We salute those who - New Orleans City Business

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photo by Tracie Morris SchaeferPROFESSIONALMatthew CurolePosition: nutritional services director, Slidell Memorial HospitalAge: 37Family: wife, Jamie; children, Elise, 13, Dominic, 11Education: bachelor’s degree in management, Nicholls State UniversitySome consider making a meal forsomeone to be an act of love.Matthew Curole, director of nutritionalservices at Slidell Memorial Hospital,puts his heart into the food he preparesfor workers, patients and families.“It’s a simple pleasure of life, and it’s soeasy to do,” Curole said.Being at a hospital can be stressful forpatients and their families, and food canbe a source of comfort, Curole said, especiallyfor people in south Louisiana.“It brightens someone’s day just to eata good meal and enjoy themselves. It’s oneless thing for families to worry about.”One of Curole’s most rewardingmoments came from organizing a“Biggest Loser” contest at the hospital tosee which staff member could shed themost weight over time.The competition was initially limitedto Curole’s department, where 15 workerslost a combined 185 pounds. Wordspread and the administration askedhim to take the contest hospitalwide,resulting in 57 employees losing morethan 550 pounds. One woman brokedown in tears of joy when she saw howmuch weight she had lost.“In addition to the impacts we canhave on the lives of our patients, I can havean impact on the staff that’s workinghere,” Curole said.Curole also participates in a numberof volunteer activities. He is the foodchairman and a cook for the TomatoFestival in Chalmette, where he alsoworks with Our Lady of Prompt Succorand helps its school prepare a pancakebreakfast with Santa Claus eachDecember.•— Fritz EskerPROFESSIONALRichardGaienniePosition: CEO, Bridge House Corp.Age: 71Family: wife, Barbara; children, Bill, 49, Michelle, 41, Dana, 40Education: studied business at Loyola UniversityRichard “Buzzy” Gaiennie has witnessed a lot of dramatictransformations in his 25 years in charge of BridgeHouse. One of his favorite success stories is that of KevinGardere, who now heads the major gifts fundraising departmentat the substance abuse treatment center.“Because of an automobile accident during his usingdays, he had a serious leg injury, and he’s had to have his legamputated,” Gaiennie said. “He’s overcome both alcoholismand an addiction to pain medication. He’s doing a great jobfor us as an employee.”Former residents make up nearly 40 percent of the 55-member staff at Bridge House. Since its inception, the facilityhas assisted more than 20,000 addicts in their recovery,using 12-step programs and various models of behavioraltherapy.Treatment at the nonprofit center also includes a componentcalled “working recovery.” Along with a clinical counselor,each resident is assigned a vocational rehabilitationcounselor.For Gaiennie, a recovering alcoholic who said his work isinspired by a spiritual awakening he experienced when hephoto by Frank Aymamiwas three years sober, running Bridge House is more of avocation than a job.“The best thing I’ve ever done with my life is being hereat Bridge House, and I’m extremely grateful for having theopportunity.”After a quarter-century at the helm of the center, Gaienniewill celebrate another milestone in October when BridgeHouse moves from its Camp Street location into a new35,000-square-foot, 104-bed facility at Earhart Boulevardand South Dupre Street. Bridge House will use its originalbuilding to house a women’s residential treatment facility,Grace House.“Statistics show that a person’s recovery is going to beconsistent with the stability of their work,” Gaiennie said.“We have identified that most of our people are emotionallyimmature and don’t know how to stay employed. So weinvest quite a bit in teaching them a work ethic.”•— Sonya Stinson30 Health Care Heroes
PROFESSIONALRobert GardnerPosition: psychosocial oncology director, Touro InfirmaryAge: 51Family: wife, Kim; daughter, Paige, 3Education: bachelor’s degree in business and psychology, AuburnUniversity; master’s degree in education, University of New Orleans;counselor education graduate, University of New Orleansphoto by Frank AymamiNearly 10 years ago, Robert Gardner lay next to his motherwho was dying from cancer. She said to him, “Dosomething with your life that matters. You’ll know what it iswhen you find it.”The message stuck with Gardner, who had owned a breadbakery in Memphis, Tenn., for 15 years and worked prior tothat in the food service industry. After his mother’s death, hemoved to Jackson, Miss., and began consulting businessesopening bakeries. During that time, Gardner was attendinggrief counseling.“My therapist said, ‘Have you ever thought about being inmy chair? The way you ask questions and talk about everything,you might be a good therapist.’”It was also the same time Gardner met his wife, Kim.They moved to New Orleans, where Gardner went back toschool to become a counselor.In 2006, cancer hit the homefront again. Kim was diagnosedwith cervical cancer, and Gardner was the first todeliver the message.“I actually told her, and I remember rehearsing in thecar exactly how I would break the news to her,” Gardnersaid. “It gave me another level of understanding of howcancer could affect healthy people out of the blue andDr. Robert Gardner chats with patient Mary Ann Hastings at a Gynocologic Cancer Support Group meeting at Touro Infirmary.change their lives, and gave me motivation to keep doingwhat I was doing.”Kim is in remission and almost 100 percent cured.Since joining Touro’s staff as director of psychosocialoncology, Gardner has developed a supportive cancer careprogram. In addition to counseling patients and their families,he also co-facilitates a weekly support group for caregiversof cancer patients at the American Cancer Society’sPatrick F. Taylor Hope Lodge.“My role is to help those affected by cancer become betterprepared to deal with the psychological, emotional andinterpersonal impact of their disease,” Gardner said. “Cancercan lead people down a path of hopelessness, and it’s my jobto be there for them to grasp the mechanisms in their life thatcan provide them hope.”•— Tommy SantoraPROFESSIONALThomas GrimstadPosition: CEO, Louisiana Mutual Medical Insurance Co.Age: 62Family: wife, Wina; sons, Thomas Jr., 34, John, 29Education: bachelor’s degree in zoology, University of Wisconsin; doctor of medicine, TulaneUniversity School of Medicinephoto by Tracie Morris SchaeferUnder the leadership of Dr. ThomasGrimstad, who became president andCEO of Louisiana Mutual Medical InsuranceCo. in January 2008, the company was able togive its Louisiana and Arkansas policyholdersa dividend for the second consecutive year.“The workers are really the ones whodeserve the credit,” said Grimstad, the fourthphysician to lead LAMMICO, an insurancecompany led by physicians that provides malpracticecoverage to doctors and other healthcare practitioners.“My ability to do that is because of what hastranspired for more than a quarter of a centuryat the company,” he said.For 18 years before joining LAMMICO,Grimstad worked as a physician of consultativepulmonary disease at West Jefferson MedicalCenter, where he was chief of staff in 1985.“I miss seeing patients and the interactionwith patients,” he said. “Doctors have a certainopportunity to do good and I miss that.”However, Grimstad said he takes pride inhis current work and the company.His connection with the medical field canbe traced back to his youth, when his mother,a physician, worked as an internist with a specialtyin dermatology. Grimstad said therewere not many women in the medical field atthat time in history.“Her graduating class had three womenout of 100 or so students,” he said. “She was apioneer in medicine. She encouraged all ofour family to obtain an education.”And this physician-turned-CEO still prideshimself on his ability to help others.“One of my greatest accomplishments isgetting to this point where I can help physiciansof this state at a broad level.”•— Amy Ferrara SmithNew Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 31
Page 2 and 3: 40% of us will develop cancer.Would
Page 4 and 5: We salute those whofind it in their
Page 6 and 7: IntroductionHealth Care Heroes hono
Page 8 and 9: ANIMAL CAREKaren MillerBecnelPositi
Page 10 and 11: FIRST RESPONDERSDan RussoPosition:
Page 13 and 14: photo by Tracie Morris SchaeferNURS
Page 15 and 16: NURSERosaBustamante-ForestPosition:
Page 17 and 18: NURSEKim HaleyPosition: registered
Page 19 and 20: NURSEMark StockstillPosition: chief
Page 21 and 22: PHYSICIANPui Chun“Joan” ChengPo
Page 23 and 24: PHYSICIANSander FlormanPosition: as
Page 25 and 26: PHYSICIANWilliam JohnstonPosition:
Page 27 and 28: PHYSICIANRobert PostPosition: medic
Page 29: PROFESSIONALStephenBaldwinPosition:
Page 33 and 34: PROFESSIONALMackie ShilstonePositio
Page 35 and 36: Congratulations to ourwonderful Hea
Page 37 and 38: VOLUNTEERBetty DugasPosition: auxil
Page 39 and 40: Honoringthe HeroesNearly 300 people
Page 41 and 42: Glen Golemi, left, and Pat Quinlan.
Page 43 and 44: 2009s p o n s o r e d b y :THE GLAZ

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