Theme: TRANSFORMATION

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Loyola University
6363 St. Charles Ave
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70118
United States

Allison Sharai

DIR-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, SCI MED OUTREACH EXP

Allison Sharai has been with Ochsner for 11 years and currently serves as the Director of Education and Community Affairs which includes, K-12 STEM education, School Partnerships, Youth Wellness & Prevention, Community Wellness and Employee Volunteerism. Allison’s background is in education policy, strategic communication and project management and is a graduate of the Louisiana Stand for Children Education Leadership Institute. Allison has been active in the Greater New Orleans education community since 2008, focused on the intersection of education and industry, equitable access to high quality education and professional development for teachers and staff. Allison serves on the Board of Directors for several non-profit STEM, education and community focused organizations and is an active member of many state and local committees focused education policy, early workforce pipeline and health sciences education.

Bart Folse

MGR-CLINIC OPERATIONS, ADMINISTRATION

Bart Folse is the manager of Clinic Operations at Ochsner St. Anne in Raceland who works to improve efficiency, clinic culture, and patient satisfaction. Bart understands that happy patients are ultimately what drives practice success, but he believes the key ingredient to this outcome is a group of happy employees, including the physicians, who enjoy their jobs and look forward to coming to work and the CARE that the patients FEEL from our clinic. As a member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce, Bart has served on the World Championship Gumbo Cook-off committee, the Governmental Affairs Committee, the Membership and Leadership Development committees. His proudest accomplishment in that stent is the founding of The Firestarter Project, a leadership development program targeting high school students from around the parish. Bart knows that this united front will be the best way to truly develop these young leaders and, in turn, enhance the parish.

Biscuithound Music Band

PERFORMER

With a musical vision that began in 2008, the New Orleans’ experimental rock outfit, Biscuithound, emits an evolving sound and lyrical message that is human, real, raw, and above all, transcendental. With their often-lengthy compositions, the band balances an accessible use of melody and catchy riffing with a healthy dose of progressive adventurism, ambient layering, and gritty contrast. 2010’s “Meet You at the Riverbone” was akin to an atmospheric rock album with singer-songwriter roots, delivering distinctive content for such a young band. It was ambitious with its instrumental segments and conceptual use of cinematic-style sound design. From this foundation, the group sought to delve into heavier live performances over the coming years. Biscuithound offers a freshness to hard rock, with an emotional and intellectual seriousness.

Bryson Lloyd & Lauren Arrigo

PERFORMERS - ACRONOLA ACROBATS

Bryson is a New Orleans native who was invited by a friend to an acroyoga class and never looked back. His passion lies in sharing acroyoga for many reasons, but primarily due to its empowering and joyful qualities that brings smiles to all of those who join in. Bryson has 5+ years experience with acroyoga. He received his teacher certification through LIFT School of Acrobatics in 2018. He focuses on teaching to corporate company employees for better communication and team bonding, kids parties for entertainment and performances at many different types of events! Lauren Arrigo (AKA Lauren Lou) is a passionate ER nurse, graduate student, and energetic acrobatic performer. She learned to cartwheel before she could walk and trained in gymnastics for over ten years. After moving to New Orleans, she discovered her true love of acrobatics. Lauren Lou has partnered with Bryson Blue for many unique and exciting acrobatic events.

Donald Chang

M.D. CANDIDATE, UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

A California native, Donald is a currently a 3rd year medical student in the University of Queensland-Ochsner program. Prior to medical school, he worked in the pharmaceutical industry as a life sciences consultant and also completed a Ph.D. in cardiac physiology. Outside of his studies, he enjoys spending time with his wife and son who inspire him to continue on this long journey. Donald is passionate about medical research and is excited to share with the Ochsner family his talk titled "The Serendipity of Science".

Eric Malamud

iO INNOVATION FELLOW

Eric Malamud is an Innovation Fellow with the innovation Ochsner (iO) team. He is also a Venture for America Fellow and has been in New Orleans since August 2018. Venture for America is a fellowship for recent grads who want to learn how to build a business while making an impact. VFA Fellows get training and join a startup in an emerging US city, where they live and work for two years. Eric recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BS in Nuerobiology and BBA in Business. After his Venture for America fellowship, Eric plans to go on to medical school and complete a dual MD/MBA program.

James Hayden

HISTOCOMPATIBILITY TECHNICIAN, LABORATORY HLA

James Hayden, a native of Kenner and a resident of Metairie, has been with Ochsner for a bit more than a year and works as an HLA tech. James’ TEDx talk focuses on embracing our vulnerabilities. Outside of work, James is a writer and is passionate about stuttering advocacy. James serves as the chapter leader for the New Orleans chapter of the National Stuttering Association. James’ work has been published by The Mighty, The Stuttering Foundation, Yahoo, and MSN. James is also the author of Dear World, I Stutter: A Series of Open Letters from a Person Who Stutters.

Karrie Hovis

LAB EDUCATION COORD, LABORATORY ADMIN

Karrie Hovis is the education coordinator for the lab service line at Ochsner Medical Center. During her 22-year career in the medical laboratory, she has been very involved with her professional organizations. She is currently a member of the Consumer Response Team with the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. This volunteer role allows her the opportunity to help patients understand their laboratory results.

Kevin Conrad M.D.

SR PHYSICIAN-HOSPITAL MED, HOSPITAL MEDICINE

Kevin served as one of the co-founders of Hospital Medicine at Ochsner where he currently practice. He currently serves as Medical Director of Community Affairs at Ochsner. Kevin attended the LSU School of Medicine where he was a co-founder of Camp Tiger. He received his Master's in Business Administration from the University of New Orleans. He has served as a physician editor for The Hospitalist and also serves on the National Practice Management committee and the executive council for the care of vulnerable patients for the Society of Hospital Medicine. Kevin was chief editor and author of the text Clinical Approaches to Hospital Medicine and in 2019 will publish From Hurricanes to Epidemics, The Ocean's Evolving Impact on Human Health. His research interests are the interaction of social and environmental factors on human health.

Korak Sarkar M.D.

PHYSICIAN, NEUROLOGY / DIRECTOR 3D-LAB (M3D)

Dr. Korak Sarkar completed his undergraduate studies at The Johns Hopkins University where he received degrees in neuroscience, mathematical science, and biomedical engineering. He attended medical school at University of California San Diego, and went on to complete his Neurology training at University of California Davis. He is a board-certified neurologist who completed sub-specialty training at Northwestern and The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago in Brain Injury Medicine. He has served as an Innovation Fellow at Northwestern’s Center for Device Development. He has been very active in research throughout his career and was awarded the American Academy of Neurology’s (AAN) Founder's Award in Translational Research. He participates in the AAN's policy and advocacy efforts, including participating in Neurology on the Hill. He is currently an attending physician in the Department of Neurology and Director of M3D Lab at Ochsner Health System.

Lauren Marrioneaux

HEALTH COACH, NOOM INC.

Lauren Marrioneaux is a change advocate, who is passionate about helping people navigate through the challenges and joys life brings so they can live up to their full potential. Lauren is an individual who truly lives to be the change she wants to see in the world through the way she lives life and through her work as a life coach, workshop facilitator and mentor. In addition to working with private clients, Lauren is a Health Coach at Noom, Inc. where she supports Noom users in their efforts to build healthy sustainable habits that promote healthy weight goals. Lauren thrives as a coach because of her natural desire to empower and encourage personal growth. To fortify her natural abilities she chose to study Psychology at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. In further pursuit of her goals, she received a Masters of Education in Community Agency Counseling. from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama.

Marie Eastman

CHAPLAIN, SPIRITUAL CARE

Marie Eastman’s TEDxOchsner talk, “How Not to Create More Suffering”, highlights why all adults aged 18-to-over-100 must begin that hard conversation with their families about advance directives and make sure their wishes are known--in writing--in their medical record. She explains how this action can ease suffering and allow Ochsner care teams to provide more efficient and effective patient-centered care. At Ochsner Medical Center North Shore, Marie provides spiritual care and emotional support to patients, families, and care teams as sole staff chaplain. An ordained interfaith minister, Marie has studied at the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine, and earned her MDiv at the Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, IN; she completed year-long Chaplain Residencies at Wellspan Health in York, PA, and Ochsner Health System, and is board certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains.

Siobhan Trotter

NURSE PRACTITIONER-HOSPITAL, GENERAL SURGERY

Dr. Trotter received her doctoral degree from Arizona State University, College of Nursing, Phoenix, Arizona and her undergraduate degree from Mayo Clinic/ Arizona State University College of Nursing. Her current clinical focus is in Prehabiliation of upper GI cancer patients and she runs one of the few Prehabilitation Clinics in the world. Her current research study on Prehabilitation, The HOPE Study, is registered on Clinical Trials.gov. Her doctoral work focused on improved quality of life and comprehensive patient education programs to prepare people with cancer for surgery and treatment. She graduated summa cum laude and was the graduate student recipient of the Abel Family Scholarship for Academic Excellence and has been awarded the Outstanding Graduate Award 2009 by Mayo Clinic/Arizona State University. She is consistently recognized for high quality patient care at Ochsner, where she has worked in the field of upper GI Surgical Oncology for 8 years.