Ochsner Health Establishes Ochsner Wellness Center at LSU
November 04, 2021
$4 Million Gift is Part of Revitalization of Historic Huey P. Long Field House
A beam-signing ceremony was held on Oct. 28 to celebrate the renovation of the Huey P. Long Field House. Individuals were able to leave their mark on history by signing the final beam to be placed in the building.
“Healthy State isn’t a wish list item, it’s a commitment by Ochsner to improve health equity and health outcomes,” stated Warner Thomas, Ochsner Health president & CEO. “This is a bold vision and a necessary one. Louisiana has consistently ranked at or near the bottom of the country for nearly a decade, placing 49th in 2020 by America’s Health Rankings. We can’t wait any longer. The time is now to work together and do everything possible to improve health and wellness in our state.
LSU President William F. Tate IV said, “We proudly share Ochsner Health’s fierce determination to serve, heal, lead, educate and innovate. Louisiana is on the frontlines of a national crisis in physical wellness, and LSU and Ochsner have the assets and expertise to address that crisis. The Ochsner Wellness Center unites our resources to benefit the health of communities throughout our state.”
Conceptual rendering of Ochsner Wellness Center in the revitalized Huey P. Long Field House.
The Ochsner Wellness Center will promote health-enhancing physical activity programs for all Louisianans, provide practical experience for LSU students pursuing careers focused on human wellness, and directly impact the health of LSU students, faculty and staff. The College of Human Sciences & Education’s School of Kinesiology will use the center as an instructional laboratory where, under faculty supervision, students will provide routine health screenings and exercise testing and will design exercise programs. The center will also expand physical and mental wellness programs available to the campus community in the core of campus.
The renovation of the historic Huey P. Long Field House includes the creation of world-class laboratories, classrooms and collaborative spaces for engaging in cutting-edge research, high-tech teaching and learning, and impactful outreach efforts. Once the epicenter of student life and LSU’s first student union in 1932, it will be transformed to meet the needs of modern students and researchers.
“Much like Ochsner Health, the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education is a community of people dedicated to improving quality of life across the lifespan,” said Dean Roland Mitchell. “The revitalization of Huey P. Long Field House will create a collaborative hub to advance critical research addressing health care disparities and, ultimately, to improve the wellness of Louisianans.”
Research shows that through cooperation and by focusing on the top 20 drivers of poor health, including chronic conditions and physical inactivity, partners like Ochsner and LSU can work together to enhance access; improve the overall health, safety and wellness of local communities; and lift Louisiana higher in national health rankings.
Ochsner Health’s gift is part of LSU’s $1.5 billion Fierce for the Future Campaign, the largest campaign for higher education in the history of Louisiana. Fierce for the Future unites LSU’s campuses statewide in pursuit of a common goal: to generate solutions for the people in Louisiana that hold the promise of making profoundly positive impacts around the world. To learn more, please visit fierceforthefuturecampaign.org.
Contact Ernie Ballard
LSU Media Relations
225-578-5685
eballa1@lsu.edu
Daryl Cetnar
Ochsner Health
225-761-5903
Daryl.Cetnar@ochsner.org
Sara Whittaker
LSU Foundation
225-578-8164
swhittaker@lsufoundation.org
Mary Woods
LSU College of Human Sciences & Education
225-578-6796
mpwoods@lsu.edu