About Us – Foundation for Wellness

Formerly known as Woman’s Foundation, we’ve been Acadiana’s trusted provider of health education for more than 40 years.

We’re your family’s source for research-based facts and strategies, here to help you guide your children in confidence.

We’re your go-to instructor for continuing medical education, here to help you improve patient care with modern insights.

We’re your knowledgeable community partner, here to help your school or organization enhance its outreach efforts.

And today, we’re officially Foundation for Wellness — here to serve you.

Our History

During the period between 1979-1980 a group of local physicians determined there was a need for a women’s hospital to serve the needs of women in the Lafayette community. Woman’s Hospital of Acadiana Foundation was formed and became the recipient of the land donation. Woman’s Foundation Inc. was created to manage the land and oversee the construction of a hospital. The Foundation contracted with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) to build the hospital and subsequently operate the facility. Today, that facility is known as Women’s & Children’s Hospital. Woman’s Foundation was formed as a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of women. Once the hospital was completed in 1983, WFI entered into a 99 year agreement with HCA to lease the property. The lease payments from the hospital provide the operating funds for the Foundation. Today, we are now Foundation for Wellness. New name. Same impact. Same expertise. Same legacy.

 

Programs and Services


Continuing Medical Education (CME)

The general types of activities conducted by the CME Department include special conferences, lectures, recurring conferences, study group activities and special seminars. The CME program goal is to promote changes in practice methods and improve patient outcomes.

Community Education

The Foundation also sponsors related forums, lectures and educational programs for the community on topics of concern. Current on-going programs include sessions on puberty, college preparedness for high school juniors, legal rights and responsibilities for young parents and baby-sitter training. WFI also sponsors the annual week-long Women’s Health Expo and coordinates the efforts of the community based Healthy Lifestyle Coalition.

UL and LSU-E Nursing Scholarship Opportunities

The scholarship is named in memory of one of the founding board members of Woman’s Foundation, a prominent Lafayette citizen and physician, Frem F Boustany Jr, MD. Doctor Boustany passed away in August 1988. The original guidelines were approved and accepted December 20, 1988. The initial scholarship award was made in the Spring 1989.

Our Purpose


Our purpose is to serve as the center of excellence by providing education to promote the total well-being of women and their families through collaborations and partnerships that focus on expertise and credibility.

Continuing Medical Education (CME), community education programs, and ULL/LSU-E Nursing Scholarship opportunities are programs and services that allow Woman’s Foundation Inc. to achieve and fulfill this purpose.

Board of Directors


President
Jamie Duval

Vice President
Laurence Vincent, RN, MSN

Secretary
Ann Flannery, MD

Treasurer
Monique Monteilh, MD

Board Members
Elaine Abell, JD
Linda Alesi
Jennifer Allain, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC
Mia Singleton Ben, MD
Jennifer Boustany, MD
Anne B. Broussard, DNS, CNE, CNM
Nick Cahanin
Meg Chase
Jennifer Clowers
Nannette Cook
Patricia Cran, MD
Paul Friedberg Ph.D.
Dalta Gary
Indira Gautam MD
Shaunda Grisby, MD
Erin Hemsell, MD
Judith R “Judy” Kennedy, JD
Paulette Landry, APRN, C
Scott Lavergne
Jennifer B. Lemoine, PhD, DNP, APRN
Immediate Past President
Sue “Sudie” T Mann, JD
Kramer McDaniel, LCSW-BACS
Pamela Mouton, CPA
Mary B. Neiheisel EDD, FAANP
Scott Rabalais, MD
Victor L Raxsdale, CFP
Michael Smith
Michelle Stutes, MD
May Thomassee, MD

Alesha Alford, DNP, RNC-OB – ex officio

Lawrence L. Lewis III, JD – ex officio