SLIDELL, LA – The Slidell Memorial Hospital Board of Commissioners formally welcomed two new appointments and one re-appointment to its membership. The appointments and reappointment were made by the appointing authority based on nominating committee recommendations.
New Commissioners are:
• Joe DiGiovanni, representing Ward 9.
DiGiovanni is a Certified Public Accountant practicing in Slidell with DiGiovanni & Associates, CP As, LLC. A graduate of the University of New Orleans, he is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants. His civic involvement includes the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, of which he serves on the Board and is a past President/Chairman, as well as a graduate of Leadership Northshore; and, the Rotary Club of Slidell, of which he is also a past President. A resident of St. Tammany Parish for 26 years, his community service also includes leadership roles with Boy Scouts of America, United Way, Slidell Heritage Foundation, Knights of Columbus and Homeless Outreach for Youth in St. Tammany.
• Michael E. Isabelle, M.D., representing Ward 9.
Board certified in Emergency Medicine, Isabelle is a graduate of the LSU School of Medicine. He is currently employed as the Medical Director of the Louisiana Region of the Emcare Physician Providers, for which he also serves as a staff emergency medicine physician. He is also the Medical Director for the Slidell City Jail. Isabelle serves as the Louisiana State Medical Society representative to the Louisiana Emergency Response Network (LERN) Commission. He is a founding member of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine. He has held appointments to the Sudden Impact Physician Program for two area hospitals (Terrebonne General Medical Center and St. Tammany Parish Hospital). Isabelle is a member of the medical societies of Louisiana, St. Tammany and Terrebonne.
• In addition, Walter J. “Dub” Lane, representing Ward 8, was reappointed for a third term.
Currently serving as Treasurer of the Board of Commissioners, Dr. Lane earned a PhD in Economics from the University of California, San Diego. He is employed by the University of New Orleans, where he is Chair of the Department of Economics and Finance and is Director of the M.S. Program in Health Care Management. In addition to his community service on the SMH Board of Commissioners, Lane also serves on the Slidell Economic Development Alliance and has volunteered on the SMH Foundation, Northshore High School Band Boosters and Slidell Youth Soccer League, among other local organizations.
DiGiovanni and Isabelle replaced two Commissioners whose terms ended: Daniel A. McGovern, IV, and Thomas H. Hall, M.D.
St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 2 (Slidell Memorial Hospital) is governed by a nine-member Board of Commissioners. Seven members are appointed by an appointing authority (comprised of a local legislative delegation) from nominating committee recommendations. The remaining two members are the President of the Medical Staff and one Medical Staff appointee.
Slidell Memorial Hospital is a full-service 229-bed acute care not-for-profit community hospital located at 1001 Gause Blvd., in the heart of Slidell. Founded in 1959, SMH serves as a primary healthcare resource for families in St. Tammany Parish, LA. and Pearl River County, MS.
The Board of Commissioners is responsible for the quality of the medical care provided at the hospital.
