Helena Moreno takes oath as the 63rd mayor of New Orleans

'We know that things are not exactly where we want them to be today, and we know that it’s not going to be easy to fix these things, but just because things are hard does not mean that they’re impossible. We stand here on a turning point as we face challenging times, and we must be clear that failure is not an option. Not anymore. There’s just too much at stake.'

Inside the Battle for the Future of Addiction Medicine

Elyse Stevens was a primary physician at the University Medical Center New Orleans, which runs an integrated health clinic specialized in treating patients with substance use disorders. At first, her patient-centered approach won her awards. But in 2025, the Louisiana medical licensing board began investigating her practices. She had to leave the state to continue working, she said.