FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Announce Renewed Partnership for Radiation Therapy
August 27, 2026
Baton Rouge, LA — FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center today announced a new joint operating agreement focused on advancing radiation therapy. This collaboration will expand capabilities and capacity to the Adaptive Radiation Therapy Program to patients throughout the region.
The agreement brings together leading expertise, resources and technology to expand access to advanced cancer care. Together, the organizations will strengthen the Adaptive Radiation Therapy Program and help bring the latest treatment innovations to patients.
“Working together allows both organizations to meet the needs of our community today while simultaneously planning for the future of cancer care,” said E.J. Kuiper, FMOL Health President and CEO. “By working together strategically, we are able to expand access to life-saving care while simultaneously avoiding a duplication of services and avoiding unnecessary costs to our patients.”
Building on Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s existing Elekta Unity MRI-guided linear accelerator, new program features made possible by the partnership will include CT-based adaptive technologies, an advanced photon-counting CT simulator and a new 3T MRI simulator. Together, these complementary technologies will allow physicians to visualize changes in tumors and surrounding anatomy and adapt treatment with greater precision—potentially reducing the number of treatments and expanding the ability to safely treat tumors in challenging locations, including those near sensitive organs. Combined with Mary Bird Perkins’ clinical expertise and treatment capacity, these investments will create one of the most progressive and robust radiation oncology programs in the region.
“Healthcare continues to evolve, and Mary Bird Perkins has moved to address these changes in the communities we serve. Our collaboration with Our Lady of the Lake reflects our shared commitment to finding meaningful ways to benefit patients and advance cancer care in our region. It also reflects what has been central to Mary Bird Perkins’ legacy for decades: building strong, trusted relationships with hospitals and health systems across Louisiana to expand access to exceptional cancer care, close to home,” said Jonas Fontenot, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.
Both organizations are committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care while embracing technological advancements that improve outcomes for patients. The integration of AI into radiation therapy sets a new standard for precision and efficiency in cancer treatment.
For media inquiries or more information about the partnership, please contact FMOL Health or Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.
About FMOL Health
FMOL Health is one of the largest healthcare systems based in Louisiana and is the leading healthcare provider for more than half the state’s population. The health system is a non-profit, Catholic organization sponsored by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the ministry serves patients in Louisiana and Mississippi through a network of hospitals, clinics, physicians and integrated health systems. The health system’s unified physician organization is comprised of more than 1,100 adult and pediatric primary care physicians and specialists. The system’s nine main campus hospitals include St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge and Gonzales, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Heart Hospital, and Women's & Children's Hospital in Lafayette, Our Lady of the Angels in Bogalusa, and St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. For more information, visit fmolhealth.org.