The Ochsner Allied Health Division celebrates its 39th anniversary in 2009. We have seen many changes to health care delivery over this period, and allied health has become an integral part of the overall patient care experience. Allied health professionals comprise more than 60 percent of the health care workforce, playing a major role in diagnostics and therapeutics and having specialized skills and training in technology, and are uniquely educated in treating disease, preventing illness, and promoting health. The academic group within Allied Health and our Ochsner clinical partners provide clinical education to more than 400 allied health students annually, supporting more than 35 educational institutions and 30 unique allied health programs. Ochsner supports two full-time, nationally accredited educational programs in Radiologic Technology and Respiratory Care.

The Allied Health programs, affiliations, and clinical partners have an honored tradition of providing the highest quality of educational programs and clinical practices to meet the allied health workforce needs by graduating students with pass rates on credentialing exams far exceeding national scores and full employment and placement of our graduates.

As health care evolves, the allied health professions will become emerging disciplines with technological advancements in diagnostics, therapeutics, and informatics that will be vital in health care delivery and the overall health and well-being of our patients. The Ochsner Allied Health division will remain on the forefront of these evolving disciplines and is committed to fostering an academic and clinical environment that attracts and supports the retention of competent, skilled health care professionals. The division’s ultimate goal is to develop and implement value-added programs that reflect job market and allied health workforce needs, while working collaboratively with other educational institutions to achieve common educational goals and advance our mission.

Allied Health Commencement Ceremony

The Allied Health division held its annual commencement ceremony for the Our Lady of Holy Cross College (OLHCC)/Ochsner Medical Center Radiologic Technology and Respiratory Care programs on May 22, in Brent House Conference Center. The commencement address was given by Janice Piazza, Vice President of Academics and Research at Ochsner. Ms. Piazza addressed the graduates on professional opportunities and career growth in health care and the importance of professional development and continued learning throughout their careers. Diplomas and Awards were presented by the program directors of each program and Father Anthony J. De Conciliis, CSC, PhD, President of Our Lady of Holy Cross College.

Radiologic Technology Program Graduates

The following six students graduated from the OLHCC/Ochsner Radiologic Technology Program: Torrie Bourgeois, Stacy Carroll, Brittanie Nelson, Minh-Vy Nguyen, Kayla Soileau, and Kandice Wilson.

All graduating students received their health science degrees from Our Lady of Holy Cross College. The graduates have taken the national American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT) board examination and have successfully passed, with a class average score of 90, exceeding state and national averages and placing the program graduates in the upper percentile nationally.

The following radiology graduates received special awards and recognition:

• Outstanding Academic Achievement: Minh-Vy Nguyen
• Academic Honorable Mention: Torrie Bourgeois
• Outstanding Student Technologist: Minh-Vy Nguyen

The graduates recognized Lisa Folse, R.T.(R) with their “Outstanding Technologist” Award.

2009-2011 Radiologic Technology Program Students

On August 24, the OLHCC/Ochsner Radiologic Technology Program welcomed the incoming class for 2009-2011. Twelve new students will embark on their radiography didactic and clinical education on the Ochsner campus working toward completion of their health science degrees. The new students are Ashley Adams, Arnaldo Bustillo, Chrystie Calhoune, Shannon Castille, Gabriela Galindo, Christopher Gutierrez, Adele Labrador, Heather Menesses, Jamie Percle, Cody Roddy, Hannah Stephany, and Jordan Trosclair.

These students will join our returning senior-level radiography students, who are completing their educational coursework and clinical rotations and will be graduating in May 2010: Sade Encalade, Jessica Klotz, Katie Koenig, Blaine Nielson, Brittanie Lamarque, Amanda Oswald, Brianne Tregle, and Marci Welsh. These students recently participated in the Annual Louisiana Educational Quiz Bowl Competition in Lafayette, Louisiana. They represented our institution extremely well and placed fourth out of thirteen participating universities and colleges.

Radiologic Technology Program Faculty

Carl J. Tholen, MEd, R.T.(R)(CT) is the Radiography Program Director and Edward Bluth, MD, is the Medical Director for the Radiography program. Chimene C. Pitre, MS, R.T.(R)(CT); Amy Romagosa, BS, R.T.(R); and Hollie A.P. Fitzhenry, MS,R.T.(R)(M) provide clinical and didactic instruction.

Respiratory Care Program Graduates  

The following students graduated from the Our Lady of Holy Cross College/Ochsner Respiratory Care Program, earning their associate’s degrees from Our Lady of Holy Cross College.: Jennifer Bordelon, Cassie Cronley, Kia Dubose, Kathryn Kirschman, Yana Morris-Scott, Traci Nguyen, Stacie Pearse, and Shirley Yu. At the end of the summer term and registry semester, eligible students will receive their baccalaureate degrees.

All the students who took the 2009 Entry-Level Certification Exam passed; the pass rate and grades were above the national average. 

The following respiratory care graduates received special awards and recognition:

• Outstanding Academic Achievement: Cassie Cronley
• Most Improved Student Award: Shirly Yu.

The students voted on the respiratory therapist who was the most outstanding preceptor, choosing Jim Rush, who worked with the students in the adult intensive care unit at Ochsner.

2009-2010 Respiratory Care Program Students

The OLHCC/Ochsner Respiratory Care Program will begin a new class on August 31. Orientation will be conducted on August 31, and classes start the following day.

The Respiratory Care class of 2010 includes Leena Abdelfattah, Jessica Adams, Brandi Byrum, Jessica Carter, Brandy Forbes, Elizabeth Perez, Brooke Salassi, and David Swindler. We welcome the new students and look forward to a great year.

Respiratory Care Program Faculty

Mary N. LaBiche, MEd, RRT-NPS, is the Program Director of the Respiratory Care Program. Erin E. Davis, MS, MEd, RRT-NPS, CPFT, is the Director of Clinical Education, and C. Braddock Burns, MD, is the Medical Director, Respiratory Care Program

The partnership between the Ochsner Medical Center and the University of Queensland School of Medicine is coming along nicely. The successful development of the UQ Ochsner Clinical School is ongoing. Many UQ students have participated in medical school rotations at Ochsner and have been extremely pleased with their experiences, both in our facility and around New Orleans. The following testimonials are an example of the feedback we have received from the students rotating at Ochsner.

“This has probably been the best rotation I’ve done in med school. The pathologists are all very friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about teaching. The variety of cases and volume of specimens here at Ochsner make it an ideal place to do a pathology rotation.”

“It’s been the best educational experience of my medical school career to date, and I can’t thank everyone enough.”

“Great teachers, great experience. Couldn’t ask for much more.”

The faculty and administration of the Ochsner Clinical School are excited about the success of our educational activities to date and look forward to creating an exceptional educational opportunity and medical school for students in the future.

Block 3 Update

The seven students participating in Ochsner rotations in Block 3 completed their rotation requirements on July 17.

Block 4 Update

Block 4 began on July 27 and will conclude on September 18. Seven students are participating in core and elective educational rotations this block:

Block 4 will be the first block to include the OB/GYN clinical rotation and the Surgical Specialties portion of the Medical Specialties II core rotation.

The following testimonials are an example of the feedback we have received from the students rotating at Ochsner in Block 4.

“My experience thus far has been really good. I would certainly recommend Ochsner based upon what I’ve done so far. Everyone who I’ve dealt with has been really friendly and has gone out of their way to include me in the team.”

“New Orleans has been a blast: having lots of fun in and outside the hospital.”

Block 5 (September 28-November 20)

Ten students are scheduled for Block 5:

• 3–Medical Specialties I (cardiology, infectious disease, pulmonary medicine)
• 5–Medical Specialties II
• 2–Pediatrics and Child Health