Sheila G. Arrington is Baton Rouges Outstanding Healthcare Professionals. In 1999 Ms. Arrington founded Aneurysm Outreach Inc., a unique, first-of-its-kind charity dedicated to mobilizing people and resources to eliminate abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)- the third leading cause of sudden death for U.S. males. Her father died at the age of 58 from this silent killer. Almost 20 years later, she learned that 20% of all those diagnosed with AAA have had another family member affected. Since then Ms. Arrington has been dedicated to preventing this devastation from continuing in her own as well as other families. Ms. Arrington, a former administrative assistant, took a series of Education for Living seminars, joined Toastmasters International and took classes at LSU in Interpersonal Communication and Public Speaking in preparation for her new career. Now Aneurysm Outreach Inc. crates partnerships so that free ultrasound screening programs can be offered to those most at risk over the age of 55. Early detection of AAA is critical and has a 95% successful surgical repair rate. At rupture there is a 75-90% chance of death. Aneurysm Outreach Inc., which has made approximately 135AAA discoveries, has been recognized in the international journal, Cardiovascular Surgery.

Dr. Larry Hollier, Dean of LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans and AAA researcher has been instrumental in assisting to open doors to LSU Health Science Centers around the state as screening locations, SonoSite Inc. furnishes their ultrasound equipment and sonographers are contracted. AOI seeks sponsors for these screening programs and tax-deductible donations from the general public to cover advertising, travel, and other screening cost as well as to grow it organization and screening program.

To find out more, contact Sheila Arrington at
(225) 622-1577