HEALTH & MEDICAL
Opelousas General Health System and the Opelousas/St. Landry Chamber of Commerce held an open house and Business After Hours to welcome Dr. Vikram "Vik" Parmar, orthopedic and spine surgeon.
Lafayette General Medical Center, along with UL Lafayette's Center for Advanced Computer Studies, presented Sir Ara Darzi, professor of surgery and head of surgical oncology and technology at the Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine in London, as part of its Distinguished Lecture Series Oct. 21. Darzi's talk focused on "Technology in Surgery."
Dr. Mike Malone with Mike Malone DDS & Associates spoke at the first meeting of the New Zealand Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry in October. Malone's presentation was titled "Introducing Cosmetic Dentistry to General Practice."
Southwest Ambulatory Behavioral Services recently relocated to 318 E. Park St. in Crowley.
Medical care clinics for evacuees, staffed by Operation Minnesota Lifeline, are operating at 220 W. Willow St. and the Acadia Parish Health Unit in Crowley.
MedExpress Cos.' contract with the U.S. Army has been renewed, and MedExpress Ambulance Service will continue to provide ground ambulance service to military personnel and their families in Fort Polk.
The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce recently launched an insurance plan for Chamber members, a blend of Symetra and Homeland HealthCare. Call 233-2705 or go to www.lafchamber.org for more info.
The Campaign to End AIDS made a stop in Lafayette Oct. 23 on its way to Washington, D.C. The campaign met with local advocates Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center and Acadiana C.A.R.E.S.
For the third time in four years, Lafayette General Medical Center was named the 2005/06 Consumer Choice Award winner by the National Research Corp. NRC measures hospitals' health plans, personal physicians, health systems and health status.
Cardiovascular Institute of the South hosted the first CLI Summit and the 2005 New Cardiovascular Horizons Oct. 26-29 in Miami. The summit's purpose is to spread the word about interventional treatment of critical limb ischemia.
Dr. Serge Peter Marinkovic, urologist and urogynecologist, has joined the staff of Women's & Children's Hospital. Marinkovic specializes in incontinence management, minimally invasive approaches to prolapse, interstitial cystitis and interstim therapy.
SPOTLIGHT EVENTS
Nov. 7-12
Women's Health Expo 2005, locations vary. Woman's Foundation presents its fourth annual expo, with seminars on compounded prescriptions and shopping for dietary needs, a health fair and the Women of Excellence Awards Luncheon Nov. 11 at the City Club at River Ranch. Activities will be held at different locations around town. Call 988-1816 for more info and a full schedule.
Nov. 12
Cajun Road Runners Club Cingular Wireless Cajun Cup, 7 a.m., Parc Sans Souci. This 10K and one-mile race benefits the UL Lafayette Track Program. The route follows Jefferson Street, and a pasta dinner for participants will be held Nov. 11 at the park from 6-7 p.m. After the race, entertainment will be provided by Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars with refreshments from Coca Cola and Schilling Distributing. Entry forms are available at Bell's Sporting Goods and Red's, and cost is $30 in advance and $40 the day of the race for the 10K and $20 for the one-mile race. Go to www.cajuncup.com or call 482-6368 for more info.
Nov. 16
Medical Job Fair, 3-9 p.m., Hotel Acadiana. Cut short by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, the job fair moves to Lafayette and aims to recruit and retain health care professionals in the state. Call 989-0001 or go to www.medicaljobfair.org to register.
Dec. 3
Acadia Parish Health Fair, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Crowley Rice Festival Building. The health fair is rescheduled from Sept. 24, and health screenings will be available.