Ralph R. Chesson, Jr., MD

Ralph R. Chesson, MD received his undergraduate education from the U.S. Naval Academy and his Medical Degree from Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. He had both Internship and Residency at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. Following a three year tour at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base in North Carolina, he returned in 1979 to be a part of the teaching faculty at Portsmouth Naval Hospital and started a urogynecology clinic for that program. Following retirement from the Navy in November 1984 he opened a private practice in Norfolk, Virginia and in 1985 started a Urogynecology clinic at Eastern Virginia Medical School for that residency program, initially as an Assistant Professor and in 1990 as an Associate Professor. In March 1995 he left private practice to join the faculty at LSUMC as an Associate Professor in the Section of Urogynecology. In July 1998 he became the Residency Program Director. After becoming Fellowship director in 1999 to 2009, became a full professor in 2001. He served as Residency Program Director from 1998 until 2006. When it became available, he was certified in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery in 2013 and continues teaching in the fellowship program and the resident program. He has traveled to Africa since 2004 to do fistula work and to Nicaragua since 2000 to do pelvic reconstructive surgery. He most recently was honored at the Society of Gynecologic Surgery as their first national honor as a mentor.