PEPA and AEP Merge to Form Franciscan Emergency Physicians, Strengthening Physician-Led Care Across Greater Baton Rouge
June 15, 2026
Baton Rouge, LA - Two of Louisiana’s premier emergency medicine providers, Professional Emergency Physician Associates (PEPA) and Ascension Emergency Physicians (AEP), today announced a strategic merger and rebranding to Franciscan Emergency Physicians (FEP). This transition reflects a unified commitment to physician-led excellence and the faith-based mission of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady (FMOL) Health System.
The transition to Franciscan Emergency Physicians signifies a deepened commitment to the group’s primary mission: providing elite, community-focused emergency care through a physician-led model. This new identity creates a seamless alignment with health system partners, reinforcing a two-decade-long legacy of clinical autonomy and operational excellence. By integrating lean methodologies with compassionate service, the organization ensures that patients receive world-class care within the comfort of their own community.
For patients and families, they desire timely care with cutting-edge medicine close to home. “The communities we serve deserve compassionate care by well-trained physicians and APPs. This goes for our flagship campus on Essen Lane as well as our satellite facilities in the Baton Rouge region. We also proudly train 12 LSU-BR emergency medicine resident physicians per year. These young professionals represent the future generations of emergency medicine care in our region and beyond,” says Dr. Laperouse, President of Franciscan Emergency Physicians (FEP).
FEP assures all stakeholders, including hospital leadership, clinicians, and the multi-parish communities, that this rebranding will not affect staffing or the high standards of care provided. On the contrary, it will standardize the care provided throughout the region. The group will continue to be led by Drs. Laperouse, Trevino, and the established clinical leadership team, with operational support from Emergency Care Partners (ECP).
About FMOL Health
FMOL Health is one of the largest healthcare systems based in Louisiana and is the leading healthcare provider for more than half the state’s population. The health system is a non-profit, Catholic organization sponsored by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the ministry serves patients in Louisiana and Mississippi through a network of hospitals, clinics, physicians and integrated health systems. The health system’s unified physician organization is comprised of more than 1,100 adult and pediatric primary care physicians and specialists. The system’s nine main campus hospitals include St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge and Gonzales, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Heart Hospital, and Women's & Children's Hospital in Lafayette, Our Lady of the Angels in Bogalusa, and St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. For more information, visit fmolhealth.org.