Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center boasts comprehensive care where dedicated doctors are finding breakthroughs every day with compassion and life-changing results. With the recent addition of Dr. Laura Chauvin at Ochsner MD Anderson in Kenner and Dr. Scott Sonnier at Ochsner MD Anderson at Ochsner Baptist in Baton Rouge, Ochsner MD Anderson’s ranks of high-quality oncology providers are still growing, expanding, and innovating for the long-term benefits of patients.

Dr. Laura Chauvin grew up in Arkansas, the child of a Methodist preacher; an upbringing which instilled within her an inherent compassion and need to care for people. Studying first in Arkansas before moving, studying, and teaching at the LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine, Dr. Chauvin joined a hematology and oncology private practice where she finally found the perfect marriage between her education and calling. Recently joining the team at Ochsner MD Anderson, Dr. Chauvin understands that the psychological aspects of cancer care are as crucial as the medical treatment, which, through research, is changing rapidly. Many of her newly diagnosed patients often worry about the side effects of treatment, specifically chemotherapy. At Ochsner MD Anderson, patients benefit from some of the latest developments in immunotherapy treatments that one day may eliminate the need for chemotherapy in cancer care altogether.

Dr. Scott Sonnier is a Lafayette native who studied at the former University of Southwestern Louisiana and has followed the evolution of Ochsner’s oncology care for many years, sensing nothing but great things ahead. Having practiced as a general oncologist and hematologist for nearly twenty-five years, Dr. Sonnier has witnessed great strides in cancer research, with Ochsner’s partner, MD Anderson Cancer Center, leading the charge through an extensive research arm, accelerating new and effective cancer treatments. Today, diseases that once had very poor outcomes are treatable and manageable through the concerted, compassionate care of Dr. Sonnier and Dr. Chauvin alongside a growing, elite team of Ochsner
MD Anderson physicians.

“Where once there were only twenty or thirty full-time staff, our cancer team has grown to over one hundred specialists,” says Dr. Sonnier. “Ochsner MD Anderson and its cancer care program is comprehensive and effective, with clinical trials and various unique aspects of affiliated benefits that patients can have in terms of customization and expediency of care.”

DID YOU KNOW…

Many patients understandably feel anxious about undergoing chemotherapy, often worrying about symptoms like nausea and fatigue. However, Dr. Chauvin reassures that these concerns can be effectively managed with today’s advanced medications and techniques. Innovative treatments are now being developed that harness the immune system to target cancer cells, helping them die without directly harming healthy tissue. This approach is leading to smoother, more successful recoveries and improved overall experiences for patients.