The Louisiana State Medical Society was formed in 1878 with the sole purpose of advancing "healthcare in the state of Louisiana. Today our mission is to be the trusted advocate for patients and physicians in the State of Louisiana. Learn more about the history of LSMS here: https://lsms.org/page/History.
Established 1878
OCTOBER 2026
WHAT’S INSIDE
LOUISIANA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY MEET THE 146TH PRESIDENT OF THE LSMS, DR. ALLEN VANDER
3 LAMMICO’S 43RD ANNUAL DEFENSE COUNSEL SEMINAR 5 MEDICAL MALPRACTICE TASK FORCE 6 LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT FIRST YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT ORIENTATION LUNCH 8 RESIDENT ADVOCACY EVENTS 8 RESIDENT ADVOCACY LUNCH 11 THANK YOU TO OUR NEWEST CENTURY CLUB GROUPS 12 IN MEMORIAM: JOHN WALLACE NOBLE, JR., MD 13 PAST PRESIDENTS JOIN AT TIGER STADIUM 14 LOUISIANA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY INAUGURATION SPEECH 18 LSMS HOUSE OF DELEGATES GALA 20 LAUREN BAILEY NAMED ASMAC PRESIDENT-ELECT 21 IN-PERSON MEETING DATES AND LOCATIONS
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LAMMICO’S 43RD ANNUAL DEFENSE COUNSEL SEMINAR Lauren Bailey, Vice President of Legal Affairs, and Maria Bowen, Vice President of Governmental Affairs, attended and presented the Legislative Update at the Annual Defense Counsel Seminar on August 27, 2026. Other interesting topics that were covered include: Audit Trails in Electronic Medical Records, AI in Healthcare, Mediation Panel Process, Cybersecurity, and Burnout. It was exciting to have a sizeable representation of LSMS members attend and participate in the seminar. Pictured from left to right, front row: Lauren Bailey, LSMS Vice President of Legal Affairs; Stefanie Schultis, M.D., LAMMICO Board of Directors and Senior Vice President of the Claims Committee; J. Micheal Conerly, M.D., President and CEO of LAMMICO. Second row: Maria Bowen, LSMS Vice President of Governmental Affairs; Allen Vander, M.D., LSMS President; Katherine Williams, M.D., LAMMICO Claims Committee Member. Back row: Jeff Williams, LSMS Executive Vice President and CEO; Karl Hanson, M.D., LAMMICO Risk Management & Patient Safety Committee Member; Thomas “Steen” Trawick, M.D., LSMS Immediate Past President; Christopher Foret, M.D.; Stephen Jones, M.D.; Frederick J. White, III, M.D., LAMMICO Chairman of the Board; and Norman Joe Deumite, M.D.
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CampusFederal.org 888.769.8841
Anyone who lives, works or worships in Baton Rouge, New Orleans or Shreveport qualifies for membership.
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE TASK FORCE LSMS is participating on the “Medical Malpractice Task Force” at the Louisiana State Capitol. This task force was created by resolution to study the Medical Malpractice cap and review panel this past legislative session.
Lauren Bailey in Vice President of Legal Affairs, Lauren Bailey is representing you.
RS160
VIEW RS160
Click to view the resolution details.
WATCH THE NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 AM, October 28.
VIEW ON THE LEGISLATURE WEBSITE
Watch the meeting live or view upcoming schedules on the Louisiana Legislature’s website.
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LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT FIRST YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT ORIENTATION LUNCH
Dr. Tom Arnold Dr. Mark Brown (NLMS President) Dr. Christina Notarianni Dr. Michael Sewell Dr. Steen Trawick (LSMS Past President)
On Wednesday, August 5th , the Northwest Louisisna Medical Society and the Lousisana State Medical Society co-sponsored the LSU Health Shreveport MS1 Orientation luncheon to welcome the incoming class. The societies extend their gratitude to the following physicians for sharing how local and state memberships empower doctors to advocate effectively for patient care:
Drs. Christina Notarianni, Michael Sewell, Mark Brown, Steen Trawick, & Tom Arnold
Dr. Steen Trawick & Anthony Zafatta (MS1)
Dr. Michael Sewell & Andrew Stewart (MS1)
MS1 Students; Hannah Scof, Therese Dupre, Elle Broussard, Cecelia Ware, & Kaylin Chauvin
Drs. Tom Arnold & Mark Brown
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SAVE the DATE! Back to the Beach with LSMS July 29-31, 2027
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort • Baytowne Conference Center Details and agenda coming soon. Mark your calendars and plan to attend!
The NLMS and LSMS co-hosted two Capital to Clinic: Legislative Updates for Physicians at both Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport and Willis Knighton North. The talk successfully highlighted the critical power of healthcare advocacy in bridging the gap between policymaking and clinical practice. Guest speakers, Dr. Steen Trawick and Maria Bowen, (LSMS VP of Governmental Affairs) underscored how active physician engagement directly shapes the future of medicine in Louisiana. RESIDENT ADVOCACY EVENTS
GRAND ROUNDS THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026
Dr. John Vanchiere, Gracie Cooper, & Drs. Danielle Cooper, Ryan Jones, & Michael Sewell
Advocacy Champs - Dr. Steen Trawick & Maria Bowen
RESIDENT ADVOCACY LUNCH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026
48 in attendance at WK for a very engaging discussion
Dr. Mark Brown, Maria Bowen, & Dr. Steen Trawick
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VOL. 77 3RD QUARTER 2026 NO. 3
NORTHWEST LOUISIANA MEDICAL SOCIETY
L L L VE OF MEDICINE FRIDAY OCTOBER 30, 2026 Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club tennis and pickleball mixer VE OF MEDICINE V E O F M E D I C I N E
$100 Player
$60 Social
$30 Kids
(318) 510-3138
5:30pm 6-8pm 8-9pm
Check-in Mixer
Hit for Prizes
Benefiting the Northwest Louisiana Medical Society Civic Assistance & Education Fund, 501(c)(3). Your contribution is tax deductible except for the value of tennis, food & service fees.
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Membership IT’S TIME TO RENEW More than a
The support of our members plays an essential role in our work, and your investment in LSMS allows us to continue to focus on you, so you can focus on your patients.
Contact membership@lsms.org to discuss your status or click the button below to access our quick pay link.
THANK YOU ADVOCACY • LEGISLATIVE • REGULATORY LSMS CENTURY CLUB TO OUR NEWEST CENTURY CLUB GROUPS
Gastroenterology Clinic of Monroe
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR GROUPS MEMBERS
Mid-Louisiana Anesthesia Consultants New Orleans Nephrology Associates Northeast Louisiana Kidney Specialist LLC Northlake Gastroenterology Associates NW LA Nephrology Pathology Group of Louisiana The Pathology Laboratory Pediatric Surgery of Louisiana Radiology Consultants of West Monroe Renal Associates of Baton Rouge Retina Associates New Orleans Rhodes Pediatric Clinic Shreveport Eye Clinic, AMC The Skin Surgery Centre South Louisiana Medical Associates (SLMA) Southern Orthopaedic Specialists Southern Urology, LLC The Spine Institute of Louisiana West Jefferson Emergency Physicians WK Pediatric Healthcare Associates / WK Portico Pediatrics WK Pierremont Pediatrics
East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office The Eye Clinic The Family Clinic of Crowley The Family Doctors The Fertility Institute of New Orleans Flex Institute Gastro Clinic Monroe Gastroenterology Group AMC Gastrointestinal Specialists, A.M.C.
Acadian Ear, Nose, Throat & Facial Aesthetics Center Acadiana Family Physicians Acadiana Women’s Health Group Access Radiology Associates – Lake Charles Alexandria Neurosurgical Clinic Alexandria Women’s Center, LLC Baldone Reina Dermatology – Baldone, Grisoli, Reina Baton Rouge Clinic + Affinity Monroe Baton Rouge Radiology Group / Southern Radiology Consultants BR General Cardiovascular Institute of the South Center for Orthopaedics Center for Women’s Health Children’s Clinic of Southwest Louisiana Colon & Rectal Associates Covington Trace ER & Hospital Culicchia Neurological Clinic Dermatology & Skin Surgery Dermatology Associates of SW LA The Dermatology Clinic
Gulf Coast Orthopedics Gulf South Eye Associates Houma Radiology Associates Imperial Health
Jefferson Radiology Associates Lafayette Bone and Joint Clinic Lafayette Dermatology & Cosmetic Center Lake Charles Anesthesiology Lane Regional Medical Center Louisiana Ear Nose Throat & Sinus (LENTS) LSUHS Monroe Mary Bird Perkins Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates Mid Louisiana Surgical Specialist, APMC
The Woman’s Clinic Woman’s Hospital
Drs. Schwartzenburg, Lafranca, Guidry, & Chapman (SLGC, APMC)
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IN MEMORIAM JOHN WALLACE NOBLE, JR., MD
PAST PRESIDENT LOUISIANA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY Gifted orthopedic surgeon Champion for Louisiana’s physicians
We are saddened to share the passing of Dr. John Wallace Noble, Jr., a gifted orthopedic surgeon, a tireless champion for Louisiana’s physicians, and a beloved past president of LSMS. Dr. Noble passed away on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
Those who had the privilege of knowing Dr. Noble understood the depth of his commitment to his profession, his patients, and his family. His presence in the Louisiana medical community was a gift, and his absence will be deeply felt.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this time.
His presence in the Louisiana medical community was a gift, and his absence will be deeply felt.
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FEATURED Steen Trawick, MD; Richard Paddock, MD; William Freeman, MD; Keith DeSonier, MD; Susan Bankston, MD; Beau Clark, MD; Larry Braud, MD; Katherine Williams, MD CHEERS LEGACY TO THE PAST PRESIDENTS REUNITE AT TIGER STADIUM FOR THE 2026 LSMS ANNUAL MEETING!
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LOUISIANA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY INAUGURATION SPEECH FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2026
INTRODUCTION Good afternoon, and thank you all for being here today. As I look around this room and see our past presidents, the current and former members of the Board of Governors, delegates to the House of Delegates, invited guests, and the many dedicated advocates who have remained faithful to our mission, I am reminded of what an incredible honor and privilege it is to be inducted today as the 146th President of the Louisiana State Medical Society. For the past 24 years, I have had the privilege of practicing medicine in Thibodaux, Louisiana. It is especially meaningful to become only the second president of the Louisiana State Medical Society from Thibodaux, following in the footsteps of Dr. F. Michael Smith Jr. Preparing this speech gave me the opportunity to reflect on the journey that has brought me here. I am truly blessed by the many people God has placed in my life. None of us arrives at this podium alone. Every physician is shaped by teachers, mentors, colleagues, staff, patients, and family. I want to introduce my wife at this time. Emily, please stand. Thank you for walking beside me for more than thirty years. Thank you for every interrupted dinner, every vacation shortened by a phone call, every holiday spent at the hospital, and every sacrifice you quietly accepted so that I could care for my patients. Physicians often receive the recognition, but our families carry the burden with us. You have been my greatest blessing, and you have always been the light that guides me home. I also want to thank Dr. Trawick for his selfless service and outstanding leadership during his successful presidency. He spent a remarkable amount of time refocusing LSMS’ leadership on a cohesive path and has left this Society stronger than he found it. He championed involvement and engagement to
successfully lead our efforts along with Dr. Giglia in defending the medical malpractice cap from one of the most significant challenges to date. He also took on efforts to prioritize physician wellbeing through increased dialogue and collaboration with the Healthcare Professionals Foundation of Louisiana. I look forward to building on the foundation he has established. I am equally fortunate to inherit an exceptional Executive Director and a dedicated staff who work tirelessly every day to protect the practice of medicine in Louisiana. Their commitment often goes unseen, but it is indispensable to our success. It seems only fitting that the Louisiana State Medical Society gathers today inside Tiger Stadium. For generations, this has been known as Death Valley—a place where championship dreams are tested. But I cannot think of a more appropriate setting for physicians.
Every day, we enter our own arena. Every day, we make difficult decisions. Every day, we shoulder enormous responsibility.
Like championship teams, physicians succeed not because of individual accomplishments, but because we work together in pursuit of something greater than ourselves. Championship organizations are built by finding your voice, developing future leaders, taking care of your teammates, and always playing the long game. Championships are never won by individuals. They are earned by teams that remain united in purpose, committed to excellence, and willing to sacrifice for one another. That is exactly what the Louisiana State Medical Society has always represented. It is a team of physicians standing together to protect our patients, defend our profession, and ensure that those who follow us inherit a healthcare system stronger than the one we found.
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CROWD VOICES RELATIONSHIPS
RECRUITMENT AND YOUNGER GENERATION College football programs are built through recruiting for the future. The best teams are always developing the next generation of talent, knowing that today’s recruits become tomorrow’s leaders. Over the past few years, we have seen the number of our student and resident members decline. If we want our organization to remain strong, we must intentionally recruit, engage, and create new pathways for participation. Unlike college football, however, our team does not have a transfer portal. We have something even better: mentorship. Medical school teaches us how to diagnose disease, interpret laboratory values, and care for individual patients. Organized medicine teaches us something equally important—it teaches us how to lead the systems in which our patients receive care. It gives us a seat at the table to advocate for healthcare policy, physician well-being, medical education, and patient advocacy. After all,
Championships are never won by one player. They are won when thousands of individual efforts become one unified voice. Tiger Stadium is considered one of the loudest venues in college football. Following an LSU–Georgia game, Mark Richt remarked, “Usually when the opposing team does well, the crowd quiets down. All I began to hear was a chant: ‘L-S-U, L-S-U.’ It got louder and louder and louder. It was the loudest I’ve ever heard a stadium.” That same principle applies to physician advocacy. Physicians bring firsthand experience caring for patients, while legislators bring expertise in balancing competing public priorities. Only by working together can both groups develop policies that improve healthcare outcomes while remaining practical and sustainable. Anyone who has attended a legislative update has heard the phrase, “All politics are local.” When physicians meet regularly with legislators, invite them to visit clinics or hospitals, or participate in town hall meetings, they build credibility and trust. Relationships built over years—not during legislative crises—are what allow physicians to become trusted advisors rather than occasional advocates. It is incumbent upon everyone in this room to understand that fundamental difference and show up for the team. We must also continue recruiting and encouraging physicians to seek office in the Louisiana Legislature. When legislation affecting the practice of medicine is written, physicians must have a seat at the table. We cannot expect others— regardless of how well-intentioned—to speak for the education, training, and experience unique to physicians. As Plato observed, “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” If we want to shape the future of healthcare in Louisiana, every physician’s voice matters. Like the deafening roar of Tiger Stadium, our greatest strength comes not from one individual, but from thousands of voices speaking together with the same purpose.
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if you are not sitting at the table, you are often on the menu. Today’s medical students and residents will soon inherit tremendous responsibility. They can choose to simply work within the healthcare system, or they can choose to help shape it. That transformation begins when experienced physicians invest in them through mentorship, leadership opportunities, and meaningful engagement. Future physicians must understand that our society is built on service. It is not about titles or résumés. It is about standing up for our patients, supporting our colleagues, and ensuring that the practice of medicine continues to evolve in ways that improve health for everyone. The future of medicine depends on physicians who are willing to lead, advocate, and serve. That future begins with today’s medical students and residents—and with our commitment to recruit them, mentor them, and empower them to become the leaders our profession and our patients will need. This commitment to our future is going to include most of us stepping out of our comfort zone to bridge a generational gap that now includes technology and new ways to communicate. Love it or hate it, it’s here and we’re going to need to navigate their world. Some of this afternoon’s CME presentations are going to engage you in what this actually means. PHYSICIAN BURNOUT Championship teams always find a way to keep their key players in the game and around the football. Pressure is a privilege bestowed upon us by our station in life. Our profession has always accepted sacrifice. But sacrifice and self-destruction are not the same thing. Taking care of physicians is not selfish. It is essential to taking care of patients. Last year in his remarks, Dr. Trawick shared how LSMS played a role in creating The Physicians Foundation “to address with urgency the immediate and ongoing impediments to physicians’ wellbeing.” I emphasize and agree with his gratitude that our profession has dedicated time and energy to removing the stigmas associated with our peers asking for help. He shared a personal story about the death of his brother-in-law, but every single one of us knows a physician who has quietly wondered how much longer they can continue. Not because they have lost their love for medicine—but
because medicine has become harder to practice. You still care deeply. You simply carry more weight than ever before. My commitment is that physician well-being will not be an afterthought during my presidency. Caring for physicians is not separate from caring for patients. It is one of the most important ways we protect our patients. Every physician lost represents not only a personal tragedy but also the loss of years of knowledge, experience, and compassion. Preventing physician burnout is not about making medicine easier. It is about making medicine sustainable. It is about protecting the people who devote their lives to protecting ours. THE CHANGING GAME Lastly, the game of football is changing. The impact of NIL, the transfer portal, and the growing importance of roster management have fundamentally altered the way coaches build and lead teams. Medicine is experiencing a similar transformation. Private equity, the corporatization of healthcare, and the consolidation of large hospital systems are reshaping the environment in which physicians practice. It’s tempting to measure success by finite milestones: increasing membership, winning legislative battles, or balancing this year’s budget. Those accomplishments matter. They have defined players, established rules, and measurable outcomes. Someone wins, and someone loses. But medicine is not a finite game. Every physician in this room belongs to a profession that existed long before we arrived and will continue long after we retire. The organizations we serve are more than institutions—they are stewards of a profession entrusted to care for patients across generations. Every generation of physicians has faced challenges that felt unprecedented. There have been battles over reimbursement, scope of practice, malpractice reform, physician autonomy, public trust, workforce shortages, technological disruption, pandemics, and rapidly changing healthcare systems. And yet the profession has endured. Not because anyone won a final victory, but because
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CONCLUSION Tonight, when the lights eventually go dark in Tiger Stadium, another football season will still be ahead. Players will come and go. Coaches will retire. Records will eventually be broken. But LSU football will endure because every generation leaves the program stronger than they found it. Our state medical society deserves that same commitment. We are only temporary stewards of a profession entrusted to us by those who came before us. Long after every one of us has left this stage, another physician will stand here as the President of this Society. My hope is that they inherit an organization that is stronger because of what we chose to do together. Let us raise our collective voice. Let us mentor those who will follow us. Let us care for one another with the same compassion we give our patients. And let us leave Louisiana medicine stronger than we found it. May God continue to bless each of you. May He bless the Louisiana State Medical Society. May He bless the physicians and patients of Louisiana. And from one Louisiana tradition to another… Geaux Tigers.
physicians continued showing up. They cared for patients. They advocated. They mentored. They adapted. And then they passed the profession on to those who followed. Healthcare is changing faster than ever before, and it’s easy to feel as though we’re constantly reacting. But organizations like our LSMS exist precisely for moments like these. Institutions outlast individuals. Relationships outlast elections. Shared values outlast policies. And trust outlasts controversy. Membership should not be viewed through the lens of what benefits members receive. Organized medicine is more than a service organization. It is the collective voice of physicians. Its value is measured not only by what it provides today, but by what would be lost if it disappeared tomorrow. Who would advocate for our patients? Who would defend the integrity of our profession? Who would ensure physicians remain leaders in healthcare rather than simply employees within it? Most of us entered medicine because we wanted to make a difference in the lives of individual patients. Organized medicine gives us the opportunity to make a difference in the future of the profession itself. That is the infinite game. And it is a game worth continuing.
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LSMS HOUSE OF DELEGATES Gala
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LAUREN BAILEY ELECTED TO SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MEDICAL ASSOCIATION COUNSEL (ASMAC). We would like to congratulate Lauren Bailey, Vice President of Legal Affairs, who was recently elected to serve as the President-Elect of the American Society of Medical Association Counsel (ASMAC). ASMAC’s mission is to cultivate a diverse community of attorneys and medical association advocates that serves as the premier source of the latest legal information and a collaborative
network leading to effective advocacy on behalf of physicians, the medical profession and the public health. Lauren has been an active member of ASMAC for 9 years. Congratulations, Lauren
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THE IN-PERSON MEETING DATES AND LOCATIONS FOR 2026-2027 ARE AS FOLLOWS
2026 DATES
December 16, 2026 Baton Rouge
2027 DATES
March 10, 2027 Baton Rouge June 2, 2027 Baton Rouge
September 15, 2027 Baton Rouge December 15, 2027 Baton Rouge
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