Critical Care Medicine Fellowship

About Us

PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

Nicholas Raush, MD
Program Director
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School LSU New Orleans
Residency University of Alabama Birmingham
Fellowship Washington University

James Walker, MD, PhD, FCCP
Associate Program Director
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School University of Mississippi
Residency LSU Baton Rouge
Fellowship LSU/Ochsner New Orleans

CORE FACULTY

Matthew Berlinger, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School LSU New Orleans
Residency LSU Baton Rouge
Fellowship Johns Hopkins

Stephen Brierre, MD, FCCP
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School LSU New Orleans
Residency LSU Baton Rouge
Fellowship LSU/Ochsner New Orleans

Roy Culotta, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School LSU New Orleans
Residency Vanderbilt
Fellowship LSU/Ochsner New Orleans

John Godke, MD, FCCP
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School LSU New Orleans
Residency LSU Baton Rouge
Fellowship LSU/Ochsner New Orleans

Jason Green, DO
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School West Virginia
Residency SUNY Downstate
Fellowship University of Pittsburgh

Robert Hosse, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School LSU New Orleans
Residency LSU Baton Rouge
Fellowship Virginia Commonwealth University

Mitchell Hymowitz, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Emergency Medicine & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School UT San Antonio
Residency LSU Baton Rouge
Fellowship University of Washington

Tonya Jagneaux, MD, MSHI, FCCP
Professor of Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School LSU New Orleans
Residency LSU Baton Rouge
Fellowship LSU/Ochsner New Orleans

Lauren Miles, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Nephrology & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School University of Missouri
Residency LSU Baton Rouge
Fellowship Wake Forest, MUSC

Hollis O'Neal, MD, MSc
Associate Professor of Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School LSU New Orleans
Residency LSU Baton Rouge
Fellowship Vanderbilt

Kevin Reed, MD, FCCP
Professor of Clinical Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School LSU New Orleans
Residency LSU New Orleans
Fellowship LSU/Ochsner New Orleans

Ryan Richard, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School LSU New Orleans
Residency LSU Baton Rouge
Fellowship University of Virginia

Michael Sanchez, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School LSU New Orleans
Residency LSU Baton Rouge
Fellowship Wake Forest

Christopher Thomas, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical School Ohio State University
Residency Vanderbilt
Fellowship Vanderbilt

As the epicenter of GME efforts in Baton Rouge, the MEIC creates a peaceful and reflective environment that conveys a message that medicine should remain foremost a healing profession that embodies humanism as one of its most fundamental characteristics.

Simulation & Innovation Center tour

About the Medical Education and Innovation Center

The MEIC cultural tour

Regional Campus Overview

Curriculum

Intensive Care Units
- Medical
- Surgical
- Trauma (one of only two Level 1 Trauma Centers in Louisiana)
- Cardiovascular
- Neurosurgical (Stroke Center of Excellence)
Critical Care Ultrasound
Airway / Bronchoscopy
ECMO (including cannulations)
Bone Marrow Transplant
Simulation & Innovation Center
Multidisciplinary Critical Care Journal Club
Research
- FMOL Research Institute

Moonlighting

Per the Policy for Clinical and Educational Work Hours:

Moonlighting is voluntary
- Must not interfere with the fellow's ability to achieve educational objectives
- Must not compromise patient safety
All moonlighting must be approved in advance by the Program Director
Moonlighting hours count toward the 80-hour weekly limit
Fellows may not moonlight while scheduled for official fellowship duties
Fellows may not moonlight when fatigue may impair performance or safe travel
The Program Director may restrict or revoke moonlighting privileges if moonlighting interferes with:
- Educational objectives
- Patient safety
- Professionalism
- Compliance with work hour requirements

House Officer Benefits

Leave

Vacation

PGY 1 - 21 days (including weekends) of non-cumulative vacation leave per year.

PGY 2 and above - 28 days (including weekends) of non-cumulative vacation leave per year.

Sick

14 days (including weekends) of paid sick leave per year.

Educational Leave

House Officers are permitted five (5) days (including weekends) of educational leave to attend or present at medical meetings.

Maternity / Paternity

To receive paid maternity leave, House Officers must utilize available vacation leave, sick leave, and extended medical leave. Paid and unpaid maternity leave for up to six (6) weeks or extended unpaid maternity leave may be granted as appropriate and as required by applicable law. Under special circumstances and/or as required by applicable law, extended leave without pay may be granted.

Any available sick, and vacation leave will be exhausted concurrently with the extended medical leave.

Military Leave

If called to active duty, House Officers are permitted fifteen (15) days (including weekends) of paid military leave. Additional or other military leave, paid or unpaid, will be granted in accordance with applicable law.

Family Leave

House Officers who have worked for a qualifying state agency for twelve (12) months and 1,250 hours in the previous twelve (12) months, may be eligible for up to twelve (12) weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in each twelve (12) month period, in accordance with the requirements of the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). See the FMLA information on the LSUHSC website. https://www.lsuhsc.edu/administration/hrm/relations-fmla.aspx

Any available sick, vacation, extended medical, parental or caregiver leave will be exhausted concurrently with the FMLA designation.

Leave of Absence

A leave of absence may be granted subject to Program Director approval and as may be required by applicable law for illness extending beyond available sick leave and vacation leave; for academic remediation; to address licensing problems; and/or for family or personal emergencies. To the extent that such leave exceeds available vacation and/or sick leave, any leave granted will be without pay. The House Officer will make arrangements to make up missed training with the Program Director in accordance with the requirements of the Board of the effective specialty.

Health Insurance

House Officers are eligible to enroll in the state employees' health insurance or state managed health care options (HMO's etc.) through Employee Benefits (504-568-7780), or LSU Health Sciences Center student/resident health insurance Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc., 235 Highland Drive, Suite 200, Baton Rouge LA 70810, contact: Phone 225-292-3515 or Fax 225-296-3998. If desired, other health insurance may be chosen and must be paid for individually by the House Officer. A House Officer agrees to maintain one of these plans or another plan with equal or better benefits.

Additional information about health insurance plans is available in the Benefits Guide for House Officers.

Disability Insurance

The Graduate Medical Education Office provides the opportunity for House Officers to participate in group Long-term basic disability coverage /insurance. LSU Health Sciences Center provides disability insurance for all residents. Additional personal policies may be purchased at the discretion of House Officers based on their perceived need. Counseling by third-party insurance brokers regarding additional coverage is offered to House Officers.

Malpractice Insurance

The State of Louisiana provides professional liability coverage pursuant to LSA-R.S. LSA-R.S. 40:1237.1 et seq. to House Officers when acting within the course and scope of their training under the supervision of a health care facility to which they are assigned as part of their prescribed training, regardless of where the services are performed. However, House Officers assigned to a health care facility outside the state of Louisiana may be required to provide additional professional liability coverage with indemnity limits set by the House Officer's Program Director.

House Officers are not provided professional liability coverage under LSA-R.S. 40:1237.1 et seq. when engaging in ANY professional activities outside the scope of the House Officer Program. All professional liability matters should be directed to the Vice Chancellor of Community and Multicultural Affairs (504-568-4810).

Other Insurance

The following other types of other insurance are also available:

Dental
Vision
Accident Protection
Accidental Death and Dismemberment
Critical Illness
Long Term Care
Long Term Disability
Identity Theft
Term Life

Additional information about these insurance plans is available in the Benefits Guide for House Officers.

ACGME Extended Medical, Parental, Caregiver Leave:

Effective July 1st, 2022
Human Resource Management determines eligibility
- HRMFMLA@lsuhsc.edu should be notified as soon as you are made aware
- FMLA process will help determine eligibility for ACGME
Program Coordinators track the leave
ACGME, like FMLA, may run concurrent to the usage of sick + vacation leave
Allows for up to an additional six (6) weeks of leave + the possibility of one (1) week personal leave
Eligibility is only one(1) time per program
ACGME can be taken in a lump sum, segment of time or intermittently
ACGME can be designated by Human Resource Management and does not require a House Officer to request
*Sick leave may be used for a House Officer or immediate family member defined as a spouse, parent, or child of the House Officer*

Retirement

Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code allows employees of government and non-profit agencies to participate in a Deferred Compensation Plan. All house officers are eligible to participate in the Louisiana Deferred Compensation Program in lieu of Social Security. When choosing this option, 7.5% of the house officer’s gross monthly income is deducted pre-tax for contribution to Louisiana Deferred Compensation. Upon exiting state service, the balance may be withdrawn, without penalty, or transferred to another retirement account. House Officers default to Social Security but have the option of enrolling in the Deferred Comp plan in lieu of Social Security.

House Staff Association

The mission of the LSUHSC New Orleans Housestaff Association is to advocate for all members of the house staff. The association protects the rights of all house staff and ensures that they are represented in institutional and administrative decisions. All house officers are invited to join.

House Officer Pay Scale

2026-2027 House Officer Pay Scale

July 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026

	Annual	Monthly	Semi-Monthly	Hourly
HO 1	$61,867.00	$5,155.58	$2,577.79	$21.19
HO 2	$64,129.00	$5,344.08	$2,672.04	$21.96
HO 3	$66,293.00	$5,524.42	$2,762.21	$22.70
HO 4	$69,067.00	$5,755.58	$2,877.79	$23.65
HO 5	$72,318.00	$6,026.50	$3,013.25	$24.77
HO 6	$74,910.00	$6,242.50	$3,121.25	$25.65
HO 7	$74,910.00	$6,242.50	$3,121.25	$25.65

Historical Pay Scales

Welcome to Red Stick! Located on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge is the second-largest city in Louisiana. With over 300 years of rich history and culture, there's always something for you to do.

FOOD & DRINK
Cajun cuisine is a huge part of Louisiana culture, but that isn't all this city has to offer! There's a diverse mix of enough to satisfy any foodie out there.

DOWNTOWN
Come downtown and visit the tallest State Capitol Building in the U.S.

RECREATION
Louisiana may be known as the "Sportman's Paradise" due to unparalleled year-round fishing and hunting opportunities, but there are plenty of things to do outside!

LSU SPORTS
Tiger fans tailgate for hours before every home game. Whether they are cooking big pots of jambalaya, playing a little football, or socializing, it's a great time for all that attend!

Interested applicants can upload their application via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Applicants must have completed a residency in Emergency Medicine or Internal Medicine. We do not accept IMGs with H1-B visas. All interested applicants will need to complete the application through ERAS, consisting of the following:

ERAS Application
Photograph
Personal Statement
Medical school transcript
Program Director LOR
USMLE or COMLEX scores report
3 Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are judged on academic qualifications, clinical ability and preparedness, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity. Our selection criteria conform to the guidelines of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) outlined in the ACGME Institutional Requirements. Our program does not discriminate with regard to sex, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

All house staff must meet and maintain the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners requirements for an unrestricted medical license.

For more information, please contact the program:

LSU Health Medical Education and Innovation Center
5246 Brittany Drive, 4th floor
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

FELLOWSHIP COORDINATOR
Whitney Wallace

Mission Statement

The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Baton Rouge Critical Care Fellowship Program trains physicians to be leaders in the field of critical care medicine while enhancing the quality of healthcare in the Capital Region. Critical care fellows gain broad clinical skills by treating a diverse array of patients in several hospital settings. We cultivate a training environment of high-quality evidence-based medicine, rigorous scholarship, and compassionate care. 

Program Overview

The goal of the LSU Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program is to produce skilled and knowledgeable leaders who provide exceptional and compassionate care to their patients and make important contributions to the ever-expanding field of Critical Care Medicine.

LSU, FMOL Health, and the state of Louisiana recognized an opportunity to improve patient care and Graduate Medicine Education in Baton Rouge. A public-private partnership began in 2013 with the transfer of LSU-sponsered GME programs to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. GME has continued to blossom over the years with the development of exceptional residency programs.

The primary training site is Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center (OLOL) in Baton Rouge. This is the dominant healthcare institution in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan area, and is the largest private hospital in Louisiana with over 1000 beds. There are 88 designated ICU beds with additional capacity if needed.

We currently offer two fellowship positions per year for the two-year program. The fellows will gain experience in multiple ICUs including: medical, surgical, neurosurgical, cardiac, and trauma. Additional rotations allow for various opportunities such as research and other procedural skills.

PROGRAM AIMS

Immersive and comprehensive clinical training across varied ICU environments ensures fellows develop proficiency in managing a broad spectrum of critical illness.
A robust, evidence-based curriculum incorporates protected didactic time, simulation-based training, multidisciplinary case conferences, and formal instruction in ICU leadership, procedural skills, and clinical reasoning.
The fellowship promotes progressive fellow competence, ensuring fellows are ready to lead interprofessional ICU teams and manage transitions of care.
Scholarly activity is vigorously supported through longitudinal faculty mentorship, with fellows completing quality improvement, clinical research, and educational scholarship while utilizing vast institutional resources.
Training emphasizes compassionate, ethical, and patient-centered care for critically ill patients and their families.

School of Medicine

Baton Rouge Regional Campus

Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program