A cocktail reception celebrating the establishment of the Ochsner LSU Health System of North Louisiana.

“The haunted house gallows, guillotine, cemetery and zombie feast are there,” says Ed Hughens, event designer, “but this scary site, La Louisiane House of Voodoo, has a Bayou-Haitian vibe.” It also is situated in a historic building, 1835 Texas Ave., in a neglected and hairy part of Shreveport: the once-happening West End of the avenue.

risk of having a stroke is a real fear for the millions of Americans suffering from atrial fibrillation (AFib). For those with AFib not caused by a heart valve problem, there is a new, permanent solution called the WATCHMAN that reduces patients’ risk of stroke and can eliminate the use of daily blood thinners.

The ATHENA Leadership Award was inspired by the goddess of Greek mythology known for her strength, courage, wisdom and enlightenment -- qualities embodied in the ATHENA Leadership Model. The award is unique both in scope -- local, national and international -- and the ATHENA mission upon which it is based.

Bags, an outreach project that serves children in crisis within the first 24 hours they are placed in foster care, provides a bag of age-specific, basic necessities.

It is with great enthusiasm that I provide insight into the recently announced partnership between LSU Health Shreveport and Ochsner Health System. I am deeply grateful to so many in the community who have expressed their interest and concern about the future of LSU Health Shreveport.

Schumpert Ribbon Cutting.

Doctors working at LSU Health Shreveport are continuing to make tremendous advances in therapy in many areas. Most recently, they have made tremendous breakthroughs in drugs for extending transplantation time for liver and kidney and protecting soldiers in combat medicine.