Kids help shape care at Ochsner Children's

Kids’ Council members will review hospital and clinic practices, share feedback about their experiences and offer ideas for making care more welcoming, comfortable and supportive for children and families from across the Gulf South. When their recommendations lead to action, the decision becomes an official Kids' Decree, giving council members a visible role in creating change throughout Ochsner Children's. 

Ochsner Children's created the Kids' Council to ensure children are active participants in decisions that affect their care. Members represent a wide range of ages and medical experiences, bringing valuable perspectives on what matters most to young patients and families. Kids’ Council members include: 

• Eli W., 8, Ochsner Children’s primary care patient 

• Riley W., 10, Ochsner Children’s orthopedics patient 

• Ammar S., 10, Ochsner Children’s primary care patient 

• Eli B., 5, Ochsner Children’s cardiology and heart surgery patient 

• Isla J., 9, Ochsner Children’s primary care patient 

• Louise M., 8, Ochsner Children’s primary care patient 

• Bijou E., 6, Ochsner Children’s primary care patient 

"The experts on being kids are kids," said Beth Walker, CEO of Ochsner Children's. "The Kids' Council gives us the opportunity to listen directly to our patients and learn from their experiences. Their ideas, creativity and honesty will help us make meaningful decisions that reflect what matters most to the children and families we serve." 

The council held its inaugural meeting on Aug. 19, 2026, bringing members together for a collaborative discussion focused on improving the patient experience across Ochsner Children's facilities. 

First decisions, fun homework assignment 

During their first meeting, Kids’ Council members met Ochsner Children’s leaders, discussed future topics and initiatives, and unanimously approved an exterior clinic signage project. They also received their first assignment: to answer, “If you could make one thing better for kids at the hospital, what would it be?” 

"I like that I can make a difference that I would not normally be able to make if I wasn't on the Kids' Council," said Isla J., a member of the Ochsner Children’s Kids’ Council. 

Hospital leaders say the council reflects Ochsner Children's ongoing commitment to patient- and family-centered care by giving young patients a meaningful role in shaping the future of pediatric healthcare. 

Whether it's finding ways to make a hospital stay more comfortable, creating more welcoming spaces or helping shape future programs, Kids' Council members are proving that big ideas can come from even the smallest voices. 

"We want every child to know that their voice matters here," said Walker. "The Kids' Council is helping us see our hospital and clinics through the eyes of our patients, and that perspective is invaluable as we continue to enhance the care and experience we provide." 

Learn more about the Ochsner Children's Kids' Council by visiting Ochsner Children's Kids' Council | Ochsner Health.  

Media contact: pr@ochsner.org   

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About Ochsner Children’s  

Ochsner Children’s is part of Ochsner Health, the leading nonprofit healthcare provider in Louisiana, Mississippi and across the Gulf South, delivering expert care at its 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. Nationally recognized for excellence in pediatric care, Ochsner Children’s Hospital has maintained Top 50 rankings in multiple pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report for nine consecutive years. In 2025, Ochsner Children’s earned national distinctions in cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology and GI surgery, pulmonology and neonatology.