Staff

Meet The Team

The behavioral health team at Lake Charles Memorial Health System operates across three distinct inpatient units, each with its own medical director. The incoming geriatric psychiatry medical director will join two board-certified psychiatrist colleagues, a psychologist, and an advanced practice provider team all based out of the Memorial Behavioral Health Clinic.

Psychiatry Colleagues

Mario Valencia, MD Board-certified psychiatrist and Medical Director of the Adult Unit at Archer Institute. Dr. Valencia completed his psychiatry residency at Larkin Community Hospital in South Miami, where he served as chief resident. His clinical focus includes mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, cognitive disorders, substance use disorders, and addiction psychiatry. He is fluent in English and Spanish and holds membership in the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association. He was recognized with the LCMHS Golden Stethoscope Award in November 2024.

Michael Wright, MD Board-certified psychiatrist and Medical Director of the Child/Adolescent Unit and Intensive Outpatient Psychiatric Services. Dr. Wright earned his medical degree from LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa, graduating cum laude from Oral Roberts University. His clinical focus includes mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, ADD/ADHD, and child and adolescent psychiatric disorders. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Louisiana Medical Psychiatric Association.

Advanced Practice Providers

The behavioral health clinic is supported by a team of nurse practitioners who cover inpatient rounding, outpatient clinic, and weekend call responsibilities for the geriatric unit.

NPs on the team rotate between inpatient rounding and outpatient clinic coverage. Weekend call for the geriatric unit is covered by the NP team, reducing physician weekend obligations. A dedicated nurse liaison also supports the nursing home program by visiting facilities, gathering documentation, and coordinating admissions.

Behavioral Health Clinic Support Staff

Katherine Trimm, Psy.D. Psychologist with the Memorial Behavioral Health Clinic. Dr. Trimm provides psychological services alongside the psychiatry team.

Additional interdisciplinary support on the geriatric unit includes licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), licensed professional counselors (LPCs), activity therapists, case management staff, and a centralized behavioral health intake team that operates 24 hours a day.