Our Team

Dr. Pounds is the founding physician and Chief Medical Officer of Baptist Community Health Services. She has grown up in New Orleans and attended LSU Medical School where she specialized in Internal Medicine. She has worked with BCHS since the doors opened in 2014 and currently she sees patients two days a week at the Mandeville location and focuses on clinical leadership the rest of the week. Dr. Pounds believes that every patient who walks through the doors of BCHS deserves the most excellent care and attention and she works to ensure that's the case.

Dr. White is a board-certified primary care internist at Baptist Community Health Services (BCHS). She completed her medical education at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. She completed her internal medicine training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.  She specializes in adult care, with a focus on chronic disease management.  She is passionate about delivering high-quality, culturally competent care to all her patients. Dr. White currently sees patients Monday through Friday at our Sanchez location. Originally from Virginia, she now calls New Orleans home!

Leah Monteilh is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner providing integrated primary care and behavioral health services at BCHS' Mandeville clinic. She brings extensive experience in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care, with a strong focus on trauma-informed, patient-centered treatment.

Leah holds a Post-Master’s Certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Loyola University New Orleans, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Nicholls State University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from William Carey University. Her clinical experience spans Community Health Centers, clinics, and hospitals.

Throughout her career, Leah has served in a variety of leadership and care coordination roles. She brings a deep understanding of interdisciplinary care models and has consistently worked to improve health outcomes through a trauma-informed and culturally responsive lens.

Fluent in Spanish, Leah is also skilled in Medication-Assisted Treatment and will continue to strengthen BCHS in improving access to mental health services for populations best served in languages other than English.

Dr. Edwin Lin, MD is a board-certified pediatrician with over 52 years of medical experience. He earned his medical degree from the National Defense Medical Center/School of Medicine in Taipei, Taiwan in 1973. For more than four decades, Dr. Lin has been a trusted and compassionate provider for pediatric patients in the Lower Ninth Ward and surrounding communities. Known for his dedication and deep commitment to the families he serves, Dr. Lin continues to offer expert, personalized care to children of all ages, helping generations of local families thrive.

Dr. Denise Goodfellow Kerut, MD, FAAP is a board-certified pediatrician and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics with more than 30 years of experience caring for children and families. A New Orleans native, she earned her Doctor of Medicine from Louisiana State University School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency through LSU School of Medicine at Charity Hospital and Children's Hospital in New Orleans. Dr. Kerut is dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized care for children of all ages and is committed to helping families build a strong foundation for lifelong health through preventive care, education, and trusted medical guidance.

Dr. Chanté Calais, MD is a board-certified family physician with six years of medical experience and a passion for pediatric and community-based care. She earned her Doctor of Medicine with Distinction in Global Health from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed her residency at Case Western Reserve University–MetroHealth, where she served as Chief Resident of Education. Originally from Cecilia, Louisiana, Dr. Calais is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care to children and families, with a special heart for serving underserved communities. Known for her faith-driven approach and commitment to helping every child thrive, she provides personalized pediatric care that supports the health and well-being of the entire family.

A proud New Orleans native, Dr. Watts brings over 17 years of nursing experience to BCHS, including more than 12 years as an advanced practice registered nurse. Her clinical background is broad: spanning inpatient care, emergency services, primary care, and psychiatric care. Throughout her career, she has remained deeply committed to improving access to quality healthcare and behavioral health services—particularly for urban and underserved populations.

Dr. Watts’s professional path has been shaped by personal experience. After being displaced by Hurricane Katrina, she made it her mission to help rebuild and strengthen New Orleans’ health infrastructure. Her passion for community-centered care is reflected in her leadership, service, and advocacy efforts.

She is an active member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, the American Psychological Association, and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Her dedication has been recognized with proclamations from both the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana. She is also a frequent speaker, having delivered numerous professional presentations on behavioral health and healthcare equity.

Dr. Watts holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Georgia State University, a Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Southern University and A&M College, a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Loyola University New Orleans, and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification from McNeese State University.

Haley Williams, PA-C is a licensed and NCCPA-certified Physician Assistant dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered care. She earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center after completing her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at Louisiana State University. Haley completed her primary care clinical preceptorship at Baptist Community Health Services, where she gained hands-on experience caring for patients across New Orleans and Mandeville. She is committed to improving health outcomes through personalized care, patient education, and building trusted relationships with every individual she serves.

Leah Monteilh is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner providing integrated primary care and behavioral health services at BCHS' Mandeville clinic. She brings extensive experience in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care, with a strong focus on trauma-informed, patient-centered treatment.

Leah holds a Post-Master’s Certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Loyola University New Orleans, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Nicholls State University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from William Carey University. Her clinical experience spans Community Health Centers, clinics, and hospitals.

Throughout her career, Leah has served in a variety of leadership and care coordination roles. She brings a deep understanding of interdisciplinary care models and has consistently worked to improve health outcomes through a trauma-informed and culturally responsive lens.

Fluent in Spanish, Leah is also skilled in Medication-Assisted Treatment and will continue to strengthen BCHS in improving access to mental health services for populations best served in languages other than English.