As part of the state’s Bicentennial celebration, North Oaks Medical Center and other birthing hospitals partnered with the Louisiana Hospital Association and Louisiana Bicentennial Commission to recognize all babies born on April 30. Each baby received as keepsakes a Louisiana Bicentennial certificate and limited edition copper medallion. Louisiana Hospital Association President/Chief Executive Officer John Matessino comments, “Each baby gets to take home a piece of history.”

The medallion is an updated re-issue of the coin that Adler’s minted in 1912 for the state’s Centennial. The medallion’s design features the state’s seal on one side and the silhouette of the state and a compass rose on the other. Packaged in a replica of the 1912 box with a certificate of authenticity, the medallions were donated by the Louisiana Bicentennial Commission and paid for through contributions and sponsorships.

  Dwan Mabry, MD, partner at North Oaks Obstetrics and Gynecology, APMC, delivered Aiden at 7:19 p.m. He weighed 6 lbs., 6 oz. and measured 18 inches long. Grandparents are Linda Lindsey and Stacy Stringer of Springfield and Deann and Thomas Moticheck of Maurepas.

     Drs. Bill Black, Bill Beacham, Dwan Mabry, Gary Agena and Brian Ashford announce Dr. April Sandifer will be joining North Oaks Obstetrics and Gynecology next summer.

     “We are excited to have Dr. Sandifer join our team,” said Dr. Black. “As a leading healthcare provider for women in southeast Louisiana, we continue to attract young doctors who believe in our philosophy of personal, quality care for women. Dr. Sandifer will certainly be a great addition.”

      A native of Ponchatoula, Dr. April Sandifer received her undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering at Tulane University.  In 2008 she graduated from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. 

       Dr. Sandifer is completing her residency training as part of the first graduating class of the LSU Obstetrics and Gynecology program in Baton Rouge at Earl K. Long Medical Center and Woman’s Hospital.

      She currently serves as administrative chief resident and following the completion of her training, Dr. Sandifer will be returning home to join North Oaks Ob/Gyn as their newest physician.   

     “I am looking forward to coming home,” said Dr. Sandifer.  “North Oaks Ob/Gyn gives me the opportunity  to practice with a great team of doctors and midwives and to provide quality health care to my local friends and family.” 

      Outside of work, Dr. Sandifer enjoys spending time with her family which includes chasing after two small children alongside her husband Matt. She also enjoys gardening and playing the piano in her spare time.

      Dr. Sandifer will begin seeing patients in July of 2012.

Please check with Medicaid for eligibility and make an appointment today.    Call 985.542.0663 and speak with one of our operators.

Obstetrician Gynecologists Bill Beacham, M.D. , Dwan S. Mabry, M.D., Gary M. Agena, M.D.,
Bill Black, M.D., Brian G. Ashford, M.D. serving Hammond LA, Ponchatoula LA, Kentwood LA,
Covington LA, Livingston LA, Albany LA, Amite LA, Franklinton LA, Tickfaw LA, Independence LA,  Baton Rouge LA, and the surrounding areas.

The money we raised will to help families of babies born too soon or sick.  The March for Babies also supports programs in Tangipahoa Parish that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. And it funds research to find answers to the serious problems that threaten our babies.

Way to go team!!

Supporting a Friend and Patient

The employees of North Oaks OB-GYN wanted to surprise Courtney Roth, the mother of Tripp who has Epidermolysis Bullosa, EB is a rare genetic disorder that affects about one in two million babies.  Lyndsi Pierce organized all the employees at North Oaks OB-GYN to donate to a “Pamper Courtney Day” Everyone at the practice signed on and collectively donated $1500.00 for Courtney. Lyndsi and some of the employees purchased items for Courtney and delivered them to her on their lunch break.  Needless to say Courtney was surprised and grateful.  Tripp has been selected to service as the Ambassador for the practice’s 2011 March of Dime Walk-a-thon.  Read Courtney Roth Story in the April/May Tangi Lifestyle.  See link below Courtney Roth “A Mother’s Dedication”    www.randycourtneytripproth.com

Click link below to view Dr. Mabry’s interview with local reporter after luncheon.

Dr. Mabry Speaks to Women’s Leadership Group

North Oaks Obstetrics and Gynecology is out front as the first da Vinci Robotic Surgeons in Hammond Louisiana.  We negotiated with both North Oaks Health Systems and Cypress Pointe Surgical Center to purchase a robot so we could give our patients the option to choose robotic surgery for gynecological procedures in Hammond.  North Oaks Hospital made the decision to purchase the robot back in December 2010 and plan to have the robot available for us to use by the end of April 2011. 

Currently Drs Mabry and Agena are certified to use the robot. They have been performing procedures on the robot at Ochsner in Baton Rouge  Dr. Ashford is certified as a first assist and will complete his training in Hammond in May 2011.  Both Drs Black and Beacham will began their training in May also.  Our goal is to have all of our physicians trained to use the robot. 

Read the attached article by clicking on the link above to find out about additional areas where we are Out In Front.

Without a doubt, Leonardo da Vinci is considered one of the most diversely talented persons ever to have lived. His cutting edge greatness is found today in the gynecological surgical skills of North Oaks Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Dr. Dwan Mabry and Dr. Gary M. Agena as the first trained da Vinci Surgeons in Hammond, LA.
Dr. Mabry is the first to receive her certification and Dr. Agena finished a month later giving North Oaks Obstetrics and Gynecology the distinction of being the first medical practice in Hammond to be able to provide patients with the latest robotic technology for hysterectomy or any other gynecologic surgery utilizing the da Vinci Surgical System.
“When our patients need a hysterectomy we want to give them the best options possible”, said Dr. Mabry. “We feel the da Vinci surgical procedure offers more benefits than the traditional surgical approaches including: significantly less pain, less risk of infection, shorter hospital stays and most important better outcomes and patient satisfaction.”
Both Dr. Mabry and Dr. Agena are currently offering da Vinci surgical procedures through another affiliated hospital in Baton Rouge until a robot is available in Hammond.
“We are optimistic that we will be able to provide our surgical expertise to our patients in Hammond in 2011. The technology provides us with unparalleled precision, dexterity and control that enable a minimally invasive approach for many complex surgical procedures”, said Dr Agena.
“We have been working with our local hospitals in a joint endeavor to provide the latest in robotic surgical services,” said Lemar Marshall, Chief Operating Officer. “We are excited that our field of practice will eventually be enhanced with the latest surgical technology”.

Founded in 1977, North Oaks Obstetrics and Gynecology has been serving a growing community of more than 100,000 for over three decades. North Oaks Obstetrics and Gynecology provides comprehensive care for women of all ages. Their experienced team of doctors and midwives are specially trained to treat a wide range of obstetric and gynecologic conditions, and to guide women through major life stages such as their first gynecologic exam, pregnancy, menopause and more.
For more information about North Oaks Obstetrics and Gynecology and the da Vinci Surgical Procedure, visit their website at www.northoaksobgyn.com.

On Monday July 26, the doctors and staff at North Oaks Obstetrics and Gynecology will welcome our newest physician to the practice, Dr. Brian G Ashford. 

A graduate and Chief Resident of the LSU School of Medicine OB/Gyn Residency Program, Dr Ashford will be joining the most experienced OB/Gyn team in the parish.  “We see quality healthcare as our top priority and we are confident that Dr. Ashford will continue the tradition of excellence that our patients deserve”.

To schedule an appointment with Dr Ashford, please call us today at (985) 542-0663 or visit our on-line patient registration on our website at www.northoaksobgyn.com.