Every city requires qualified physicians to properly care for its population. A city is only good as its medical facilities and physicians.

Top-notch medical facilities are easily a drawing card to attract businesses and industry to a particular area.

Bogalusa should be proud of the fact that three of the six recent graduates of the LSU Rural Family Residency Program of Our Lady of the Angels Hospital announced they will stay at home to practice medicine. They include Chief Residents Steven Ogden and Kelsey Phelps and Dr. Keisha Harvey.

Phelps will be employed at the LSU Health Science Center as assistant professor for the Residency Program. Harvey will go to work with the Washington Parish Community Health Center on Columbia Street. And Ogden will work at Our Lady of the Angels Hospital. He will see patients at both the hospital and clinic.

The other three graduates will practice medicine not too far away. Dr. Christopher Whipple will practice in Slidell, while Dr. Scott Picou will be working in Hammond. Dr. Hima Yalamanchili will be on the job in Zachary.

The graduates must be exceptional. Phelps received awards for Educational Excellence, Most Professional and the Program Director’s Award. Harvey was selected for the Exceptional Character and Compassion Award, while Ogden was selected for the Exceptional Leadership Award.

Congratulations to all six physicians for their accomplishments.

And thank you Drs. Harvey, Phelps and Ogden for choosing Bogalusa to continue your work in the medical field. Bogalusa is better off because of your decision.