JOINT-PROVIDER OPPORTUNITIES

Strengthen your ability to respond when life depends on you. This evidence based professional development day delivers essential training in organ procurement and disaster management across care settings. The morning session, Organ Donation – What Nurses Need to Know, features LOPA experts who clarify referral triggers, communication strategies, ethical considerations, and the nurse’s role in supporting donor families. The afternoons session, Disaster Management & Nurse Readiness, provides practical, actionable approaches to disaster triage, communication, and coordinated response – addressing well documented gaps in nurse preparedness. 

Thursday, October 8, 2026

 Location: Virtual event via Zoom

 Networking: 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

 Presentation time: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

 Credit: 5 contact hours.

 Fee: $ 75

Speakers:

Charles M. Canan, MA, NREMTP, serves as the Region 3 Public Health Emergency Response Coordinator for the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of Community Preparedness. In this role, he leads regional preparedness, response, and recovery operations across the Region 3 river and bayou parishes of southeast Louisiana.

Amanda Falgoust, RN, is the Regional Nurse Manager for the Bureau of Regional and Clinical Operations within the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health. She oversees public health nursing services across her region, supporting high quality clinical operations and coordinated community health initiatives. Amanda also plays a key leadership role in disaster preparedness and response, working with regional partners to strengthen readiness for hurricanes, infectious disease outbreaks, and other public health emergencies. 

Amber R. Cavalier, MA, RN, serves as the Manager of the Mental Health Clinic at the South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority, where she oversees clinic operations and coordinates behavioral and mental health programs that support individuals and families across the region.

Lana Stevens, LOPA – Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency’s Community Educator and Volunteer Specialist.

Larry LeBlanc, NREMT P, CCP C, ALSC, MLS, is a Donation Services Coordinator III with LOPA who has devoted more than 28 years to strengthening organ and tissue donation across hospital communities. Through leadership, education, and collaboration, he has helped save and heal countless lives. A graduate of the National EMS Academy and trained in Medical Laboratory Science/Biology, Larry’s diverse clinical and scientific background has shaped a lifelong calling to support, sustain, and save lives in every role he serves. 

Missie Durapau, RN, has more than a decade of pediatric intensive care experience at Children’s Hospital – now Manning Family Children’s Hospital – in New Orleans. She is the mother of her donor hero, Mason Kiley, whose legacy inspires her ongoing volunteer work with LOPA, where she shares her story, supports donor families, and advocates for the life saving impact of organ donation. 

Jamie Napolitano, MS, CCLS, is a Certified Child Life Specialist with more than 25 years of experience supporting children and families in hospital and community settings across Texas and Louisiana. She also teaches in the Child Life program at Southeastern Louisiana University. Diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy as an infant, Jamie received a life saving heart transplant on January 2, 2009, and honors her donor hero, Cameron, through her volunteer work with LOPA advocating for organ donation.

Activity Learning Outcomes:

• Explain core donation criteria and the nurse’s role in early identification.
• Differentiate brain death vs. circulatory death in the context of donation. 
• Demonstrate trauma informed communication with families during critical moments. 
• Describe the phases of disaster management (mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery).
• Differentiate among medical needs shelters, critical transportation needs shelters, and general population shelters. 

The target audience is registered nurses, case managers and social workers involved in patient care, coordination, and emergency preparedness and organ procurement.

This pediatric-focused professional development series equips school nurses with essential skills to identify and respond to high priority pediatric health concerns, including ear and dental problems, childhood and adolescent obesity, gastrointestinal complaints, allergies and anaphylaxis, and diabetes. Sessions emphasize early recognition, safe school based interventions, and effective communication with caregivers. 

Current national data highlight the urgency of these topics: 1 in 5 U.S. children has obesity (CDC, 2024), food allergies affect approximately 1 in 13 children, and type I diabetes incidence has increased by more than 30% over the past two decades, with type 2 diabetes rising sharply among adolescents. Ear infections account for nearly 30 million pediatric visits annually, and dental caries remain the most common the most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting over 50% of school age children. These trends underscore the critical roles of school and pediatric nurses in assessment, early detection, and timely referral.

Monday, January 4, 2027

 Location: Nicholls State University, Betsy C. Ayo Hall, Nirmala Yalamanchili Donepudi Auditorium

 Networking: 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

 Presentation time: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

 Credit: 5 contact hours.

 Fee: $ 75

Speakers:

Lauren Flettrich, DNP, CPNP-PC, practices pediatric endocrinology at Ochsner Health, providing specialized care to children with endocrine and metabolic conditions. She completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice and advanced training in Pediatric Primary Care at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans in 2024.

Patrick Hagen, MD, is a recently retired head and neck surgery otolaryngologist from Thibodaux, Louisiana, with more than 35 years of clinical experience. He is highly regarded for his expertise in upper respiratory conditions and long-standing commitment to patient care. Dr. Hagen earned his medical degree from LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Medicine in 1988. 

Christy Marcello Chambers, DDS, is a board certified pediatric dentist and orthodontist, and the first and only female dental specialist in Louisiana dual trained in both fields. She is also the only dentist in the state board certified in both Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, reflecting her exceptional expertise and commitment to specialized care for children and adolescents. 

Brooke Schooneberg, RD – is a registered dietician with 13 years of experience in nutrition counseling and program development. She received a BS in dietetics in 2009 and an MS in nutrition in 2011 from LSU A&M. After a decade of clinical practice, she transitioned into a project management role with Greaux Healthy, a public service initiative focused on preventing and treating childhood obesity in the state.

Amber Sevin, FNP-C, earned both her undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees from Nicholls State University. Amber’s pediatric training under Dr. Pitre deepened her expertise in children’s health and has led to her to deliver knowledgeable, compassionate care to mothers, infants, and families as a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner and certified lactation consultant.

Activity Learning Outcomes:

• Identify signs and assessment findings of common pediatric ear conditions and determine when referral for a formal hearing test in indicated. 
• Recognize observable indicators of dental caries, abscesses, and trauma and initiate appropriate school-based referral steps.
• Describe obesity prevalence and risk factors and apply supportive, stigma-free strategies that promote healthy behaviors in school settings.
• Differentiate common GI complaints from red-flag symptoms and guide caregivers toward timely medical evaluation.
• Recognize early signs of allergic reactions and implement appropriate school-based monitoring and response. 
• Identify early signs of hypo- and hyperglycemia and support safe diabetes management by assisting with individualized school health plans, including basic oversight of CGM alerts, insulin delivery devices, and other diabetes equipment.

The target audience is registered nurses, with a focus on pediatric nurses and school nurses.

This nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) activity is designed for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and RNs to confidently manage and co manage patients receiving specialist directed treatment for common rheumatologic/autoimmune, ophthalmic, adult psychiatric, and pain conditions. The focus is on evidence based pharmacotherapy, safe monitoring, early identification of complications, and effective communication across interdisciplinary teams.

Friday, February 26, 2027

Location: Nicholls State University, Betsy C. Ayo Hall, Nirmala Yalamanchili Donepudi Auditorium

 Networking: 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

 Presentation time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

 Credit: 6 pharmacology contact hours.

 Fee: $ 100

Speakers:

Beau Boudreaux, MD, is a rheumatologist at Thibodaux Regional Health System. He completed an internal medicine internship and residency at Chabert Medical Center in Houma. He completed a fellowship in rheumatology at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Dr. Boudreaux is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Rheumatology.

Ross Thibodaux, MD, is a rheumatologist at Thibodaux Regional Health System. He completed his internal medicine residency and Internship Program, followed by a Fellowship in Rheumatology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Dr. Thibodaux is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and is a member of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. 

Dr. Andre Barker, MD, received his medical training at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, then completed his internal medicine internship and anesthesiology residency at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, where he also pursued a fellowship in pain medicine and intervention pain management. Board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology (2024), he delivers the latest advances in interventional pain treatment.  

Lori Gardiner, DNP, APRN, FNP, PMHNP-BC – is a nurse practitioner dually certified in psychiatric mental health and family health. She is an assistant professor of nursing at Nicholls State University and brings clinical experience spanning women’s health, critical care, emergency care, family practice, and occupational health. In addition, Dr. Gardiner serves as a major in the United States Army Reserves, where she is the officer in charge of operations and training for the 7242 Medical Support Unit in Gulfport, Mississippi. 

Katie Duet, MSN, FNP-C, is a Family Nurse Practitioner at SEECA Medical specializing in ophthalmology. She is certifies through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She provides comprehensive eye care, including diabetic eye exams, glaucoma management, cataract evaluations, dry eye treatment, urgent eye care, and post-operative care. Katie also serves as Director of SEECA Transcend, where she helps expand access to vision care through mobile and workplace-based services across South Louisiana.

Activity Learning Outcomes:

• Monitor disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologic therapies and recognize when specialist follow up is needed.
• Evaluate the safety and effectiveness of SSRI/SNRI therapy for anxiety and depression.
• Apply evidence based pharmacologic treatments for acute, sub acute, and chronic muscle and nerve pain, and monitor patients for medication effectiveness, adverse effects, and safety risks.
• Identify major ophthalmic drug classes and apply safe pharmacologic management principles. 

The target audience for this activity is APRNs and RNs who provide ongoing management, monitoring, and coordination of care for patients receiving treatment for dermatologic, rheumatologic/autoimmune, adult psychiatric, and pain conditions.

Enhancing Professional and Clinical Knowledge in Neuro & Infection Specialty Care is a full day, expert led continuing education program designed for Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. The morning session will focus on Parkinson’s Disease and Epilepsy, providing evidence based updates on neurological assessment, symptom recognition, and interdisciplinary management. The afternoon session will address Sepsis and Long COVID, emphasizing early identification, rapid intervention, and long term care strategies for infection related conditions. Grounded in current clinical evidence and national guidelines, this activity supports nurses in strengthening clinical decision making, improving patient outcomes, and delivering high quality, person-centered care across diverse practice settings. 

Thursday, April 15, 2027

Location: Virtual event via Zoom

 Networking: 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

 Presentation time: 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

 Credit: 5 contact hours.

 Fee: $ 75

Speakers:

Bryce Casteigne, MD, is a fellowship-trained vascular neurologist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. A Thibodaux native, he earned his medical degree from  LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport, completed residency at the University of Cincinnati, and completed a fellowship at Mayo Clinic Florida. Dr. Casteigne brings advanced, patient-centered neurological care to his hometown community at Thibodaux Regional.

Tiffany Eady, MD, is a neurologist at Terrebonne General Neurology Care, bringing extensive expertise in epilepsy and neurophysiology. She is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology – Epilepsy, and the American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology with an emphasis in Critical Care EEG Monitoring Epilepsy Monitoring. 

Dr. Andre Barker, MD, received his medical training at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, then completed his internal medicine internship and anesthesiology residency at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, where he also pursued a fellowship in pain medicine and intervention pain management. Board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology (2024), he delivers the latest advances in interventional pain treatment.  

Monica Verduzco Gutierrez, MD – is a board certified physiatrist and Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UT Health San Antonio and a nationally recognized leader in Long COVID rehabilitation. She established and directs one of Texas’s earliest Post COVID Recovery Clinics, where she oversees multidisciplinary care for patients experiencing persistent neurological, functional, and cognitive symptoms. Dr. Verduzco Gutierrez was appointed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Long COVID, where she contributes to federal strategy, clinical guidance, and health equity recommendations for post COVID conditions. Her work focuses on translating emerging evidence into practical, person-centered rehabilitation approaches for frontline clinicians. 

Julia Moore Vogel, PhD, MBA, is an assistant professor and senior program director at Scripps Research, leading national work in digital health and Long COVID research. A computational biologist and Long COVID patient researcher, she brings scientific expertise and lived experience to her programs. She is nationally recognized for advancing remote monitoring, large scale research operations, and patient centered innovation.

Olivia (Liv) Lopuzzo, PhD, ACNP, BC, is an advanced practice leader with more than 15 years of experience in critical care, clinician development, and healthcare administration. She specializes in designing the infrastructure, educational programs, and professional pathways that support clinician excellence. Dr. Lopuzzo’s background includes critical care practice, academic research, program development, and organizational leadership, with expertise in Advanced Practice Provider (APP) workforce strategy, clinical operations, accreditation, shared governance, and strategic planning..

Activity Learning Outcomes:

• Identify core symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease and epilepsy.
• Perform focused neuro assessments using evidenced based tools.
• Interpret essential diagnostics for PD and seizure disorders.
• Recognize early sepsis indicators using current clinical criteria.
• Identify rapid sepsis interventions to improve patient outcomes.
• Describe Long COVID symptom clusters and contributing mechanisms.
• Recognize Long COVID management through evidence based care strategies. 

The target audience is Registered Nurses and Advances Practice Registered Nurses.