We salute those who - New Orleans City Business

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