Denise S. Dugas
Director of Mental and Behavioral Health, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
Denise has more than 26 years of experience as a senior level executive in both for-profit and not-for-profit integrated healthcare organizations and free-standing behavioral health facilities, with the last 20 years being primarily behavioral health focused.
Denise is a member of the Louisiana Hospital Association Behavioral Health Statewide Constituency Group and successfully chaired four, two-year terms. It was in this role she testified before the Louisiana House Ways and Means Committee during the 2015 legislative Session to help secure passage of HB-307. Denise also successfully completed four, two- year terms on Louisiana Hospital Association’s Legislative, Regulatory and Policy Council.
Denise is a current member of The LHA LRPC (Legislative, Regulatory & Policy Council) and represents the Behavioral Health Constituency group.
Denise is a current member of Med BR under the Mayor’s Healthy City Initiative/Behavioral Health Group and is a strong proponent in Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration.
Denise is a Board of Director for the Baton Rouge Mental Health Association and is also a Board of Director for the Baton Rouge Bridge Center; a center dedicated to keeping the mentally ill out of jail.
Throughout the years Denise has been appointed by both Governors and Senators for various tasks forces and commissions focused on behavioral health care. These collaborative initiatives has allowed Denise to understand the inner workings of individual state agencies resulting in a broad knowledge of how public private partnerships can be beneficial and impactful for local and regional communities across the state.