David Callecod hit the ground running when he was hired by Lafayette General Hospital ("LGH") in July 2008 as its President and CEO. Under the capable leadership of Lafayette General's board of directors and its vision of creating a strong regional healthcare network, Callecod oversaw the partnership with St. Martin Hospital in Breaux Bridge within a few months of his arrival. He has also risen through the ranks of leadership with his peers and serves as the current chair of the Louisiana Hospital Association.

In 2008, Lafayette General Hospital had two facilities with 1700 employees and $170 million in net revenue. Fast forward eleven years, there are now 4600 employees with net revenue of $750 million in facilities the system owns which include Lafayette General Orthopaedic Hospital, Lafayette General Surgical Hospital, St. Martin Hospital, University Hospital & Clinics (UHC), Acadia General Hospital and Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital. LGH also enjoys partnerships with Abbeville General Hospital, Bunkie General Hospital, Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Franklin Foundation Hospital, Iberia Medical Center, Jennings American Legion Hospital, and Opelousas General Health System. When you combine all partners of LGH, the collective net revenue is $1.1 billion.

David Callecod is passionate and optimistic about the opportunities LGH has to positively transform health outcomes in South Louisiana. Humbly providing servant leadership to LGH's vast network of health professionals, every hospital LGH has acquired has moved into the highest patient satisfaction rankings.

Lafayette General 's main campus serves as the Level Two Trauma Center for all of Southwest Louisiana covering the geographic region from the Atchalayafa Basin to the Texas border. From an economic development perspective, maintaining access to this high acuity healthcare in Lafayette prevents patients from transferring to larger regional centers such as Baton Rouge or Houston. On a personal level, it affords higher quality healthcare outcomes while giving loved ones the opportunity to receive treatment close to home.

A strategic partnership with Oschner Health Network was undertaken four years ago by LGH to combine its purchasing power and reduce overall costs to both systems. As the reimbursement model for health industry providers has quickly evolved, innovative approaches have been pursued to cut costs while ensuring the highest quality healthcare options to keep patients from needing to reenter the hospital. The partnership has also created an expansion of physician services such as in pediatric specialties, diagnostic imaging, and biomedical services.

LGH took over University Hospital five years ago amid massive budget cuts to LSU's teaching and "charity" hospital system. Maintaining the program for graduate medical training in Lafayette is a critical component in attracting physicians to the area as many doctors decide to put down permanent roots in the geographic region in which they train. UHC and Lafayette General educate 82 residents per year, and approximately 250 residents rotate through Lafayette General from LSU each year. Specialties such as internal medicine, family practice, OB/GYN, general surgery and ENT are examples of strong programs taught, although many other specialties are represented.

Lafayette General's Women's Health division is now the #1 location for babies to be born in the region and the unit assists with the delivery of over 3200 babies each year. Run by Judy Robichaux, Director of Maternal, Newborn and Pediatric Services, the unit has earned a 99% patient satisfaction rating.

David Callecod serves on One Acadiana's CEO Advisory Council and he is a big proponent of the "55 by 25" initiative to ensure that 55% of Acadiana's adults achiev...