Ochsner Health pediatric cardiologist Dr. Terri King, a leader in congenital heart defect treatment, served as the presenting sponsor for the 2025 Heroes with Heart Retreat, a partnership between the Louisiana Tech University Division of Nursing and MedCamps of Louisiana.
Held at Camp Alabama in Choudrant, La., the retreat paired 35 Louisiana Tech nursing students with campers who have disabilities or chronic illnesses. In a single weekend, students completed all required pediatric clinical hours by serving as primary caregivers, assisting with mobility, administering medications and treatments, and participating in camp activities alongside their camper. The immersive experience allowed students to strengthen clinical judgment, communication, and leadership skills while contributing to a memorable camp experience for MedCamps participants.
“Heroes with Heart offers our Nursing students a truly transformative clinical experience,” said Dr. Sarah McVay, director of the Division of Nursing at Louisiana Tech and head nurse for MedCamps. “This immersive environment strengthens their skills and helps them meet key clinical objectives. We are especially thankful for Dr. King’s sponsorship; his generosity helps make this meaningful partnership possible.”
King, who has cared for children and families across Louisiana for more than five decades, continues to support programs that advance pediatric care and inspire future healthcare professionals. His sponsorship ensured nursing students had access to a unique clinical environment that mirrors real-world, family-centered practice.
“I was thrilled to sponsor and support the Louisiana Tech University Nursing program and MedCamps of Louisiana during the ‘Heroes with Hearts’ weekend,” King said. “I was deeply impressed by Tech’s Nursing students. Their compassion, dedication, and commitment to connecting with and caring for children with congenital heart defects were evident throughout the event. MedCamps of Louisiana provided a beautiful setting that allowed children to participate in a wide range of activities. The partnership between MedCamps and Louisiana Tech’s Nursing students created a remarkable weekend that truly changed lives and gave children with heart anomalies the opportunity to enjoy a carefree, inclusive experience. I appreciated the time spent visiting with the nursing students, faculty and children. Seeing firsthand the lives being touched by Louisiana Tech’s Nursing program and MedCamps of Louisiana was incredibly meaningful.”
Since 2019, Louisiana Tech’s Division of Nursing has partnered with MedCamps of Louisiana for the Heroes with Heart Retreat. Students earn 50 clinical hours during the weekend, providing direct care for campers while gaining experience in a supportive, hands-on environment.
“MedCamps of Louisiana’s partnership with the Louisiana Tech Division of Nursing through the Heroes with Heart Retreat is incredibly impactful,” said Caleb Seney, executive director of MedCamps of Louisiana. “Together, we’re not only providing meaningful clinical experiences for future nurses but also creating life-changing moments for our campers. This collaboration strengthens our mission, expands our reach, and ensures that every child we serve receives the compassion, care, and encouragement they deserve.”
“MedCamps and Dr. King provide our nursing students with a unique opportunity to obtain essential pediatric clinical hours that are otherwise difficult to secure,” said Dr. Gary Kennedy, dean of the College of Applied and Natural Sciences. “While students can complete required clinical hours in other areas at regional hospitals, pediatric opportunities remain limited because few hospitals maintain dedicated pediatric units and the number of children admitted at any given time is small. Through the work of MedCamps and Dr. King, our students gain valuable experience interacting with a significant number of children in a pediatric care environment.”
King joined Ochsner Health in 1972 after completing his medical training at the University of Texas Medical Branch and Duke University. In 1975, he and Ochsner surgeon Dr. Noel Mills invented the first cardiac “umbrella” device to close holes in the heart without open-heart surgery, an innovation that revolutionized the treatment of structural heart defects in children and adults. He was the first physician in the world to implant the device in a human patient, an achievement that drew national media attention and set a new standard for pediatric cardiology.
After relocating to Monroe in 1978, Dr. King established both the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for the region and served Louisiana’s Children’s Special Health Services for more than 30 years, ensuring access to specialized care for children with heart disease. He founded the annual Once Upon a Time - New Stories for Pediatrics symposium in 2001 and rejoined Ochsner Health in 2015, where he continues to care for patients as part of the pediatric cardiovascular team.
View the photo gallery from the Heroes with Heart Retreat
About MedCamps of Louisiana
Founded in 1987, MedCamps of Louisiana provides free, diagnosis-specific summer camps
for children with chronic illnesses and disabilities. What began as a one-week program
for 13 children has expanded into a 12-week series of specialized camps serving more
than 450 children each year. Through support from community partners, civic organizations,
and volunteers, MedCamps remains committed to ensuring that cost is never a barrier
to life-changing camp experiences.