Northshore Internal Medicine Associates Joins Network on March 1

[HAMMOND, LA]—Northshore Internal Medicine Associates has become a clinic of North Oaks Health System effective March 1, 2007, according to North Oaks Chief Operating Officer Michele Kidd Sutton.

The medical clinic will retain the same name, location (in Hammond Park Professional Building, Suites 5 and 15) and office staff. Physicians Charles R. Ducombs, MD,
Susan Zacharia, MD, and Anthony E. Zerangue, MD, will be available for patient appointments on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All three physicians are certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and specialize in the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of adult medical conditions and preventive care.

In a joint statement, the Drs. Ducombs, Zacharia and Zerangue, explain, “With North Oaks managing the operation of our clinic, we will be able to focus our energy on what we love the most about the practice of medicine—taking care of our loyal patients.”

North Oaks Clinic Director Regina Scott concurs, “The partnership of Northshore Internal Medicine Associates and North Oaks Health System’s clinic network is built on a common vision for the future of health care in our community and a shared commitment to personalized health care and customer satisfaction.”

A member of the North Oaks medical staff since 2004,
Dr. Ducombs earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport. He completed both his internship and residency through the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Upon completion of his residency training in 2001, he served for 3 years as an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Professionally, he belongs to the American College of Physicians and American Medical Association.

Dr. Zacharia earned her medical degree from the Universidad Tecnologica de Santiago in Santo Domingo and completed both her internship and residency through the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She joined the North Oaks medical staff in 1994. Professionally, she belongs to the American College of Physicians, American Medical Association and Tangipahoa Medical Society. Dr. Zacharia served as Chairman of the Department of Medicine on North Oaks Medical Center’s Medical Executive Committee in 1998 and 1999.

Dr. Zerangue is a graduate of Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He completed his internship at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia and his residency through Earl K. Long Memorial Hospital in Baton Rouge. Dr. Zerangue went on to serve on active duty in the U.S. Navy for 5 years as a general medical officer with a rank of lieutenant commander. He then joined the North Oaks Medical Staff in 2003 and is now in his second year of a 2-year term of service as Chairman of the Department of Medicine on North Oaks Medical Center’s Medical Executive Committee. Additionally, Dr. Zerangue sees patients at North Oaks Specialty Clinic in Walker.

In related news, former Northshore Internal Medicine Associates partner Robert Peltier, MD, retired from patient care as of February 28, 2007, in order to pursue a career in health care administration. Dr. Peltier will succeed the health system’s Chief Medical Officer James L. Nelson, MD, upon his retirement effective March 30, 2007. A member of the North Oaks medical staff since 1998, Dr. Peltier was Chief of Staff for North Oaks Medical Center in 2006 and honored as North Oaks Physician of the Year in 2005. He graduated from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport and completed his internship and residency at Earl K. Long Memorial Hospital in Baton Rouge.

To learn more about the North Oaks Clinic network, please call North Oaks Marketing and Business Development at
(985) 230-6647 or please visit the clinic pages on our website. To schedule a physician appointment with Northshore Internal Medicine Associates, please call
(985) 318-1000.

Charles R. Ducombs, MD Northshore Internal Medicine Associates A Clinic of North Oaks Health System

Susan Zacharia, MD Northshore Internal Medicine Associates A Clinic of North Oaks Health System

Anthony E. Zerangue, MD Northshore Internal Medicine Associates A Clinic of North Oaks Health System

Robert Peltier, MD, will succeed James L. Nelson, MD, FACS, as North Oaks Health System’s Chief Medical Officer upon his retirement effective March 30, 2007.