Shreveport, La. — Dr. Lester Wayne Johnson has been appointed Interim Chancellor and Interim Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health Shreveport, effective May 15, 2025. Dr. Johnson currently serves as Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and is also a practicing surgeon with Ochsner LSU Health in Monroe.

The leadership transition comes as LSU Health Shreveport continues its momentum in advancing medical education, research, and clinical care across north Louisiana.

“Dr. Johnson’s longstanding commitment to the LSU Health Shreveport community, coupled with his clinical expertise and administrative leadership, makes him the right person to lead in this role,” said LSU President William F. Tate IV. “We are confident in his ability to continue advancing LSU Health Shreveport’s excellence in education, research, and patient care.”

Dr. Johnson brings extensive experience in higher education administration, health care operations, and academic medicine to the interim position. His appointment aims to provide stability and continuity as the institution moves forward with major initiatives in research growth, clinical partnerships, and academic excellence.

LSU also recognized and expressed gratitude to Dr. David Guzick, who is stepping down as Chancellor and Dean to assume a new role as Chief Research Officer for the LSU Enterprise. In his new position, Dr. Guzick will oversee LSU’s system-wide research strategy and infrastructure development, building on the advancements made during his tenure in Shreveport.

LSU Health Shreveport is a key component of LSU’s statewide academic health enterprise, playing a critical role in delivering medical education, pioneering research, and expanding access to health care services across the region.