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Institutional Review Board
To ensure that all public health research protects patient welfare and is ethically sound, all research proposals involving clients, facilities, or services funded by LDH must be reviewed and approved by the LDH IRB.
Members
Cheryl Knight, PhD BCBA-D
Affiliation: LDH Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities
Title: Psychologist
Role in IRB: Chair; Scientist
Arundhati (Runa) Bakshi, PhD
Affiliation: LDH Office of Public Health
Title: Data Analytics Program Manager (Immunization)
Role in IRB: Director; Scientist
Charles Daspit, JD
Affiliation: LDH Bureau of Legal Services
Title: Deputy General Counsel 2
Role in IRB: Legal counsel; Client rights protection
Billy Robinson, PhD
Affiliation: LDH Office of Public Health
Title: Evaluation Team Lead (STD/HIV/Hepatitis)
Role in IRB: Scientist
Shamim Akhter, MBBS MPH
Affiliation: LDH Office of Behavioral Health
Title: Analytics Director
Role in IRB: Scientist
Pam Sund
Affiliation: LDH Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities
Title: Quality Director
Role in IRB: Consumer/Non-scientific member
Patricia Soto, PhD
Affiliation: LDH Office of Aging and Adult Services
Title: Program Manager
Role in IRB: Scientist
Heather Newsom, CNMT
Affiliation: LDH Office of Aging and Adult Services
Title: Medical Certification Program Manager
Role in IRB: Licensed Medical Practitioner
Timothy Williams, MPA MDIV CLSSGB
Affiliation: Bureau Health Services Financing (Medicaid)
Title: Section Chief (Quality Improvement and Innovations)
Role in IRB: Consumer/Non-scientific member
Shantel Hebert-Magee, MD MPH
Affiliation: LDH Office of Public Health
Title: Region 2 Medical Director
Role in IRB: Licensed Medical Practitioner; Scientist
Ralph Abraham, DVM, MD
Affiliation: LDH Office of the Surgeon General
Title: Surgeon General
Role in IRB: Licensed Medical Practitioner
Wyche Coleman III, MD
Affiliation: LDH Office of the Surgeon General
Title: Deputy Surgeon General
Role in IRB: Licensed Medical Practitioner
Jay Sevin, PhD
Affiliation: Magnolia Community Services
Title: Psychologist
Role in IRB: External member
Reginald A. Parquet, PhD LCSW-BACS
Affiliation: Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Title: Clinical Associate Professor; Associate Dean for EDI and Student Experience
Role in IRB: External non-medical member