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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