Inaugural Board Chair of the Franciscan Center for Professional Development

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is pleased to announce the appointment of LaDonna Williams as the inaugural Board Chair of the Franciscan Center for Professional Development (FCPD). LaDonna brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the mission and values of the Franciscan Center. Her leadership will be instrumental in establishing and advancing the Center’s goals and expanding its impact in professional and continuing education.

Williams serves as a Senior Vice President at Franciscan Missionaries of our Lady Health System (FMOLHS). She has held various roles with increasing leadership responsibilities in FMOLHS since 2010 in the ambulatory and outpatient division. Her experience includes practice acquisitions, provider recruitment, quality performance and population health operations, regulatory, building and planning, healthcare finance, and human resources. In her current role, she is responsible for integrated medical group operations, growth, business development, and strategic implementation to ensure patient access to FMOLHS outpatient services in Louisiana and Mississippi.

She is a professional member of the American Medical Group Association, Medical Group Management Association, and American College of Healthcare Executives. Williams received her Master of Public Administration and bachelor’s in business management from Southern University and A & M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is also a graduate of the 2019 Baton Rouge Leadership Class and a 2024 graduate of Business Report’s Executive Leadership Academy. Inspired to help others grow in their careers, she served as a 2023-2024 Mentor for the American Hospital Association Next Generation Fellowship program.

She serves as a Board Member for the National Board for Volunteers of America, Inc. She has a long-term history of supporting the community and VOA, where she served as a Board Member for Volunteers of America South Central Louisiana for the past 13 years. Over these years, she held various leadership roles, including Board President for two years, 2021-2023. Other leadership roles in the community include a Board Member for Baton Rouge Green, a Member of the International Women’s Forum, and President of Port Allen High School Parent Organization. She is a member of the Bayou Tri-Parish Alumni Chapter of the Southern University Alumni Federation and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

“LaDonna Williams is the ideal leader for this pivotal role. Her extensive experience in healthcare management, coupled with her dedication to mentoring and community involvement, perfectly aligns with the mission of the Franciscan Center for Professional Development. I am confident that under her guidance, the Center will flourish and significantly impact the professional growth of healthcare professionals.” said Dr. Laurinda Calongne, Executive Director of the Franciscan Center for Professional Development.

The Center offers online courses, in-person events, webinars and certifications. These courses are designed to help healthcare professionals enhance their skills and advance in their careers by providing practical, immediately applicable knowledge.

Learn more by visiting franu.edu/fcpd.