KAITLYN BREAUX, MD, Incoming PGY-1- Baton Rouge General Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. Breaux includes in her nomination profile, “As a native to Louisiana, I would like to serve on the LAFP Board of Directors because I strive to be a part of the further advances of the specialty of family medicine in Louisiana. I also would like to help resolve any issues that may arise through abiding by the core values of the LAFP. Serving as a Baton Rouge student site representative during medical school, I can contribute significant leadership skills and be able to assist planning the Student/Resident conference. I believe teamwork to be another vital component to this position, thus I would be able to utilize my previous experiences such as being involved with various interest groups to collaborate with other members of the LAFP. By being a Resident Delegate, I hope to help better the scope of family medicine in Louisiana for current and future residents. I also hope to give back to a community that has always been there for me as well as improve my leadership capabilities.”

ARDEN LAGRONE, MD, Incoming PGY-1-Lafayette Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. LaGrone states in her nomination profile, “I would like to serve on the LAFP Board of Directors because I believe that Family Medicine is a specialty that builds meaningful relationships with patients and is capable of making significant change in the health outcomes of people in Louisiana. An important way that will be accomplished is through the next generation of Family Physicians learning from those physicians that have come before them and building upon the foundation they have created. Through serving on either the LAFP Board of Directors, I will be able to learn from them things they have found to be successful in initiating change, and things that were not. By expanding my knowledge base, I will be able to propose new ideas for improving health outcomes in the state of Louisiana and inspire other rising family medicine physicians.”

NIKKI DEBORD, MD, PGY-2, Alexandria Family Medicine Residency Program
In her nomination profile Dr. Debord states, “I would like the opportunity to represent and support the Louisiana Academy of Family Phhysicians as I plan to make my career in Louisiana. As a year two resident in a rural residency focusing on rural health access, I am well versed in the workings of Louisiana family medicine physicians and able to communicate and connect with people easily. I hope to further cement and support my future and the future of Louisiana Family Medicine.”

DANIELLE PAWLICHUK, MD, PGY-2, Alexandria Family Medicine Program
This will be Dr. Pawlichuk’s second term serving as resident delegate to the LAFP Board of Directors. She states in her profile, “I truly enjoyed my time as the resident delegate to the LAFP Board of Directors because it allowed me to see the Family Medicine community from a different view. It was an amazing opportunity to work with some of the most distinguished physicians in the community on challenges facing family medicine. I also enjoyed getting to meet so many people from around the state and learn about their practices and how they approach different obstacles. As the Resident Delegate for LAFP, I can provide prospective regarding topics important to family medicine physicians in Louisiana. I can also provide perspective from a resident who primarily services and underserved community and shine light on the challenges we face in a more rural setting. Additionally, I'm a good listener, team-player, and have a desire to make a difference in the community.”

ALEX C ROBERTSON, MD, PGY-1 Kenner Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. Robertson includes in his profile, “I hope to serve to be a voice for Family Medicine Residents to the LAFP Board of Directors. I would like to help listen to and advocate for Family Medicine students, residents, and physicians at the local, state, and national level. With a strong background of leadership and service with previous work, volunteer, and appointed committee positions, my skills and experiences will help me to contribute a diverse, focused, and committed attitude. I hope to gain more experience and knowledge about medical governmental advocacy while also being able to strengthen my ability to help better care and advocate for my patients now and in the future.”

WILLIAM ROSALES, MD, PGY-2, Monroe Family Medicine Residency Program
In Dr. Rosales’ profile he states, “Since early in my childhood, I have developed leadership skills, this in part, because I was a member of the scout association, and later, as a student representative in medical school. From my perspective, leadership is about understanding, delegation skills, proper organization and empathy. I want to be a leader, not only in my residency program, but also later in my professional career as a family physician. I am highly self-motivated, and this has allowed me to excel and go beyond in every leadership role I have been involved with. During my time in Chicago, I had the opportunity to take part in an association called “Chicago MOLA – Medical Organization of Latino advancement”, whose main goal was to promote the growth of the Latino-community healthcare providers through mentorship programs and educational advancement plans. I believe that many of these programs can be used as a blueprint for future initiatives in Louisiana. Mentorship programs provided by local community providers, primary healthcare fairs provided by residency programs, and, family medicine recruitment conferences in medical schools are among the initiatives I would like to propose in order to increase the diversity and scope of our practice.”

J. L. (JERRY) SEPULVADO, MD, PGY-2, Lake Charles Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. Sepulvado states in his profile, “Family Medicine, as a specialty, is often overlooked as a non-essential part of medicine. In reality, Family Medicine is often more than treating illnesses. It's being a leader in a smaller community and making changes that benefit the community health wise and in other matters. It's a specialty that requires a broad spectrum of knowledge that can treat the whole family and also perform preventive medicine. By being on the Board of Directors, I will be able to contribute my diverse life experiences and passion of family medicine to help preserve and promote family medicine in Louisiana. My goal in life is not limited to being a well-rounded family physician that will be practicing in Louisiana, but I want to ensure family medicine remains a prosperous specialty with adequate recruitment and integrity.”

IJEOMA AMANZE, MD LSUHSC, PGY-1 Monroe Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. Amanze includes in her nomination profile the following, “I have good interpersonal and communication skills. Being in a residency program with so much diversity exposes me to people from different sociocultural backgrounds which I believe has helped me hone my communication skills. Having also served as an Assistant Chief Medical officer in one of the busiest hospitals in Nigeria's capital city, I am able to work effectively under pressure. I also garnered the requisite experience to represent, to serve and to galvanize the body. I have also completed a course in leadership and management in health by the University of Washington which prepared me for this day. I shall use my knowledge in the service of LAFP. I also have good report writing skills and shall take note of all important proceedings and decisions at the general assembly of importance to the resident constituency, and report same to the Resident Student Leadership Committee.”

STEPHANIE NGUYEN, MD, PGY-1, Alexandria Family Residency Medicine Program
Dr. Nguyen states in her profile, “I would like to serve to get more leadership experience, to network with others in my field, and to learn about common issues within the area. I also hope to gain insight and new perspectives on how to solve common issues.”

WILLIAM ROSALES, MD, PGY-2, Monroe Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. Rosales includes in his nomination profile the following, “I want to serve as a delegate to raise concern about the most current issues and conflicts that Louisiana family medicine residents face, while also providing actionable insights and resolution proposals to these issues. I see my background as one of my main strengths. Being an international medical graduate from Venezuela allows me to understand many issues that we face (medical and non-medical), from a different perspective. Having the capacity to understand different points of view, no matter how different they may be, is crucial when participating in leadership meetings; this is a skill that I have gained over time, thanks to my experience serving as a rural physician for Indigenous communities in Venezuela, or more recently helping my fellow residents and program staff to coordinate and elevate our family medicine clinic.”

IJEOMA AMANZE, MD LSUHSC, PGY-1 Monroe Family Residency Medicine Program
Dr. Amanze states in her nomination profile for delegate to the AAFP National Conference, “At this time, more than ever before, LAFP needs a vibrant representation at the National Conference. We also need a delegate who will speak, not for self, but for all. I embody these characteristics. I am outspoken and will carry everyone along. I have great interpersonal skills, making it easy for me to communicate effectively with the members of LAFP so that I can find out their desires and aspirations and promote them at the national meeting. I would like to contribute to making LAFP a better association and achieve the set goals. LAFP needs a delegate who is available. This is what I offer, and I will also promote the attendance of other LAFP members at the National Conference as this is a great opportunity for residents and medical students to learn and become better at patient care.”

ELLIOTT ORDOYNE, MD, PGY-2 Kenner Family Medicine Program
Dr. Ordoyne includes in his nomination profile, “I would love the opportunity to give back to my home state by representing the LAFP in our community or on the national level. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I would bring my experience and perspective to the LAFP. From this experience I hope to gain increased knowledge and understanding to be a positive force and role model for our community.”

DANIELLE PAWLICHUK, MD, PGY-2, Alexandria Family Medicine Program
Dr. Pawlichuk states, “I truly enjoyed my time as the resident delegate to the LAFP Board of Directors because it allowed me to see the Family Medicine community from a different view. It was an amazing opportunity to work with some of the most well-known physicians in the community on challenges facing family medicine. I also enjoyed getting to meet so many people from around the state and learn about their practices and how they approach different obstacles. I would love to expand my experiences and perspectives to a larger audience, with hopes of making an even bigger impact on a national scale. I can provide perspective from a physician who primarily services an underserved community and shine light on the challenges we face in a more rural setting.”

WILLIAM ROSALES, MD, PGY-2, Monroe Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. Rosales states, “Throughout my career, I have always been involved in leadership roles, whether it was at the student level, being a student representative for the medical school board, later as a member of an advancement association for medical professionals in Chicago, and currently, serving as the Resident director for clinic operations and metrics in my residency program. These experiences have left in me a profound sense of service that goes beyond the practice of medicine. I want to connect with residents from the Louisiana area who are passionate as I am about the specialty, and, by becoming a delegate, be an advocate not only for the residents in my program, but also for the other programs in the area. Constant learning and improvement are critical aspects of my professional practice, and by participating in leadership meetings like the LAFP and AAFP conferences.”

J. L. (JERRY) SEPULVADO, MD, PGY-2, Lake Charles Family Medicine Program
Dr. Sepulvado states, “I attended the National Conference last year for my program. I enjoyed the opportunity not only to represent my program and the state of Louisiana, but to self-improve as a leader and a colleague to other family physicians. I grew up in rural Louisiana and I am a rural scholar with LSUHSC-NO. Growing up in a medically underserved area, I feel that I can relate to majority of Louisiana and the deficiencies in healthcare that ultimately comes at the cost of great Louisiana citizens. I feel that I am personable and carry a lot of Louisiana culture and character. I'm excited to utilize these traits and my skillset as a family physician to help the well-being of Louisiana.”