Born and raised in Guatemala, Juan Guzman Noguera has been in the U.S. since he started college in 2014. He’s been part of our health ministry as a performance improvement engineer for nearly three years. Honoring His Hispanic Heritage Guzman Noguera celebrates his culture and heritage through cooking and sharing with other friends of all…
In August 2022, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center’s Trauma Center was upgraded from a Level II adult trauma center to Level I by the American College of Surgeons, making it the first and only trauma center in the Capital Region and one of only three in Louisiana to receive the prestigious distinction.…
Since she was a student shadowing nurses on the cardiac unit in 2001, Stephanie Velez, RN, has been an important part of Our Lady of Lourdes family. Currently a bedside nurse for orthopedics and neurology, Velez also occasionally steps in as a charge nurse. During her 21 years, she has helped wherever needed including working…
As the director of mission integration for our Northshore market, Rafael Flores, MAPL, primarily serves at Our Lady of the Angels Hospital. “I have the joy of serving by helping ensure the mission of our health system is actuated across the Northshore region,” Flores says. His work includes leading the areas of formation, pastoral care,…
As a pediatric neurologist with St. Francis Health, Aristoteles Pena-Miches, MD, has served the children of Northeast Louisiana for more than two decades. Providing specialized evaluation and treatment of neurological disorders, Dr. Pena-Miches educates and guides families about the diagnosis and treatment options available. “We strive to fulfill this responsibility with compassion and clear understanding…
Chris Funes, MD, wears many hats as a Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System team member. For 22 years, Dr. Funes has been a pediatrician at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Pediatrics at Southeast. He serves as our health system’s medical director for ambulatory quality and is president of Health Leaders Network…
Food is a means to connect to our own culture and experience others’ cultures. Jen Bays Avis, MEd, LDN, RDN, CDE, a registered dietitian with St. Francis Medical Group, shares recipes influenced by Hispanic culture. Make this appetizer, entrée and dessert to have a complete meal. SHRIMP TOSTADO BITES INGREDIENTS FOR THE SHRIMP 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive…
No one plans for a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), but families who are experiencing that reality can still meet their breastfeeding goals with support. Becca Miller, SLP, speech language pathologist and official lactation consultant at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, helps tackle some fears those parents may be…
The ongoing outbreak of monkeypox, a viral disease spread through close personal contact, has raised many questions. Our health system is a key partner in responding to the outbreak, and we are committed to providing the answers as they become clear. Katie Taylor, MD, medical director of infection prevention at Our Lady of the Lake…
Football season has officially kicked off, and that means plenty of tailgates and other get-togethers to add to our busy fall schedules. With all the fried foods and carb-heavy snacks that will be front and center, it can be difficult to stay balanced. But there are a few tricks to keep in mind when assembling…
There are some routine medical exams that are just, well, unpleasant or uncomfortable. A throat swab, a cardiac stress test, a pelvic exam. For men, a prostate exam is pretty high up that list. But as the physicians at Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Men’s Health and Executive Wellness Center tell their patients,…
Head lice are a common problem in school-aged children. Lice are spread by direct head-to-head contact, although sometimes they can be spread by sharing brushes or hats. Lice are not a sign of poor hygiene, and they do not spread any diseases. They are just a nuisance. Fortunately, treatments are readily available. Michele Salassi, MD,…
A morning cup (or three) of coffee might provide you with more health benefits than you realize. Take a moment to learn more about why this popular breakfast beverage is more than just a morning mood-booster. Just go easy on the cream and sugar. Our providers can help you stay in tip-top shape all year…
Every breastfeeding journey is unique, and a single approach won’t work for all moms. Gregory J. Gelpi, MD, FAAP, IBCLC, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health pediatrician and breastfeeding expert, and Becca Miller, SLP, speech language pathologist and official lactation consultant at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, share helpful tips for moms…
Lifestyle changes can help kids who are overweight, reducing their risk of developing long-term health conditions later. We believe we can change the future of Louisiana through coordinated care among parents, providers and kids to fight childhood obesity, which is a public health crisis in our state. We’ve gathered some lifestyle changes to make together…
Make sure your child’s car seat is the correct one for their height, weight, and age and that it’s properly installed. Installation Checklist More than 59 percent of car seats are used or installed incorrectly. Is your child’s car seat installed correctly? Your car seat is: Appropriate for your child’s age, weight and height Facing…
Parents often worry if quiet or anxious children and teens will have the social skills they need to become successful adults. It can be challenging to figure out the best way to gently encourage kids to socialize and when it’s appropriate to step back. The key to knowing what to do is to find the…
Whether a breastfeeding mom is returning to work or expressing milk so others can feed baby, knowing how to safely store her milk is important for baby’s health. How the milk is stored will depend on how soon it needs to be used. These general guidelines for storing milk at different temperatures, but other factors…