June 14, 2007 Dr. David Holcombe Named New Public Health Medical Director for Alexandria Area

BATON ROUGE, Jun 14, 2007 - Dr. David Holcombe has been named the Regional Administrator and Medical Director for the Alexandria area. 

As Medical Director, Holcombe will assume the role of the top public health official in LDH Region VI, which encompasses Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, Vernon and Winn Parishes.  He will oversee all community health and preparedness programs, as well as environmental and preventative health programs in the region.  He succeeds Dr. John Naponick, who retired May 3 after serving eight years in this position.

Holcombe will begin serving as director on July 16.

Holcombe, a specialist in internal medicine, started his education with a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree. He then attended medical school at the Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels, Belgium where he received his M.D. degree with high honors.  He completed his residency and internship at the Wyman Park Health Systems in Baltimore, Maryland in 1986.  He then settled in Alexandria, Louisiana, where he has been employed at the Freedman Clinic of Internal Medicine.   

Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Erin Brewer is excited to welcome Holcombe to his new position.  “I think it’s clear from Dr. Holcombe’s resume and qualifications that he has a lot to offer.  Besides practicing medicine for more than 20 years, he’s been active in many health care-related committees and boards, as well as in his community, which gives him a great understanding of the needs and challenges in the region.”

Holcombe, a California native, and his wife, Nicole, have four children.  Besides medicine, Holcombe has many interests including painting, folk dancing, and writing prose and poetry.