New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic Medical Staff
Dr. Cathi Fontenot - NOMC Medical Director
Dr. Fontenot is an associate professor of clinical medicine at the LSU School of Medicine and the volunteer Medical Director of the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic. Dr. Fontenot served as medical director of the Medical Center of Louisiana (Charity and University Hospitals) from May 2003 to November 2008 as well as the interim chief executive officer from July 2008 to January 2009. She, along with other staff, remained at University Hospital through Hurricane Katrina in 2005, finally evacuating with patients after five days without power or water. Dr. Fontenot was instrumental and intimately involved with reestablishing medical services in New Orleans following the storm, initially in tents in parking lots and ultimately in the renovated and repaired interim LSU Hospital. She has a long history of providing care to underserved and vulnerable populations experiencing healthcare disparities. Dr. Fontenot is board certified internal medicine and has a Certificate of Added Qualifications in geriatric medicine. She has been involved with the NOMC since it’s founding in 1998.
Catherine Lasperches - Family Nurse Practitioner
Catherine has been the Family Nurse Practitioner for NOMC since 2004. She had been a nurse in France and Tahiti for 10 years, before getting her NP degree in Mobile, Alabama in 1998. Catherine’s affinity for Jazz and her love of New Orleans music brought her to the city. She is delighted to be able to care for the musicians, artists and tradition bearers that make New Orleans so special. Catherine believes in health care for all and feels privileged to work for a non-profit clinic such as the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic.
Gwen Wilson - Medical Assistant
Gwen Wilson joined the NOMC as a Medical Assistant over a year ago. She has so much compassion and care for our patients, and is a vital member of our small medical team.
Megan McStravick - Social Worker, Intake Coordinator, Patient Navigator
Megan graduated with a Masters from the Tulane School of Social Work in December of 2008 and has worked at the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic since February 2009. Prior to her career in New Orleans, she completed a bachelor’s degree in Human Services at Gwynedd Mercy University right outside of her hometown of Philadelphia, PA. Megan was introduced to New Orleans by her college professor, a New Orleans native and TSSW graduate who relocated to the Philadelphia area but continued to embrace and share his deep rooted appreciation and knowledge of New Orleans by offering his “History and Culture of New Orleans” class to a small group of students each year. Megan describes the following in her own words: ” This class expanded my opportunities, personally as well as professionally, and embedded in me a passion for New Orleans music, history and culture. I am extremely grateful for my position at the Musicians Clinic and continue to be amazed by the talent and resiliency of our patients, which I witness on a daily basis. I have an extensive background in case management and hope to continue my education in the field of Social work to better serve New Orleans’ cultural bearers. I am interested in the Healthcare reform and hope to contribute to limiting health disparities and the many barriers individuals face in regards to access to healthcare.”
Dr. John J. Hutchings - Psychiatrist
Dr. Hutchings assumed the role of the director of psychiatric services for the NOMC in 2010. As the “medical home” for more than 2,500 local musicians and tradition bearers, the NOMC’s Culture of Caring Model provides cost-efficient access to high-quality healthcare and wellness programs for our patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Dr. Hutchings has been instrumental in establishing and managing effective pathways for psychological counseling as well as establishing collaboration with Odyssey House Louisiana for substance detoxification/rehabilitation and addiction treatment.
New Orleans Musicians’ Assistance Foundation Staff
Bethany Bultman - President and Director
Erica Dudas - Managing Director
Erica Dudas, NOMAF’s Managing Director, came to NOMAF in 2011. An experienced nonprofit manager, she also taught at Tulane University after gaining her degree in Sociology in 2006. She is an ardent supporter of community-based education and is passionate about supporting the creative and professional development of New Orleanians through active and meaningful outreach. She brings cultural knowledge gained from extensive travels in Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe to her mission of promoting healthy living and health management to local musicians.
Email: EricaDudas@nomaf.org
Stacey Morigeau - Musician Resource Director
Stacey Morigeau is a lifetime live music supporter and a graduate from the University of Montana with a BA in Drama. Stacey has been with NOMC&AF for 8 years working primarily on the Safe Sounds Program, the re-issue of the Get You a Healin’, and helping to coordinate the Jamie Galloway Crawfish Boil and the Crescent City Classic Team. In addition to the work she does to sustain healthy lifestyles among New Orleans musicians through NOMAF, Stacey assists local bands and festivals by selling merchandise or stage managing and has been a volunteer at WWOZ (90.7) for the past 11 years.
Email: programs@nomaf.org
Rose Mancini - RN, Volunteer Medical Liaison
Rose Mancini seeks to PREVENT DEATH BY LIFESTYLE by teaching about healthier eating, exercise and putting what she teaches to work in her own life. She and her late husband Gunther “Dutch” Seutter owned Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub on Bourbon Street for 29 years which featured traditional jazz. She first became involved as a donor with the Musicians’ Clinic when their partner, Frances Harding, died of a heart attack at the age of 49 years old. As an avid baker, she enjoys developing cakes that are healthier for everyone but full of flavor by using substitute ingredients such as applesauce to replace oil in the cake. As the Hospitality Chairperson at her church, St. Luke UMC she is a lead cook on various occasions and strives to promote great-tasting food that is lower in fat and salt content.
Katherine Klimitas - Graphic Design and Art Director
Katherine Klimitas is a New Orleans-based artist and designer who sold her first watercolor at age 10. She earned a B.A. from Loyola University in 2011, and today at age 28, runs her multifaceted business KAK ART & Designs from home. When clients learn that Katherine has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, they are captivated by her unique perspective. She’s 2 feet 7 inches tall, gets around in an electric wheelchair, and creates all of her art, jewelry, and commercial graphic design while lying on her side.
To learn more visit kakartnola.com.
Jamilah Yejide Peters-Muhammad - RN, BSN, FCN, Community Outreach Nurse
Jamilah Yejide Peters-Muhammad, RN BSN FCN proudly serves the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation as the Community Outreach Nurse. Jamilah has performed and taught African dance and culture for over 40 years. Jamilah was honored by the New Orleans Black Mardi Gras Indians as “Nurse of the Nation,” for her work in helping to bring awareness of health and wellness issues to this important segment of the New Orleans cultural community and to cultural bearers around the city. My work as a cultural artist and nurse, I bring information and resources to our cultural community, the benefits of preventative healthcare, and the many benefits available through NOMAF.
Email: majam504@bellsouth.net
Taylor Cohen - Program Assistant
Taylor Cohen has her MPH in Epidemiology and has been involved with meaningful community outreach and engagement since coming to New Orleans in 2013. She currently coordinates NOMAF’s Dancer Wellness and You Got This (mental health and suicide prevention) programs. She hopes to continue being a change-maker in the community working with socially innovative organizations
Email: dancewell@nomaf.org
Lizz Freeman - Operations Manager
Lizz began as a volunteer on Halloween in 2012.
With over 20 years of business management and client relations behind her, she brings her love of creative problem solving, communication, and spreadsheets to the operations and development side of the NOMAF office.
She is certified in Mental Health First Aid.
Email: Office@Nomaf.Org