Tri-parish Newsmakers

Guillot named TRMC ICU clinical director

Laurie Guillot, R.N., has been named clinical director of Thibodaux Regional Medical Center’s intensive care unit.

Guillot is a nine-year veteran of TRMC, previously serving as charge nurse on the medical/surgical unit, unit coordinator on the step down unit and, most recently, ICU unit coordinator.

A 2010 recipient of the “Great 100 Nurses” award, Guillot earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Nicholls State University. In addition, she is certified in advanced cardiac life support and pediatric advanced life support as well as oncology medication administration. Guillot volunteers as a Red Cross disaster health services nurse and team leader.

Patlola joins TGMC’s med staff

Cardiologist Raghotham Patlola, M.D., has joined Terrebonne General Medical Center’s associate courtesy medical staff.

Patlola received his medical degree from B.L.D.E. Association’s Medical College Hospital and Research Center in Karnataka, India. He also underwent cardiology training at the Interventional Cardiology Maimonides Medical Center State University of New York in Brooklyn, N.Y.

He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine for cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. He is also board certified in nuclear cardiology and in endovascular medicine. Dr. Patlola is currently an interventional cardiologist at the Cardiovascular Institute of the South in Lafayette.

Rees joins Headache & Pain Center

Dr. Stephen Rees has joined the Headache & Pain Center AMC in Gray.

A native of Breaux Bridge, Rees graduated from the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. He completed his internship in family practice in St. Petersburg, Fla., and his residence in physical medicine and rehabilitation at LSU in New Orleans in 1993. He has also completed the subspecialty training of pain medicine, and is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Headache & Pain Center’s Jimmy Ponder Jr. touted Rees’ 18 years of experience, including his specialties: electromyography/nerve conduction testing, disability evaluation and pain relief procedures.

Alevizon joins TRMC

Gynecologist Steven Alevizon, M.D., has joined Thibodaux Regional Medical Center’s active medical staff.

Alevizon earned his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, and completed his internship and residency at Ochsner Medical Foundation in New Orleans. He is board certified by the American Board of OB/GYN.

Richard named TRMC ACU/PACU clinical director

Lisa Richard, R.N., M.S.N., has been named Thibodaux Regional Medical Center’s clinical director of the ambulatory care and post anesthesia care units (ACU/PACU).

Richard has 22 years nursing experience, 10 of which have been spent at TRMC. She previously served as a critical care nurse, diabetes and nurse educator and, most recently, served as administrative coordinator of ACU/PACU.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Louisiana State University, and graduated from Loyola University of New Orleans with a master’s degree in nursing. She is a certified advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and pediatric advanced life support (PALS) instructor. She is a trained Six Sigma Green Belt.

MidSouth Bank tapped by Treasury for SBLF

MidSouth Bank has been selected for participation in the Small Business Lending Fun (SBLF), which allows the bank to extend more commercial loans at low and competitive rates to small businesses across its two-state trade area.

The bank’s goal over the next two years is to put $108 million in new loans on its books. “Working with the U.S. Treasury, the Small Business Administration and the various economic development districts throughout our markets will allow us to increase loans to many small businesses, which in turn will enable them to hire more employees in the areas of Louisiana and Texas,” MidSouth Bank’s chief banking officer Troy Cloutier said.

To qualify for SBLF funding, a company must have annual sales of less than $50 million and borrowing needs under $10 million.

Wiltz named chair-elect to NACHC board

Gary M. Wiltz, M.D., CEO of Teche Action Clinic in Franklin, has been elected board chair-elect of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).

A native New Orleanian, Wiltz is a graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine. He joined the Teche Action Clinic in 1982 as medical director, rising to CEO in 2003. The Louisiana Primary Care Association named him Medical Director of the Year in 1994-95. He was chosen as one of only 10 recipients nationally selected for the Robert Wood Johnson’s prestigious “Community Health Leadership Award.”

“I am both honored and humbled by the tremendous vote of support and confidence that the membership has placed in me,” Wiltz said. “Although we face challenging fiscal times, I am confident that we can work together, as we have in the past, and speak as one voice as we press forward with our mission to expand access to care in medically underserved communities across the country.”

Deroche TGMC Daisy Award recipient

Alisa Deroche, R.N., who works in the medical surgical unit at Terrebonne General Medical Center has been honored with “The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.” Deroche has been a part of the TGMC family for three years.

This award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day. Mark Barnes and his family founded the award in 1999, and Terrebonne General Medical Center joins 708-other medical facilities honoring their nurses with this special award.

“Being a nurse takes a lot of hard work and dedication and receiving this award only reassures me that I am right where I need to be and need to continue to work towards providing exceptional health care with compassion,” she said.

Hebert named TGMC October top staffer

Kimberly Hebert, R.N., is Terrebonne General Medical Center’s October Employee of the Month. Hebert works as a clinical coordinator in the medical surgical unit and has been part of the TGMC team for five years.

The Employee of the Month program recognizes workers that exemplify the kind of person that patients, family members and fellow employees distinguish as role models. This employee shows dedication, outstanding work ethics, a positive attitude that is reflected in their day-to-day work and focuses on meeting both internal and external customer service goals.

Synergy Bank opens Thibodaux office

Synergy Bank has opened its fifth area location, 209 E. Bayou Road in Thibodaux, at the intersection of Rosedown Drive, near Envie Restaurant.

“We are excited to be bringing our brand of banking to Lafourche Parish where a number of our existing customers reside, work, and attend school. Our new office is a full- service, traditional, community sensitive branch dedicated to serving the people of Thibodaux and North Lafourche,” explained President and CEO Jerry Ledet.

Synergy Bank opened for business on March 10, 1999, and now has three locations in Houma, one in Gray, and their newest office in Thibodaux. “It is our customers’ continued support that allows us to continue to grow,” Ledet said.

Synergy is a locally-owned community bank. As of Aug. 31, the company’s total assets equaled $347 million.

Further information on the bank may be obtained from its web site at www.banksynergy.com.