Rural Louisiana health clinic addresses local tribe’s unique needs
Services expanded since opening in 2021
The Tunica-Biloxi health clinic in Marksville, La. opened in 2021 to serve the Tunica-Biloxi tribe and its rural neighbors. The small but growing team focuses on building trust, treating health disparities like the high prevalence of diabetes and making sure uninsured patients can access vital resources.
In the clinic’s first three years, NOLA.com’s Margaret Delaney reports, 72% of the patients who received treatment were uninsured. The clinic incorporates social workers and licensed counselors as staff members to make important connections for these patients.
Clinic leaders like Tunica-Biloxi Chairman and CEO Marshall Pierite and Health Director Cameron Chase recruit effectively from local and culturally competent healthcare experts. They were proud to hire Dr. Ghyass Rizk, a Syrian-born endocrinologist with 35 years of experience in the region, on a part-time basis in 2024.
As their care expands, they plan on adding services for women’s health, cardiology, dermatology, podiatry, musculoskeletal treatments and nutrition. They’re also reaching out to the nearby residents outside the tribe who face challenges in accessing quality rural care.
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