Prehabilitation is a multidisciplinary strengthening program that helps to improve a patient’s strength before surgery and recovery time post-operative. The program includes evaluation, education, nutrition, exercise and stress management. Our clinic has expanded prehab to a multi-modal holistic approach to treat the muscle mass loss, which is common in sedentary and ill patients. Studies have shown the best time for these interventions are in the preoperative period before surgery.
Why Prehabilitation at Ochsner Health?
At Ochsner Health, our team works together to create an individualized plan to not only cure our patient’s disease but to improve their functional recovery. Patients are typically sent to the Prehab program at a minimum of 4 weeks before their surgery. The components of the program include:
- Nutrition, and referral to a registered dietitian, if needed
- Activity evaluation, and a physical therapist referral to create an individualized plan
- Stress management and assessments, such as breathing techniques and mindfulness
- Sleep evaluation
- Health optimizations, such as smoking cessation and the reduction or elimination of use of drugs/noxious substances.
- Disease specific education
Our team treats a wide variety of patients, which include upper GI cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic and esophageal cancer, head and neck, and chemotherapy patients. The goal of the program is to:
- Decrease inflammation
- Increase ability to build muscle
- Increase muscle strength
- Reduce stress through proven activities that reduce anxiety and depression
- Empower patients to regain some control of their condition
Referring Physicians
Patient referrals and transfers are critically important, and we want to make it easy for referring providers and their staff. Clinic Concierge is our clinic referral line for physicians, provides fast and easy access for referring patients for clinic appointments. Referring physicians can call Clinic Concierge or place orders electronically using Ochsner Provider Connect or call 1-855-312-4190
Meet the Team
Our innovative team collaborates to build a personalized plan to help patients prepare and recover from surgery. Our team members are evidence-driven and research-based, and they are dedicated in providing the highest quality of care to our patients.
Preoperative Optimization Perioperative Program Team
Program Founder and Director
Siobhan M Trotter, DNP, APRN, AGNP-C – Doctor of Nurse Practitioner

Program Coordinator and Clinical Research Associate
Xinyi “Cathy” Luo, MD – General Surgery Resident

Referring Surgeons and Physicians
John S Bolton, MD – Surgical Oncology, Upper Gastrointestinal, Chairman Emeritus of Department of Surgery

Brian Moore, MD – ENT Surgeon, Director of Ochsner Cancer Institute, Associate Medical Director of South Shore region

Russell Brown, MD, FACS – Surgical Oncology, Upper Gastrointestinal

Nathan Bolton, MD – Surgical Oncology, Upper Gastrointestinal

Charles Whitlow, MD - Colon and Rectal Surgery, Chairman of Colon & Rectal Surgery, Associate Medical Director for Surgical Services

Jennifer Paruch, MD – Colon and Rectal Surgery

Diogo Torres, MD – Gynecology Oncology

Natalie Bzowej, MD – Hepatology

Nurse Practitioner
Aimee G'sell, APRN, ANP-C, CDE – Surgical Oncology, Upper Gastrointestinal

Clinical Dietitian

Physical Therapist
Victoria Kennedy, PT – OTW Cancer Rehabilitation Program Supervisor

Emily Straub, PT

Nurse Navigator
Judy Landry, MS, BSN, RN – Upper GI Surgical and Medical Oncology

Registered Nurse
Shantell Butler, RN – Lead Registered Nurse, Surgical Oncology, Upper Gastrointestinal
Research Team
Marisa Doran - Medical Student

Sinead Brenner - Medical Student

Research
Our Prehabilitation patients are benefiting from clinical trials and research at Ochsner Health. Click the links below to learn more about the different studies.
- Change of Laboratory Markers of Malnutrition and Frailty in Cancer Patients Enrolled in Prehabilitation Program
- The Association of Functional and Laboratory Markers with Measures of Malnutrition and Frailty in Cancer Patients Enrolled in Prehabilitation
- Assessment of Cancer Patient Frailty Self-reported Patient Outcomes versus Functional and Laboratory Markers
- The Association of Preoperative Inflammatory and Nutritional Markers