Rochelle Head-Dunham, M.D., DFAPA, FASAM is a nationally recognized physician executive, double board-certified adult psychiatrist and addiction psychiatrist, and Certified Maxwell Leadership Trainer, Mentor, and Coach. She serves as Executive Director and Medical Director of Metropolitan Human Services District (MHSD), one of Louisiana’s largest public behavioral health authorities, where she provides both executive and clinical leadership for a comprehensive system of mental health, substance use, and intellectual and developmental disability services. Her unique integration of strategic, operational, financial, and clinical oversight enables the successful implementation of complex, evidence-based initiatives that improve quality, access, outcomes, and organizational performance.
Dr. Head-Dunham previously served concurrently as Louisiana Office of Behavioral Health Assistant Secretary and State Medical Director, directing statewide behavioral health policy, clinical standards, and system transformation while overseeing public behavioral health operations. These dual executive and physician leadership roles provided extensive experience managing large-scale organizational change, advancing cross-sector partnerships, implementing federal and state priorities, and strengthening behavioral health systems across diverse populations.
An Endowed Professor at LSU School of Medicine, Dr. Head-Dunham also holds academic appointments at LSU Health New Orleans and Tulane University School of Medicine. She serves on the National Council for Mental Wellbeing Medical Directors Institute, the Recovery Innovations, Inc. Crisis Systems Board, and the Louisiana Public Health Institute Partnership for Achieving Total Health {PATH) Board, contributing to national and regional efforts to advance behavioral healthcare delivery and policy. She now facilitates nationally, the NASADAD SSA Medical Directors’ Learning Community, Opioid Response Network.
Recognized as a Louisiana “Physician Champion,” Dr. Head-Dunham is widely respected for her expertise in behavioral health systems transformation, integrated care, addiction treatment, health equity, and implementation of evidence-based practices. Under her leadership, MHSD became among the first behavioral health organizations in the nation to achieve the 2026 CARF Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic {CCBHC) Accreditation, a pioneering designation recognizing excellence in quality, accountability, and comprehensive community-based behavioral healthcare. Her leadership philosophy combines operational excellence with servant leadership, fostering resilient, high-performing organizations, developing emerging healthcare leaders, and improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities through innovative, sustainable system transformation.