Dr. Joseph M. LaRochelle
President and CEO
Joseph M. LaRochelle believes that excellence in pediatric care is built on a foundation of rigorous education and systemic safety but is ultimately found in the gap between theoretical models and bedside reality. As a Clinical Professor and active pediatric specialist, Joseph has dedicated his career to ensuring that complex medication regimens are translated into safe, effective outcomes for the most vulnerable patients.
His approach is defined by Systemic Holism—the belief that patient care is an interrelated interprofessional effort where every part of the system must work in harmony. Whether leading national interprofessional committees, editing clinical textbooks, or training thousands of clinicians across twenty countries, Joseph focuses on the practical application of evidence-based medicine to solve intricate clinical challenges. When that evidence does not exist he believes in acting as a strategic catalyst to create it.
Beyond the intensive care unit, his passion for service is evidenced by his long-term leadership at the Louisiana Lions Camp. There, he transformed traditional volunteerism into a rigorous interprofessional learning environment and enhanced medication safety for children with diverse physical and mental disabilities. For Joseph, true expertise is measured by the growth of the clinicians he mentors and the safety of the children they serve.
Academic & Institutional Leadership
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine.
Served as Vice-Chair and Coleman Endowed Professor of Practice at the Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy.
Joseph simultaneously holds fellowships in the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (FCCP), the National Academies of Practice (FNAP), and the Pediatric Pharmacy Association (FPPA).
Developed and led a first-of-its-kind pharmacotherapy rotation where a clinical pharmacist serves as the sole preceptor for pediatric medical residents, proven to increase residents' prescribing confidence.
Clinical & Operational Expertise
Completed PGY1/PGY2 advanced residencies and a 2- year Docere Fellowship in Health Professions Education.
Served as a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Clinical Specialist for over a decade at Children’s Hospital of New Orleans.
Provides expert clinical consultation for premier international medical references, including Lexi-Drug and UpToDate.
Active Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist (BCPPS) with advanced expertise in medication kinetics and life support systems.
National Service & Advocacy
Appointed Chair for multiple national committees across the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and the National Academies of Practice.
Serves as Head Pharmacist for the Louisiana Lions Camp, managing medical and medication needs for children with diverse physical and mental disabilities.
Codified national standards for clinical practice and pedagogy while advancing the scholarly frontiers of interprofessional dynamics by analyzing the complex role of race in interprofessional socialization.
Delivered over 60 national continuing education presentations, educating more than 65,000 healthcare professionals in 20 countries.
