LSU School of Medicine Dean Andrew Chesson Announces Retirement After 35-Year Career

Dr. Andrew Chesson, Jr., Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health Shreveport, has announced his retirement. Dr. Chesson, a neurologist, spent his entire career at the health sciences center here in Shreveport, rising through the faculty ranks to Professor of Neurology.

He served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for 15 years and Acting Chancellor and Dean for one year. He was the first to hold the separate title of Dean of the School of Medicine under the Chancellor/Dean organizational structure. Dr. Chesson is also Director of the LSU Sleep Disorders Center and Director of the Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program.

Dr. John Marymont, who has been working closely with Dr. Chesson over the past several months, will serve as Interim Dean. He is currently Chief of Orthopedic Surgery.

“Dr. Chesson has been instrumental in the growth and excellence of our academic and clinical missions and brought distinction to our campus through his national recognition in the field of sleep medicine,” says Chancellor Robert Barish. “Andy is an exceptional leader and a man of great integrity and thoughtfulness. We thank him for his many contributions and wish him continued fulfillment in his retirement.”

LSU President and Chancellor F. King Alexander expresses gratitude to Dr. Chesson for his contributions. “Dr. Chesson leaves a remarkable legacy in his 35-plus years of leadership and dedication to the LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport School of Medicine,” he says, adding: “I would also like to welcome Dr. John Marymont, who will make an excellent addition to Dr. Barish's leadership team.”

A nationally-recognized expert in sleep medicine, Dr. Chesson developed the LSUHSC-S Sleep Disorder Center, the first and longest continuously-certified sleep disorder center in Louisiana and a model for other centers nationwide. He helped establish national standards of practice and fellowship training for the discipline of sleep medicine. A founding member of the Louisiana Sleep Society, he served as president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and, in 2007, received their Distinguished Service Award.

Dr. Chesson continued to teach and treat patients even after joining the administrative ranks. Under his leadership, the school developed a nationally-credentialed simulation center for medical training. He led the school’s accreditation process and a significant restructuring of the medical school curriculum.

Over the years, he has been named to local and national Best Doctors lists multiple times. He received the Humanism in Medicine Award given by the Association of Academic Medical Centers and Pfizer.

Prior to joining LSU, Dr. Marymont was on the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He was a full tenured Professor, Chief of the Foot and Ankle Service, Residency Program Director and served on numerous leadership committees.

At LSU, he developed and built a well-respected orthopedic training program and recruited highly-regarded experts in orthopedic traumatology, hand and reconstructive surgery to extend the capabilities for trauma care at the region’s level 1 trauma center, now University Health. He has worked with the senior leadership both within the medical school and hospital in the formation of the public-private partnership.

“Dr. Marymont’s academic, clinical and business expertise will be of great assistance going forward,” says Dr. Barish.