Lake Charles Memorial Health System Honors Senator Mark Abraham as First Southwest Louisiana Champion of Healthcare

Lake Charles Memorial Health System has named Senator Mark Abraham the first recipient of its Southwest Louisiana Champion of Healthcare Award, recognizing his leadership in advancing policy and community initiatives that support healthcare access across the region.

Senator Abraham was recognized for his service as a former member of the Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, his legislative work on healthcare-related issues, and his role in advancing Act 356 of the 2026 legislative session, which supports the creation of a Local Provider Participation Fund for Southwest Louisiana hospitals.

“This recognition is about more than one bill or one moment,” said Devon Hyde, President and CEO of Lake Charles Memorial Health System. “Senator Abraham has consistently understood that strong local healthcare is essential to the future of Southwest Louisiana. Through his service, advocacy and leadership on Act 356, he has helped protect access to care for the people and families who depend on community hospitals every day.”

“I am honored to receive this recognition from Lake Charles Memorial Health System,” said Senator Mark Abraham. “Supporting local healthcare means supporting the people, families and communities served by these hospitals every day. I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside local healthcare leaders to help protect access to care in Southwest Louisiana.”

Abraham served on the Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees from 2013 to 2016, helping guide major projects including the renovation of the surgical ICU, construction of the Nelson Road Medical Office Building, expansion of outpatient surgery, doubling of emergency room capacity and construction of Archer Institute, which at the time was the first stand-alone psychiatric hospital built in Louisiana in more than 40 years.

His legislative work has also supported children and families in vulnerable circumstances, opioid prescribing safeguards, health insurance coverage for surviving spouses and dependent children of deceased state retirees, hospice care protections and substance abuse treatment.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System created the Southwest Louisiana Champion of Healthcare Award to recognize community leaders whose advocacy, service and policy work have a lasting impact on healthcare in Southwest Louisiana.

Pictured from the left: Dr. Alyson Jones, LCMHS medical staff president; Louis Todd, LCMHS Board of Trustees chairperson; Senator Mike Reese; Judge Gene Thibodeaux, LCMHS Board of Trustees; Senator Mark Abraham; Devon Hyde, LCMHS president and CEO; Bruce Greenstein, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health; Denise Rau, LCMHS Board of Trustees; Joe Miller, LCMHS Board of Trustees; Senator Patrick McMath, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare