Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Baton Rouge –The Louisiana Hospital Association (LHA) announced its 2022-2023 Board of Trustee officers and newly-elected board members during its annual membership meeting on July 18.

 Greg C. Feirn, CPA, chief executive officer (CEO) of LCMC Health in New Orleans, will serve as the LHA Board of Trustees chair. He received the gavel from Jason E. Cobb, FACHE, CEO of Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, who will now serve as immediate past chair. Mary Ellen Pratt, FACHE, CEO of St. James Parish Hospital in Lutcher, will serve as the Association’s chair-elect, and Rene J. Ragas, FACHE, president and CEO of Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, was elected treasurer.

 In addition to the officers, the LHA Board of Trustees is composed of at-large and district trustees.

Jerry A. “Jaf” Fielder II, SPHR, president and CEO of Willis-Knighton Health System in Shreveport, and Kristin S. Wolkart, RN, FACHE, executive vice president and system chief nursing officer for the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in Baton Rouge, were elected as at-large trustees for a two-year term. Chris Fox, division president-facility based services for LHC Group in Lafayette, was re-elected to serve a second term as an at-large trustee.

 The following individuals were elected to serve a two-year term as district trustees:

·     Bayou District: Phyllis L. Peoples, president and CEO of Terrebonne General Health System in Houma; and

·     Northshore District: Joan M. Coffman, FACHE, president and CEO of St. Tammany Health System in Covington.

 The following individuals were re-elected to serve a two-year term as district trustees:

·     Central District: Christopher “Chris” Karam, FACHE, senior vice president of group operations of CHRISTUS Health in Alexandria;

·     Northwest District: David C. Jones, administrator and CEO of North Caddo Medical Center in Vivian; and

·     Southeast District: Edgardo J. Tenreiro, FACHE, president and CEO of Baton Rouge General.

 “The LHA is grateful to our new and returning board members for their leadership and their dedication to the industry,” said LHA President and CEO Paul A. Salles. “These members continually strive to improve patient care and lower healthcare cost for Louisianians.”

 About the Louisiana Hospital Association

Established in 1926, the Louisiana Hospital Association is a non-profit organization representing hospitals and healthcare provider groups across the state. The mission of the LHA is to support its members through advocacy, education and services. For more information, visit the LHA website at www.lhaonline.org.