Ochsner Children's

We had an incredible time at the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) and Ochsner Children’s Back-to-School Fest on July 26! Thanks to our amazing partnership with YEP, we were able to distribute 350 backpacks to students and families for the upcoming school year. 📚✏️ Ochsner Healthy Schools nurses provided 48 pediatric hearing and vision screenings. This year, we were also able to provide 27 blood pressure screenings for adults. Members from the Brees Family Center were also on site and provided community health and services information to 86 families. We were thrilled to join the YEP team to kick off the 2025-2026 school year. Here's to ensuring students and families are set up for a happy, healthy school year ahead! 💙 #OchsnerServes

Ochsner Children’s and Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana celebrated wish kids and their families at Wish Day on Friday, Aug. 1, at Ochsner Children’s in New Orleans, Louisiana! ⭐ Wish Day is a celebration for wish kids to share their wish, meet each other, and engage in family-friendly fun and activities. This day is also a wonderful opportunity for parents and families of wish kids to connect over their shared experiences of navigating healthcare diagnoses and meet some of the team. Most importantly, it's a day to witness their child share their No. 1 wish. "It was really cool being interviewed for the first time," Joseph, wish kid and Ochsner Children's patient said. "It feels good being an official wish kid!" Ochsner Children’s Child Life Specialists also stopped by to celebrate and say hello to their patients. "What a great day," Evalynn, a Child Life Specialist at Ochsner Children's said. "We're so happy for our patients. They're so deserving." Thank you to everyone who helped make this day special for our patients! 💙😊 Ochsner Children’s is thrilled to partner with Make-A-Wish to fulfill 28 wishes over the next two years by offering life-changing experiences that spark strength and positivity for patients at Ochsner Children’s. Learn more about pediatrics at Ochsner Children’s here: https://lnkd.in/gJ9YPCMz.

Dana Bledsoe, DHA, MBA, MS, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, CEO of Ochsner Children's, learned the meaning of hard work early on in life. In this article withThe Times-Picayune | Nola.com, Dana discusses her upbringing, career working as a nurse, and approach to pediatric care and leadership for the No. 1 hospital for kids in Louisiana. "What draws me to Ochsner Children’s Hospital is our vibrant culture, shared values and the passionate team united by an unwavering commitment to create meaningful, lasting impacts on generations of health," Dana said. Read the full interview here: https://ow.ly/gQJr50WxvuZ Learn more about pediatrics at Ochsner Children's here: https://ow.ly/UxFl50Wxvwl.

Congratulations to the Ochsner STAR Summer Scholars Class of 2025! ⭐ On Friday, June 27, 20 students from 12 different high schools completed our STAR Summer Program. The STAR (science, technology, academics and research) Program is a cost-free opportunity for rising high school seniors to explore the many careers in the medical field. 🩺 Over the course of the four-week program, students conducted intensive scientific research, designed community service projects addressing a problem that faces our community, and explored the variety of healthcare careers engaging with more than 70 professionals at Ochsner Health. Since 2007, STAR has been engaging and inspiring the next generation of healthcare leaders. To date, 78% of all STAR alumni have successfully earned a degree in a STEM-related field! STAR is one of the many programs that Ochsner Education Outreach offers to K-12 students interested in healthcare. For more information about STAR and additional cost-free opportunities from Ochsner Education Outreach, please email EducationOutreach@Ochsner.org. Congrats, STAR scholars! 💙

What helps children stay healthy? 🏋️♀️ Exercising 🥦 Eating a well-balanced diet 😴 Getting enough sleep 🧠 Talking about their feelings and mental health Erin Reuther, PhD, a child psychologist at Ochsner Children's, shares important tips for kids of all ages to stay healthy throughout their childhood, preteen and teen years, as well as into adulthood. Watch Dr. Reuther's segment here: https://lnkd.in/g2XG2VJX Learn more about Dr. Reuther here: https://lnkd.in/gsCJvGQU

We are excited to welcome Omotola Uwaifo, MBBS, FAAP, to the NRP Steering Committee! Dr. Uwaifo is a Neonatologist at Ochsner Baptist in New Orleans, LA. She leads the Neonatal Education and Outreach Program at Ochsner Health, supporting NICUs across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. A dedicated educator and advocate, Dr. Uwaifo has been an NRP Instructor since 2011. We’re thrilled to have her passion and leadership join our mission! #NRPSteeringCommittee #NeonatalEducation #WelcomeNRP

Walmart recently donated toys to our patients at Ochsner Children's Hospital and brought with them loads of joy. 😊 Special shoutout to Jimmy Ladner from Walmart Neighborhood Market in Gretna, Louisiana, and Rocquel Royal from Walmart on Tchoupitoulas in New Orleans, Louisiana, for hand-delivering gifts and spending time with our patients. And a special shoutout to Child Life Specialist, Demi Newton, for helping facilitate, distribute and join in on the fun! Thank you for brightening our patients' days, Walmart, and for putting patients first. 💙 Read more: https://ow.ly/4AGU50WqI2b

Ochsner Children's is delighted to announce that Dr. Omotola O. Uwaifo, a dedicated neonatologist at Ochsner Health since 2010, has been named to the prestigious American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Neonatal Resuscitation Program Steering Committee. This national appointment reflects her exceptional leadership in advancing neonatal care and her dedication to improving health outcomes for newborns. The Neonatal Resuscitation Program Steering Committee plays a crucial role in shaping neonatal resuscitation practices across the United States and around the world. Comprised of neonatologists, liaisons from other professional organizations and consultants from diverse fields, the committee develops educational materials and evidence-based guidelines aimed at improving the immediate care and resuscitation of newborns. The work of this group directly influences hospital care standards, ensuring that babies receive optimal support during the critical moments following birth. “It is an honor to be selected to the AAP NRP Steering Committee,” Dr. Uwaifo shared. “As an NRP instructor, it is a great opportunity to contribute to the development of neonatal resuscitation guidelines.” In accepting this role Dr. Uwaifo is to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Jay Goldsmith, a former Ochsner neonatologist who served on the AAP NRP Steering Committee from 1999 to 2009 She is eager to apply her extensive expertise in neonatal education and further advance the committee’s impactful work. “I would like to contribute to the committee’s ongoing work regarding education and training in neonatal resuscitation—not only for pediatric trainees but also for all health care providers who participate in neonatal resuscitation,” she explained. “This includes advancing the science of neonatal resuscitation and continuing outreach to non-pediatric providers who attend deliveries, such as midwives and EMS personnel.” Please join us in congratulating Dr. Uwaifo on this incredible accomplishment!

What a heartwarming day at Ochsner Children's Hospital! 😊 Thanks to the generosity of the Miracle Children's Foundation, we surprised a few of our young patients with new iPads — bringing comfort and joy during their hospital visit. A big thank you to LSU baseball pitcher and national champion Kade Anderson for stopping by and making the day even more special. We’re also incredibly grateful to Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers for bringing along their plush toys and kids’ combo gift cards. This awesome day wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our amazing donors and community. Thank you for helping us lift up and care for our patients at Ochsner Children's. 💙

Ochsner Children's is proud to offer Saturday availability for well visits, sick visits and newborn care at the following locations: ⭐ Ochsner Children's Health Center - Metairie 💙 Schedule an appointment: 504-842-3900 ⭐ Ochsner Children's Health Center - New Orleans 💙 Schedule an appointment: 504-842-3900 ⭐ Ochsner Children's Health Center - Lapalco 💙 Schedule an appointment: 504-371-9355 To schedule an appointment online, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gJ9YPCMz.