In New Orleans, culture isn’t reserved for weekends—it’s a daily experience. The only American city recognized by UNESCO for its entire urban cultural landscape, New Orleans is where jazz was born, Creole and Cajun cuisine flourished, and global traditions merged into something uniquely original. Here, you’re not just treating patients—you’re serving musicians from Preservation Hall, Mardi Gras Indians, and award-winning chefs who define America’s cultural identity.
Music in New Orleans is community heartbeat, not just entertainment. From gospel brunch at Buffa’s to spontaneous street concerts, your everyday life is set to a world-class soundtrack. Children take lessons from artists who’ve toured with jazz legends, and music education is part of growing up.
Food is woven into the city’s DNA—recipes are stories, restaurants are community hubs, and meals are cultural experiences. You’ll enjoy everything from James Beard Award winners to neighborhood seafood boils, and your patients will share gumbo secrets handed down for generations.
New Orleans’ 130+ annual festivals are not tourist attractions—they are community rituals. Mardi Gras spans an entire season. The French Quarter Festival transforms the city into a giant music venue. Every weekend brings celebration.
The arts in New Orleans are accessible, affordable, and omnipresent. From museum-quality installations at Studio BE to casual coffee shop exhibitions, creativity flows through every corner of the city.
From Faulkner and Capote to Anne Rice, New Orleans nurtures writers and readers alike. Bookstores are community hubs, festivals attract national talent, and your neighborhood might include Pulitzer Prize winners.
New Orleans doesn’t preserve history—it lives in it. Your home may qualify for tax credits if it's historic. Your neighborhood may be protected by preservation ordinances. Living here means walking daily through America’s architectural storybook.
New Orleans is America’s most Caribbean city, blending global cultures into daily life. You and your family will engage in multicultural festivals, language classes, and international culinary traditions.
World-class cultural education is embedded into community life. Programs like NOCCA, Roots of Music, and KID smART ensure children grow up as creators, not just consumers, of culture.
What makes New Orleans exceptional is not just the cultural richness—but its accessibility. You don’t need VIP access to experience greatness. Art lives on the streets. Music flows from porches. Culture is something everyone participates in, not something consumed behind ropes or screens.
Physicians say they came for the job, but stayed for the culture—because this is the only city where you live inside a work of art that’s still being created.
In New Orleans, faith isn’t confined to sanctuaries—it flows through daily life, from jazz funerals to neighborhood blessings. Religious expression here is as diverse and vibrant as the city itself, offering Catholic tradition, Protestant vitality, Jewish continuity, and growing Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist communities. Whether you're deeply devout or casually observant, you'll find spiritual homes that welcome medical families with open arms and active support.
With 142 parishes, New Orleans is one of America's most Catholic cities. From historic St. Louis Cathedral to Jesuit High School and Dominican, Catholic life here is robust, visible, and deeply rooted in local tradition.
Protestant life thrives with everything from historic Episcopalian churches to dynamic megachurches. Services cater to every style—liturgical, contemporary, gospel-filled, or reflective—providing community for every kind of believer.
New Orleans has one of the South’s oldest and most active Jewish communities, with Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox congregations, robust education programs, and a thriving Jewish Community Center that fosters connection and culture.
The city’s growing Muslim community is anchored by several inclusive mosques and centers, with programming that serves children, families, and professionals. Many Ochsner physicians participate in interfaith events and organize hospital Ramadan observances.
Eastern spiritual traditions are thriving, with temples and centers supporting both immigrant communities and American practitioners. Meditation, kirtan, and dharma teachings blend seamlessly into New Orleans’ spiritual fabric.
New Orleans embraces interfaith engagement. From joint Thanksgiving services to hospital chaplaincy programs, the city’s religious leaders collaborate on ethics, public health, and community healing—fostering a culture of shared respect.
Faith in New Orleans isn’t passive—it moves people to action. Physicians often volunteer at clinics, food banks, and missions through faith-based partnerships, creating deeply rewarding avenues for community service.
Many congregations maintain newcomer ministries tailored to relocating professionals. Mentorship, home visits, physician affinity groups, and even help with schools or housing are common offerings—ensuring your family is embraced, not just welcomed.
New Orleans lives its faith in public—from the bells of neighborhood churches to Mardi Gras parades honoring saints. Patients may request prayer, clergy make hospital rounds, and holidays shape the rhythm of city life.
Jazz funerals celebrate life with music. St. Christopher medals hang in taxis. Optional prayer opens public events. It’s a spiritual culture that invites, rather than imposes—one where your spiritual life can flourish in community, no matter your path.
