Leaders of the Teche Area’s healthcare industry took to the Bayou Oaks Ballroom Friday night to celebrate a year of heroic achievements and service to the community as part of The Daily Iberian’s 2021 Healthcare Heroes awards.

The program celebrated the Teche Area’s outstanding healthcare professionals during the award program and dinner hosted on Admiral Doyle Drive.

The awards for Healthcare Heroes were determined by nominations and votes made by residents in the community.

Nominations were accepted online for two weeks, with voting online for another two weeks to determine the winners in a variety of healthcare categories.

By the end of the voting period, General Manager Shanna Dickens said 2,766 nominations were received as well as 26,315 votes.

Healthcare Heroes first began in 2018 as a way to give much deserved recognition and appreciation to the heroes of the healthcare industry in Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes. The program was cancelled last year due to COVID-19, and Dickens said it seemed many in the community were thrilled to have it back.

“We are thrilled to be back and it seems like everyone is eager to honor our healthcare heroes,” Dickens said.

“During the last two years when our community was sick, scared for the future and didn’t know where to turn they had everyone in this room helping them.”

Catering was provided at the Bayou Oaks Ballroom and those attending were able to enjoy a delicious meal while socializing with some of the most prominent members of the medical and healthcare professionals in the community.

The catering was provided by Preservation and a cash bar was also available to event-goers.

“Every single person helped our community in unimaginable ways and deserve so much more than this one night of applause,” Dickens said.

The names of the winners for each category were called out when the program started, with the winner of each category walking to the front of the venue to a round of applause.

Best Anesthesiologist — Stephen Collins

Best Audiologist — Maegan Guilbeau

Best Cardiologist — Bose Cheeran

Best Certified Nursing Assistant — Kierra Hogan

Best Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist — Richard Howell

Best Chiropractor — Tina Theriot

Best Counselor/Therapist — Cindy Hayes

Best Dental Assistant — Brittney Landry

Best Dental Hygienist — Ryean Camacho

Best Dental Office Manager — Chris Stroud

Best Dental Receptionist — Mary Boudreaux

Best Dentist — Dr. John Mahoney

Best Dermatologist — Dr. Venetia Patout

Best Emergency Medical Technician — Morgan Waldmann

Best Gastroenterologist — Son Nguyen

Best General Physician — Timothy Viator

Best Health Financial Coordinator — Amy Crochet

Best Health Scheduling Coordinator — Lacy Rochon

Best Healthcare Administrator — Hailey Boutte

Best Healthcare Educator — Dusty Dugas

Best Healthcare Executive Director — Lacie Moore

Best Healthcare Manager — Laci Moore

Best Healthcare Volunteer — Debra Savoie

Best Home Health Nurse — Alison Pichoff

Best Hospice Nurse — Seth Porche

Best Licensed Practical Nurse — Mary Lancon

Best Massage Therapist — Brooke Comeaux

Best Medical Advocate — Tyler Robicheaux

Best Medical Assistant — Amber Olivier

Best Medical Laboratory Scientist/Tech — Theonie Smith

Best Medical Non-Profit Organization — Hospice of Acadiana

Best Medical Office Manager — Kristy Parker

Best Medical Receptionist — Megan Gary

Best Neurologist — Oliver Achi

Best Nurse Practitioner — Sidney Jo LeBlanc

Best Nutritionist — Nicole Latour

Best OB/GYN — Breigh Foster

Best Occupational Therapist — Courtney Dore

Best Occupational Therapy Assistant — Riley Migues

Best Oncologist — Dr Georgios Constantinou

Best Ophthalmologist — Thomas Curry

Best Optician — Mandy Geoffroy

Best Optometrist — Guy Feur

Best Optometrist Receptionist — Terry Lynn Rogers

Best Oral Surgeon — Dr Boudreaux

Best Orthodontist — Chris Feldman

Best Orthopedic Surgeon — Dr. Andre Cenac

Best Otolaryngologist (ENT) — Dr. Nicholas Sorrel

Best Pain Management Physician — Dr. Cuadra

Best Paramedic — Jimmy Dupuy

Best Pediatrician — Dr. Scott

Best Pharmacist — Andy Soileau

Best Pharmacy Tech — Bridget Peltier

Best Phlebotomist — Cheryl Mitchell

Best Physical Therapist — Jacob Freyou

Best Physical Therapy Assistant — Michael Cormier

Best Physician’s Assistant — Jennifer Duck

Best Plastic Surgeon — Stephen Delatte

Best Podiatrist — Amy Schunameyer

Best Psychiatrist — Edie B. Porciau

Best Psychologist — David Landry, Ph.D

Best Radiologic Technician — Mitch Broussard

Best Radiologist — Dr. Boudreaux

Best Registered Nurse — Alison Pichoff

Best Social Worker/Case Manager — Brandi Angelle

Best Speech Therapist — Kathryn White

Best Urologist — Dr Clyde Roy

Best Vet Tech — Candi Guillot

Best Veterinarian — Eric White