Catherine O’Neal, MD, Appointed Chief Academic Officer for Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System
August 05, 2024
Baton Rouge, LA — Catherine O’Neal, MD, has been appointed to the newly created role of Chief Academic Officer for the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System (FMOLHS). In her new position, Dr. O’Neal will leverage her passion and commitment to graduate medical education to advance the health system’s strategic academic vision. She will focus on ensuring alignment and consistency with all academic partners across the health system.
“We are committed to educating, supporting and developing the next generation of clinicians,” said E.J. Kuiper, president and CEO of FMOLHS. “We are truly fortunate to have such a visionary physician leader in Dr. O’Neal, and I look forward to seeing the impact she will continue to make across our health system.”
Dr. O’Neal, a native of Mamou, Louisiana, has been practicing medicine since 2003, specializing in the research and treatment of infectious diseases. She has held numerous clinical leadership roles throughout her career, all focused on driving improved patient outcomes and developing zero-harm care environments.
“Louisiana is home, and I am honored to play an active role in supporting the development of the clinical leaders of tomorrow to meet the needs of the vibrant communities we serve,” said Dr. O’Neal. “By investing in education today, we have the ability to support and grow the next generation of clinicians through our organization.”
In March 2020, just days prior to Louisiana’s first confirmed COVID-19 case, Dr. O’Neal was appointed Chief Medical Officer at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Dr. O’Neal was one of Louisiana’s leading voices during the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a national expert providing frontline information from hospitals, offering invaluable guidance to state officials that helped shape the state’s response and advocating for community vaccination.
Since 2009, Dr. O’Neal has served on the faculty of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, most recently as an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Infectious Diseases. In her role, she teaches the next generation of healthcare providers and participates in research initiatives focused on rapid diagnostics and antibiotic utilization.
Dr. O’Neal completed medical school and residency at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans and her infectious diseases fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. During her fellowship, Dr. O’Neal completed training in infection prevention, a skill set that proved essential in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022 Dr. O’Neal was appointed as the Chief Medical Advisor for the Southeastern Conference responsible for facilitating the development of conference-wide medical initiatives and standards to ensure consistent policies related to physical health, mental health and holistic wellness.
About the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System
The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System is one of the largest healthcare systems based in Louisiana and is the leading healthcare provider for more than half the state’s population. The health system is a non-profit, Catholic organization sponsored by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the ministry serves patients in Louisiana and Mississippi through a network of hospitals, clinics, physicians and integrated health systems. The health system’s unified physician organization is comprised of more than 1,100 adult and pediatric primary care physicians and specialists. The system’s nine main campus hospitals include St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge and Gonzales, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Heart Hospital, and Women's & Children's Hospital in Lafayette, Our Lady of the Angels in Bogalusa, and St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. For more information, visit fmolhs.org.