Dr. Hunter is living, practicing proof that the "grow your own" approach to solving the shortage of primary care providers works. Following a path dedicated to becoming a physician since he was a small child growing up in Central Louisiana, Dr. Hunter completed his pre-medical education at Louisiana College and earned his medical degree from LSUHSC School of Medicine · New Orleans in 2000. During college, he served as President of Alpha Epsilon Delta, and returned in 2002 as a Volunteer Physician - Student Health Services, and member of the Alumni Executive and Science Advisory Committees. At LSUHSC- New Orleans, Dr. Hunter served as a member of the medical school's Admissions Committee. During residency, he won numerous awards including the peer-voted "Resident of the Year" awarded in his PGY-1, PGY-11 and PGY-111 year, and still holds the record for the multi­ year honor.

 

After completion of his family practice residency at LSUHSC Family Practice Residency in Alexandria, LA, Dr. Hunter became a family physician at The Brian Clinic. In practice, Dr. Hunter truly exemplifies the four principles of Family Medicine as a skilled clinician that is community-based, acting as a resource to a practice population and who recognizes the central importance of the doctor/patient relationship. He serves a broad cross-sector of the patient population in several Cenla parishes. As Medical Director of St. Joseph Hospice, he has truly gone above and beyond the call of duty to educate the public about the importance of hospice care, home health care and preventative medicine. In addition to including television and newspaper interviews, he provides televised community education spot­lights about the benefits of hospice, as well as numerous speaking engagements. Dr. Hunter also serves as Medical Director of Lagniappe Home Care. He has served on various hospital committees at Rapides Regional Medical Center, including Physician Advisor to the Utilization Review Committee. Dr. Hunter also serves as Rapides Parish Coroner.

 

Dr. Hunter has proudly served his country as a Major in the Louisiana Army National Guard, where he has been awarded numerous prestigious medals of honor providing medical care to our soldiers. His service through the Louisiana National Guard including deployments overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. He balances service to medicine, country, and community with equal commitments to family and faith. He is also a devout Christian, and member of Journey Church.

 

Dr. Hunter is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and currently serves on the LAFP Foundation Board of Directors. Dr. Hunter is married and has two beautiful children: Grayson and Avery.

 

 

 

Dr. Christopher Foret was born and raised in Franklinton where he attended Bowling Green School. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Louisiana State University and completed his residency in Family Practice at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, S.C.
 

 

 

Dr. Tahir Qayyum is a family medicine doctor in Bastrop, Louisiana.  He received his medical degree from Army Medical College Quaid-e-Azam Univ and has been in practice for 34 years. He has received the Patients' Choice Award and Compassionate Doctor Recognition in 2014. He is currently affiliated with 5 hospitals in the Monroe area.  Dr. Qayyum is very active in the legislative affairs of the Academy and serves as a key contact.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mary Coleman is a family medicine doctor in New Orleans, Louisiana and is affiliated with Touro Infirmary. She received her medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.  Mary Thoesen Coleman, MD, PhD is a seasoned educator, clinician, and administrator who has held previous positions as Assistant Family Medicine Residency Director at The Ohio State University, Medical Director of University Physicians Group, Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs in Family Medicine, Associate Dean for Curriculum at the University of Louisville, and Dean of the School of Medicine for Ross University. She was systems leader at the University of Louisville for its role as one of 22 participants in the Academic Chronic Care Collaborative. As part of that collaborative, a clinic transformed the care of a population of diabetic patients, resulting in improved hemoglobin A1cs, foot exams, and self-management. Dr. Coleman was principal investigator on a $450,000 grant funded by the Partnership for Quality Education, Robert Wood Johnson. (Interprofessional Ambulatory Primary Care Practice-Based Educational Program, J Interprofessional Care, 2007). She has initiated and developed Interprofessional clinical learning experiences in Louisville, Kentucky, Gales Point, Belize and Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Coleman is a proponent of the Exemplary Care and Learning Site model which aims to have students learn how to deliver exemplary care in sites that are demonstrating patient centered values. Currently she directs a longitudinal clinical educational experience (2013 AAMC Clinical Care Innovation Challenge Award) in which an interprofessional team of learners provide diabetes care management.

 

 

 

Bryan Picou, MD, is Family Physician who has been practicing in Natchitoches since 1988 as owner of the Family Medical Clinic of Natchitoches. Dr. Picou attended medical school at Louisiana State University in New Orleans, LA, and completed his residency at E.A. Conway Hospital in Monroe, LA, where he served as Chief Resident in from 1987-1988. He presently serves as a Preceptor for LSU Medical School New Orleans, Tulane Medical School and LSUHSC-Shreveport. He accepts students at all levels with in these schools. Dr. Picou has been a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians since 1985 and received the AAFP Degree of Fellow in 1996. Dr. Picou has served on the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians' Operations Committee as well as was a founding member of the LaFamPac. In 2006, Dr. Picou was elected as LAFP President and in 2007, served as LAFP Foundation President. Dr. Picou is presently an Alternate Delegate to the AAFP Congress.

 

 

 

Dr. Taylor is a Family Physician who has practiced in Livingston Parish for the last 11 years. Formerly employed by a hospital system, he is now establishing an independent practice focused on the patient-centered principles of Family Medicine. A native of New Orleans, he graduated from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans in 2001, and completed his residency in Family Medicine in 2004. He has 12 years of experience in rural emergency medicine, and is currently the Emergency Services Director at St Helena Parish Hospital in Greensburg, LA. Dr. Taylor also serves as deputy coroner for St Helena Parish. Dr. Taylor passed his first Board examination in 2004, and passed his recertification exam in 2014.

 

Dr Taylor has spent the last several years in governmental affairs, advocating persistently for the rights of patients and their family physicians as Chairman of Legislative Affairs for the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians (LAFP). Dr. Taylor continues to work very hard to advocate on behalf of the LAFP and its membership. He has spent many hours many days on the phone, writing emails as well as meeting face to face with legislative leaders in our state. Dr Taylor has been listed among the "Top Doctors in Louisiana" by Louisiana Life Magazine for the last 5 years.

 

Dr Taylor lives in Pride, LA, with his wife Joette, and daughter Jolan, as well as 5 cats and one very affectionate Catahoula leopard dog. He enjoys spending time with family, friends, and patients. He also enjoys politics, music, announcing the occasional horse show, and LSU Sports, and has a long (40-year) bittersweet relationship with his beloved New Orleans Saints.