• 3000th da Vinci Robotic Surgery Performed

Daryl Marx, MD, specializing in general, bariatric and robotic-assisted surgery at Willis-Knighton Health System, has performed his 3,000th da Vinci® robotic surgery. Dr. Marx, who practices at WK Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, has been using the da Vinci technology since 2012.

The da Vinci Surgical system enables surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgical procedures with a degree of precision, control and dexterity that traditional surgery cannot match. Benefits to patients include less pain, smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, reduced risk of infection and faster recovery times.

Marx averages 10 to 15 robotic surgeries, including bariatric surgeries, per week. As an experienced surgeon in the da Vinci Surgical System, he trains and proctors other surgeons in robotics.

WK Minimally Invasive Surgery Center is located at Willis-Knighton Medical Center in the Diagnostic & Surgical Building, 2751 Albert L. Bicknell Drive, in Shreveport.

Daryl Marx, MD, is shown with Willis- Knighton Medical Center surgery staffers Heather Clark (left) and Gary Smith.

• Pierremont Ob/Gyn Specialists

Ricky A. Paul, MD, has joined Pierremont OB/Gyn Specialists in Shreveport. He comes to Shreveport from a practice in East Texas, where he has been since 2000.

The Oakdale native earned a Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology at Northeast Louisiana University (now the University of Louisiana – Monroe) and a medical degree at LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport, where he also completed an internship followed by a residency in obstetrics and gynecology.

While he has an interest in high-risk obstetrics, Paul offers a full range of obstetric and gynecologic services. He places a strong emphasis on minimally invasive procedures when his patients need surgery.

Also joining Pierremont OB/Gyn Specialists is Lise M. Huddleston, MD. She emphasizes shared decisionmaking with her patients as one of the hallmarks of her practice.

Within the broad scope of obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Huddleston has a special interest in surgical interventions when needed.

A native Shreveporter, Huddleston has deep connections to the area, graduating from Loyola College Prep. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences at LSU in Baton Rouge, she returned to Shreveport for a medical degree at LSU School of Medicine. She completed an internship and served a residency in obstetrics and gynecology here as well.

WK Pierremont OB/Gyn Specialists is located in Suite 600 of the WK Pierremont Medical Office Building adjacent to the hospital. The practice includes Erin McCormick Gullatt, MD, Lauren McCalmont, MD, and Jeffery Hebert, MD, and Hollie McCart, MD, round out the medical group and expect to begin seeing patients in July.

The doctors and their partners accept new patients and most insurance plans.