Dr. Fortuné A. Dugan

Dr. Fortuné A. Dugan died peacefully at his home in Kenner surrounded by family on March 13, 2024, following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 79. Preceded in death by his parents, Albert Francis and Ruth Welsch Dugan, his brother, Albert Francis Dugan, Jr., his sister Mary Clark, and his beloved wife of 50 years, Sandra Mary Duracher Dugan. He is survived by his brother, Dr. Michael Dugan; son, Fortuné A. Dugan Jr. (Dr. Veronica); daughter, Bridget Dugan Vargas (Dr. Daniel); and grandchildren, Samantha, Sophia, Isabella, and Sebastian.

“My father was highly regarded by fellow physicians for his exceptional diagnostic abilities, cardiac intervention and education skills and stellar patient care,” said Fortuné A. Dugan Jr. “As a Cardiologist at East Jefferson General Hospital (now LCMC Health) for more than 40 years, he treated thousands of patients from across the state and performed over 14,000 cardiac catheterization procedures, positioning him as an industry leading cardiologist not just in New Orleans but nationwide.”

Dr. Dugan (known as “Jim” to his friends), served as Medical Director of Cardiology at East Jefferson General Hospital (EJGH) from1999 to 2009 and as Medical Director of the East Jefferson Cardiac Catheterization Lab from 1999 until his retirement in 2020. Dr. Dugan also was selected as EJGH Chief of Staff in 1994, earning him a Presidential Citation for Management Excellence.

“Jim Dugan was a wonderful and dedicated great doctor who practiced at EJGH during my 30 years of service as a Board Member of the Hospital,” said Henry Shane, Chairman of Favrot & Shane Companies. “He will be always remembered as one the hardest working Cardiologists who put in as many as 12 hours per day actively treating his many patients at EJGH. Jim was truly a role model for so many of us who knew and worked with him. He will surely be rewarded in heaven for the care and kindness that he personally gave to all of us during his extensive medical career.”

Born in Dallas, Texas in 1945, Dr. Dugan’s family moved to New Orleans in 1959, where he graduated from Jesuit High School in 1963. “He attended the Louisiana State University School of Medicine and graduated first in his class cum laude in 1968, then went on to complete his internship and residency at the L.S.U. Division of Charity Hospital in New Orleans,” continued Dugan. “Following his residency, he completed a prestigious Fellowship in Cardiology at Duke University Medical Center, still considered to be the world’s leading cardiovascular research, clinical care and education program.”

A veteran, Dr. Dugan proudly served his country as a Major in the United States Army with active duty as an Internist at Darnall Army Hospital in Fort Hood, Texas. For his service, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.

Dr. Dugan’s contributions to East Jefferson General Hospital and its Department of Cardiology are countless. In 2016, EJGH was named one of just 55 hospitals in the United States with the lowest 30-day heart attack readmission rates by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). EJGH was also named among the top 10% for medical excellence in cardiac care by CareChex under Dr. Dugan’s leadership.

"Dr. Dugan's passing is a great loss to cardiology and medicine as a whole," said Dr. Lehman K. Preis, Jr., M.D., Cardiologist at East Jefferson General Hospital. "I trained under Dr. Dugan, and we practiced together for more than 40 years." Dr. Preis continued, "He was the brightest, most compassionate doctor. His patients loved him. He was well respected by his peers, a true 'doctor's doctor' who always gave 150%, never just 100%, until the day he retired. He will be dearly missed."

A luminary in his field, Dr. Dugan was honored with a multitude of awards. New Orleans Magazine recognized him as one of the top Cardiologists in the city nearly every year from 1993-2017, and he was named one of the top doctors in America (Southeast Region) each year from 1996-2018. He was also the recipient of the inaugural Keith Collins M.D. memorial award for excellence in 2016 and was also selected East Jefferson Physician of the Year in 2010.

Dr. Dugan authored 17 research papers during his career that were published in a variety of respected medical journals. He was a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Physicians, The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and the International Society of Cardiovascular Interventionists (President 1993 – 1996). He was also a member of the Jefferson Parish Medical Society, the Louisiana State Medical Society, the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Society of Internal Medicine, the American College of Cardiology, (Governor for Louisiana 1993-96), the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, the New Orleans Academy of Internal Medicine (President, 1989-90), the American Heart Association of Louisiana, Inc. (President, 1987-88), and the American College of Cardiology, Louisiana Chapter (Vice President, 1991).

As a connoisseur of Louisiana’s celebrated cuisine, Dr. Dugan enjoyed dining at several New Orleans area restaurants, including his favorite, Commander’s Palace restaurant where he enjoyed many special occasions with his family.

The visitation will be held on Monday, March 18, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home and Cemeteries, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124. The funeral mass will be at 11:00 a.m. the following day, Tuesday, March 19, 2023, at St Philip Neri Church, 6500 Kawanee Ave, Metairie, LA 70003.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation in memory of Dr. Dugan.