The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Affiliate Clinic in Shreveport officially re-opened this morning after undergoing a renovation and expansion. The Shreveport Affiliate Clinic recently underwent a six-month renovation and expansion to be able to treat more patients locally, and to improve the patient’s experience while they are receiving treatment. The Shreveport Chamber of Commerce conducted the official ribbon cutting for the clinic.
Located at the Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, the St. Jude Shreveport Affiliate Clinic gained an additional 1,970 square feet of space adding two new exam rooms, two new treatment chairs, a physician dictation room and medication rooms. The renovation project began in August 2018 and was completed at the end of January.
“We are honored to be affiliated with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and to have the opportunity to provide world-class care to our shared patients, saving families from our region the time and strain of traveling long distances to receive a portion of their required treatments,” said Dr. Majed Jeroudi, Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Medical Director of the St. Jude Affiliate Clinic in Shreveport.
“The improvements and additions to the Shreveport Affiliate Clinic will enhance the treatment experience of our patients and add to the resources available to our patients and their families. The expanded clinic space will allow our team to continue providing exceptional care, as well as improve our ability to treat more patients efficiently,” added Dr. Joseph Bocchini, Chairman of Pediatrics at LSU Health Shreveport.
“In alignment with one of our highest priorities, to improve access to care, the expansion of the St. Jude Shreveport Affiliate Clinic allows more children fighting pediatric cancer the ability to receive world-class treatment in our community,” said Chuck Daigle, CEO, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport.
The Shreveport Affiliate Clinic has a dedicated staff comprised of two pediatric hematologists/oncologists, an advance practice nurse, chemotherapy-certified pediatric nurses, a medical office assistant, a clinical research associate, and a social worker. The clinic also has access to the Child Life Department at the Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport. Dr. Majed Jeroudi, Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at LSU Health Shreveport, is the clinic’s Medical Director. LSU Health Shreveport recently welcomed Dr. Elizabeth Wadhwa, who joined the Department of Pediatrics as our second pediatric hematologist/oncologist, will also care for patients in this new clinic.
“The vision of the St. Jude Affiliate Program is to extend the mission of St. Jude beyond the walls of Memphis. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a remarkable place of innovation with a legacy of success that helps us achieve the extraordinary for children with cancer and blood diseases. Our colleagues in Shreveport contribute to the mission by providing children access to St. Jude clinical trials close to home. We are thrilled that our St. Jude patients from Shreveport will benefit from this beautiful new clinic,” said Dr. Carolyn Russo, Medical Director, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Affiliate Program.
The St. Jude Affiliate Program is a network of pediatric hematology-oncology clinics, hospitals, and in some cases universities, united to extend the mission of St. Jude. The physicians and staff at these sites work in collaboration with the staff at St. Jude to deliver state-of-the-art care and innovative clinical trials to children with cancer and blood disorders.
The affiliation between St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport became official on Oct. 1, 1995, and it allows St. Jude patients to receive a portion of their medical care at home, reducing the stress of travel and helping maintain a sense of normalcy for pediatric patients and their families. The Shreveport Affiliate Clinic, one of eight St. Jude affiliate clinics throughout the United States, is a joint effort of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, the LSU Health Shreveport Department of Pediatrics, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center and Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport. The clinic serves pediatric patients from Northwest Louisiana, Southwest Arkansas, and Northeast Texas with cancer and hematologic disorders.
