we met there,”
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Ochsner is really a special place. I’ve never met such a group of people who were so kind and dedicated to patient care as well. It’s just, it’s unbelievable. — Mitch Nelles
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received from the entire Ochsner staff throughout Sara’s two-and-ahalf-month stay. “It was an amazing experience,” Sara said. Traveling across the country to receive a transplant while gravely ill was terrifying, but the Ochsner team—from doctors, nurses, and social workers to support staff— instantly put the family at ease with their warmth and attentiveness. In addition to receiving life-saving
Janet said. “Sara was in her late twenties, and the social worker was probably my age or a little older, and they just became friends. When we went back there after a year for their annual holiday party, Sara went out shopping with her for the day. For seven, eight hours, they were gone. They went out for lunch. They tried on stuff. Besides being a place of excellence, the staff at Ochsner are so
compassionate and empathetic.” Mitch echoed that sentiment, adding: “Ochsner is really a special place. I’ve never met such a group of people who were so kind and dedicated to patient care as well. It’s just, it’s unbelievable.” As Dr. Cohen tells it, providing an exceptional bedside manner is standard operating procedure. “That’s what it’s all about is focusing on the patient, and how you would want to be treated yourself, and how you’d want your family to be treated,” Dr. Cohen explained. “Our entire team is like family. Over the past 20 years, we’ve added a lot of staff to our team, and very few people leave us. All of us together focus on what’s important: the patient. Everyone who joins our team likes to be part of our team, especially the part where we all put our heads together and take care of these people.”
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T h a t ’s w h a t i t ’s a l l a b o u t i s f o c u s i n g o n t h e p a t i e n t , a n d h ow yo u wo u l d wa n t to b e t r ea te d yo u r s e l f, a n d h ow yo u ’d wa n t yo u r fa m i l y to b e t r ea te d . — Ari J. Cohen, MD
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Within 11 days of being admitted to Ochsner, Sara received a call that an organ was available for her. Lauralyn Picard, a 12-year-old girl from New Iberia, passed away from an undiagnosed heart condition. From getting sick to undergoing a successful transplant surgery, Sara’s life was in limbo for about two and a half months. Thanks to her outstanding treatment at Ochsner, Sara beat the odds and remains forever grateful for her second chance at life. Yet there was still something she had to do to gain closure: meet Lauralyn’s family, offer condolences on their loss, and express her gratitude. A year after her transplant, Sara returned to Louisiana after her donor’s mother reached out with an invitation to a benefit that just so happened to coincide with Sara’s 29th birthday. “On my next birthday, I went back and I met her whole family in New Iberia’s SugArena in 100-degree weather,” Sara recalled. “But it was the most amazing experience.” Lauralyn is never far from her thoughts, as Sara wears a necklace emblazoned with the girl’s photo along with another necklace made of intertwined hearts to commemorate the one-year anniversary of her transplant. “The two hearts are supposed to be my heart and her heart,” Sara explained. “I designed it and I had it made and I wear that every day. And we do a balloon release for her every August.” Sara’s experience at Ochsner touched her in profound ways. “I don’t know anyone that has this kind of bond with the staff at a hospital, especially when I’m not even treated by them anymore,” Sara said. She returns to New Orleans every year to attend the organization’s fundraising events. “I love New Orleans. I love everything about it,” Sara said. “I love the culture, I love the city. I love it, it gave me back my life.” Mitch and Janet are also annual donors, and the family has thrown fundraisers in their homebase in Northern California, including a fundraising party in their home in 2017 to help benefit a new imaging center. Coming face-to-face with her mortality also motivated Sara to reconsider her future. Instead of pursuing a career in business, Sara followed her passion and became a special education teacher. After finishing her MBA, Sara went back to school and is in the process of earning a graduate teaching degree. She now teaches sixth grade special education. Sara imagines if she hadn’t experienced that brush with mortality, she would have dismissed her teaching aspirations. “I have a second chance at life; I should do whatever I want,” Sara said. What she wants most: to live to the fullest in honor of Lauralyn, who gave her that second chance. “Everything I do now is for her, ” Sara said, her voice breaking between sobs. “Everything I do is for her.”
The Life and Legacy of Dr. Roy Gregory (1931-2021) Thanks to a generous scholarship for aspiring physicians, an extraordinary doctor’s passion for family medicine lives on. By Kirby Kelly | Photos by Stephen Legendre
The Dr. and Mrs. Roy Gregory Family Medicine Award is the Ochsner Clinical School’s first scholarship for students pursuing family medicine. It’s one of the greatest gifts Dr. Gregory gave before his passing this year—along with a lifetime of putting patients first. Born on July 11, 1931, in Las Cruces, NM, Dr. Gregory dedicated his life to caring for others and giving back to his community. He served in the military and attended Louisiana State University for undergrad before pursuing his medical education at LSU School of Medicine, where he completed his degree and residency between 1955-1960. In 1961, he opened his own practice in Mandeville alongside Dr. Jerry Keller, where he practiced family medicine for 37 years until his retirement in 1997. The two-person practice was the first on the North Shore to join Ochsner Health, and it eventually expanded into a primary care practice of 14 physicians across three locations. Patients who stepped into Dr. Gregory’s office were always treated like family— Dr. Gregory made sure of it. “Dr. Greg was a terrific doctor and an even better person,” said Craig Bardell, Ochsner’s Director of Planned Giving. “He liked to say that he was a pioneer—practicing medicine in a small town, you never knew what you would have to do in a day, from delivering babies, setting broken bones, or house calls for the bedridden.”
For 37 years, Roy Gregory, MD, practiced family medicine in Mandeville. His generosity will help train the next generation of leaders in family medicine.
the Dr. and Mrs. Roy Gregory Family Medicine Award alongside his wife, Lola “Jackie” Gregory, who passed shortly after Dr. Gregory this year. Their generous gift expands resources for one annual recipient at the UQ-Ochsner Clinical School who shows promise and passion for family medicine.
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I am dedicated to
upholding the high standards of the medical profession and have the same love for the community I serve that Dr. Gregory exhibited throughout his career.
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— Tyler Kidd, 2021 Recipient of the Gregory Family Medicine Award
The next generation of superior care Throughout his career, Dr. Gregory helped foster the next generation of talent in family medicine by serving as a fellow for the LSU School of Medicine. And in 2018, the late doctor established
L to R Steve and Laura Jankower (Dr. and Mrs. Gregory’s daughter and son-in-law), Christopher Van Hise, the inaugural recipient of the Gregory Award, Dr. and Mrs. Roy Gregory and Leah Gregory (their other daughter)
This year, that recipient is Tyler Kidd, a senior medical student at UQ-Ochsner. “I am very honored and thankful to receive this wonderful scholarship,” he said. “With the great advice, resources, and
instruction I’ve received at UQ-Ochsner, I’ve found my true passion in Family Medicine and will take this with me into my career as a physician.” o c h s n e r. o rg
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Resilience and Strength in the Face of Cancer Robert Merrick beat cancer f ive times—and now he’s giving back to the Ochsner Cancer Institute in a big way By Kirby Kelly | Photos by Daymon Gardner
Robert “Bobby” Merrick, 77, is a born-and-raised, lifelong New Orleanian whose name is practically synonymous with the city. He attended Tulane University and entered the family real estate appraisal business alongside his stepfather straight out of college. “As time went on, I realized I was more interested in real estate development than appraisal,” he said. “In 1970, I started building my first business—and it just grew. On October 1, 1986, I bought the company Latter & Blum, setting my sights on expanding it.” With Robert at the helm, Latter & Blum has grown to become the largest real estate group not only in Southern Louisiana—but also the 20th largest in the United States. Over the past several decades, Robert has built a company and a life in New Orleans, raising a family with his wife, Sheryl. But six years ago, that life was forever changed. “I woke up at midnight one day in pain, and I told my wife I thought I might have appendicitis,” he said. “I went to the Ochsner emergency room right away, and they found a lump pushing on my colon.” After receiving this devastating news, Robert sought a second opinion from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. This appointment confirmed what he already knew: he had stage 3 colon cancer. Robert Merrick with his wife, Sheryl. Their generosity is helping Ochsner grow its support system for cancer patients.
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When looking at long-term care options, the Ochsner Cancer Institute emerged as the obvious choice. “I could’ve gone anywhere to receive chemo and radiation, but the fact was that I could get world-class care at Ochsner without traveling,” said Robert. It took six months of chemotherapy followed by 35 days of radiation and an operation to remove the cancerous growth. This treatment left Robert cancer-free. But before he could celebrate one victory, Robert and his Ochsner care team discovered melanoma on his chest. The melanoma required a simple removal of the spot, and was relatively painless. Not too long after, a cancerous growth was found on Robert’s right lung. This required a more advanced
robotic procedure to remove a quarter of the lung and eliminate any malignant cells. Throughout it all, he maintained a positive attitude. “The procedures were all really a piece of cake,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it, all things considered.” Then, some months later, came one of the hardest parts of Robert’s journey. “My physician found a spot on my tongue that turned out to be cancerous, and removing it was probably one of the most painful things I’ve gone through,” he said. And most recently, Robert was diagnosed with rectal cancer. The treatment was extremely taxing, both mentally and physically. “I had chemotherapy, then about 35 days of radiation,” he said. “I felt so out of control of my body during that
time, and didn’t know what my chances would be.” If the cancer was eliminated, Robert would be able to resume his daily life—but if not, there was a strong chance he may need a colostomy, which would change his life permanently. He was told there was a 10 percent chance that treatment would be completely successful. After six years, seemingly endless rounds of chemo, and five surgeries, Robert received the greatest news of all: his cancer was gone. Throughout it all, Robert remained unshakably positive—but he maintains that his treatment and rapid recovery would not have been possible without the Ochsner team. “The amazing thing about Ochsner is that all of the staff and physicians involved with cancer (continued on next page)
Cancer Care in the Time of COVID-19
The past year and a half has changed the course of life as we know it—especially for physicians, medical staff and patients. Brian Moore, MD, shares how the Ochsner Cancer Institute adapted to the ongoing pandemic— while continuing to provide first-class care.
1. Advanced Testing Capabilities When the coronavirus first hit, the Ochsner team worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of their community. They developed and rapidly scaled in-house COVID-19 testing capabilities for cancer patients prior to surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. “There were some delays in March and April of 2020, but we never stopped treating patients,” Dr. Moore explained. “We quickly pivoted to telemedicine, ultimately completing over 20,000 of these encounters so that we could maintain therapeutic relationships with our patients at various stages of treatment and survivorship.”
2. Data-Driven Research Ochsner has always been defined by its forward-thinking care. COVID-19 only accelerated the need to leverage data in a high-powered way—especially concerning how the disease would affect cancer patients. “A team led by Dr. Zoe Larned and Dr. Mike Lunski explored the link between COVID-19 and cancer by utilizing our extensive database,” Dr. Moore said. “Looking at the coronavirus cases rolling in, we found that those with a history of cancer were at a higher risk of developing COVID-19. This research meaningfully and fundamentally changed how we approached cancer care to keep these at-risk patients safe.” Dr. Larned and Dr. Lunski’s research was published in the oncology journal Cancer in November 2020. Their study is one of the largest and most significant explorations of COVID-19 and cancer to date.
3. At-Home Screening and Early Intervention on the Rise Dr. Moore and his team have seen lots of patients who are apprehensive about coming in for necessary screenings and routine health examinations during the pandemic—but these tests are still essential. “Ochsner’s population health team has done a remarkable job encouraging patients to use non-invasive, at-home colon cancer screening tests such as FIT kits and Cologuard kits,” he said. With COVID-19 hospitalizations dwindling, the hospital has seen a resurgence of patients returning for preventive screenings. “Our breast imaging team has seen significant growth in mammography numbers over the past few months,” Dr. Moore said, “reflecting the confidence that patients have in the safety of our imaging centers.”
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The amazing thing about Ochsner is that all of the staff and physicians involved with cancer patients understand what we’re going through. They’re the nicest people in the world. — Robert Merrick
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patients understand what we’re going through,” he said. “They’re the nicest people in the world.” This journey—and all of the people involved—inspired Robert to give back to the new Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center at the Ochsner Cancer Institute to renovate the first floor and help fund the center’s expansions. “The Ochsner team has been very, very good to me,” he said. “I never had a hugely adverse reaction to my chemo. So every time I went to the fifth floor of the center and saw how hard other patients had it, my heart went out to them.” The Benson Cancer Center offers advanced diagnostic and technical capabilities, like the region’s only Phase 1 clinical trials program, tumor boards, and robotic surgical procedures that are more precise and less painful for patients. Additionally, the expanded space allows for an integrative oncology program employing patient education and evidence-based, holistic therapies like acupuncture, yoga, mindfulness and exercise. Throughout the course of his treatment, Robert got to know Anna Combes, Director of Development for the Ochsner Cancer Institute. “The Ochsner difference is that we provide multi-disciplinary, world-class care,” Anna said. “You can see your oncologist, radiologist and surgeon under one roof. With gifts from people like the Merricks, we’ve been able to support the talent that we’ve always had—and now, the building matches that.” “Mr. Merrick’s gift is essential to the growth of our cancer center and its programs,” said Brian Moore, MD, Medical Director at Ochsner
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Cancer Institute and one of Robert’s physicians. “Thanks to our donors’ generosity, we’ve immensely grown the support services for our patients that are necessary to a cancer journey: navigators, social workers, psychologists, physical/occupational and speech therapists are now able to work side by side with the oncology team.” With the help of the Merricks’ gift, the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center has become the Gulf South’s premier destination for innovative
cancer treatment—delivering comfort and high-quality care to those who need it most. Today, Robert Merrick is happily cancer-free. He gets an MRI scan every three months to ensure he remains healthy and well. He’s also hopeful for others who are diagnosed with this harrowing disease. “Until you’ve had cancer, you don’t know what goes through your mind,” said Robert. “My wish is that I can help future cancer patients as they face their own journeys.”
A Life-Saving Operation: Meet One of the Doctors Behind Ochsner’s Vaccine Distribution By Maggie Serota | Photo by Stephen Legendre
If there is anyone who embodies Ochsner’s commitment to public service and community health, it is Yvens Laborde, MD. He currently leads the Ochsner Equitable Vaccine Distribution Workgroup and serves as part of the Ochsner Vaccine Task Force. Dr. Laborde works on the frontlines of Ochsner Health’s COVID-19 vaccination events, making sure shots are administered safely, effectively and efficiently. That’s no easy task. “The work involved in both the community and mass vaccination events is incredibly complex,” Dr. Laborde explained. That’s why Dr. Laborde goes into each day with a clear game plan. When the community’s health is at stake, the good doctor isn’t one to leave anything up to chance. It’s important to be proactive, said Dr. Laborde, yet also “predictive and anticipate potential challenges with logistics.” He added: “One of my favorite quotes is that ‘people seldom rise to the level of expectations, but almost always fall to the level of their preparation and training.’” Here’s what a typical day looks like on the front lines with Dr. Laborde.
Break of dawn: preparation
Dr. Laborde’s day begins as early as 4:30 a.m. and lasts well into the evening. Despite his demanding schedule and the challenges of running a mass vaccination site, each day Dr. Laborde and his team are one step closer to “bringing this pandemic to an end.” “The most rewarding aspect of [working at] these sites is to know that every shot that we give is protecting someone from contracting COVID, transmitting it and thus bringing us closer to returning to our lives,” said Dr. Laborde, adding that “the sheer joy, relief and appreciation [shown by] the people receiving the vaccine inspires all of us.”
All in a day’s work: collaboration
Orchestrating Ochsner’s vaccination sites is a team effort, with 125 to 175 staffers on site on any given day. In addition to the nurses, security personnel, and volunteers that help make the sites run smoothly, Dr. Laborde acknowledges the leadership of Dawn Pevey-Mauk, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, CEO System Centers of Excellence and Service Lines at Ochsner Health, as key to the sites’ success. “The passion, commitment,
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Dr. Laborde
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professionalism and selflessness is truly inspiring,” said Dr. Laborde. The onsite pharmacy team also plays a crucial role. “The care and focus required to mix and draw the exact doses from the vials is admirable,” said Dr. Laborde. “Without the pharmacist, there is no vaccine to administer.” As for his role? “From a medical perspective, it is my role to ensure that the patients are safe,” explained Dr. Laborde, “and that we are all wellprepared to respond to an emergency and unexpected event.”
The end goal: passing the baton With proper preparation and ongoing collaboration from Dr. Laborde and his staff, the sites appear to hum along almost effortlessly once everyone finds their rhythm. “I like to describe these events as a relay race with the vaccine being the baton, but the race is being run in both series and in parallel,” said Dr. Laborde. “Our structures and processes need to be perfectly aligned. From the time that the patient drives or walks up, is registered, and to the time that the shot
is administered, the patient is observed and leaves the site one step closer to being protected.” Dr. Laborde considers administering COVID-19 vaccines to the public one of the most fulfilling experiences of his career. “These events allow all of us to fulfill Ochsner’s mission to serve, heal, lead, educate and innovate and to do so with compassion, teamwork, integrity and excellence,” he said. “It is truly a gift to have the opportunity to collaborate with such dedicated, talented and gifted colleagues with a singular focus.”
Eat Your Way to Well Summer Seasonal Eating Tips from Ochsner’s Molly Kimball By Kirby Kelly | Photos by Emily Eickhoff
Many of us equate eating healthy food with looking and feeling good. But eating a nutrient-rich diet goes beyond that: it can decrease your risk for certain types of cancer and other diseases. Foods like processed carbs and sugars may be linked to gastrointestinal cancers, colorectal cancers, and breast cancer in women. The good news is that food is one of our first lines of defense against these types of illnesses. “People like to believe in the idea of superfoods,” said Molly Kimball, R.D., C.S.S.D., Nutrition Manager at Ochsner Fitness Center and the Founder of Ochsner Eat Fit. “In reality, it’s everyday foods that add up. I like to recommend people eat a plant-forward diet to optimize their health.” What does this mean in practice? Molly suggests eating a well-rounded diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes (especially white and red beans), nuts and seeds. “Many of us eat the same foods over and over, but the key to increasing overall wellness is eating more variety,” she said. For example, if you usually stick to green vegetables
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like broccoli and kale, try adding in beets, carrots or eggplant (check out the recipe below to make use of this nightshade!). Molly recommends adding one new vegetable a day to your meals until the habit sticks. “We often think of what we can remove from our diet, but it’s important to switch to an abundance mindset and think of what we can add,” she said. Summer is a great time to increase variety by eating seasonal, locally-sourced produce that can be found in a community supported agriculture (CSA) group or food co-op, by visiting your local farmer’s market, or even growing your own vegetables. “Eating locally isn’t just good for the economy,” she explained. “It ups the chances that what you eat has more nutrition packed into each bite, because locallygrown produce is often picked when the plant has fully ripened and matured.” Try this recipe from Ochsner’s The Eat Fit Cookbook: Chef Inspired Recipes for the Home for an easy, healthy and delicious summer snack or side dish.
Baba Ganoush by Cleo’s Mediterranean Cuisine & Grocery From The Eat Fit Cookbook: Chef Inspired Recipes for the Home Makes 8 servings
Greek yogurt is the secret ingredient in Cleo’s creamy Baba Ganoush, but it can easily be omitted to create a vegan alternative. Pair it with lean protein for dipping or serve as an appetizer or side dish with raw veggies such as celery sticks and thick-sliced yellow and red peppers. 1 large eggplant
For the garnish
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chili paste
¼ cup 2% plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup tahini
¼ teaspoon black sesame seeds
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small fresh jalapeño, sliced
¼ cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh pomegranate seeds (substitute diced red
½ teaspoon sea salt
pepper or fresh raspberries)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and heat grill to medium-hot. Prick eggplant with a fork and place onto grill rack 4-5 inches from the fire. (Don’t feel like going outside to grill? Use your broiler instead.) Grill, turning frequently, until the skin blackens, blisters, and begins to soften, approximately 10-15 minutes. Transfer eggplant to a baking sheet, cover with foil, and bake until very soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool slightly, then remove the skin. Place the eggplant flesh into a food processor and blend to a paste. Add olive oil, yogurt, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, and salt, and mix well.
Transfer mixture to a serving bowl or plate. Smooth with the back of a spoon, and press lightly to form 4 shallow wells. Fill wells with half a tablespoon each of chili paste and olive oil. Garnish with small clusters of black sesame seeds, jalapeño slices, and chopped parsley topped with pomegranate seeds. Top with a sprig of fresh mint and serve. Per serving: 120 calories, 10 grams fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 170 mg sodium, 8 grams carbohydrate (5 grams net carbs), 3 grams fiber, 3 grams sugar (<1 gram added sugar), 3 grams protein, GF, Low Carb, Vegetarian
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E a t i n g l o c a l l y i s n ’ t j u s t g o o d f o r t h e e c o n o m y. I t u p s t h e c h a n c e s t h a t w h a t yo u ea t h a s m o r e n u t r i t i o n p a c ke d i n to ea c h b i te , b e c a u s e l o c a l l y- g r ow n p r o d u c e i s o f te n p i c ke d w h e n t h e plant has fully ripened and matured. — Molly Kimball, founder of Ochsner Eat Fit
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Glimpses Something to Celebrate: Ochsner Heroes Distribute Vaccines—New Orleans Style New Orleans is known for its spirit of revelry–even when it comes to vaccines! Ochsner Health’s Vax Fest, a 24-hour COVID-19 mass vaccination drive-through event at the Shrine on Airline in the heart of Jefferson Parish, brought immunity-seekers together in a festive atmosphere. Mascots for the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans came to rally the crowds, while DJ Jubilee, Amanda Shaw and other New Orleans musicians prompted people waiting for their doses to get out of their cars and dance. Even Ochsner’s own mascot, Ollie Ochsner, made an appearance. The festivities started at 10 a.m. on March 29 and continued through the following morning. During the event, nearly 5,000 people received a first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. A second successful mass vaccination event was held on April 28. Ochsner’s community vaccine efforts spread statewide with more than 400,000 total doses administered at vaccine sites in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, St. Bernard, Lafayette and more. Here are some of the Ochsner front-line heroes who helped out.
Photos courtesy of Ochsner Marketing and Communications
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Spring 2021
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Ochsner created Colors of the Mind three
Since 2013, the Moonlight & Miracles Gala
years ago to generate revenue for the
has generated much-needed funds to
Neuroscience Patient Assistance Fund to
directly benef it Ochsner Cancer Institute
help patients and caregivers with the costs
patients and programs at comprehensive
of a long term or critical illness. The event
cancer centers, located throughout New
also benef its the Neuroscience Innovation
Orleans, Baton Rouge and the Northshore.
Fund, which allows clinicians access to
For the second year in a row, the event
the tools to provide cutting-edge care to
will be broadcast live on WVUE-Fox 8 in
patients. This year’s raffle features a 2021
early November 2021. Don’t miss out—this
Chevrolet Tahoe. Tickets for the raffle will
year’s annual Mercedes-Benz Car Raffle will
be $100 each, and a winning ticket will
feature a blue 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC. Visit
be drawn in late September 2021. Visit
ochsner.org/moonlight to purchase tickets
ochsner.org/colorsofthemind to purchase
and learn more.
tickets and learn more.
