Johnson Elected Vice President of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
Lester W. Johnson, MD, LSU Health Shreveport Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Professor of Surgery in Monroe, was elected Vice President of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners at their June 28 meeting. The mission of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners is to protect and improve the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Louisiana through licensing, regulation, research, and discipline of physicians and allied health professionals in a manner that protects the rights and privileges of the licensees.
LSU Health Shreveport Cardiopulmonary Science Program Receives Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award
The School of Allied Health Professions’ Cardiopulmonary Science Program at LSU Health Shreveport has received the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award for the 8th year in a row. The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) presents this honor annually to those programs with Registered Respiratory Therapy (RRT) credentialing success of 90% or above as a part of the CoARC’s continued efforts to value the RRT credential as a standard of professional achievement. From a program effectiveness perspective, the CoARC views the RRT credential as a measure of a program’s success in inspiring its graduates to achieve their highest educational and professional aspirations.
Merendino Named Assistant Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at LSUHS School of Allied Health Professions
Diana Merendino, DPT, RRT, PT, FAARC, has been named Assistant Dean of Academic and Student Affairs for the School of Allied Health Professions at LSU Health Shreveport. Dr. Merendino has faithfully served over 37 years in clinical practice as a Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and has been a faculty member at the School of Allied Health Professions for 29 years. Since 2017, Dr. Merendino’s leadership has been instrumental in serving the Cardiopulmonary Science, Medical Laboratory Science, and Physician Assistants Programs as Department Head. In addition to her work-related service, she has served in multiple service and leadership roles, both in our community and in her professional organizations on the local, state, and national levels.
