HJBR Nov/Dec 2025

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  NOV / DEC 2025 49 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com facilities dedicated to the comprehensive diag- nosis, treatment, and long-term management of Wilson disease. To achieve this designation, cen- ters must meet rigorous criteria, including a dem- onstrated commitment to patient care, advanced diagnostic capabilities, physician education, and research into copper metabolism disorders. These centers also serve as vital educational resources for patients, families, and healthcare providers. Our Lady of the Lake Health to Launch $55 Million Emergency Department Renovation Our Lady of the Lake Health announced a $55 million renovation of its emergency department, the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, designed to expand capacity, integrate advanced tech- nology, and improve the patient and caregiver experience. The renovation, set to begin in fall 2025, will take place in three phases. Throughout the renovation, the emergency department will remain fully operational 24/7. The renovation, designed by Perkins&Will in col- laboration with Louisiana State University interior design students, will feature: • 20 additional expanded treatment spaces; • Enhanced patient flow for faster triage and interventions; and • Added diagnostic technologies. The renovated emergency department will also serve as an academic space for training future physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals. A comprehensive signage and wayfinding plan, along with on-site support and complementary valet parking, will help patients and families navi- gate the facility during construction. Ochsner Health Launches GeneticWellness Assessment A free screening tool to help identify individu- als at risk for hereditary cancers is now available on Ochsner Health’s website. The Genetic Well- ness Assessment allows individuals to determine whether they may have a higher genetic risk of developing cancer by answering a few simple questions that evaluate individual risk factors. The results of genetic testing are used by healthcare providers to offer personalized recommendations for cancer screening, prevention, and further eval- uation for patients and family members. n medicine physician and specializes in cellular ther- apy, leukemia, and myelodysplastic disorders. Sequeira is a graduate of the hematology- oncology fellowship at Cook County Health, where he served as chief fellow. He previously completed his internal medicine residency at Saint Barnabas Hospital in New York, serving as chief medical resident. He was a registered investigator with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) during his final year of fellowship and has authored numerous peer- reviewed publications and abstracts presented at national conferences, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American College of Chest Physicians. His scholarly work spans hematologic malignancies, solid tumors and healthcare disparities, with a strong focus on clinical outcomes and health systems research.  Ochsner Announces Nneka Ifejika, MD, as Ferber Endowed Chair Nneka Ifejika, MD, chief scientific officer for Ochsner Health, has been named the Ferber Endowed Chair, a three-year role. Ifejika was selected for her leadership in clinical innovation, research, and physician education. The endowment will support Ifejika’s research and work advancing novel approaches in stroke recovery, as well as her mentorship of faculty and residents. She will help advance research at Och- sner Medical Center – New Orleans by focusing on recruitment and career development of physi- cians committed to funded research. The endow- ment is funded by a gift from a trust. Manning Family Children’s to Establish Program for Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Michelle Sykes, MD, PhD, a pediatric cardiol- ogist, will lead Manning Family Children’s Gulf South’s first program for pediatric pulmonary hypertension as a member of its Heart Center. Sykes will serve as medical director of the new Manning Family Children’s Pulmonary Hyper- tension Treatment and Research Center, and will serve as a professor in the Department of Pediat- rics at LSU Health New Orleans. Sykes holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering with highest honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she went on to earn a PhD in bioengineering. She then earned a med- ical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, followed by residency training in general pediat- rics at UT Southwestern/Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. Sykes completed a fellowship in pediat- ric cardiology at Harvard Medical School and Bos- ton Children’s Hospital, where she also completed a program in clinical and translational science. She completed training with an advanced fellowship in pediatric pulmonary hypertension at Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, California. Sykes most recently served as assistant profes- sor in the Department of Pediatrics and Division of Pediatric Cardiology at the University of Ken- tucky College of Medicine and UK HealthCare in Lexington, Kentucky, where she led the establish- ment and development of a pediatric pulmonary hypertension service and program. Our Lady of the Lake Health Unveils Abbott’s GLP systems Track Our Lady of the Lake Health hosted a blessing and ribbon cutting in September to celebrate the installation of Abbott’s GLP systems Track, a clin- ical lab automation system featuring smart CAR (self-propelled carrier) technology. Our Lady of the Lake is the first hospital in Baton Rouge to imple- ment this system, which eliminates more than 80% of manual steps, accelerates and standard- izes turnaround times, and enhances reliability. Ochsner NamedWDA Center of Excellence Ochsner Health has earned the designation of Center of Excellence from the Wilson Disease Association (WDA). Under the leadership of hep- atologists Ryan Himes, MD, Hrishikesh Samant, MD, and Steven Young, MD, this recognition underscores Ochsner’s commitment to provid- ing specialized care and advanced treatment for patients with Wilson disease, a rare and complex liver condition. Wilson disease is an inherited disorder affecting approximately one in 30,000 people, in which the body retains excess copper, leading to potentially fatal complications in the liver, brain, and other organs if left untreated. WDA Centers of Excellence are specialized