Dr. Jeanine Thomas, associate dean of Nursing and Allied Health at South Louisiana Community College, is a member of Governor John Bel Edwards recently formed COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. Specifically, Thomas was named to the Nursing Subcommittee.
“I am truly honored to be appointed and to serve on this subcommittee formed by the Governor. I am looking forward to working in a capacity that will help minorities and vulnerable populations who are impacted by health disparities in Louisiana,” said Thomas.
According to the state, Gov. Edwards initiated the Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Taskforce as part of a comprehensive response to the COVID pandemic earlier this month.
Early data indicates that the impact of the pandemic has not fallen equitably among Louisianans, with African Americans, seniors and other persons residing in group living disproportionately impacted. The taskforce is comprised of a large group of experts from a variety of relevant sectors of the state.
As part of the taskforce's work, members will conduct assessments of the status of the state's response as it affects vulnerable populations and issue a series of actionable reports with recommendations to assure that the state emerges from the pandemic in a stronger position - focused on health equity and improved health outcomes for all Louisianans.
Thomas joined SLCC as the Associate Dean of Nursing and Allied Health in 2018. Prior to this, she worked as a nurse educator at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana State University in Eunice, and Indiana Wesleyan University.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southern University
A& M College, Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of Arizona. She is a certified oncology nurse.
As an expert clinician and nurse leader, Thomas worked in several leadership roles including Clinical Manager of the Oncology Unit, Director of the Oncology Unit and Outpatient Infusion Clinics, and Administrative Nurse Educator. Her clinical experience includes home health care, hospice care, rehab, oncology, medical surgical nursing, and travel nursing.