Our Team

Through his firsthand experience, he identified critical gaps in traditional treatment models, including high relapse rates and preventable loss of life. This inspired him to develop an ethical, values-based system focused on effective care, long-term outcomes, and meaningful recovery. Dan continues to dedicate his life’s work to advancing the way medical and mental health professionals understand and treat addiction. Guided by current science, compassion, and unwavering values, he and his team remain focused on improving outcomes and supporting individuals throughout every stage of recovery.

That experience has shaped his belief that every person deserves to be met with compassion, dignity, and the chance to reclaim their life. Andy is passionate about honoring Rise’s promise to walk beside each person who chooses the courageous journey toward freedom from addiction. His greatest purpose is helping build teams whose skill, passion, and compassion create hope for others, the same purpose that has guided him throughout a career supporting more than 20,000 team members

Rand also served for over 15 years on the Board of Directors for Willis Knighton Health System, the largest in the State of Louisiana. Married to his high school sweetheart Susan Adams for almost 45 years; Susan received her degree in Pediatric Nursing from Baylor University, they have two children, Erin, who graduated from Emory University in Atlanta and has a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from Georgia State University, and is a Mental Health Therapist and lives with her husband Frank Hinek in Atlanta with two grandsons, Owen and Arthur; and Evan, who graduated from The University of Alabama Birmingham and is a freelance Multimedia Designer and resides in Fredericksburg, TX with his wife Erica. Mr. Falbaum is also a licensed pilot with Flight Instructor, Commercial and Airline Transport Pilot ratings and travels by piloting his own plane.

With more than seven years of experience as part of the Rise team, he brings dedication, compassion, and firsthand understanding to the work he does each day. Zach is passionate about supporting individuals as they take meaningful steps toward lasting recovery and a healthier future.

This work is deeply personal, since he spent many years in active addiction before finding long-term recovery, which gave him a life he never had before. Austin believes in RISE’s approach to recovery: one that supports whole-person healing rather than simply trading one substance or dependency for another. Having walked this path personally, he knows firsthand what it takes to move from suffering to stability and from stability to a full life, and every day he sits with patients at some of their hardest moments and reminds them that recovery is possible — because he is living proof of it.

Dr. Brooks earned his medical degree from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and completed residency training in internal medicine and pediatrics at LSU Health Sciences Center. He is board-certified in internal medicine and has practiced emergency medicine since 2003, bringing more than two decades of clinical and leadership experience to RISE. Before joining RISE, he served as Emergency Room Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer at Prairieville Family Hospital, continuing a longstanding commitment to healthcare leadership in the Prairieville community.

As Medical Director, Dr. Brooks works closely with physicians, nurses, administrators, and other members of the clinical team to advance patient safety and deliver compassionate, evidence-based care. He is particularly committed to serving individuals and families affected by substance use disorders. His work at RISE reflects a dedication to expanding access to effective treatment, supporting recovery and long-term wellness, and reducing the effects of addiction throughout South Louisiana.

He has since transitioned into his current role, where he focuses on ensuring every individual seeking treatment receives compassionate support and a welcoming first experience. With his own experiences, along with witnessing the impact addiction has had on friends and family, he is inspired to dedicate his career to serving others facing similar struggles. His goal is to lead by example, showing that long-term recovery is possible and that a fulfilling life can be built one day at a time. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and his two French Bulldogs. You’ll also find Blaise cheering on the University of Alabama, attending Phish concerts, and embracing every opportunity to enjoy the life that recovery has made possible.

After spending more than a decade in active addiction, he experienced firsthand the hope and transformation that recovery can bring.  His diverse professional background and personal experience allow him to connect with patients from all walks of life, offering understanding, encouragement, and support during some of their most challenging moments. A graduate of the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a degree in Information Systems, Jake sees those still sick and suffering as untapped potential. He is passionate about helping others discover that recovery is possible and that a fulfilling life of purpose and meaning awaits them on the other side of addiction.

Because sobriety is a core value in her own family life, she understands that recovery has the power to restore not only individuals but entire families for generations to come. She believes every patient deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and evidence-based medical care that fosters hope rather than judgment. At Rise Community Health, Dr. Hetherington is honored to walk alongside patients as they begin the courageous journey toward lasting recovery and a healthier future.

These experiences have melded my drive to deliver the most avant-guard approaches and care to those wishing to reclaim their lives from the enslavement of addiction.

Dr Akins has experience treating patients on the battlefield as an Aerospace Medicine Physician in the USAF as well as in
the world-renowned Texas Medical Center where he was an assistant professor of anestesiology at Memorial Herman Hospital in Houston, Texas. Additionally, Dr. Akins has started and developed surgical and anesthesia programs for multiple hospital organizations throughout Texas. He uses this diverse expertise to offer cutting edge treatment options to Rise patients in the acute withdrawal and detox setting as well as in their ongoing maintenance of recovery and future medical or surgical needs. Outside of medicine, he can be found with his wife Glenda and daughter Alexandra spending time at Alex’s softball tournaments or supporting his local animal shelters.

A New Orleans native, Matts pent over a decade as an EMT and Paramedic—including serving on the frontlines during Hurricane Katrina—before earning a nursing degree from Charity School of Nursing in 2014. Matt advanced rapidly through emergency medicine leadership as an ED Nurse Manager and Nurse Supervisor, later earning a Master’s degree in Nursing Leadership and assuming executive leadership as Chief Nursing Officer in 2022.

Matt’s initial connection with the RISE program in 2019 marked a pivotal moment, offering a profoundly renewed perspective on recovery and the life-changing impact nurses can have. Inspired by the courage of individuals pursuing sobriety and drawn to RISE’s core philosophy of treating every patient with absolute kindness, empathy, and respect, Matt officially joined RISE Community Health as Chief Nursing Officer in April 2026. Today, Matt is proud to lead and support an extraordinary team of nurses whose daily dedication inspires his work, remaining steadfast in expanding RISE’s vital mission across the communities they serve.

For the past three and a half years, I have been dedicated to creating meaningful connections with patients and their families while working to instill positive change throughout our community.

I believe that true wellness comes from nurturing the mind, body, and spirit. I encourage every person to develop a daily mindfulness practice that supports lasting growth, resilience, and overall well-being. My goal is to help each individual feel seen, supported, and empowered as they begin their path toward healing and lasting recovery.