We salute those who - New Orleans City Business

PHYSICIANSteve LevinePosition: pediatric intensive care unit medical director,Children’s HospitalAge: 59Family: wife, Shari; children, Jennifer, 26, Benjamin, 22Education: bachelor’s degree in sociology, State University of NewYork, Stony Brook; doctor of medicine, The Autonomous University ofGuadalajara, MexicoThroughout his career, Dr. Steven Levine, medical directorof the intensive care unit at Children’s Hospital, hasbeen instrumental in children’s medical care throughoutLouisiana.In 1985, he worked to help Ochsner Medical Centerbecome the first and only lung transplant center in the stateuntil Hurricane Katrina. He’s also helped increase the numberof beds at Children’s Hospital’s intensive care unit fromfour to 30.“We like to walk the walk, not just talk the talk,” saidLevine, who is board certified in pediatric pulmonary andcritical care. “We’re here to turn kids back to their parents.It’s very gratifying.”In June, Children’s Hospital will open its Michael JeffreyLupin Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for kids with life-threateningillnesses and injuries.“The kids we haven’t saved, they really crawl into yourhearts. It’s challenging,” he said.Levine came to New Orleans in 1979 to participate in apediatric pulmonary fellowship at Tulane University withphoto by Frank AymamiDr. William Waring. He credits Waring and Dr. AaronRausen, chairman of pediatrics at Beth Israel University inNew York when Levine did his pediatric residency there,with inspiring him throughout his career.“They taught me to never be complacent, to never giveup, to have patience with the kids and their families, and tomaintain an inquisitive mind.”Three years after working with Waring, Levine joinedChildren’s Hospital in 1981.“I thought this was an interim position,” he said. “But Ifell in love with the city, the ICU and Children’s.”•— Amy Ferrara SmithPHYSICIANSVictor LucasPosition: pediatric cardiology section head, Ochsner Health SystemAge: 47Family: wife, Betsy; children, Victor, 18, Nicholas, 16, Amanda, 10Education: bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology, SoutheasternUniversity; doctor of medicine, Medical University of South CarolinaDennis MelloPosition: pediatric and congenital cardiac surgery chief, OchsnerHealth SystemAge: 44Family: wife, Rachel; children, Chris, 12, Jack, 7, Olivia, 6Education: bachelor’s degree in biology, Yale University; doctor ofmedicine, University of Connecticut School of MedicineChris SnyderPosition: pediatric electrophysiology head, Ochsner Health SystemAge: 42Family: wife, Allison; children, Ainsley, 7, Katelyn, 5Education: bachelor’s degree in biology, Wayne State University;doctor of medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine26 Health Care HeroesPhysicians who have been exposed to health care systemsin underdeveloped parts of the world sayAmericans often don’t realize that many citizens of foreigncountries fail to receive even basic care.Drs. Victor “Sam” Lucas, Dennis Mello and ChrisSnyder went on a mission trip to Paraguay in November toperform cardiac work for people who would die if leftuntreated.Mello was making his fifth mission trip to Paraguay,where he performed cardiac surgery on children with congenitalheart diseases.“It’s life or death,” Mello said. “You feel like you’regiving a kid a new life.”Mello asked Lucas to join the mission to expand theavailable services to include curative catheter procedures,which prevent the need for open-heart surgery.“Their families are just as happy to have their kidshealthy as we are, and they never thought they’d be ableto get this care,” Lucas said.Snyder, who had been on a mission to St. Petersburg,Russia, with Mello, was there to perform electrophysiologyprocedures. While Snyder enjoyed caring for thepatients, he echoed a sentiment Lucas and Mello share —namely that the mission is just as much about teaching theParaguayan physicians as it is about treating the children.In the years since Mello started the Paraguay missions— he’s made 10 trips in the past eight years — the numberof procedures has grown dramatically. In his first year, heoperated on three children. The second year, seven.“Each year, we get to treat more and more, and providemore complex procedures,” Mello said.And each year, the Paraguayan surgeons the missionworks with become more proficient, the doctors said.The end goal is still in the distance,but it is a simple one.“Let every kid in the world get treated the same,”Mello said.•— Fritz Eskerphoto by Frank AymamiFrom left: Drs. Dennis Mello, Chris Snyder and Sam Lucas.