DR. JANÉ WATTS NAMED CHIEF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OFFICER OF BAPTIST COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES

Contact: Maeci Bowlin, Development & Marketing

Phone: (504) 533-4999

Email: mbowlin@bchsnola.org

NEW ORLEANS, May 2 – Baptist Community Health Services Inc. (BCHS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jané Watts as chief behavioral health officer, expanding the organization’s leadership team and deepening its commitment to integrated, community-centered behavioral health care.

A proud New Orleans native, Dr. Watts brings more than 17 years of nursing experience, including 12 years as an advanced practice registered nurse. Her clinical background spans inpatient care, emergency services, primary care, and psychiatric care, with a career dedicated to improving access to healthcare and behavioral health services, particularly for urban and underserved communities.

Her professional journey was shaped in part by personal experience. Having been displaced by Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Watts has made it her mission to help rebuild and strengthen the health infrastructure of New Orleans. She is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, the American Psychological Association, and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. She has been recognized for her service with proclamations from the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana and has delivered numerous professional presentations.

“As a New Orleans native, my journey through displacement, recovery, and professional growth has fueled my commitment to building accessible, compassionate behavioral health services,” said Dr. Watts. “I am honored to step into this role to create spaces where healing and hope are truly within reach for every community we serve.”

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.

In her new role, Dr. Watts will lead BCHS’s behavioral health strategy and services, working closely with CEO Phillip Brodt and the senior leadership team to expand access to high-quality, integrated care across the Greater New Orleans area. She joins a team that includes Dr. Hannah Pounds, chief medical officer; Teresa Bovia, chief operating officer; and Cary Calhoun, chief financial officer.

About Baptist Community Health Services, Inc.

Founded in 2014, Baptist Community Health Services is a nonprofit, federally qualified health center with multiple locations, dedicated to delivering high-quality medical and behavioral health care. Rooted in a faith-based mission, the organization exists to ensure that all individuals – regardless of income, insurance status, language or background – can access the care they need and deserve.