Dr. Gia Landry Tyson, 39
Transplant Hepatologist and Gastroenterologist, Director of Hepatology at Ochsner Baton Rouge, LSU Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Being named Director of Hepatology for Ochsner Baton Rouge region.
- Serving on the national boards for the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the United Network for Organ Sharing.
- Developing a Liver Center at Ochsner Baton Rouge that provides advanced liver services, transplant care and receives referrals from around the state.
COMMUNITY:
Volunteers in the health ministry at Star Hill Church, mentors undergraduate students pursuing careers in medicine and is involved in Jack and Jill of America, a membership of mothers focused on enriching lives of their children along with children in their communities.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
A doctor
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
Working in my stepfather’s dental office around the age of 15, mostly filing and organizing charts. I learned that I really did not like filing charts, so I needed to stay focused on my goal to become a doctor.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
No strange jobs. My first real job was as a medical resident.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
I don’t usually have time to go out for lunch, but on the rare occasion I sneak away to meet friends at J. Alexander’s and get the veggie burger, no cheese, with fries.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
My patients speaking highly of me as their physician.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Every time a patient goes from a poor quality of life or the brink of death to receiving a liver transplant, these are fulfilling moments. I also love that I can provide great specialty care to patients in my more private type of practice at Ochsner and the same level of care in my more public type of practice at LSU.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA” MOMENT?
When I looked at a map showing all the places my patients come from around the state to see me.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
Not everyone has my same level of integrity.
WHAT GIVES YOU PROFESSIONAL INSPIRATION?
Seeing my patients get better clinically. Helping people at some of the most vulnerable times in their lives.
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
I don’t know how you do it all and so well.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
Text: 20
Emails: three
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
2%
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
25
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Podcast
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
Smart TVs
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
Cookies
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
6 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
Breakfast on the go
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
Being the best liver specialist so I can help provide a high level of liver care to the Baton Rouge community. Started the Med school Admit Program (MAP) to help undergraduates become competitive medical school applicants.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP”?
During residency when I was able to place orders and make independent decisions for my patients, not to mention I had also bought my first home.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
Spending the summer in Kenya (East Africa).
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
I wasn’t really into gifts.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
Fly, because it gives a unique advantage and view of your surroundings.
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
GG
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTICIOUS ABOUT?
Nothing
WHO FASCINATES YOU?
Everything…I love learning!
FAVORITE DRINK?
Water
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
My husband will be disappointed in this response, but I’m not that into music.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
I love getting immersed in movies, especially dramas about people’s lives, families and friendships. But I don’t really have a favorite movie.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
Kerry Washington or Joy Bryant
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
That’s a secret….
HOBBIES?
Running and triathlon
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
Spending the summer in rural Kenya with no regular electricity, hot water or typical conveniences of a Western lifestyle. There was quality time with myself and other people taking in the beauty of our surroundings.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
Developing the Med school Admit Program (MAP) into a premier national program that will assist premedical students to achieve their dream of matriculating to medical school.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
How I’ll have time to do all the things I desire.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
God is faithful, and the best is yet to come.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
Do something outside of your comfort zone.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Yes, my husband, Chris Tyson, and I plan to raise our family in Baton Rouge and give back as much as we can to this region.
IF NAMED KING FOR A DAY, WHAT IS ONE CHANGE YOU WOULD MAKE IN BATON ROUGE?
Increasing resources to the most impoverished areas of the city.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN BATON ROUGE; WHAT WORKS AND WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT?
I love living in Baton Rouge, but of course…..the traffic.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
- Travel
- Travel
- Travel
See the entire 2017 Forty under 40 class
