LERN is governed by a 29-member Board that represents a diverse set of stakeholders. LERN’s enabling legislation specifies a stakeholder organization to nominate qualified candidates (at least four) for each LERN Board seat. Nominees are submitted to the Governor for consideration and appointment to serve a three-year term.

Executive Committee Members

John D. Jones, MD
Chair of the Board
Emergency Medicine Physician
Baton Rouge General Medical Center – Bluebonnet
Nominating Entity: LHA Rehab Constituency Group

Granville A. Morse III, MD
Vice-Chair of the Board
Deputy Coroner Jefferson Parish
Medical Director Hospital Service Lines – Ochsner Health
Nominating Entity: Louisiana State Coroners Association

Deiadra J. Garrett, MD
Immediate Past Chair of the Board
Pediatric Surgeon
Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital
Nominating Entity: Louisiana State Medical Society

Karen O. Wyble, DNP, MSN, MHA, MBA, RN
Treasurer
AVP Academics and Education
Ochsner Lafayette General Health System
Nominating Entity: Rural Hospital Coalition

John P. Hunt, MD, MPH, FACS
Executive Committee Member
Professor of Surgery
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – New Orleans
Nominating Entity: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – New Orleans

Jullette M. Saussy, MD
Executive Committee Member
Chief Medical Officer
Louisiana Department of Health – Office of Public Health
Nominating Entity: Louisiana Department of Health

Porter Taylor, IV
Executive Committee Member
Director of Operations
Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services, LA & MS
Nominating Entity: Louisiana Rural Ambulance Alliance

Members

Jeffrey E. Carter, MD
Medical Director – UMC Burn Center
University Medical Center – New Orleans
Nominating Entity: American Burn Association

Captain Philip Daniels
911 Captain/Administrator
Desoto Parish Communications District

Vanessa de la Cruz, MD
Office of Behavioral Health Medical Director
Louisiana Department of Health
Nominating Entity: Louisiana Department of Health

LTC Robert “Neal” Fudge
Deputy Director of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
GOHSEP
Nominating Entity: Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness

Venkata S. Gadi, MD
Interventional Cardiologist
Cardiovascular Institute of the South, APMC
Nominating Entity: Louisiana Chapter of the American College of Cardiology

Paul Gladden, MD
Associate Professor and Chief of Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery
Tulane University School of Medicine
Nominating Entity: Louisiana State Medical Society

Dan C. Godbee, MD, FACEP, NREMT-P, FP-C, CCP-C
Medical Director
East Baton Rouge Parish Emergency Medical Services
Nominating Entity: Louisiana Association of EMS Physicians

Chance Henry
Representative
Louisiana House of Representatives
Nominating Entity: Louisiana House of Representatives

Honorable Katrina Jackson-Andrews
Senator
Louisiana State Senate
Nominating Entity: Louisiana State Senate

Tomas H. Jacome, MD
Trauma Medical Director
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
Nominating Entity: Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons

Eva Lamendola, O.D.
Optometrist
Accent Vision Care
Nominating Entity: Optometry Association of Louisiana

David Marcus, NRP
Paramedic
Nominating Entity: Louisiana Association of Registered EMT

Brandon J. Mauldin, MD
Chief Physician Executive
East Jefferson General Hospital LCMC
Nominating Entity: Tulane University Health Sciences Center

Senator Brach Myers
Senator
Louisiana Senate
Nominating Entity: Louisiana Senate

Monica S. Nijoka, MHA, BSN, RN
Nurse Consultant
Nominating Entity: Louisiana State Board of Nursing

Jullette M. Saussy
Chief Medical Officer
Louisiana Department of Health – Office of Public Health
Nominating Entity: Louisiana Department of Health

J. Patrick Smith Jr., M.D.
Trauma Medical Director
St. Francis Medical Center
Nominating Entity: Louisiana Hospital Association

Michele Sutton, FACHE
President/Chief Executive Officer
North Oaks Health System
Nominating Entity: Louisiana Hospital Association – Service District Hospital

Honorable Christopher Turner
Representative
Louisiana House of Representatives
Nominating Entity: Louisiana House of Representatives

Keith Van Meter, MD
Clinical Professor of Medicine, LSU HSC/NOLA
Adjunct Professor of Surgery, Tulane School of Medicine
Nominating Entity: Louisiana American College of Emergency Physicians

Robert K. White, MD
Chairman and Professor for the Department of Surgery
Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport
Nominating Entity: LSU Health Sciences Center – Shreveport

Richard M. Zweifler, MD
Chairman, Department of Neurology
Ochsner Health Systems, Neurology Department
Nominating Entity: American Stroke Association

Other Nominating Entities:
Louisiana Medical Association

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

Previous Years

For Board meeting agendas/notices from 2010–2017, please visit the Louisiana Boards and Commissions site.

Regional Commission meetings are held at various locations around the state. Public members with a disability recognized by the American with Disabilities Act or a designated caregiver of such a person may participate in the LERN Board Meetings or Regional Commission meetings by contacting (225)756-3440.

Region 1

Region 2

Region 3

Region 4

Region 5

Region 6

Region 7

Region 8

Region 9