LOPA Board Members

The Board of Directors has full legal authority and responsibility for the management and provision of all LOPA services and must develop and oversee implementation of policies and procedures considered necessary for the effective administration of LOPA. These include fiscal operations, quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI) program, and services furnished under contract or arrangement, including agreements for these services. The board of directors must appoint an individual to be responsible for the day-to-day operation of LOPA and approve recommendations from the Advisory Board.

Board Members

  • Nelson Hellwig

    Chair

  • Dr. Ari Cohen

    Past Chair

  • David Puckett

    Secretary/Treasurer

  • J. Philip Boudreaux

  • Brittany Elliser

  • Dr. Hoonbae Jeon

  • Julie Rew

  • Keenen Shields, Sr.

  • Dr. Hosein Shokouh-Amiri

“17 people die a day waiting for an organ, which creates a sense of urgency for us all year long.” 

The Advisory Board provides policy recommendation for recovery of organs, effective agreements with hospitals in its service area, effective professional education, appropriate testing and evaluation of organs consistent with OPTN standards, appropriate tissue typing, system for allocating organs consistent with the rules of OPTN, transportation of organs, coordination of activities with transplant centers in Louisiana, recovery of all potential tissue donors, and an annual evaluation of the effectiveness of LOPA.

Advisory Board

  • Jonathan Hand, MD, Co-Chair

  • Juan Duchesne, MD, Co-Chair

  • Jonnie LaHatte, Secretary

  • Donnie Aultman, MD

  • Lex Austin

  • Aimee Aysenne, MD

  • Emily Bugeaud, MD

  • Jamie Collier

  • Shannon Cooper, MD

  • Chuck Credo

  • James Moises, MD

  • Anil Paramesh, MD

  • Rhonda Porta

  • Raoult Ratard, MD

  • Neeraj Singh

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