Leadership
The LA CaTS Center is led by an executive team that brings together decades of experience in biomedical research, academic medicine, and institutional leadership. Our leadership structure reflects the collaborative nature of our enterprise, with executive oversight from the lead institution and co-direction from our primary collaborating institutions.
Director
Peter T. Katzmarzyk, Ph.D.
Director, LA CaTS Center
Professor and Marie Edana Corcoran Endowed Chair in Pediatric Obesity and Diabetes
Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk was appointed as Director of the LA CaTS Center in mid-2026 to continue the transformation of Louisiana's clinical and translational research infrastructure into a unified statewide enterprise. Since its inception in 2012, the LA CaTS network has grown to encompass more than $215 million in research funding and over 300 investigators across 10 partner institutions.
Dr. Katzmarzyk is an internationally recognized leader in the field of obesity, with a special emphasis on physical activity, pediatrics and public health. He has over two decades of experience in conducting large clinical and population-based studies in children and adults. His recent work has focused on studying the implementation of behavioral weight loss approaches in primary care settings. He has conducted several clinical trials to test the effects of behavioral interventions coupled with technological solutions among adults with obesity or type 2 diabetes. He has published his research in more than 700 scholarly journals and books and has delivered over 250 invited lectures in 16 countries. Each year from 2019 through 2025, Dr. Katzmarzyk was recognized as a highly cited researcher by the Web of Science.
In addition to his research, Dr. Katzmarzyk has played a leading role in national health initiatives. He served on the 2018 U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization Guideline Development Group for the WHO 2020 Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Youth, Adults and Older Adults.
Co-Directors
Steve Nelson, M.D.
Co-Director, LA CaTS Center
John H. Seabury Professor of Medicine
Dr. Steve Nelson serves as Co-Director of the LA CaTS Center and Chancellor of LSU Health New Orleans, which comprises six schools: Medicine, Nursing, Allied Health, Public Health, Graduate Studies, and Dentistry. As Co-Director, Dr. Nelson ensures that LA CaTS services and resources are fully integrated with the clinical and research missions of Louisiana's largest academic health center. Dr. Nelson is a nationally recognized leader in academic medicine and pulmonary research. His leadership has strengthened the partnership between LSU Health New Orleans and the LA CaTS network, expanding opportunities for investigators and trainees across the institution.
L. Lee Hamm, M.D.
Co-Director, LA CaTS Center
Senior Vice President and Dean, Tulane University School of Medicine
Dr. Lee Hamm serves as Co-Director of the LA CaTS Center and Senior Vice President and Dean of the Tulane University School of Medicine. In his role as Co-Director, Dr. Hamm oversees the integration of Tulane's research and educational programs with the LA CaTS infrastructure, including the Master of Science in Clinical Research degree program that is central to LA CaTS workforce development efforts. A distinguished nephrologist and academic leader, Dr. Hamm brings extensive experience in research administration and medical education to the LA CaTS leadership team. His commitment to training the next generation of physician-scientists aligns closely with the Center's professional development mission.
Administrative Leadership
Program Coordinator: Tiffany Prather, RN — Pennington Biomedical Research Center tiffany.prather@pbrc.edu | (225) 763-2979
Administrative Coordinator: Kieu Nguyen — Pennington Biomedical Research Center kieu.nguyen@pbrc.edu | (225) 763-3142
Inter-institutional Liaison: Bonnie Hymel Trentecoste — Pennington Biomedical Research Center bonnie.hymel@pbrc.edu | (225) 763-2986
Project Manager: Yanna de Koter — Pennington Biomedical Research Center yanna.dekoter@pbrc.edu | (225) 763-2676
LA CaTS Administrator, LSU Health New Orleans: Carly Pigg, CRA cgerva@lsuhsc.edu | (504) 568-4439
LA CaTS Administrator, Tulane University: Marla Lampp mlampp@tulane.edu | (504) 988-9038
LA CaTS Coordinator, Tulane University: Meaghan Donewar, MPH mhendri@tulane.edu
Read more about the LA CaTS Leadership in the Administrative Core.
Governance Structure
The LA CaTS Center operates through a governance structure designed to ensure accountability, coordination, and responsiveness across our statewide network:
Executive Council — Provides strategic direction and high-level decision-making for the Center. Composed of the Executive Director and Co-Directors.
Operations Committee — Implements the Center's strategic and management plans. Composed of the Executive Director, Co-Directors, Core Leaders, and administrative staff.
Governing Board — Ensures cross-institutional coordination and accountability. Composed of institutional leaders from all Primary Collaborating Institutions and Research Partners.
External Advisory Committee — Provides independent guidance and evaluation of Center activities. Composed of distinguished leaders in clinical and translational science from outside Louisiana.
Community Advisory Boards — Ensure that community perspectives inform research priorities and implementation. Active boards in New Orleans and Baton Rouge regions.