As the newest member of Ochsner Children's pediatric subspecialty team in Lafayette, you will step into a role that combines clinical excellence with the opportunity to shape a developing service line in a thriving community. This general pediatric gastroenterology position features an outpatient clinic focus with a manageable inpatient consult service. Your arrival will reestablish a vital pediatric gastroenterology service that has demonstrated significant impact on local healthcare access. You will experience the professional fulfillment of practicing in a community where your subspecialty expertise is highly valued, while enjoying a structured workload that supports genuine work-life integration.
The previous pediatric gastroenterologist established a strong referral base and maintained a busy practice, demonstrating the substantial community need that exists. Your practice will consist primarily of outpatient consultations, with the flexibility to customize your schedule to optimize the balance between clinic and procedures. You'll work a 5-day week (Monday–Friday) with Friday afternoons dedicated to administrative time rather than patient care, allowing you to manage documentation, follow up on test results, and prepare for the coming week.
Lafayette and the surrounding Acadiana region represent a service area of approximately 750,000 people, giving you access to a diverse patient population with a wide range of gastrointestinal conditions. While the community is small enough to foster meaningful professional relationships, the patient volume is substantial enough to maintain a thriving practice. With Ochsner's expanding presence in the region, you'll have the opportunity to serve patients from Lafayette General Medical Center and potentially develop outreach clinics in surrounding communities.
Your role will serve a critical function in Lafayette's pediatric healthcare ecosystem. Currently, patients requiring pediatric gastroenterology care must often travel to New Orleans or Baton Rouge for specialty care—a significant burden for families managing chronic conditions. Your presence will allow these patients to receive expert care close to home, strengthening the overall pediatric healthcare infrastructure in the region.
You will join the Ochsner team at an exciting time of growth. The NICU has recently expanded to 46 beds, with an average daily census of approximately 30 babies. Many of these infants require gastroenterology consultations, providing the opportunity to collaborate with neonatologists and other specialists. Additionally, the health system has plans to expand its pediatric unit from 6 to 10–12 beds in 2026, further increasing your inpatient consultation opportunities.
This position offers the rare combination of clinical impact and lifestyle balance that many physicians seek but seldom find. In Lafayette, you'll experience the professional satisfaction of being an essential subspecialist in a growing healthcare system while maintaining control over your schedule and practice. Unlike metropolitan pediatric gastroenterology positions where you might be one of many specialists handling fragmented care, here you'll develop longitudinal relationships with patients and referring providers, allowing you to see the full impact of your expertise. The genuine need for your services means immediate practice growth without the typical ramp-up period found in saturated markets, all while enjoying the quality of life that Lafayette's community-oriented culture provides.