Manning Family Children’s announces appointment of David Yu, MD as its new Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer

Written By Alicia Vial

Dr. Yu has served on the medical staff at Manning Family Children’s for 25 years, through his training, medical practice and numerous leadership roles

NEW ORLEANS – Manning Family Children’s is pleased to announce the appointment of David C. Yu, MD as the hospital’s new Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, beginning Feb. 1, 2026. Dr. Yu, who currently serves as Manning Family Children’s Associate Chief Medical Officer for the surgery division, has been a defining contributor to the advancement of pediatric care in Louisiana throughout his 25-year tenure.  

Dr. Yu first arrived in New Orleans in 1994 to earn his undergraduate degree at Tulane University, where he also attended medical school and residency training. Dr. Yu completed a clinical fellowship in the Division of Pediatric Surgery from the University of Alabama School of Medicine from 2011-2013, returning to Manning Family Children’s in 2013. Since then, he has served on the faculty at both LSU Health Sciences Center and Tulane University School of Medicine, holding important educational leadership roles at both institutions.

Dr. Yu has earned the trust and respect of Louisiana’s two leading academic medical institutions, having served as Associate Program Director for LSU’s Surgery Residency program and Program Director for Tulane’s Surgery Residency program. Dr. Yu has also held numerous medical staff leadership roles, including Chief of Surgery, Vice President, President, and Past President of the Medical Staff for Manning Family Children’s.

“Dr. Yu’s record is not only deep, it is uniquely suited to lead Manning Family Children’s into the future,” said Lucio A. Fragoso, President and Chief Executive Officer of Manning Family Children’s. “His long-standing presence, trusted relationships across our academic partners, and his unwavering dedication to serving all children, including the most underserved in our community, align fully with Manning Family Children’s mission.”

Dr. Yu has played a pivotal role in the growth and development of the Pediatric Surgery service line at Manning Family Children’s, spearheading the development of major multidisciplinary programs including the hospital’s Trauma, Burn, and Wound Care programs. He has also worked closely with leaders across LCMC Health and the broader community to advance the Manning Family Children’s Level II Pediatric Trauma Center – the only one of its kind in the region.

“Dr. Yu has been instrumental in shaping our success, and fully embodies the values that define us at Manning Family Children’s,” said Dr. Mark Kline, who currently serves as Manning Family Children’s Chief Medical Officer and Physician-in-Chief, and will be retiring early next year. “Dr. Yu has built his life’s work around improving health outcomes for every child in Louisiana, and will continue to make a significant, positive impact for our patients, families, and teams in the role of Chief Medical Officer.”

For 70 years, Manning Family Children’s has proudly served as Louisiana’s only, freestanding, comprehensive children’s hospital with more than 600 pediatric-trained providers and 3,000 employees solely dedicated to the care of kids. In addition to comprehensive services offered at its main campus in New Orleans, Children’s operates a robust network of more than 30 satellite locations, pediatric affiliations across Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and robust and long- community programs designed to meet the health needs of the diverse communities it serves. At the heart of its mission, Manning Family Children’s is committed to delivering expert care for every child, every time – regardless of the family’s ability to pay.

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About Manning Family Children’s
Manning Family Children’s is a 263-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Manning Family Children’s offers a comprehensive array of specialized pediatric services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, Children’s operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Children’s offers primary care at 17 convenient locations, along with a network of statewide pediatric affiliations. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, East Jefferson General Hospital, Lakeview Hospital, and Lakeside Hospital. Learn more at manningchildrens.org.  

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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