Executive committee recommends full board approve licensure for Dr. Gorisco to cover Gulf operations

The State Board of Medical Licensure executive committee recommended that the full board approve the licensure application of Dr. Gorisco, following an executive‑session review. Dr. Gorisco asked for licensure in Mississippi to legally provide medical management when drill ships or other operations under International SOS enter Mississippi state waters.

Dr. Gorisco told the committee he was one of the first board‑certified emergency physicians in Louisiana and practiced at Ochsner for nearly 40 years. He said he now provides remote medical support for International SOS, managing care for companies including SpaceX, NASA and offshore oil and gas operations. "I have a response center staffed by two licensed nurse practitioners," Dr. Gorisco said, describing a model in which ship medics escalate to a nurse practitioner and cases are then managed by him remotely.

Committee members asked for clarification about current certification and how often state licensure would be required. Ken Lippincott, an executive committee member, asked about Dr. Gorisco's recertification history and test performance. Dr. Gorisco said he had not completed recertification in 2020, described personal and pandemic‑related interruptions, and told the committee he had taken the SPEX exam three times in the past 18 months, scoring 74 out of 75 on his most recent attempt. Executive director Ken Cleveland raised the question of board eligibility and the available pathways to measure competency; Dr. Gorisco said he had not yet explored whether he remained board‑eligible.

After questions, a motion was made and seconded to enter executive session to consider the application. The committee entered executive session, then returned to open session and directed that the committee recommend approval of Dr. Gorisco's application to the full board. Committee members thanked Dr. Gorisco and noted the economic importance of Gulf operations and the need for consistent care for offshore workers.

Clarifying details from the committee record: Dr. Gorisco said he primarily practices remotely and does not maintain an in‑state private practice; he cited occasional medevacs into Mississippi trauma or burn centers as the principal reliance for state licensure. He said he holds licensure in multiple other states (he estimated 20–25), and that his current remote role requires state licenses when operations enter state waters.

The committee's action is a recommendation; the full board will receive the committee's recommendation and take final action on Dr. Gorisco's licensure application.