September 2025 | Vol. 6, No. 8

Cloudy with a chance of tacos 

Congratulations. We did it. We all successfully weathered another Hurricane Katrina anniversary. 


All together now: Whew. 


We fully acknowledge that remembering the storm and all that it cost us is important. That’s why we recently published a chronicling of St. Tammany Parish Hospital’s own storm story, built around a recently unearthed, hour-by-hour Katrina diary kept by one of our former colleagues. 


It’s a pretty good read, if we don’t say so ourselves – but after all of the local media coverage and all of the heartfelt tributes, nobody can be faulted for feeling a little Katrina fatigue.  


So rather than add to it, we’ve decided to give you something totally unrelated: tacos. 


After all, tacos make everything better. But also, the folks at Parish Tacos in Mandeville were recently kind enough to lead one of our Healthier Northshore cooking demonstrations. In addition to dishing out a wealth of kitchen tips, they also shared their recipe for Shrimp Tacos with homemade Pico de Gallo. 


It’s almost as simple to make as it is delicious. You’ll find a link to it below. 


Just remember: Although this year’s Katrina-versary is in the rearview, hurricane season runs through Nov. 30. So, stay prepared, stay vigilant and stay safe. 


OK, that’s it for hurricane talk. We hope you enjoy your tacos – and we hope you enjoy this month’s other headlines from our St. Tammany Health System newsroom.  


Thanks for reading, and thanks for trusting St. Tammany with your family’s care.  

Community Checkup 


St. Tammany Health System President and CEO Joan Coffman offers a rundown of goings-on at the Covington-based health system in her monthly address to the community.

It’s taco time! 

The math is simple: fresh = flavor. 


Attendees at Healthier Northshore’s latest Eat Well, Live Well cooking demonstration got a first-hand lesson in that heart-healthy culinary equation, courtesy of Parish Tacos co-owner Michael Leblanc and Chef Will Miles, who walked them through the process of making their Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Chimichurri at the Samaritan Center’s kitchen classroom in Mandeville.  


The real treat, though – aside from the box of fresh ingredients each attendee was given to re-create the dish at home – just might have been the wealth of practical pro tips Miles and Leblanc shared as they prepared their dish.  

AI in practice


Industry publication HealthLeaders recently spoke with STHS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrick Torcson about how the health system is using artificial intelligence to improve healthcare for local residents.

Tune in, St. Tammany 


As we all count down to the arrival of fall in South Louisiana, St. Tammany Health System trauma experts Joe St. Phillip and Bethany Monistere visit our (mercifully air-conditioned) “Northshore Healthbeat” podcasting studio to discuss what to do when the summer plans go sideways.

Simply the best 


St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Target: Survival quality achievement award for its commitment to treating in-hospital cardiac arrest, ultimately helping to improve survival rates. 

Heart to Heart


The latest issue of our quarterly Heart to Heart magazine has landed, chock-full of headlines from the STHS newsroom. Watch for your free issue to arrive in your mailbox any day now – and if you just can’t wait, you can also browse a digital version in our online newsroom. 

Cancer Center calendar


As part of its mission to treat the whole patient, Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center at St. Tammany Cancer Center, A Campus of Ochsner Medical Center, hosts free monthly classes on a variety of topics – from meditation to tai chi to music therapy and more – for diagnosed cancer patients.

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