HJBR May/Jun 2025

56 MAY / JUN 2025  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Hospital Rounds nationwide event marks a critical step for medical students, determining where they will complete their residency training and continue their jour- ney toward becoming board-certified physicians. Each year, residents work alongside experienced physicians and clinical teams, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in a collaborative, high-acu- ity setting. This year’s residents come from diverse back- grounds, including medical institutions across Cal- ifornia, Kentucky, Michigan, and Louisiana-based schools such as LSU Health - New Orleans and LSU Health - Shreveport. These residents will join the following residency programs: • Our Lady of the Lake Pediatric Residency. • LSU Our Lady of the Lake Psychiatry Residency. • LSU Emergency Medicine Residency. • LSU Internal Medicine Residency. • LSU Surgery Residency. • LSU Ear, Nose, and Throat Residency. Colorectal Surgeon Sarah Baker, MD Joins Baton Rouge General Sarah Baker, MD has recently joined Baton Rouge General’s Advanced Robotics of Louisi- ana as a colorectal surgeon. Baker brings a com- prehensive approach to practicing medicine, with triple board certification in colorectal surgery, gen- eral surgery and surgical critical care. She is lead- ing a growing field of female colorectal surgeons, a specialty that has been historically male. Today, 21% of board-certified colorectal surgeons are women, up from just 6% in 2000. Using the most advanced techniques, Baker treats all colorectal diseases, including colon Ochsner Baton Rouge Celebrates Organ Donation Heroes Ochsner, in partnership with the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency, hosted a tribute in honor of National Donate Life Blue & Green Day celebrating the generosity and lasting legacy of organ, eye, and tissue donors. This event, held at Ochsner Medical Center off O’Neal Lane, brought together the care teams at Ochsner Baton Rouge and the families of selfless individuals whose final act of kindness gave others a second chance at life. More than 100,000 people in the U.S. are cur- rently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Just one donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation, heal up to 75 through tissue donation, and restore sight to two people through cornea donation. To honor these heroes, a flag-raising ceremony and butterfly release were held as symbols of remembrance, renewal, and gratitude. OLOL Children’s Hospital Celebrates First Anniversary of Hogs for the Cause Family Support Home One year ago, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, in partnership with Hogs for the Cause, opened the Hogs for the Cause Family Support Home. Known as the “Hogs House,” the family support home provides free, on-campus lodg- ing for families traveling to Baton Rouge for their child’s medical care. In just one year, the Hogs House has become a haven of comfort and sup- port, welcoming 244 families, including 126 who returned for multiple stays. A Year of Impact More than 3,920 nights of free lodging, with an average stay of nearly four days. 293 children and 505 adults served, alleviating financial and logistical challenges. Families from across Louisiana and beyond — including Calcasieu, Lafayette, Ouachita, Rapides, Evangeline, and St. Landry parishes — as well as Mississippi, Texas, and states as far as California and Massachusetts. “Over the past year, the Hogs House has been a sanctuary for families facing some of the most challenging moments of their lives,” said Jona- than Brouk, president of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health. “Knowing that parents have a comfortable place to stay while their child receives expert medical care is truly invaluable.” The home was made possible through a $2.25 million pledge from Hogs for the Cause, along with community contributions. It features 12 pri- vate rooms, recreational areas, a guest kitchen, a laundry room, and a backyard designed to pro- vide a welcoming and supportive atmosphere. “Each of these families found comfort and support when they needed it most, and we are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Hogs for the Cause and our community,” said Ann Marie Marmande, president of the Our Lady of the Lake Foundation. “Our commitment to supporting families in need has made a lasting impact, and we are proud to continue this important work with such dedicated partners.” SugarplumBall Raises $1.6M for Manning Family Children’s On the evening of March 29, friends and sup- porters of Manning Family Children’s celebrated the 43rd annual Sugarplum Ball, themed Beneath a Sapphire Sky, which commemorated the hospi- tal’s 70-year anniversary. The annual black-tie fun- draiser, presented by LEMOINE, raised an extraor- dinary $1.6 million in support of Manning Family Children’s mission to provide expert care for every child, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Co-Chairs Marcie Gardner and Holt Kolb led a host committee of more than 100 members in planning the event. “Sugarplum Ball highlights the unwavering generosity of our community in helping Manning Family Children’s deliver on our mission every single day,” said Lucio A. Fragoso, president and CEO of Manning Family Children’s. “As we cel- ebrate 70 years of caring for kids this year, the impact of the 43rd annual Sugarplum Ball will help advance our mission to deliver the highest level of pediatric care as the region’s only comprehensive children’s hospital. Our Lady of the LakeWelcomes 73 NewMedical Residents onMatch Day 2025 Our Lady of the Lake Health welcomed 73 new resident physicians following the 2025 National Resident Matching Program Match Day. This Sarah Baker, MD