Erika Brugier, MD

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Medical School:  LSU - New Orleans

Why LSU Baton Rouge? The population served here is so unique and gives residents the opportunity to interact with and treat such a wide variety of deserving patients. I’m thrilled to be able to serve this amazing community while still staying close to my family and friends at home in New Orleans. My husband and I actually met at the Bulldog in Baton Rouge in 2015 and were so excited to move back here again! I’ll also take any excuse to be closer to LSU game days.

Random fact? On August 1st, I was scheduled to complete my first solo shift of intern year, but instead, I went into labor and gave birth to my baby girl, Eleanor, who is a future EM resident!

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Branson Cambre, MD

Hometown: Lafayette, LA

Medical School:  LSU - New Orleans

Why LSU Baton Rouge? Absolutely the residents and faculty. They create an environment that is great for learning, always willing to teach, and make you feel like family.

What would you be doing if you weren't doing Emergency Medicine? I would open up and run my own 24-hour coffee shop.

What do you do on your days off? Spend time with friends and family and sleep. Mostly sleep.

EM interests? Too many: Ultrasound, EMS, Peds, Tactical, and Critical Care.

Random fact? My favorite animal is either a lemur or alpaca.

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Michael Cerjance, MD

Hometown: Chanhassen, Minnesota

Medical School:  University of North Dakota

Why LSU Baton Rouge? I placed a lot of value in the "vibe" that I got during the meet & greets and interviews. I felt that I connected with residents at this program and could see them as friends and peers for the years to come.

What do you do on your days off? Play guitar, take my dog, Penny, for walks, and beer yoga at Tin Roof brewery.

EM interests? Wilderness Medicine and ultrasound

Random fact? I'm an avid karaoke singer (Minimal talent, Exceptional showmanship)

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Douglas Cushner, MD

Hometown: Statesboro, GA

Medical School:  Mercer University SOM

Why LSU Baton Rouge? Great training environment to learn emergency medicine and awesome faculty and residents to work with. Plus Coach O lives here.

What would you be doing if you weren't doing Emergency Medicine? Going bankrupt day trading cryptocurrencies

What do you do on your days off? Training for World’s Strongest Man 2027

Random fact? Before every shift in the ED, I watch the entire movie Braveheart

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Payton Davis, MD

Hometown: Trussville, AL

Medical School:  University of Alabama

Why LSU Baton Rouge? I loved my interview day! Even over Zoom, I knew I’d fit right in. Also, my fiancée and I were looking for a change after spending most of our lives in Alabama.  Baton Rouge caught our eye with all its unique food, culture, and football!   

What would you be doing if you weren't doing Emergency Medicine? Before choosing medical school I heavily considered engineering.  But thankfully I decided that I didn’t need that much math in my life. 

What do you do on your days off? Hang out with my fiancée, golf, disc golf, anything in the great outdoors.

Random fact? Before attending medical school I’ve worked as an electrician, a custodian, and a line cook.  I’ve worn a lot of hats in my short career.

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Steven Durham, MD

Hometown: Batavia, IL

Medical School:  Wayne State University SOM

Why LSU Baton Rouge? The chemistry between the residents was palpable and welcoming. I could tell everyone genuinely enjoyed spending time together and the program clearly offered a challenge with faculty who were excited to teach.

What would you be doing if you weren't doing Emergency Medicine? Be a sports announcer, open a brewery with my best friend, or help my mom run her custom and personalized Yeti business, Twisted Tumblers.

What do you do on your days off? Bike on the levee, spend time with co-residents, root for Chicago sports teams, or spend time doing anything in the sun

EM interests? Ultrasound

Random fact? It’s Hawk

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Julia Jackson, MD

Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA

Medical School:  LSU - Shreveport

Why LSU Baton Rouge? Being from Baton Rouge, I knew how high the patient acuity level is here, so I wanted to make a difference in my hometown as well as gain experience dealing with sicker patients. As soon as my interview started, I felt how much the faculty, especially our program director, Dr. Alwood, care about their residents. I knew if I went to LSU BR, I would have an instant family in the residency program. The fact that there are only a handful of residencies associated with the Baton Rouge campus means more unopposed procedure and clinical experience, which was very appealing to me.

What would you be doing if you weren't doing Emergency Medicine? Garden all day, every day.

Random fact about you? I’ve bungee jumped at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe/Zambia, and I wouldn’t do it again!

Any pets? Family/kids? One dog, one fish, one turtle, one new husband, and four new stepkids

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Blake Holbrook, MD

Hometown: Cold Spring, MN

Medical School:  University of Minnesota Medical School

Why LSU Baton Rouge? The first thing I noticed was that the residents seemed so cohesive, friendly, and fun while on my interview trail. I wanted an all-immersive residency experience, and it was clear that the LSU BR EM program gives just that with an unopposed community feel that has a reputation for producing the most capable EM physicians. You are encouraged to take on the sickest and most challenging patients in the department from day one! Finally, our faculty are second to none in their skills, knowledge, and approachability. You will have a personal relationship with every one of our core faculty by the time you leave.

What do you do on your days off? Explore BR’s many restaurants/bars, keep in touch with my little brother on Xbox, and study

Random fact about you? My high school offered a ballroom dancing class. I took it twice.

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Elizabeth Person, MD

Hometown: Eunice, LA

Medical School:  LSU - Shreveport

Why LSU Baton Rouge?

I grew up going to LSU football games, and my husband and I both went to college at LSU. I have two sisters that now live 3 minutes away from me, and it’s close to the rest of my family. I love the food, the culture, and the supportive, friendly people that live here. On top of that, this residency program has everything I was looking for. My older sister is a third-year EM resident and speaks so highly of the education and experiences she’s acquired.

Interesting Fact:  I was a New Orleans Saint's Cheerleader in college.

Favorite things to do outside of work:

Play with son, Thomas, travel with my family (I’m the second of seven girls!), cooking (mostly Cajun meals), dancing

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Joseph Ragusa, MD

Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA

Medical School:  LSU - New Orleans

Why LSU Baton Rouge?

The opportunity to be close to home and care for the community I grew up around was one I could not pass up. Along with the unparalleled training experience, amazing residents, and supportive faculty, the decision was easy.

What would you be doing if you weren't doing Emergency Medicine? If not medicine, I might have given being an astronaut a shot. I always thought it would be cool to go to space

Five-year plan? After I finish residency, who knows where I will end up. I’m always open to new challenges and opportunities.

Random fact? My favorite food is crawfish, and it’s even better when I can enjoy it outside with friends at a crawfish boil.

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Cameron Williams, MD

Hometown: Houston, TX

Medical School: The University of Texas at San Antonio

Why LSU Baton Rouge? I wanted to come to LSU BR because of the people I met here on the interview trail. Even over Zoom, you could tell how passionate and enthusiastic everyone was about the work they do here. There is a genuine sense of community. It's also a great environment to train in. The number of procedures and the pathology seen here every day makes for a great educational experience.

What do you do on your days off? Walk my dogs, run, play Ultimate, spend time with my co-residents and fiancée 

EM interests? Ultrasound, Wilderness Medicine, Toxicology

Pets? We have two dogs, Gracie (A 13-year-old border collie) and Finn (a 3-year-old Kelpie)

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Christine Yang, MD

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

Medical School:  Texas A&M

Why LSU Baton Rouge? Unopposed procedural experience, living in the crawfish capital of the world, super supportive faculty and staff.

What do you do on your days off? Visit breweries, play Spikeball, go to Orange Theory, collect house plants, make cold brew, play board games

Random fact? Last year I was on an Auntie Anne's pretzels commercial by accident because they were offering free pretzels. I've driven the entire country of Iceland and poured beer for the Texas Craft Brewer's Festival. I married my high school best friend Ritchie on 4/3/21

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