Introducing our next amazing honoree ... Ann Heslin! Ann is the Director of Special Philanthropy Events for Ochsner Health. Since beginning her career in 2001, she has raised more than $10 million as a fundraising professional and as a civic volunteer. Ann is a graduate of the Academy of the Sacred Heart, Millsaps College, and Tulane University. Ann was honored as a “Person to Watch" by New Orleans Magazine in 2015, and a “Volunteer Activist of the Year” in 2018 by the St. Elizabeth’s Guild. She chaired the ACS Honoree Ball in 2019. Earlier this year, Ann underwent treatment to cure gynecological skin cancer and is happily in remission. She would like to thank ACS, her Ochsner care team, and family and friends for their love and support throughout her cancer journey. Thank you, Ann for your tremendous support!

Let's bring in our next incredible honoree! Dr. Sarah C. Jackson! Dr. Sarah C. Jackson is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical, cosmetic, and laser dermatology. Dr. Jackson co-founded Audubon Dermatology in 2006. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Jackson is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology at Louisiana State University. Dr. Jackson is a graduate of Louisiana State University School of Medicine, where she was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She received her undergraduate degree in Zoology from Louisiana State University, where she graduated Cum Laude. Her postdoctoral training was at the Louisiana State University Department of Dermatology. She is a member of the Women’s Dermatologic Society and serves on the Board of Directors. She is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and serves as Louisiana’s Representative to the Dermatological Contract Advisor Committee. Dr. Jackson is also an Annenberg Circle member of the Dermatology Foundation, and has served in the past as the Louisiana State Chair for the Foundation. Additionally, she is a member and past president of the Louisiana Dermatology Society, and currently serves on the Advocacy Committee. She is a Stegman Circle Member of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery as well as a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society and of the New Orleans Women’s Dermatologic Journal Club. Due to her acknowledged expertise in skin cancer and dermatology, Dr. Jackson is regularly quoted in articles in major magazines and newspapers. She is an active participant in clinical trials and research for dermatology. She speaks and performs live injections at local and national Dermatology and Plastic Surgery meetings, and trains residents and colleagues in cosmetic and laser dermatology. Dr. Jackson lives in New Orleans, LA with her husband and their 3 children. Thank you, Dr. Jackson, for your tremendous support!!

Our raffle is live! For just $50 you are entered to win one of 30 items from Tiffany & Co.! Link in bio. Thank you to our “Ice” Raffle Sponsor, Guest Law Firm, for making this possible!

Everyone, please put your (digital) hands together for our next honoree: Mr. Kenneth Ritter! “First and foremost I am a family man, believing strongly that you work to live and you live to enjoy time with your family. As such, it’s been particularly devastating over the years to experience cancer through multiple generations of my own family. Cancer has a way of changing everything you know and robbing you of so much. I’ve lost my mom to breast cancer, my dad had prostate cancer, my daughter (now in her 5th year of remission) had brain cancer and I too was diagnosed with cancer. Fortunately, my dad is doing well and, like my daughter, I too am also in my 5th year of remission! . . Through it all, we’ve continued to grow ever closer as a family. Learning to slow down through all of this and appreciating simpler forms of joy. Joy seen in the caring smile of strangers, joy found through simple acts of kindness, and joy found through peace of mind achieved only by the amazing generosity of so many others, often complete strangers, whom without their support a diagnosis of cancer would have been overwhelming to my family. It’s a true blessing to receive, but a real gift to be able to give back, knowing that every contribution made is helping to benefit others. Your support of the Patrick F Taylor Hope Lodge is a great way to do just that. Your gift will help provide patients, and their caregivers, with a nurturing community that helps patients access the care they need.” A big thank you to Mr. Kenneth Ritter for his continued support!

Time to bring in our next honoree: Heather Hays! “As a three-time cancer survivor, Heather Hays believes it is essential to volunteer for missions that increase a patient's care, quality of life and offers emotional support. After her family moved from Los Angeles to New Orleans for her husband's career in the film business, Heather opened a small business, Palm Tree Playground, which she ran for five years. Once diagnosed with breast cancer, she sold her company and focused on both her health and giving back to the warm and welcoming community that has been such a blessing to her family. Heather sits on the boards of Metairie Park Country Day School's Parents' Association Executive Committee, Cancer Association of Louisiana and Raintree Children and Family Services. She also is a member of the Junior League. The opportunity to be a part of this event is a highlight of her volunteer efforts and a huge honor." Thank you, Heather, for your compassion and support of the Honoree ball cause!

Our next honoree is John R. Nickens IV! John R. Nickens IV is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Hospital New Orleans, and oversees pediatric services across the LCMC Health system. Mr. Nickens brings over 25 years of pediatric healthcare experience to his role at Children’s Hospital, having most recently served as Executive Vice President at Texas Children’s Hospital. Mr. Nickens has extensive operational experience in both pediatric and maternal health services, oversaw the implementation of two electronic medical record systems, and played a big part in bringing Texas Children’s to a top-ranked children’s hospital, currently ranked #3 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. He also brings a strong background in academics, from his tenure at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Mr. Nickens is leading Children’s Hospital New Orleans during an unprecedented period of growth with a $300 million campus transformation effort currently underway and an inspired vision to transform the face of pediatric healthcare for Louisiana and the Gulf South. He currently serves on the boards for the Audubon Institute, Louisiana Children’s Museum, and Baylor University. Thank you, Mr. Knickens, for your tremendous support!!

The Honoree Ball is made possible by ACS’s phenomenal volunteers. Stacy Guest and Jessica Schulman have applied their tireless commitment to chairing the Ball in 2020 AND 2021. It’s a privilege to have such dedicated volunteers and the Ball couldn’t happen without them!

Welcome back Honoree Dr. Kendra Harris!! Kendra Harris, MD, MSc is the chair of the Tulane Department of Radiation Oncology. She earned her medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed her residency in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences at Johns Hopkins. She also completed a fellowship in patient safety at the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. Dr. Harris has been published in multiple journals on issues related to patient safety and is a member of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO). In 2002, prior to medical school, she was selected as a Rhodes Scholar and completed a Master of Science (MSc) degree focused on health care policy at Oxford University, and in 2013, she earned the Frank L. Coulson Award for Clinical Excellence from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She spent time during the pandemic raising funds to support front line works in terms of childcare needs and meals, ultimately raising $360,000 and delivering 10,000 meals to physicians, residents, students, nurses, custodial staff and the facilities crews across the city. Thank you, Dr. Harris, for your impactful work serving our community and your compassionate support of the ACS Honoree Ball cause!

Flowers galore! Did you purchase a table for this year’s event? We now have upgraded floral packages available from the talented @kimstarrwise and @fatcatflowers. Click the link in our bio to get yours! 💐 . . *actual arrangements not pictured, designs will be a custom surprise*

Our thoughts are with all of Louisiana as we navigate the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. We hope that you and your loved ones are safe, and ask for patience as we work to recover.

Welcome back Honoree Dr. Nihal Godiwala! Dr. Godiwala is an Attending Physician in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital New Orleans. He is also an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at LSU School of Medicine. Nihal grew up in New Orleans and attended St. Martin's Episcopal School in addition to Tulane School of Medicine. His medical training took him to Yale and Children's National Medical Center in Washington DC, but New Orleans is and has always been home, so it was an amazing opportunity to be able to return home 5 years ago and help the critically ill children in his community.⁠ ⁠ The Pediatric ICU is a difficult environment to work in and takes a certain skill level that goes well beyond the textbooks that a physician learns in training. Nihal takes care of the sickest children from all over the Gulf Coast region and frequently cares for multiple children with leukemia, lymphoma, solid tumors and a variety of serious oncologic conditions that require intensive care. Nihal upholds the importance of family centered rounds, so the parents of his patients have just as much input into the care of their child as the doctors and nurses caring for them. His commitment to his patients and his ongoing work in the PICU, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, is why he has been chosen to return as a 2021 Honoree.⁠ ⁠ Nihal and his wife Michelle, a veterinarian, have two young boys and a golden retriever puppy, who are the center of their worlds.⁠ ⁠ We thank Nihal for his compassionate care and commitment to his community!! ⁠

Welcome back to Honoree Dr. Rebekah Gee! A huge "thank you" to Dr. Gee for being our mission speaker last year during the virtual event. ⁠ Dr. Gee is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist and CEO of Health Care Services for LSU Health. She is the former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, the state’s largest agency with a budget of $14 billion. Her oversight responsibilities included public health and other direct service programs for citizens in need such as behavioral health, developmental disabilities, aging and adult services, emergency preparedness, and the Medicaid program. ⁠ Under Dr. Gee’s leadership, over 500,000 Louisianans became newly insured under Louisiana’s Medicaid expansion, and for the first time, many started receiving much needed primary and preventive health care. Her Medicaid expansion work also resulted in the launch of a dashboard to measure access to healthcare services, which has become a national model used in other states. She has been a national leader in tackling pharmaceutical pricing, including spearheading an innovative effort to eliminate hepatitis C in Louisiana by negotiating with manufacturers on a subscription model for drug access.⁠ ⁠ Dr. Gee brings a caregiver’s perspective to the people she serves. In addition, she is a trained policy expert who has served in numerous state and national policy roles. Prior to her role as Secretary, she served as the director for the Birth Outcomes Initiative. Her work on birth outcomes led the charge to decrease infant mortality and prematurity statewide – this resulted in a 25 percent reduction in infant mortality; an 85 percent drop in elective deliveries before 39 weeks; and a 10% drop in NICU admissions statewide. In 2017 Dr. Gee was elected to the National Academy of Medicine. ⁠ ⁠ She is the mother of five energetic children and lives in New Orleans, where she continues to see patients.⁠ ⁠ Thank you, Dr. Gee, for your incredible work and compassionate support!! ⁠