New Orleans health briefs for Feb. 7-13

CEO named to head Ochsner Baptist

Dawn Anuszkiewicz has accepted the position of chief executive officer of Ochsner Baptist Medical Center effective March 4.

Anuszkiewicz joins Ochsner from St. Louis University Hospital, where she served as chief operating officer for the past two years. She also held the positions of senior administrator, administrator of academic services and director of graduate medical education at the hospital.

Anuszkiewicz received her master’s of health service administration at the George Washington University School of Business Management and her bachelor of arts in psychology at Rutgers University.

Touro has good news on chocolate, wine

Dark chocolate and red wine: Just what the doctor ordered?

Touro dietitians will offer surprising information on these heart-healthy treats during a seminar Thursday, at 5 p.m. in the Foucher Room, 1401 Foucher St., second floor, at Touro Infirmary.

Lunch and parking are provided and the seminar is free, but reservations are required. Call (504) 897-8500.

Ochsner schedules sleep apnea program

Dr. Chung Pham will discuss sleep apnea at a program offered by Ochsner’s Golden Opportunity Program for people 50 and older on Monday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ochsner Medical Center Westbank River Room. Cost is $5 per person. For more information, contact the Westbank Golden Opportunity office at (504) 391-5353.

East Jeff sponsors yoga in City Park

Addy Meisenheimer, of the East Jefferson General Hospital Wellness Center, teaches yoga in the Besthoff Sculpture Gardens in City Park on the first, second and third Saturday of every month.

The class is $5, or free for New Orleans Museum of Art and Wellness Center members. For information, call the center at (504) 849-6868.

Free car seat checks at Mandeville station

State Police station Troop L, 2600 Causeway Boulevard, offers free car seat checks every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. by appointment. Contact Trooper Nick Manale at (985) 893-6250, Ext. 628.

Ostomy Support Group meetings set

The Greater New Orleans Ostomy Support Group holds meetings on the second Tuesday of April, June, August, October and December at 7 p.m. at East Jefferson General Hospital, 4200 Houma Blvd., Metairie.

For information, call (504) 454-4941.

Support, play groups available at hospital

The Slidell Memorial Hospital Parenting Center offers free weekly support and play groups Wednesdays in the second-floor classroom of the Wellness pavilion, 501 Robert Blvd. Walking age to 30 months meets at 10 a.m.; 31 months to preschool at 11 a.m. For more information call (985) 649-8529.

Network offers free youth immunizations

The Greater New Orleans Immunization Network bus offers free shots to children who lack insurance coverage for vaccinations. The network also maintains a computerized registry for easy record-keeping.

For more information, call (504) 733-3268 or go to http://www.GNOshots4kids.com.

The bus will be parked

Wednesday at Walgreens at Bullard and Lake Forest drives from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Feb. 14 at Rouse’s, 4001 General de Gaulle, Algiers, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

West Jefferson offers
cancer support

Bosom Buddies, a support group for breast cancer survivors, meets the first Tuesday of the month at West Jefferson Medical Center’s Hall of History in the Gretna Classroom at the hospital in Marrero. To register, call (504) 349-1640.

Grief support groups meet at Touro, W. Jeff

Free grief support groups are sponsored by the Akula Foundation at Touro Infirmary on the first and third Thursday of the month and at West Jefferson General Hospital on the first and third Wednesday.

For information, call (504) 723-3628.

Epilepsy group offers counseling services

Short-term counseling provides assistance in coping with seizure disorders, temporary and chronic difficulties, and stress management.

Efforts are directed toward promoting the healthy functioning of people with epilepsy.

For more information, contact Kelly Aprill at (800) 960-0587 or check online at http://www.epilepsylouisiana.org.

Parkinson’s support group sets meetings

Parkinson’s support group offers opportunities to share information and offer positive reinforcement.

Meetings are at 1:30 p.m. on the last Monday of the month at East Jefferson General Hospital and include a guest speaker. Call (504) 456-5000 for more information.

Stroke support group meets at E. Jefferson

Stroke support group meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the eighth-floor gym at East Jefferson General Hospital. Call (504) 456-5000 for information.

Compiled by
the New Orleans bureau