Catherine O'Neal Appointed to State Advisory Task Force on Economic Recovery
Leslie Capo, Director of Information Services
Catherine O'Neal, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Section of Infectious
Diseases at LSU School of Medicine's branch campus in Baton Rouge, has been appointed
to the Louisiana Legislative Advisory Task Force on Economic Recovery.
According to a Louisiana State Legislature press release, “The Louisiana Legislative
Advisory Task Force on Economic Recovery is charged with developing comprehensive
policy, legislative, and regulatory recommendations to immediately restart the Louisiana
economy and to invest in the long-term recovery of households, workers and businesses
from the COVID-19 crisis.
“This Task Force will consist of representatives from a wide range of business sectors
in the state, including oil and gas, agriculture, manufacturing, automotive, banking,
hospitality, food and beverage, trucking, construction and medical, to name a few.
“This private-sector advisory task force will collaborate to develop practical, specific
recommendations, to jump-start the Louisiana economy in the short term and work toward
a stronger economy in the long term as well. Recommendations might include statutory
and regulatory changes, as well as state aid for affected businesses and workers.
The first task force meeting will be convened virtually before the end of April with
public online viewing capability.
“The task force will meet virtually and in person throughout May and June as public
health conditions allow and may consider expert testimony. Legislative leadership
will receive a report with formal recommendations from the task force by July 1.”
Dr. O'Neal graduated from LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine in 2003. She completed
her internal medicine training at LSU Health New Orleans' residency program in Baton
Rouge in 2006 and an infectious disease fellowship at Vanderbilt Medical Center in
2008. O'Neal is the Chief Medical Officer and Director of Infection Prevention at
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. She is a member of the Infectious Diseases
Society of America (IDSA) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
She is a member of the IDSA Clinical Practice Committee. O'Neal's research interests
include reducing hospital-acquired infections as well as reducing antibiotic use through
rapid diagnostic testing.
O'Neal has also been appointed to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Committee on Return
to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force for LSU.