The Ochsner Health NetworkOchsner Health Network: Our Powerful Partnerships
Our partnerships start with people driven by a desire to offer the communities they serve the best healthcare possible. The Ochsner Health Network Board includes our founding partner healths’ CEOs and Ochsner Health President and CEO Warner Thomas.
Meet a few of our partners, and see why your organization should join our supportive network:
Warner Thomas, President and CEO, Ochsner Health
Bio: Warner Thomas officially assumed the role of Ochsner Health President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on September 1, 2012. As the CEO of Ochsner, Louisiana’s largest non-profit health system, Mr. Thomas is responsible for the system’s overall strategic growth and development.
Mr. Thomas joined Ochsner in 1998 and served for 14 years as Ochsner’s President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). As COO, Mr. Thomas was instrumental in Ochsner’s growth in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated much of the medical infrastructure in south Louisiana. In the years since the storm, Ochsner has acquired six hospitals and developed strategic partnerships and affiliations with 22 others – growing its presence across Louisiana and throughout the Gulf South region. Mr. Thomas has been instrumental in creating the largest healthcare system in the Gulf South.
Since joining Ochsner, Mr. Thomas has focused on implementing industry best practices and developing innovative partnerships with major companies such as General Electric, which has resulted in developing the operating capability required to successfully run a health system of Ochsner’s size. Mr. Thomas was the driving force behind the creation of Innovation Ochsner, an innovation accelerator designed to create health innovations as well as support and partner with companies working to revolutionize patient-centered care. He also spearheaded the creation of the Ochsner Learning Institute, which provides free professional education for all Ochsner leaders to better prepare them to confront challenges, seek opportunity and ignite enthusiasm around best practices in healthcare.
Mr. Thomas’ expertise and ability are nationally recognized. In 2014, Mr. Thomas was appointed to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, which advises Congress on issues affecting Medicare. He has served as Chairman of the American Hospital Association Section for Health Systems Governing Council, and is a past member of the Board of the American Medical Group Association and Association of American Medical Colleges Advisory Panel for Health Care and Council of Teaching Hospitals.
Mr. Thomas received his Masters Degree in Business Administration in 1994 from Boston University Graduate School of Management, and an undergraduate degree in Accounting and Computer Information Systems from New Hampshire College in Manchester, NH. He was a Certified Public Accountant, served on the board of the American Medical Group Association, is a Fellow in The American College of Healthcare Executives, a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and New Orleans Business Council; and a Louisiana Hospital Association (LHA) board member.
Joan Coffman, President and CEO, St. Tammany Health System
Bio: Joan M. Coffman is the President and CEO of St. Tammany Health System in Covington, Louisiana. St. Tammany Parish Hospital is a 232 bed acute care not-for-profit community hospital with expansion projects and further service line developments underway. The facility is focused on wellness, preventative care and disease management for area residents in collaboration with its medical staff of over 400 providers and 2,400 staff members and through its long-term strategic partnership with Ochsner Health. St. Tammany Health System has a remarkable history of service and has been recognized nationally for high quality, safety and patient experience.
Ms. Coffman most recently served as President & Chief Executive Officer of HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital of Decatur, IL (2017-2018) and as President & Chief Executive Officer of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital of Chippewa Falls, WI (2008-2017). Her prior experience includes serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Louisiana Clinic, a multi-specialty physician clinic in New Orleans and as the Assistant Administrator of Lindy Boggs Medical Center in New Orleans until 2005 when the facility closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Coffman earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from the College of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of New Orleans. She returned to the New Orleans area in 2018 when she became the President and CEO of St. Tammany Health System, where she began her career as a radiologic technologist.
Ms. Coffman has a demonstrated track record improving quality, safety, patient experience and overall operating performance as well as a demonstrated passion for improving the overall health and quality of life in the communities of the hospitals she has led. She is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and currently serves as Chair for the Nominating Committee of the Governing Council for the American Hospital Association’s Section for Small or Rural Hospitals. She is a member of the 2019 class of Leadership St. Tammany and serves on numerous boards, including the Northshore Healthcare Alliance, the Metropolitan Hospital Council of New Orleans, the Northshore Business Council and the Ochsner Health Network Board.
David Callecod, President, Lafayette General Health
Bio: David L. Callecod is President of Lafayette General Health (LGH), a position he has held since its inception in May 2013. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).
As president of LGH, he presides over the largest healthcare system in Acadiana, encompassing a 10-parish area of Louisiana. Callecod first came to Lafayette General in July 2008, when he was named CEO of Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC). In October 2011, Callecod was inducted into Studer Group’s Fire Starter Hall of Fame at the “What’s Right in Health Care” conference.
Prior to joining Lafayette General, Callecod served as the president and CEO at Marion General Hospital in Marion, Indiana from 2003-08. Callecod received the 2005 Regent’s Award as an outstanding healthcare executive from the American College of Healthcare Executives. Callecod began his career in 1989 at AMI Culver Union Hospital in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He then served as CEO at Tenet Healthcare hospitals in Indianapolis, Indiana and Searcy, Arkansas from 1999-2003.
In 2001, Callecod was recognized by the Indianapolis Business Journal as a “40 under Forty” award winner. That same year, he was bestowed an Outstanding Achievement Award in Business from Indiana Wesleyan University. Callecod received a Bachelor of Arts from Wabash College in 1989 and a Masters of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University in 1994. He was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by IWU in 2007.
Continuing a strong community presence, Callecod is active on many local boards, including the Louisiana Hospital Association, Blueprint Louisiana, One Acadiana CEO Council and AHA Regional Policy.
Phyllis Peoples, CEO, Terrebonne General Medical Center
Bio: Phyllis LeBlanc Peoples has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Terrebonne General Medical Center since 2003. A native of Houma, Louisiana, Phyllis has worked in healthcare administration for over 24 years. She is currently a member of the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board 7 and of the Louisiana Hospital Association Board of Trustees. She serves as the Chairman of the LHA Quality Committee, and is a member of the LHA Research and Education Foundation Board. She has been a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives since 2001, most recently completing a two year term as President of the Louisiana Chapter of Healthcare Executives.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and two master’s degrees from Valdosta State University in administration and education, as well as a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Tulane University.
She is a member and has served on the Boards of numerous other local, state and national organizations. She was recognized as a community Role Model for 2011 by the Young Leadership Council of New Orleans and was awarded the Golden Pelican President’s Award from the Louisiana Society for Hospital Public Relations and Marketing. She was also honored as one of the New Orleans City Businesses’ Health Care Heroes for 2012 and, as one of the CityBusiness 2013 Women of the Year.
Sandy Badinger, MBA, Chief Executive Officer -Slidell Division
Bio: Sandra "Sandy” Badinger is the Chief Executive Officer of the Slidell division, which includes Slidell Memorial Hospital, Ochsner Medical Center – Northshore and related clinics and outpatient facilities. Badinger, who served as Interim CEO from December 2019 to April 2020, began her position at SMH as Chief Financial Officer in July 2012.
Badinger has more than 24 years of experience in healthcare accounting and finance, including leadership positions in diverse and multi-hospital systems in the Greater New Orleans region. She came to SMH from Cypress Pointe Surgical Hospital in Hammond, where she served as chief financial officer since shortly after the specialty surgical opened in 2011. While there, she established significant operational and financial processes for the new facility. Prior to that, she served as the chief financial officer at Fairway Medical Center in Covington from 2008 to 2011. She also served as chief financial officer at another St. Tammany area hospital, Louisiana Heart Hospital, from 2007 to 2008.
Prior to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and for a year afterward, Badinger worked for Universal Health Services. UHS operated Chalmette Medical Center for many years and later acquired Methodist Hospital as well as Lakeland Medical Center — both in New Orleans East. She started her 11-year career with UHS as a staff accountant, then went on to serve as assistant controller, controller, New Orleans Market controller and ultimately chief financial officer.
Badinger holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of New Orleans.
Badinger is married with two children and is an active member of St. Jane de Chantal church. She sits on the St. Tammany Chamber Board, the Northshore Extended Care Hospital Board of Managers, the Ochsner Health Network Executive Committee and the Northshore Rehabilitation Hospital Board.
Chuck Daigle, Chief Executive Officer of Ochsner LSU Health System – North Louisiana
Bio: Chuck Daigle serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Ochsner LSU Health System – North Louisiana, a partnership jointly formed by Ochsner Health System and LSU Health Shreveport.
As CEO, Daigle has responsibility for overseeing the healthcare delivery system in Shreveport and Monroe and coordinating activities between the LSU Health Sciences Center.
He has operational responsibility for the North Louisiana Hospitals, including Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport--the only Level 1 Trauma Center in North Louisiana, Ochsner LSU Health’s Monroe Medical Center, and the ambulatory surgery and diagnostic centers, and has administrative responsibility for the Ochsner LSU Health Physician Group and its clinic locations.
Daigle brings 25 years of experience in health care management and health insurance, including roles as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Willis Knighton Health System in Shreveport, La. and Vice President of Management and Professional Services at Our Lake of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, La. He has served in various Board capacities including as a member the Executive Committee, and Chairman of the Louisiana Hospital Association, and the Vizient/VHA Gulf States Board.
Daigle holds both a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Louisiana State University.
He and his wife, Brandi, have two sons and reside in Shreveport.
