Tulane names Dr. Rade N. Pejic Chair of Family and Community Medicine

Tulane University School of Medicine has named Rade N. Pejic, MD, MMM, as Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. He began serving in the role on July 1, 2025. A proud Tulane alumnus and longtime faculty member, Pejic becomes the third chair in the department’s history, following Drs. Richard Streiffer and Eddie Dennard.

Dr. Pejic’s roots at Tulane run deep. He arrived in New Orleans in the early 1990s to pursue his undergraduate studies, followed by medical school at Tulane University School of Medicine, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. He completed his residency in family medicine at UCLA-Santa Monica Medical Center and went on to a faculty development fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Returning to New Orleans in 2004, Pejic joined the Tulane Department of Family and Community Medicine. Over the past two decades, he has taken on a range of leadership roles, including lead physician of the Uptown Clinic, director of the family medicine clerkship, and program director of the East Jefferson General Hospital Family Medicine Residency. He also earned a Master’s in Medical Management from Tulane’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

“Dr. Pejic is the right person to lead the Department of Family & Community Medicine as it grows,” said L. Lee Hamm, MD, Senior Vice President and Dean of Tulane University School of Medicine. “His decades of service, commitment to medical education, and deep understanding of our community’s needs make him uniquely positioned to expand access to primary care across the region and inspire the next generation of family physicians.”

Dr. Pejic is active in several national and state professional organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians, and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. Known for his warm, patient-centered approach, he remains deeply committed to the practice and teaching of full-spectrum family medicine.

“There’s never a dull day in family medicine,” said Pejic. “You walk into the room and it could be a child, a pregnant woman, or an elderly patient. We manage everything from complex diagnoses to behavioral health to in-office procedures. It’s truly the front line of healthcare.”

As chair, Pejic aims to work collaboratively with LCMC Health leadership to expand access to primary care services across the Greater New Orleans area. He is also focused on strengthening the pipeline of future family physicians, noting that while Tulane currently matches 8 - 10% of its graduates into family medicine, the national average is closer to 11 - 12%.

“Increasing the number of students entering family medicine is vital,” said Pejic. “The U.S. faces a shortage of family physicians, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Our department plays a critical role in addressing that challenge.”

Tulane Family Medicine physicians currently serve patients at several locations, including the Tulane Multispecialty Clinic at Uptown Square, Tulane Living Well Clinics, and Lakeside Hospital. Dr. Pejic’s leadership promises continued growth, innovation, and a renewed commitment to community health.

Outside of medicine, Pejic enjoys spending time with his wife, two teenage children, and their two dogs. He plays electric bass in local bands and enjoys golf when time allows.