USU Alumnus Jeffrey S. LaRochelle Named Dean of University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine

USU graduate and former Air Force medical leader brings decades of academic and clinical leadership to South Alabama

Dr. Jeffrey S. LaRochelle, a graduate of the Uniformed Services University, will assume the role of dean of the
Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at University of South Alabama on May 4. (Photo credit: University
of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine)

February 5, 2026 by Sharon Holland

Dr. Jeffrey S. LaRochelle, a graduate of the Uniformed Services University (USU), has been named dean of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama following a national search. He will assume the role on May 4. The College of Medicine, located in Mobile, Alabama, was founded in 1972 and offers a Doctor of Medicine program and a Ph.D. program in Basic Medical Sciences.  

“I have often referred back to the Air Force core values as my personal and professional north star:  Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do. In addition to the world class medical education I received at USU and in military GME training, the leadership training and mentorship in military medicine has prepared me for the highest levels of academic medicine,” says LaRochelle. “I am excited and humbled to bring my experiences to the leadership team at the Whiddon College of Medicine.” 

LaRochelle earned both his Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health degrees from USU, where his early career reflected a deep commitment to medical education, clinical excellence, and service. While on active duty in the U.S. Air Force, he served in key academic leadership roles at USU, including director of the Introduction to Clinical Medicine and Integrated Clinical Skills courses, where he oversaw pre-clerkship clinical skills education using simulation-based training. He also served as associate program director for the National Capital Consortium Internal Medicine Residency Program and was widely recognized for his excellence in teaching and mentorship.

Col. Jeffrey LaRochelle, M.D., MPH, assistant dean of medical education at the University of Central 

Florida College of Medicine, will assume the role of dean of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine 

at the University of South Alabama on May 4. (Image credit: Courtesy of Jeffrey LaRochelle, University of 

Central Florida)

An internal medicine physician and retired Air Force colonel with 25 years of service, LaRochelle’s military career also included senior clinical leadership at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. In 2012, he received the Air Force “MF” special experience identifier award from the Surgeon General, recognizing his sustained contributions to academic medicine and medical education. 

LaRochelle is currently serving at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine as associate dean of academic affairs. He previously served as assistant dean of medical education, and professor of medicine. In those roles, he oversaw the foundational years of the medical school curriculum, guiding instruction in basic sciences, clinical skills, and medical interviewing. His leadership was especially visible during periods of rapid change, when he helped redesign curricula, expand simulation and telehealth training, and implement innovative educational delivery models to ensure continuity and quality of medical education.

Throughout his career, LaRochelle has emphasized the importance of humanism in medicine and the responsibility of medical schools to prepare physicians who are both clinically skilled and deeply grounded in service. He has often credited his time at USU with shaping his approach as an educator and leader, noting that the mentorship, training, and values instilled during his military medical education provided the foundation for his work in academic medicine.

“Dr. LaRochelle’s selection as dean reflects the continued impact of USU alumni across the nation’s medical schools and health systems,” said USU President Dr. Jonathan Woodson. “His leadership at the Whiddon College of Medicine will help guide the institution’s next chapter of growth in education, research, and service—further extending the influence of USU-educated  physicians in shaping the future of healthcare. This is a well-deserved honor, and we congratulate him on this significant milestone.”