Health Notes is an occasional listing of health happenings around Louisiana. Have something you’d like to share? Contact us at [email protected].
EMS Academy names new business manager
Kristine Ritch joined the Acadian Ambulance team in 2022 as a recruiter, and during that time, she earned her EMT certification. In October 2023, she became the regional coordinator for National EMS Academy’s Austin, Dallas and San Antonio campuses.
Ritch was promoted in July 2025 to Operations Coordinator for all Texas and Tennessee campuses before moving to National EMS Academy’s business manager position in November.
Tulane celebrates university biomedical research center
Tulane University President Michael A. Fitts visited the faculty, staff and students of the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center in Covington in December, noting that the center plays a major role in the current upward trajectory of the state of the university, accounting for nearly a quarter of Tulane’s federal research portfolio and bringing in about $35 million annually in NIH funding, including a recent $4 million award to upgrade vitally important facilities.
Tulane University President Michael A. Fitts visited the faculty, staff and students of the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center in Covington in December. They reflected on a year of extraordinary scientific achievement and momentum in biomedical research.
Pennington professor headed to University of Sydney
A professor of clinical science, Dr. Leanne Redman will leave her position at Pennington Biomedical at the end of 2025 to lead the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney in Australia. Redman has held a number of positions at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, including the LPFA Endowed Chair in Nutrition and Associate Executive Director for Scientific Education.
Over the past 20 years, she has pioneered groundbreaking research on women’s health issues, including the study of obesity in pregnancy, the optimization of maternal nutrition and childhood obesity prevention.
Born in Australia, Redman graduated from Southern Cross University with a Bachelor of Human Movement Science with Honors before gaining her doctorate from the University of Adelaide in 2004 and a Master of Clinical Research in 2011 while in the U.S. from Tulane University.
Dr. Leanne Redman.
FranU unveils new health building in January
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University will celebrate the completion of its newly renovated School of Health Professions Building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Jan. 7 at the Health Professions Building on campus.
The event marks the conclusion of a $2 million renovation designed to enhance interdisciplinary learning, expand hands-on clinical training and strengthen FranU’s mission to form Franciscan health care leaders.
Ochsner Baton Rouge expands orthopedics and sports medicine staff
The Ochsner Therapy & Wellness at Elite Training Complex — Burbank welcomes several new orthopedic and sports medicine specialists:
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Skylar Culmone, a certified physician assistant, specializes in musculoskeletal conditions with clinical interests in fracture management, joint injections and postoperative recovery.
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Tina Davis, a nurse practitioner, cares for patients with musculoskeletal injuries and orthopedic conditions.
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Brooke Nassif, a certified physician assistant, practices orthopedic surgery
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Zachary Person, a family nurse practitioner, provides advanced care for patients with musculoskeletal injuries and orthopedic conditions.
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