Red River Bank Listed on 2024 Best Banks to Work For List

Red River Bank has been named one of the 2024 Best Banks to Work For. American Banker partnered with Best Companies Group to identify banks that excel at creating positive and supportive workplaces for employees. This year, 90 banks earned a spot in the ranking of Best Banks to Work For, based on ananonymous employee survey and a thorough review of the benefits and perks offered.

“The Best Banks to Work For represent institutions helping employees achieve their goals,” said Chana Schoenberger, editor-in-chief of American Banker. “These banks recognize how important it is for their staffers to be happy about the work they do and the environment in which they spend their days.”

On the 2024 list, Red River Bank was ranked No. 24. Red River Bank was also ranked No. 4 on the Best Banks to Work For list in the $3 billion to $10 billion assets category. The survey and award program is designed to identify and honor banks with the best cultures for helping employees thrive.

“When we say ‘We’re Your People,’ we don’t just mean our customers; we extend that belief to our employees as well,” said Red River Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Blake Chatelain. “At Red River Bank, we take pride in caring for our employees and helping them grow to reach their full potential. We frequently receive compliments on our company culture, and awards like this truly validate our efforts.”

Announces Incentives for Caddo and Bossier Film Prize Junior Teachers

The Prize Foundation announces that its Film Prize Junior program will now be able to pay teachers to help local students make films. With assistance from the Film Prize Junior staff and industry mentors, participating teachers will now be incentivized to help students learn the art, science, and business of filmmaking.

The Film Prize Junior Caddo / Bossier Teacher Incentive Program offers financial rewards for teachers who successfully guide their students through the Film Prize Junior process, from scriptwriting to production of a short film to festival participation (payment is per participating teacher):

•  $100 for the lead teacher whose students’ script is submitted and approved by the Film Prize Junior team for production.
•  d teacher of a completed film approved for participation in the online and in-person Film Prize Junior Festival.
• A bonus of $150 for the lead teacher of a completed film competing in the animation genre
• $100 for the teacher who fully participates in the Film Prize Junior Festival, including watching a slate of films and guiding students through Production Island and educational panels.

“We’ve always wanted to do this for the teachers, and thanks to the Community Foundation, we are finally able to incentivize educators to be a part of this innovative experiential learning program,” said Gregory Kallenberg, Executive Director of the Prize Foundation. “I hope this attracts more teachers and students to take the transformative journey of Film Prize Junior.”

For more information about Film Prize Junior or the Teacher Incentive Pay Program, please visit filmprizejr.com.

Dr. Mark Callanan Performs Region’s First ACL Repair  Using Innovative BEAR Implant

Mark Callanan, MD, of The Orthopedic Clinic, has performed an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair using BEAR Implant, the first medical advancement to enable the body to heal its own torn ACL. The surgery was performed at Willis Knighton Portico Center. Willis Knighton is the first in north Louisiana to offer BEAR ACL repairs.

The ACL is one of the key ligaments that help stabilize the knee joint. It connects the thigh bone to the shinbone. Injuries to the ACL most often are sports-related. Torn ACLs do not heal by reconnecting independently as other ligament tears do. An orthopedic surgeon must remove the torn ACL ends and replace them with a graft during a conventional reconstruction operation.

By contrast, Bear Implant is a minimally invasive procedure where the ACL is first repaired back to the femoral wall. The BEAR Implant is then injected with the patient’s blood and inserted into the torn ends of the ACL. As the ACL heals, the body absorbs the implant, usually within eight weeks.

“While this isn’t indicated for every patient, this is an excellent option for certain candidates to primarily repair their ACL versus having to do a full reconstruction following an injury,” Dr. Callanan said. “There are many studies and evolving clinical practice of ACL repair versus reconstruction in sports medicine, and the BEAR Implant is at the forefront.”

Willis Knighton First in Region to Offer Innovative Procedure to Lower Blood Pressure in Patients with Uncontrolled Hypertension

A new treatment option for patients with uncontrollable high blood pressure is now available at Willis Knighton Health. Willis Knighton is the first healthcare provider in the region to offer Paradise® Ultrasound Renal Denervation, a minimally invasive procedure that helps lower blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Ryan Master, MD, interventional cardiologist with Willis Knighton Pierremont Cardiology, along with Drs. Paul Stafford and Jonathan Davis, performed the procedure at Willis Knighton Heart & Vascular Institute.

Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation is an FDA approved system that uses ultrasound energy delivered through a balloon catheter inserted from the femoral artery into the renal artery to reduce activity of sympathetic renal nerves. Dr. Master said clinical trials have shown that renal denervation can be an effective option for patients who are unable to lower blood pressure with changes in lifestyle and medications.

“Willis Knighton is committed to providing our patients leading technology to improve their overall health and being at the forefront investing in the latest advances in treatment of hypertension and heart disease prevention,” Dr. Master said. “I am glad we now have an alternate treatment to offer our patients who are unable to get goal blood pressure despite having attempted treatment with diet, exercise and medications.”