Our Lady of the Lake Health’s Denise Dugas Appointed to Capital Area United Way Community Impact Cabinet
September 08, 2022
Capital Area United Way Community Impact Cabinet Appointed to ’s Denise Dugas Our Lady of the Lake Health
Denise Dugas, senior director of behavioral and mental health at Our Lady of the Lake Health, has been elected to the Capital Area United Way (CAUW) Community Impact Cabinet.
As an at-large member of the cabinet, Dugas will help drive decisions and recommendations related to direct client service, grantmaking and advocacy work within the focus areas of education, income stability, health and basic needs.
“I am pleased to have Denise join Capital Area United Way’s Community Impact Cabinet,” said George Bell, chief executive officer of the Capital Area United Way. “I have worked with Denise in other capacities and am familiar with her passion and commitment to assist populations in need. She will be an excellent representative of our community to the cabinet.”
Dugas has more than 30 years of experience as a healthcare leader, with the past 26 years as a senior level executive working in large integrated healthcare organizations and freestanding behavioral health facilities. Throughout her career, she has been a strong advocate for the behavioral health population and behavioral health providers alike.
“I am honored and excited to be selected to be a part of this cabinet,” said Dugas. “It is broad in scope and has the ability to affect people with mental illness in a positive way by directing available funds to areas that impact this population directly or indirectly through housing, education and faith-based communities. And, it’s not just about the money. The cabinet helps to ensure that services funded meet pre-defined standards.”
Dugas has routinely been appointed by governors and senators for various task forces and commissions focused on behavioral healthcare. She recently served a three-year term as a member of the American Hospital Association Psychiatric Council and was a past board member of the Baton Rouge Bridge Center. She is a current member of the Louisiana Hospital Association’s (LHA) Behavioral Health Statewide Constituency Group and a member of LHA’s Legislative, Regulatory & Policy Council. She is also a current member of Med BR under the Mayor’s Healthy BR Initiative/Behavioral Health Task Force and is a strong proponent of primary and behavioral healthcare integration for early intervention and prevention. Additionally, Dugas is on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Mental Health Association of Baton Rouge.
At Our Lady of the Lake, Dugas is responsible for strategic planning, business development, finance accountability, quality control and community integration and representation for mental and behavioral health services.
serves a term of three years with an option to serve a second term. member from up to 10 non-profits and up to 12 at-large members. Eachincluding representation, the Community Impact Cabinet is comprised of up to 36 membersAs a subcommittee of United Way’s Board of Directors,
About Our Lady of the Lake Health
Our Lady of the Lake Health is a not-for-profit Catholic healthcare ministry based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with more than 7,500 employees committed to serving the Capital Region and building a healthy community through excellence in patient care and education. With an 800-bed Regional Medical Center, a dedicated Children’s Hospital, a 78-bed hospital in Gonzales, Louisiana, two freestanding emergency rooms in outlying parishes, and a 600+ provider Physician Group, Our Lady of the Lake Health provides comprehensive healthcare services for common to complex conditions. Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center is a primary teaching site for graduate medical education programs in partnership with LSU, and is recognized in the areas of heart and vascular, trauma and emergency care, stroke, cancer care, minimally invasive procedures, and more. Our Lady of the Lake is part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and is driven by its mission to serve all God’s people, especially those most in need. For more information, visit ololrmc.com.