LAspecs Distinctive Eyewear, an optical boutique, has opened in The Market at River Ranch. "Our clients can glam it up, mix it up and show it off wearing the latest in cutting edge fashion sunglasses and prescription eyewear for men and women," says Richie Rabalais, manager of the store. LAspecs is located at 1910 Kaliste Saloom Road near Bonefish Grill.
Star Mazda Series Race Drivers and Racing for Kids, a non profit organization that uses the popularity of motorsports to raise awareness for children's health care funding needs and to visit sick children, teamed up in 2007 to visit 175 sick kids at children's hospitals in Palo Alto, Atlanta, Cleveland, Salt Lake City and Orlando. Alex Ardoin, Star Mazda race driver from Lafayette, won the $1,000 cash prize offered by Racing for Kids to drivers participating in the five hospital visits and for the best finishes in the five races coinciding with each hospital visit. Ardoin, who drives for Team Mundill, also won another $500 from RFK by winning the Star Mazda Race at Laguna Seca Speedway on Oct. 20. RFK is making a $500 donation to each hospital in the Star Mazda series and to the children's hospital of choice for Ardoin.
On Oct. 25 a grand opening was held for Dr. Christopher A. Hubbell's a Jeuné Medical Spa at 913 South College Road, Suite 216, in the office of Acadiana Dermatology. An expert in dermatology and dermasurgery, Hubbell offers the latest in advanced aesthetic skin care services. At a Jeuné, dermatology and personal comfort are fused to create a rejuvenating medical spa experience. For the grand opening reception, Hubbell and his staff displayed the latest procedures in cosmetic rejuvenation and offered live demonstrations and complimentary VISA digital complexion analyses.
Iris Malone, coordinator of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center's Congregational Health Services, has started a health care ministry for Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lafayette. The IHM Healthcare Ministry will implement health care programs to the church's congregation to ensure the congregation's mental, physical and spiritual health. In 2001, Lourdes and IHM fashioned a partnership to provide health care to the members of the church and its surrounding community. IHM is located in an area where many families are uninsured or underinsured, or have limited access to health care. Lourdes' CHS responds to the needs of the community by utilizing committed volunteers of the church parish who coordinate educational seminars and health screenings, and collaborate with other agencies/resources in the community. This service is provided at no cost to the individual. To access this service or for more information, contact Malone at 289-2596.
Dr. Ammar Morad, a pediatric hematologist/oncologist who diagnoses and treats children with cancer and blood disorders, has joined Women's & Children's Hospital. With childhood cancer the second most common cause of death in children in the United States, there is a growing need for this service in Acadiana, says Kathy Bobbs, the local hospital's CEO. "Having to travel to Baton Rouge or New Orleans for treatment only adds to the stress of having a sick child," she says. "Families with special health care needs should have access to quality care locally." Morad completed his residency training in pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in 1989 and his fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Cancer Center in 1993. He was an instructor in pediatric hematology-oncology at Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, as well as an assistant professor in pediatric hematology-oncology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo, Texas, before opening his own private practice in Dallas in 2000.
Drs. William Pelletier, John Storment and James Zehnder of Fertility & Women's Health Center of Louisiana held their annual Celebration Day on Oct. 28, 2007, in honor of the center's fertility successes. All 736 children who have been born since the year 2000 with the help of the medical expertise of these doctors were invited and asked to bring a non-perishable food item or baby item, such as baby food and diapers, that was donated to the Lafayette chapter of FoodNet. The special honoree for this year's event was Hope Elizabeth Hughes, daughter of Laura and Terry Hughes, who was born as a result of the Gift of Hope 2006, a program sponsored by Fertility & Women's Health Center of Louisiana, Women's & Children's Hospital and Sheridan Healthcare. The Hughes were selected in May 2006 from more than 40 applicants to have a chance to build their family through the gift of a free in vitro fertilization cycle. Hope Elizabeth was born in April 2007. Additional special honorees included Bridgette and Ryan Baudoin and Beth and Eric McCleery, the two couples chosen as recipients of the Gift of Hope 2007. Fertility & Women's Health Center of Louisiana was established by this trio of doctors in August 2002. Their practice offers routine gynecologic care, menopause management, and comprehensive treatment of infertility, including Assisted Reproductive Technologies and In Vitro Fertilization, treatment of multiple pregnancy loss, endometriosis, and all other reproductive endocrine disorders. The office is located at 4630 Ambassador Caffery, Suite 206, on the campus of Women's & Children's Hospital. The center also offers satellite offices in Lake Charles and Alexandria.