News, Access Health Louisiana Primary Care at Pythian, Belle Chasse C.H.C, St. Charles – Norco C.H.C, St. Charles Community Health Center – Luling, St. Tammany – Slidell C.H.C, Tangipahoa C.H.C, Washington C.H.C, Kenner C.H.C., South Broad C.H.C, St. Bernard C.H.C., Woodworth C.H.C.
LASBHA Conference Gains Social Media Attention
Dr. Ralph Abraham, Louisiana Surgeon General
Louisiana Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham served as the keynote speaker at the 2025 Louisiana School-Based Health Alliance Conference in the central part of the state. He was introduced by CHRISTUS Hospital CEO Monte Williams, a sponsor for this year’s event. This year’s conference theme was “Louisiana Roots: Stronger Futures Empowering Mental and Physical Wellness through Cajun Collaboration.” The two-day event was held May 1-2nd at the Country Inn and Suites by Radisson in Pineville, Louisiana.
Dr. Abraham spoke about how important on-campus clinics are for children and adolescents especially in rural areas where access to healthcare services are difficult to access. He told attendees that he and Governor Jeff Landry support the services that the nurses and therapists provide to students throughout the state. Dr. Abraham said that there is a critical need for more behavioral health services in Louisiana and school-based health centers serve as a vital catalyst for students to access those services at no cost to their families.
Jolie Williamson, Director of Children’s Programs for Governor Landry’s office, also addressed attendees at the conference. She informed the school-based teams about the work the governor’s office is doing to help different state agencies collaborate to better support children throughout the state. An educator by profession, Ms. Williamson travels throughout Louisiana identifying programs that work and seeing how these types of programs can help other youth populations in the state. Her duties in the governor’s office also include serving as Executive Director of the Louisiana Children’s Cabinet, as well as the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board.
Mary-Patricia Wray, LASBHA Advocate at the State Capital
Louisiana School-Based Health Alliance advocate Mary Patricia Wray of Top Drawer Strategies updated attendees on current political policies being discussed during the current Legislative Session. Kim Sullivan, Louisiana’s Medicaid Director, spoke about how the state is working to improve the provider credentialing system in order to speed up the process and make it more streamlined for healthcare organizations.
Speakers from throughout the state traveled to Pineville to talk to school-based nurses, therapists, and administrators about effective approaches to vaping and tobacco cessation in schools, diabetes, juvenile trafficking, stress management, as well as how to make impactful choices in healthcare. Access Health Louisiana’s Dr. Kevin Joseph and Dr. MarkAlain Dery joined Louisiana Families for Vaccines’ Crystal Rommen, LCSW-BACS to talk about Louisiana’s measles outbreak, how to diagnose and treat cases of measles, as well as current policies being addressed at the state capital around childhood immunizations.
Christine McDaniel, Jennifer Firmin, and Tambra Malone-LASBHA Board Members
Dr. Ralph Abraham and the LASBHA Board of Directors
The special guests posted photos from the conference on their social media pages and the images caught national attention. Dr. Abraham posted a group photo with the LASBHA Board of Directors on his Surgeon General Facebook page. The image was quickly shared with Governor Landry who shared the photo with Health and Human Services Secretary John F. Kennedy, Jr. in Washington, D.C. The conference was also covered by local television stations in Central Louisiana including KALB-TV and print media including the Rapides Journal.
LASBHA President Jennifer Firmin, LPC & Legacy Award Winner JoAnn Derbonne
The conference was moderated by LASBHA President Jennifer Firmin, LPC, Director of CHRISTUS Health’s Community Programs. She awarded past-LASBHA President JoAnn Derbonne a Legacy Award during the conference and thanked her for her commitment to helping to develop CHRISTUS’ School-Based Health Program over the years.
Dr. Ralph Abraham and Chenier Reynolds, LASBHA Board Member & Past President
This year’s conference Champion sponsor was Louisiana Healthcare Connections and food sponsor was Healthy Blue Louisiana.
