Mollye Demosthenidy Named Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives at Tulane Public Health

Dr. Thomas LaVeist, dean of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, announced today that Mollye Demosthenidy has agreed to become the associate dean for strategic initiatives for the school. Demosthenidy, a clinical associate professor, has been on faculty in the Department of Health Policy and Management for eight years.

“I have only known Mollye a short while, but I have been extremely impressed with her vision for what the school can be. She brings the background of an alumna of this school, the experience of a respected member of the faculty, and the savvy of an attorney who has worked in the realm of health care. It’s a winning combination for our school.”

Dean Thomas LaVeist

Demosthenidy has a strong record of success in the classroom, having earned four teaching awards at Tulane, along with the Dean Boston Award for Outstanding Long-Term Commitment to Student Needs. Administratively, she has served as chair of General Faculty and co-chair of the Accreditation Committee, which lead to a successful reaccreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health. She also established the graduate physician and administrative leadership programs for Ochsner Health System, which launched in September 2018.

“Mollye has been a leader in the department in everything she does, from her excellence in the classroom, her participation on research projects, and her service to the department, the school, the university, and the field,” said Mark Diana, department chair. “All of us in the Department of Health Policy and Management are excited for her and look forward to working with her in this new role.”

Demosthenidy earned her undergraduate degree from the Louisiana State University and achieved her combined JD and MHA from Tulane’s Schools of Law and Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Following graduation, she practiced law first with Sullivan, Stolier & Resor and then Jones Walker, before joining the public health faculty. She has focused her academic interests on health care reform, Medicaid, and the intersection of law, politics, and healthcare policy.

In her new role, she will work to identify and pursue strategic initiatives to advance the educational, research, and practice missions of the school. She will continue to teach both graduate and undergraduate classes.

“It’s a very exciting time for the school,” said Demosthenidy. “I see so many opportunities ahead of us, and I am thrilled to take on this new role.”