Fred Cerise removed as LSU health care leader

The LSU System's top health care leader has been ousted from his role overseeing the university's network of public hospitals and clinics.

Fred Cerise had clashed with Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration over budget cuts that stripped hundreds of millions of dollars from the LSU safety net health care system.

Cerise's replacement was announced Friday by LSU with no explanation. But in an e-mail to The Associated Press, Cerise said he was notified a day earlier by LSU System President William Jenkins that, "I will no longer lead the LSU Health System."

Jenkins has announced that Frank Opelka, vice chancellor for clinical affairs at the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, will take over leadership of the hospital system.