Gov. John Bel Edwards Announced Two Co-chairs and Appointed Members to the Louisiana COVID-19
Updated: Apr 23, 2020
“It is an honor to serve the citizens of Louisiana on the COVID-19 Health Equity Taskforce," said Co-Chair Dr. Sandra C. Brown, Dean of Southern University's College of Nursing and Allied Health. "I look forward to working with a distinguished diverse group of experts from across the state that are committed to addressing the health disparities that specifically challenge minorities and vulnerable populations in Louisiana not only in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, but in advancing health equity for decades to come."
"I am excited to be able to contribute to this important taskforce," said Co-Chair Dr. Thomas LaVeist, Dean of Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. "Louisiana has for many years been among the least healthy states and the racial disparities seen around the country are as evident here as it is elsewhere. I am particularly delighted that Governor Edwards has prioritized health equity and I am hopeful that we will be able to make a difference for our state."
The task force’s work will begin immediately, and its actions and research will result in improved health outcomes and equity in Louisiana. A statewide Health Equity Dashboard will be created to monitor the progress of the task force.
Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force:
Sandra Brown, DNS, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, ANEF, FAANP, FAAN (Co-Chair)
Southern University and A&M Baton Rouge
Dean and Professor, College of Nursing and Allied Health
Thomas LaVeist, Ph.D. (Co-Chair)
Tulane University
Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Health Equity, Dean of Public
Health and Tropical Medicine
Earl “Nupsius” Benjamin-Robinson, Dr.H.Sc.
Louisiana Department of Health- Office of Health Equity, Community Partnerships
Deputy Director
Takeisha Davis, M.D.
New Orleans East Hospital
Chief Executive Officer
Rebekah E. Gee, M.D.
LSU Health Care Services
Chief Executive Officer
Corey Hebert, M.D.
Dillard University
Chief Medical Officer / Assistant professor - Tulane and LSU
Theron J. Jackson
Morning Star Baptist Church
Pastor
Raymond A. Jetson
MetroMorphosis
Chief Executive Catalyst
Peter Katzmarzyk, Ph.D
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Professor and Marie Edana Corcoran Endowed Chair in Pediatric Obesity and Diabetes/Assoc. Exec. Dir. for Population and Public Health Sciences, LSU
Kathleen B. Kennedy, Pharm.D.
Xavier University of Louisiana
Dean and Malcolm Ellington Professor of Health Disparities Research Endowed Professorship in the College of Pharmacy
Michael W. McClanahan
NAACP
State President
Orlando McMeans, Ph.D.
Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Chancellor
Judy Reese Morse
Urban League of Louisiana
President and CEO
Demetrius Porche, DNS, PhD, APRN, ANEF, FACHE, FAANP, FAAN
LSUHSC School of Nursing – Dean and Professor
President, Louisiana Council of Administration of Nursing Education
Rani G. Whitfield, M.D.
Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group
Family Practice Physician
Gary M. Wiltz, M.D.
Teche Action Clinics
Chief Executive Officer
Sen. Regina Barrow
Louisiana State Senate
District 15
Rep. Dustin Miller
Louisiana House of Representatives
District 40
Task Force Subcommittees
Public and Regulatory Policy
(Provides input relative to policies and laws that impacts health disparities)
Deleso A. Alford, J.D., LL.M.
Southern University Law Center
Professor of Law
Damien Ejigiri, Ph.D.
Southern University and A&M College
Dean and Professor - Nelson Mandela School of Government and Social Sciences
Eric van Holm, Ph.D.
University of New Orleans
Assistant Professor, Political Science
Alma C. Stewart, R.N., M.S
Louisiana Center for Health Equity
President and Founder
Christopher J. Tyson, J.D.
LSU Law Center
Newman Trowbridge Distinguished Professor of Law
Nursing