Alexandria, LA – Rapides Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer, Jason E. Cobb, FACHE, was recently recognized for his work as Chair of the Louisiana Hospital Association (LHA) Board of Trustees for 2021-22.

Cobb passed the gavel to Greg C. Feirn, CPA, chief executive officer of LCMC Health in New Orleans. Cobb will continue serving on the LHA Board as immediate past chair.

“The LHA is grateful to our new and returning board member for their leadership and their dedication to the industry,” said Louisiana Hospital Association President and CEO Paul A. Salles. “These members continually strive to improve patient care and lower healthcare costs for Louisianans.”

During his term as LHA Chair, Cobb worked with board members from hospitals around the state to mitigate the lingering issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and position Louisiana hospitals for growth in the years to come.

“The LHA Board consists of members from hospitals around the state with different missions and different goals, serving communities that depend on the healthcare our organizations provide,” Cobb said. “It was good to see everyone come together and work for the good of the patient.”

One of the biggest achievements during the past year was approval of a new state-directed payment model for hospitals providing care to patients with Medicaid.

“We were able to find common ground and move forward with ideas that will make our communities stronger,” Cobb said.

Cobb has more than 28 years of experience in healthcare and has spent 23 of those years in Louisiana. He joined Rapides Regional Medical Center in 2013. Prior to joining RRMC, Cobb held positions as CEO of Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington; chief operating officer at West Houston Medical Center in Houston; vice president of operations at Tulane University Hospital and Clinic in New Orleans; and vice president and administrator at Willis-Knighton Health System and Willis-Knighton Pierremont Hospital in Shreveport.

Throughout his career, Cobb has participated in many organizations to support business, healthcare and the community. He is current chair of Louisiana Central and a member of the LSUA Foundation Board, Louisiana College Board of Visitors, Alexandria Business Foundation and Louisiana Workforce Investment Council.

He has served as chair of the Chamber of Commerce, the American Heart Association and the LHA Research and Education Foundation. He holds a Master of Health Administration from Washington University School of Medicine, a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas. He also completed four programs on “Strategy” at Harvard University. In addition, Cobb is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has been a member since 1994.