KEEPING THE ORCHESTRA AFLOAT PERFORMING ON FLOATING STAGE WITH HELP OF A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN
April 30, 2007Jessie Darcey
May 2, 2007
Houma ophthalmologist Dr. A.J. de la Houssaye operates on a pyramid.
From the three distinct aspects of his Specialty Eye Care America practice, to his logo n an Egyptian pyramid with an eye in the center n the symbol serves as a constant reminder of his goal: To apply the precision builders of great monument used to treating patients’ eyes.
Since 1998, de la Houssaye has operated the SEECA, a state-of-the-art medical eye clinic.
SEECA Marketing Director Paul Baker said the company includes an ophthalmology practice, an optical and a technology company.
With more than 25,000 patient charts on record, de la Houssaye is in high demand, Baker said. He sees over 10,000 patients annually, and performs more than 500 surgical procedures a year on average. SEECA has quickly grown into Terrebonne Parish’s largest eye care provider, Baker noted.
With the help of a record-keeping system n Electronic Medical Records (EMR) n de la Houssaye is able to stay on top of the busy schedule, instantly accessing patients’ medical information.
De la Houssaye’s resume’ reflects his drive for excellence.
After earning his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University in the mid-1970s n he attended college on a Chancellor’s Scholarship n he went on to attend Harvard University.
The aspiring medical doctor returned home on a Board of Supervisor’s scholarship and finished medical school at LSU. A graduate of the Class of 1984, de la Houssaye was one of five honor students to receive a medical degree that year.
With a research grant, he published his first research work in the “Life Science Journal.” And while still in training at Ochsner Hospital, de la Houssaye was the first medical resident to perform an advanced cataract surgery technique, inventing a laser-guided device that enhances cataract surgery results, Baker explained.
In 2004, de la Houssaye earned his certification from the American Board of Ophthalmology.
De la Houssaye also has a number of notable honors to his credit.
He has been honored as the Young Alumnus of the Year in a field of 300,000 graduates. And he is a past recipient of the Small Business Association of America’s Most Outstanding Businessman for the Tri-Parish Region; Consumer Research Council of America’s Top Ophthalmologist; Patriotic Citizen of the Year; and Empire’s Who’s Who of America Executive of the Year in the area of ophthalmology and technology. SEECA was named the state’s Innovator of the Year for its use of computerized medical records, and the company was given the Microsoft Award for creating and implementing advanced software in medicine.
The young ophthalmologist is also a firm believer in giving back to the area.
“By providing charitable community service, we hope to make our corner of the world a little more caring,” he said.
Toward that end, SEECA has provided nearly 5,000 free eye exams to several groups, including local and state police, the Houma Indians, veterans, local schools and the elderly. In all, de la Houssaye has donated more than $100,000 in free eye care and donations.
Like Imhotep, the architect of the first pyramid and the world’s first doctor, de la Houssaye is committed to perfecting his craft. Imhotep is credited with discovering treatments for 29 different ocular conditions n more than any other organ system he wrote about.
“In a real snese, Imhotep was the first ophthalmologist,” Baker said. “It is fitting that we chose his architectural creation, the pyramid, as our logo.”
SEECA Medical
Owner: Dr. A.J. de la Houssaye
Address: 249 Corporate Drive, Houma
Phone: (985) 853-0900
Web site: www.seeca.com
Employees: 15
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 8 a.m. to noon.
Service: Eye care.
