The LAFP is excited to recognize Dr. Naina Bouchereau-Lal as our February Member of the month. She was born in the Seychelles islands and grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She pursued her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, where she earned her Honors Bachelor of Science in Human Biology, Psychology, and Sociology. She attended medical school at the Medical University of the Americas, where she earned her medical degree. During that time, she moved to the US, which she now calls home. She completed her training at LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) Family Medicine residency program followed by completing a Sports Medicine Fellowship at LSUHS.
Dr. Bouchereau-Lal serves as Associate Program Director of the LSU Health Shreveport Family Medicine Residency Program and is also faculty for the Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. We asked her how she chose to become a family physician, “I always say family medicine chose me.” She continued, “Since high school, I knew I wanted to become a Sports Medicine physician, though I was uncertain about the exact path to take. I recognized early on that my strengths included connecting with others through counseling, motivational speaking, and serving as a dependable sounding board. It wasn’t until my elective Family Medicine Acting Internship rotation at LSUHS that everything clicked. I was captivated by the breadth and depth of Family Medicine and realized it was the perfect foundation for my calling.”
Dr. Bouchereau-Lal credits her former mentor, Dr. Karen Weiler, as an inspiration to pursue becoming a family physician. She stated, “Prior to residency, I worked as a medical scribe for a Family Medicine physician in Minnesota, Dr. Karen Weiler. Watching her skillfully provide full-spectrum care for her patients with compassion and excellence confirmed my desire to pursue family medicine.” Being true to her role model, Dr. Bouchereau-Lal builds the foundation of her practice on counseling, motivating, and empowering her patients.
We asked Dr. Bouchereau-Lal to talk about an aspect of her practice that she has learned in the “real world.” She stated, “I have learned about the power of faith in healing. I am grateful to practice in a community where faith is deeply woven into the fabric of its culture. I believe, and have come to see, being rooted and leaning into one’s faith can have an overwhelming impact on one’s health. I always tell my patients: without a strong mind, we cannot have a strong body.”
We asked Dr. Bouchereau-Lal about how she chose a career path leading to academic medicine. She stated, “Teaching, educating, and mentoring have always been passions of mine, driving my commitment to academic medicine from the very start. Early in residency, I gained a deep appreciation for lifelong learning and the importance of staying at the forefront of evidence-based medicine and keeping up with the latest clinical guidelines. I am passionate about inspiring and empowering the next generation of physicians. Having faced my own trials and tribulations, I strive to remind future physicians and leaders of their inherent capabilities and competence. I emphasize that every experience—whether positive or challenging—is an opportunity for growth toward excellence. Growth requires discomfort, and it’s through embracing challenges that we truly evolve. I encourage trainees to forge their own paths, avoid comparisons to others, remain true to their beliefs, and strive to make a positive impact on their communities. Above all, I consistently remind them to extend grace to themselves and others, fostering a culture of resilience, authenticity, and compassion.
Her professional interests include preventive medicine, mental health, obesity medicine, exercise as medicine, musculoskeletal medicine, performing procedures that enhance patients' quality of life, and clinical research. As a former dancer and gymnast, herself, she has a particular passion for female athlete health and performing arts medicine. Outside of the office she enjoys doting on her dog, physical fitness, reading, and traveling nationally and internationally. She also loves learning “the secret of life” from her 94-year-old-independent-living neighbor. Recently, she has taken up peyote stitch, a traditional form of Native American beadwork, using her stethoscope as her current creative canvas.
Help us congratulate Naina Bouchereau-Lal, MD as our February Member of the Month!
LAFP’s Member of the Month program highlights Louisiana family physicians in the Weekly Family Medicine Update and on the LAFP website. We feature a biography and a Q&A with a different LAFP member each month and his or her unique approach to family medicine. If you know an outstanding family physician colleague who you think should be featured as a Member of the Month or if you’d like to tell your own story, nominate yourself or your colleague by contacting Lee Ann Albert at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 225.923.3313.
