Executive and Medical Director
Metropolitan Human Services Board

While serving as Assistant Secretary and Medical Director of the Louisiana Office of Behavioral Health, Dr. Head-Dunham initiated legislation which ended the 10-year moratorium on opening new OTPs in the State. Dr. Head-Dunham implemented a series of workshops focusing on establishing criteria for a determination of need for underserved areas of the State while simultaneously developing application standards to assure new programs would provide services at the highest levels. After the legislation was passed, RFAs were issued which resulted in a 25% expansion of the number of Licensed OTPs and mechanisms to continue assessing an ongoing determination of need for additional OTPs. Dr. Head-Dunham has been active in training health care providers and law enforcement throughout the state about OUD, the medical basis of comprehensive OTP services, appropriate funding, and has a significant impact in the dignity and respect with which the system provides care to people with OUD.

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