tulane university school of medicine magazine | Fall 2017 Med
Gold Dr. Peter Gold, changing Gold, Peter Dr. the landscape for kids
of HEART
Tulane
In Sync Dr. Ageless Dr. 18 16 tulane med | fall 2017
New graduates celebrate their MD degrees on May 20, 2017, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON WHITE tulane med | fall 2017 In this issue Heart of Gold Dr. Peter Gold is helping build a ‘Strong City’ to stop 8the violence. 16 Dr. Ageless 18 In Sync 21 Rounds 22 Class Notes
TulaneMed VOLUME 44, ISSUE 1, FALL 2017
Senior Vice President and Dean L. Lee Hamm III, MD Editor Mary Ann Travis Contributors Nick Adams, Keith Brannon, Leslie Cardé, Mary Cross, Faith Dawson, Cynthia Hayes, Kirby Messinger, Carolyn Scofield Photography Paula Burch-Celentano, Daymon Gardner, Mary Mouton, John Richie, Jason White Design Zehno President of the University Michael A. Fitts Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Institutional Effectiveness Richard Matasar Vice President for University Communications and Marketing Deborah L. Grant TulaneMed is published semiannually for Tulane University School of Medicine alumni, faculty, residents, students, staff and friends. Send letters and comments to: TulaneMed, c/o Tulane University Communications and Marketing 6823 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 Phone: 504-865-5210 Fax: 504-862-8777 [email protected] tulane.edu/som Tulane University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. Contents ©2017 by Tulane University. All rights reserved.
1 tulane med | fall 2017 Breakthrough Moment $25 million gift will name John W. Deming Department of Medicine PHOTO: PAULA BURCH-CELENTANO PAULA PHOTO:
BY MIKE STRECKER
For seven decades, internal medicine “Tulane and the School of Medicine physician Dr. John Winton Deming would not be where it is today without (M ’44) and his family have been making a the exceptional commitment and profound impact on Tulane University and remarkable foresight of the Deming Tulane University School of Medicine. family. No family has been as significant Now, his family’s tremendous generosity is to the success of the school over the reaching new heights with a $25 million years,” said Tulane President Mike Fitts. gift that will transform and strengthen the “This is a gift that will build our research Dr. John W. Deming, Bertie Department of Medicine’s research enterprise and encourage breakthroughs Deming Smith enterprise. that we can only imagine today. This is a The gift is the largest in the School of gift with an importance that will radiate Medicine’s history. well beyond our current boundaries.” “By making this gift, Bertie Deming Smith, John Deming’s NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH I wanted to pay tribute wife of 50 years chose to honor her to John’s deep love for husband in a way truly befitting the doctor The gift will support research within the and scholar that he was. “By making this Department of Medicine, the largest Tulane and his belief gift, I wanted to pay tribute to John’s deep translational research department in the in the importance love for Tulane and his belief in the School of Medicine, said Dr. Lee Hamm, of education.” importance of education,” Deming Smith dean and senior vice president of the — Bertie Deming Smith said. The gift, naming the John W. Deming School of Medicine. The gift will provide Department of Medicine, honors an critical support to launch the careers of extraordinary physician and civic leader junior investigators while also rewarding who believed strongly in education and in established faculty members, Hamm said. giving back to his community and to “This gift will give us the crucial Tulane. John Deming passed away in 1996 funding to support the next generation of at the age of 76. physician-scientists, working on
2 tulane med | fall 2017 PHOTO: SALLY ASHER SALLY PHOTO:
Weiwei Xu, PhD student in biomedical sciences, and Dr. Franck Mauvais-Jarvis, Price-Goldsmith professor in the Department of Medicine, are co-authors of a study that shows that testosterone is an anti-diabetic hormone in men.
tomorrow’s healthcare breakthroughs,” After he graduated from medical the first members from outside New said Hamm. “As federal funding for school, John Deming completed an Orleans), an associate professor of research diminishes, the support of internship at Charity Hospital in New clinical medicine, a charter member of philanthropic visionaries like the Orleans, then served as a captain in the the medical center’s board of governors Demings is of greater importance than Army Medical Corps. He practiced and a recipient of the university’s ever before. Their help is crucial in internal medicine in Alexandria, distinguished alumnus award. supporting ongoing research, the most Louisiana, from 1950 to 1985 becoming The continued philanthropy of important enterprise of the future.” known far and wide as a talented John and Bertie ties the Deming name The Demings’ generosity will fund both diagnostician with a gentle but effective with greatness at Tulane and at the clinical and translational research, which bedside manner. “If you were sick and School of Medicine. Among the allows scientists to transform discoveries wanted to truly understand what was highlights of their philanthropy are made in the laboratory into effective wrong, you wanted to go to John Bertie and her siblings’ founding of the treatments, ultimately improving the Deming,” said his daughter Catherine Murphy Institute for Political Economy, health of patients. Deming Pierson (G ’78, SW ’89), an in honor of their father, Charles Murphy. emeritus member of the Board of Tulane. Through their association with the A DEEP HISTORY “He practiced medicine in the days Murphy Oil Corporation, the Murphy John Deming enjoyed a deep connection before advanced testing, which meant that Building was donated to the School of to Tulane. An only child from the small he had to use his gift of listening to and Medicine. The Bertie and John Deming town of Evergreen, Alabama, Deming connecting with his patients to make a Pavilion at the Tulane University attended Auburn University before he diagnosis.” Medical Center, numerous excellence enrolled in Tulane School of Medicine. He Almost immediately when John funds for research and three endowed was smart and driven, graduating first in Deming graduated from Tulane, he joined chairs held by some of the most his class from Tulane. “He always thought the ranks of the university’s top prominent faculty members in the his time at Tulane was an important part of supporters, generous with his resources School of Medicine were also part of the person he became,” said his son, and time. He became a member of the their legacy of support to Tulane. Þ Claiborne P. Deming (A&S ’76, L ’79). Tulane board of administrators (one of
3 tulane med | fall 2017 Advances: Innovation TWO FOR TULANE and outreach BY KEITH BRANNON It’s rare to make the cover of one top medical journal, but virologist Robert Garry, PhD, scored a two-fer, with his research landing on the covers of the two most prominent—Science and Nature. Garry, professor of microbi- ology and immunology, was a co-author of a Nature study that traced the genetic lineage of last year’s Zika outbreak in Florida. Scientists sequenced the genome of the virus from blood samples and discovered four distinct introductions of the virus related to strains in the Caribbean. Garry and Dr. James Robinson, professor of pedi- PHOTO: SEAN AIRHART, COURTESY NBBJ COURTESY SEAN AIRHART, PHOTO: atrics, were part of a research team led by scientists at Partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs Scripps Research Institute whose discovery about the New Orleans VA Hospital Opens Lassa virus made the cover of Science. The team was the first BY FAITH DAWSON to map the molecular struc- ture of a surface protein on Opening in stages, beginning partnership with the New destroyed the old New the virus that allows the with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Orleans VA hospital. And Orleans VA hospital in 2005. pathogen to infect human in November 2016, the South- Tulane faculty, physicians, There’s more demand for cells. The research identified east Louisiana Veterans Health residents and students geriatric care, palliative care a key antibody target that Care System Veterans Medical continue to play an integral and outpatient surgery. could serve as a blueprint for Center—a $1 billion facility— role at the new site. Schapira is working with developing a vaccine or anti- welcomed its first in-patients Providing high-quality Tulane senior vice president body-based drug against this summer. health care for veterans is and medical school dean deadly Lassa fever. The 1.7 million-square-foot the VA’s main mission, said Dr. Lee Hamm and Dr. For those keeping track, Veterans hospital at 2400 Canal Dr. Ralph M. Schapira, Jeffrey G. Wiese, associate this is Robinson’s second St., adjacent to University chief of staff of the New dean for graduate medical Science cover. The last time? Medical Center, is expected to Orleans VA Hospital since education, to create an envi- In 1998 when he was part of serve 70,000 veterans yearly. It June 2015. ronment where students and the team formed to solve the took 10 years to complete. Veterans’ healthcare needs, residents have excellent structure of a surface protein Tulane University School of like health care in general, learning opportunities at the of the HIV virus. Medicine has a long-standing have changed since Katrina New Orleans VA.
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Tulane School of Medicine dean Dr. Lee Hamm, Tulane Women’s health President Mike Fitts, former Saints defensive back Jabari Greer and Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine director Dr. Greg Stewart cut the ceremonial million dollars ribbon at the opening of the Professional Athlete for hormone Care Team clinic. replacement1.9 therapy
PHOTO: TULANE HEALTH SYSTEM TULANEPHOTO: HEALTH research
Sports medicine The National Heart, Lung and Blood Health care fit for a (retired) pro Institute of the BY NICK ADAMS National Institutes of Health has awarded There are two Jabari Greers. Dr. Greg Stewart, Tulane’s chief of physical Sarah Lindsey, PhD, There’s the Saints cornerback and Super medicine and rehabilitation and PACT medi- Bowl champion, a celebrity and football star. cal director. assistant professor And there’s the former athlete, a husband and “Professional athletes have a different rela- of pharmacology, a father navigating his own health care—and his tionship with health care than most of us,” said research grant for future after football. Stewart, who also provides direction for the $1.9 million for her “The person that people think they know— medical aspects of the National Football the football player—isn’t around anymore. He’s League Player Care Foundation’s Healthy study of an estrogen gone,” Greer said. Body and Mind screening program. receptor that could The Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine has “Obviously, their bodies undergo stresses be a site for targeted created the new Professional Athlete Care unique to their sports and positions, and we at hormone replace- Team (PACT) within Tulane Medical Center Tulane have the experience and caregivers to designed to meet the needs of former profes- ensure optimum care for those needs. ment therapy in post- sional athletes like Greer, where they can get “But it’s not just the high level of health care menopausal women. the appropriate care for their needs. we provide. From high school to college to the The new 5,000-square-foot clinic opened pros, these athletes typically experience ‘con- in May. cierge’ service—and it can be difficult when PACT was developed through a partnership they retire and that goes away. So we’ve built a between Tulane University School of Medicine program that picks up where they left off and and Tulane Health System to support athletes’ gives these athletes the level of care—and health and safety both on and off the field, said service—they’re used to.”
Overheard “We now have a demonstration that hormonal therapy added to radiation can help save lives for men who have recurrent prostate cancer after surgery.”
— Dr. Oliver Sartor, co-author of a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine about a nearly two decades-long trial on treatment for prostate cancer. Sartor is the Laborde Professor of Cancer Research in the departments of Medicine and Urology at Tulane School of Medicine.
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New program STOP THE BLEED BY KEITH BRANNON
When a gunman in Alexandria, Virginia, attacked members of Congress at a baseball practice in June, a lawmaker who served in Iraq was able to deliver critical aid to victims before emergency responders arrived. The veteran had learned bleeding control techniques designed to save lives of those critically wounded in battle. Now all third-year students at Tulane University School of Medicine will get similar PHOTO: PAULA BURCH-CELENTANO PAULA PHOTO: training thanks to a new program launched by trauma surgeons. Students will No scars, no tears complete a “Stop the Bleed” course designed by the Robotic thymectomy: something to cheer about American College of Surgeons BY CAROLYN SCOFIELD Committee on Trauma during their surgery rotation. Brandi Resendez’s 14-year-old the thymus, requiring a long whole mass, I remember “We were one of the early daughter, Alexis, started com- incision in the chest and lead- jumping up and hugging him,” adopters among medical plaining of a sore neck a year ing to more recovery time for Resendez said. Alexis went schools in this country to ago. Resendez first thought it the patient. home the following day, incorporate this course into Q might be all the work Alexis Kandil is a pioneer of per- quickly showing signs of the standard medical student was putting in preparing for forming thyroid surgeries improvement. A month later, curriculum,” said Dr. Rebecca high school cheerleading try- through a small incision under the teen was back to tumbling Schroll, assistant professor of outs, but the pain continued the armpit. Kandil uses a and, shortly after that, tried trauma and critical care, who getting worse. Alexis started robotic surgery system that out for the cheerleading squad. is leading the program. losing weight because it hurt provides a detailed 3-D mag- She made the team. The Stop the Bleed to eat, and she was exhausted nified view of the anatomy “Alexis is like a whole program was designed to help all the time. A trip to the around the thyroid, which different kid,” said Resendez. police and first responders in emergency room revealed a enables him to perform precise “She is doing so well, she does an active shooter or mass- mass in Alexis’ chest near her surgery through a single inci- not complain about pain, she casualty event. thyroid gland, and she was sion. Using this minimally has so much energy. Her cut Ultimately, Schroll hopes to referred to Dr. Emad Kandil, invasive approach, patients under her arm is getting create a network of bleeding chief of endocrine surgery at heal faster, and many are able lighter and lighter, and it control instructors who can Tulane University School to go home the same day. healed very well. “educate an exponentially of Medicine. In Alexis’ case, Kandil was “I hope that every hospital expanding number of the lay Kandil performed the able to use the same technique will be able to get a robotic public who will be able to innovative robotic thymectomy to remove the tumor from her machine, but I know that stop life-threatening bleeding using a single incision under thymus gland, a robotic Dr. Kandil is the best using and save lives.” the armpit. thymectomy. He removed the the machine,” she said. “He Thymectomy is a surgical chest mass through a hidden can’t be at 10 hospitals at the procedure to remove tumors incision under the arm, a tech- same time, but if you are lucky that form on the thymus, a nique that he always uses to enough to have him teach gland located at the base of the remove the thyroid. people how to accomplish neck that produces T cells. “When Dr. Kandil came in what he did on my daughter, Traditionally, surgeons had to that waiting area and told me people will recover so quickly split the breastbone to remove he was able to remove the from surgery.”
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VIEWPOINT: Are pain prescriptions really the problem? BY CAROLYN SCOFIELD
Dr. Mordecai Potash teaches locked. Every prescription not just addiction specialists, fourth-year students during needs to be tailored to the but also pain specialists, pain their ambulatory medicine patient, and the doctor should patients, people who’ve had rotation. The students watch consider factors like, does the abuse problems and family how Potash approaches patient live with other people members, along with law pain control while working or in an area where there are a enforcement, who can come with patients. lot of burglaries? together and find some grad- ual, common sense measures Q. How can the opioid Q. What is Tulane School of that will hopefully modestly epidemic be addressed? Medicine doing to teach fu- curb abuse of medication and, The crux of the issue is what ture doctors about opioid from a multistep process, role do pain-management pro- pain medicines? end up with a program that viders have in the opioid epi- We’ve been able to use our really helps. demic? Recently, I think existing curriculum to introduce I’ve spoken with pain- pain-management providers are outpatient-based pain manage- management specialists who being seen as the problem; ment treatment in a way that are pretty worried right now, Qthey’re not being seen anymore feels familiar and integrated to but the folks who are most as delivering a legitimate ser- students. It looks like their worried are my patients who vice to patients. My belief is the experience in other clinics. are living with pain every situation is much more difficult day. They remember what it and nuanced than just pain Q. Is there one solution to was like prior to treatment doctors giving medicine. the opioid epidemic? and are truly scared of what There’s only one good way to The answers need to be their lives are going to be like address the situation and that is gradual, and they need to be if the tools for treatment are through actual discussions with informed by the stakeholders, taken away. your patients. You can give handouts all you want, but unless it leads to a productive discussion between the patient and provider, it’s just one more worthless piece of paperwork that people get when they check in to see their doctor. 4x Q. What can be done to Deaths from prescription improve the safety of opioid opioids—drugs like pain medicines? oxycodone, hydrocodone There are all sorts of different and methadone—have ways of improving safety, BURCH-CELENTANO PAULA PHOTO: including patients talking to Dr. Mordecai Potash, associate professor of clinical psychiatry, more than quadrupled addresses the opioid crisis and pain management issues in his since 1999. (CDC) doctors about pain interactions and keeping medications medical classes.
7 tulane med | fall 2017 Research: Cool brains, hot tech
ThermoSuit Cools Stroke Patients BY MARY CROSS
1ThermoSuit, an apparatus that looks like a sleeping bag and lies flat on a hospital bed, lowers the brain’s metabolic speed by cooling the body down to 32 to 34 degrees C (about 89.6 to 93.2 degrees F). It helps prolong the treatment window after a stroke, thereby attempting to save endangered brain tissue. “This device is the first to use thin liquid convection to cool skin directly and inactivate the body’s main thermo regulator,” said Dr. Justin Salerian, director of the Tulane Comprehensive Stroke Center. He and his team are currently testing the Life Recovery Systems ThermoSuit in phase II trials. The method, which Salerian likens to falling in an icy river, is capable of cooling patients down 5 to 10 times faster than previous cooling devices. “We’re the first center in the world testing this device on stroke patients,” he said.
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Got Sunscreen? BY KEITH BRANNON
Second-year medical student Theodore2 Brown has put his biomedical engineering under- graduate training to work to fix sunscreen’s visibility problem. He has developed a small gadget that uses an LED light and sensor to detect whether there’s enough sunscreen on your skin. The prototype is called Sol-Nix, which Brown hopes to bring to market with a retail price under $20. It’s about the size of the plug at the end of an iPhone charger and runs on a AAA battery. When you apply sunscreen, you run the device over your skin. If you’ve missed a spot, it will beep, letting you know exactly where to reapply. “What that does is essentially tell the device, this is what my skin looks like with this particular type of sunscreen when I’m covered,” he said. “It automatically corrects to whatever type of sunscreen you’re using.” ILLUSTRATIONS: PAUL GARLAND PAUL ILLUSTRATIONS:
9 10 HEART of Gold The good Samaritan medical student whose bravery inspired a nation isn’t finished being a hero. Dr. Peter Gold and his closest friends from Tulane are building a ‘Strong City’ to stop the violence—and provide children with safe spaces.
BY KEITH BRANNON ILLUSTRATION BY HANNAH RHODES tulane med | fall 2017
It was still dark in the early morning hours of November 20, 2015, when fourth-year medical student Peter Gold was driving down Magazine Street and noticed something clearly wasn’t right.
At 4 a.m., the street was desolate except again, his weapon refused. It jammed at will ever follow in Cain’s footsteps. Their for two figures stumbling in the distance. least three times before the man gave up goal—through money, time and building a A woman struggled under the arms of a and drove away, leaving both Gold and the network of skilled professionals—is to man whose face was cloaked by a hooded woman on the sidewalk. provide these organizations the resources sweatshirt. Her legs flailed as he dragged “I didn’t black out or pass out,” Gold they need to help kids reach their full her forward onto the sidewalk toward a said. “I remember everything.” potential. nearby vehicle. A nearby surveillance camera did too, “I want to change the conversation from Gold slowly backed his car up to get a capturing high-definition footage of the being about my recovering to about how better look and made a split-second whole incident. The good Samaritan we can all come together to look at the decision. medical student from Tulane became an bigger picture,” Gold said. “Let’s solve this “You don’t think,” he said. “You’re in international hero. problem by focusing at the root and work- that situation, and it’s an immediate fight- ing with the youth in our communities.” Ior-flight response. Somebody had to do CHANGING THE CONVERSATION Gold launched the Strong City founda- something, and I was there.” Now graduated from medical school and tion with a media blitz in early April. He Gold sped toward the two, dashed out fully recovered, Gold isn’t finished being a sat down for an exclusive, high-profile live of his car and confronted the assailant, hero. Except he wants to save an unlikely interview on the “TODAY” show with who released his grip on the woman. At target: men like Euric Cain, the 22-year- Matt Lauer. Segments on “NBC Nightly that moment it became clear. The man old who shot him. News,” “Inside Edition,” People.com and had a gun. Gold, 27, has launched a foundation other media outlets quickly followed. What happened next would make with eight of his closest friends from “The response has been phenomenal,” headlines around the world. When Gold Tulane to end cycles of violence within Gold said. approached the man, he ended up getting communities, starting with New Orleans. shot in the stomach. It may have been Their nonprofit, Strong City, will support COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS luck, a miracle or the invisible hand of community-based organizations that The group raised $20,000 in donations fate but when the gunman tried to fire empower underserved youth so that none within two weeks. Strong City’s first
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Peter Gold (third from left) gets a boost from his Tulane friends (left to right): Adam Beal, Mark Jones (M ’16), Gold, Alex Brands (B ’12, ’13), Josh Kogel (B ’13) and Nick Curran (B ’12, ’13)
13 PHOTO: JOHN RICHIE PHOTO: tulane med | fall 2017
Peter Gold joins Youth Empowerment Project participants on a New Orleans playground. PHOTO: MARY MOUTON MARY PHOTO:
community partner is the New Orleans– to violence. Yes, he was angry, but the ques- conflict resolution skills. YEP offers men- based Youth Empowerment Project tion that haunted him the most was how toring, tutoring, job-training programs, (YEP), which engages underserved young could another human being do this? How outreach for those within the juvenile jus- people through community-based educa- can life wear down a person’s humanity to tice system and recreational programs. tion, mentoring and employment readi- such degree that they can kill a stranger? “If we could come up with our idea of ness programs to help them develop their “I think as a society we have failed peo- what would be an awesome communi- skills and strengthen their ties to family ple,” Gold said. “I think that if (Cain) was ty-based program and what it would look and community. given the opportunity to be successful like, the Youth Empowerment Project “Through the creation of Strong City, when he was younger, that maybe this would be it,” Gold said. “They have after- Peter is showing us all that by coming would never have happened. What he did school programs with young kids starting together to support community-based was horrendous, and I’m not saying that at ages 5 and 6. They give them a safe organizations working with underserved it’s OK. But what I am saying is that I place to come after school and hang out youth that we can address underlying think there is a bigger picture here.” with other kids. They get help with their causes of violence in our communities and Cain was arrested three days after Gold’s homework, get their school uniforms make our make cities healthier, safer and shooting and later pled guilty to that washed and just the basic things that they stronger for everyone,” said Melissa crime and others. He is serving a 54-year need to be successful.” Sawyer, YEP executive director and prison sentence. co-founder. Gold is convinced that tackling violence “OUR SECOND HOME” The idea for Strong City came about has to start at its roots. He believes that Gold now lives in New York and is while Gold was recovering in the hospital, programs that provide children with safe completing his first year as a resident in thinking about what happened the night he spaces to feel supported and nurtured will orthopedic surgery at Hofstra/Northwell was shot and what events in life lead people help them learn healthy coping and Health: North Shore University Hospital
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and LIJ Medical Centers in New York. As a surgeon has so much confidence and for any lasting effects from his injuries, knowledge, come in to talk to me and help he’s “110 percent.” me and my family stay calm and stay on Stronger “Except for the scar down my stomach, the right path to recovery. It made all of it has no effect on me day to day, which is the difference. She is an amazing woman. With YEP an absolute miracle and attributable to I hope that as I become a surgeon that I University Medical Center, the Tulane can do the same thing for my patients.” 1,201 CHILDREN Last year, YEP served trauma team and Dr. Meg Moore, who Gold said the trauma of his experience was my physician,” he said. “I’m so fortu- still hits him at unexpected times. 1,201 youth across 11 nate that she was there that night to take “When it comes up the most is when I programs designed to care of me.” see other people helping somebody else address barriers resulting The crime also hasn’t shaken his faith in out. I become a little bit more emotional from poverty, violence New Orleans. Gold’s connection to the city than I was before. If I see a movie where and the lack of educa- and Tulane are deep. His parents, Gail someone is saving someone or someone is tional opportunities. Hahn Gold (NC ’80) and Dr. Robert helping someone out, I’ll get a little Gold (A&S ’78, M ’82), met at the univer- teary-eyed.” SAFE SPACES sity as undergrads. His sister, Lisa Gold Gold said that when he goes for a run YEP established its Dresner (B ’08, ’09), and her husband, and gets a surge of energy and the eupho- headquarters on Jason Dresner (B ’08), also graduated ria that goes along with exercising, he’s Oretha Castle Haley from Tulane. happy to be alive. “I can run. I can feel Boulevard in 2004 “New Orleans is a special, amazing good. That’s how it comes back to me. Just and now operates six place. This city made me who I am and respecting life and thinking about import- program sites in Central how I think,” Gold said. “Tulane and New ant relationships that I have with my fam- City, Mid-City, Algiers ily or my friends. It is amazing how Orleans are something we always think and St. Charles Parish. about. It will always be our second home.” blessed I am. We all are—to have these While any physical wounds are healed, relationships and be happy together and the incident has shaped Gold in other live on this earth. It should not be taken LEARN MORE ways. His time in the hospital has changed for granted.” To find out more about how he interacts with his own patients. That respect for life—all life—is a mes- Strong City, go to He has a much deeper empathy for what sage he hopes Strong City drives home. mystrongcity.org. they are going through. “I want people to know that we’re not Also, visit youthempow- “I understand what it’s like to be on the alone in this world. If we all come ermentproject.org, and other side, sitting in that hospital bed, together as a group, as a strong collective, follow YEP on social kind of hopeless, sick and scared—not we can make the world around us a better media: @YEPNOLA. knowing if I’m going to be OK,” he said. place,” he said. “If you feel the same way, “To have someone like Dr. Moore, who as let’s do that together.” Þ
“I want people to know that we’re not alone in this world. If we all come together as a group, as a strong collective, we can make the world around us a better place. If you feel the same way, let’s do that together.”
—Dr. Peter Gold, M ’16
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DR. LUPO’S carefully curated collection of anti-aging products contains plant extracts, amino acids, vitamins and antioxidants that treat skin conditions ranging from acne to rosacea.
DR.
AGELESSA pioneer in nonsurgical dermatology and a clinical professor at Tulane School of Medicine, Dr. Mary Lupo relishes helping patients.
BY FAITH DAWSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAYMON GARDNER 16 tulane med | fall 2017
Dr. Mary Lupo says this with confidence. As a clinical professor at Tulane School of Medicine (from which she graduated in 1980), a board-certified and award-winning dermatologist in private practice and an often-quoted skin-care expert, principal investigator and author, Lupo knows that the science and prac- tice of dermatology are not only skin deep. D“The skin is an amazing organ, and it is the mirror to your internal health,” Lupo said. Not only are melanomas visible on skin but also by examining skin, doctors can detect other can- cers, liver disease and diabetes, too—as well as identify polycys- tic ovarian syndrome and other conditions. “The skin is profoundly impacted by autoimmune diseases— with psoriasis and vitiligo and other conditions,” she adds. Lupo is also a pioneer in the field of nonsurgical rejuvena- tions, which include procedures like neuromodulators— Botox—dermal fillers, sclerotherapy and chemical peels. The Resident Cosmetic Clinic at Tulane School of Medicine, which she founded while still a resident herself, came about as a “I have saved result of those procedures. Dermatology has always been competitive, Lupo said, from the days when practicing physicians mainly treated rashes and acne, but even more so now, because of the exciting advances on people’s lives as a the horizon. (Researchers are looking at gene regulation to reju- venate aged skin cells, for example, and stem cell therapy to heal wounds and stimulate hair growth.) dermatologist.” VISIONARY, VOLUNTEER, VISAGISTE Denver dermatologist Dr. Adrienne Stewart (NC ’81, M ’86, R PATIENTS FIRST ’90) first met Lupo when the former was a medical student. Lupo relishes helping her patients, especially when it results in a While she was a resident, Stewart also worked with Lupo. boost in self-esteem. Stewart said, “When I think of Mary Lupo, I think of three She finds moments of patient-satisfaction gratifying, such as Vs: visionary, volunteer, visagiste,” Stewart said, citing her con- “when I can make a person feel better about themselves because tributions to the future of cosmetic dermatology and to the they look in the mirror, and they don’t feel like they look tired or careers of future doctors as proof of the first two Vs. angry or sad. When I can take care of a young teenager who was “Visagiste—now, if you look this up in one of those transla- feeling bad about themselves because they had horrible acne, and tion apps—you might find ‘makeup artist’ or ‘beautician.’ the acne has cleared.” Visagiste is, to me, [an] artist of the face. Mary, although an Beth DePass, a New Orleans-area business owner and a long- expert in all areas of the skin, is in particular an artist of the time patient of Lupo, said, “I cannot imagine anyone going to see face. Because of her in-depth knowledge of devices and inject- Mary and not feeling a 100 percent convinced that she wanted ables, she can transform patients to a more beautiful and youth- the best for them. She’s that genuine, and she’s that honest.” ful self.” The Dr. Mary Lupo that patients see in the office is a dedicated “‘It’s the ‘Filler,’ not the filler,’” said Stewart, quoting one of physician, but also part drill instructor, part detective, part system Lupo’s more memorable lessons, meaning a skilled doctor and analyst and part maternal unit. not the latest product delivers the best results. “I treat every patient like I’m related to them. I think I’m a little AGELESS Stewart described her former instructor as “tough but gentle, bossy,” Lupo said. “But I’m bossy like your mama is bossy. I’m and of course, brilliant.” bossy because I want what’s best for you.”Þ
17 tulane med | fall 2017 IN SYNC The Tulane MD/MPH dual-degree program, initiated in 1971, boasts more than a thousand graduates trained at the intersection of medicine and public health. They address issues worldwide of individual health and the wider community.
BY LESLIE CARDÉ
Tulane University has long been on the physicians to address emerging infectious unwittingly created what many believe is cutting edge when it comes to under- diseases, population management and preci- the worst drug crisis in American history, standing the intersection of medicine and sion medicine—getting the right treatment killing twice as many people per year as public health and its importance in the to the right patient at the right time.” car crashes. education of doctors in training. To that Krousel-Wood is also the elected chair/ “Everything is interrelated,” said Dr. end, in 1971, School of Medicine chancel- president of the American Board of Debra Houry, a 1998 graduate of the lor Dr. John Walsh initiated a dual-degree Preventive Medicine (ABPM)—a board Tulane MD/MPH program. She is the program, consisting of an MD and a that has recently been approved to certify director of Centers for Disease Control Master of Public Health to be completed physicians in addiction medicine. ABPM and Prevention’s National Center for concurrently using an integrated four-year is one of only 34 boards with the Injury Prevention and Control. curriculum. American Board of Medical Specialties “When we looked at many of the “Our long-standing program, which that certifies physicians. It certifies doctors Fentanyl and heroin overdoses, we began with two or three students in a in preventive medicine, occupational med- found that these people either had an class, now has over 160 students currently icine, aerospace medicine, clinical infor- active opioid prescription at the time of enrolled,” said Dr. Marie “Tonette” matics, undersea and hyperbaric medicine, the overdose or had abused one in the last Krousel-Wood, associate dean of public as well as addiction medicine. year. It’s a matter of training physicians health and medical education at Tulane. “My training as an MD with a Master and emphasizing that addiction can stem She presides over the MD/MPH pro- of Science in Public Health paved my way from one initial prescription. The CDC gram. There are over 1,000 graduates of to serving as chair of this national organi- now has new guidelines for prescribing the program to date, making Tulane a top zation,” Krousel-Wood said. “I have given opioids for chronic pain. The White producer of dual-degree MD/MPH several talks already regarding specialty House, under Obama, asked medical physicians. certification in addiction medicine.” schools to incorporate those guidelines Krousel-Wood, a professor of medicine into the preclinical years, and Tulane in the School of Medicine and a professor GUIDELINES FOR PRESCRIBING was one of the schools which pledged to of epidemiology in the School of Public OPIOIDS FOR PAIN do so.” Health and Tropical Medicine, is also the If there’s any doubt that medicine and associate provost for the health sciences. public health are inextricably linked, OVERPRESCRIBED ANTIBIOTICS She realizes just how important public consider this: 91 Americans die every day Dr. Alex Schmalz, a May 2017 graduate health training is for every physician, from opioid overdoses, tied directly to a of Tulane’s MD/MPH program, is the whose decisions can have a far-ranging dramatic spike in the number of prescrip- co-recipient of the John J. Walsh, MD, impact—and far-ranging consequences. tions written by physicians all across this Award, presented to the student who best “With formal public health training,” country. That threefold increase over the exhibits innovative leadership in a com- emphasized Krousel-Wood, “doctors are last 20 years has now created a nation of mitment to improving the health of indi- much more likely to make decisions which addicts, spelling a public health disaster. viduals and communities. reflect an understanding of whole popula- Doctors with the best of intentions in Schmalz’s specific field of study while at tions. Our dual-degree program prepares reducing their patients’ pain have Tulane was global health management
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TULANE AT THE INTERSECTION OF MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH
PROGRAM STATS
Producer of Tulane is a leader in physicians 1,000+ medicine and public TOP with dual- health, establishing degrees MD/ TULANE MD/MPH the dual-degree MPH GRADUATES TO DATE program’71 46 years ago.
Tulanians fighting global health issues CURRENT Drug addiction, Ebola, HIV/AIDS, TULANE hepatitis C, hypertension, pediatric MD/MPH tuberculosis, obesity, STDs, Zika 160 STUDENTS
ALUMNI RESEARCH
Opioid crisis Bioethics and organ Postprison health care transplantation AND A BUS “Addiction can $20 TICKET stem from one To re-enter society from prison, it takes more than$20 and a bus ticket. With a grant from the American Psychiatric initial prescription.” Association, MD/MPH student ZACH LENANE helps former inmates navigate DR. DEBRA HOURY, director of the healthcare system. the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and1 Control and a Tulane MD/MPH graduate, on the opioid crisis. “Shintoism believes once the body is Preventing antibiotic resistance The opioid crisis dead, it becomes has killed twice as polluted. So dona- “These interventions”—emailed alerts—“have been tracked ... many people per tions from cadavers are near zero.” and they work.” year as car crashes. DR. ALEX SCHMALZ, MD/MPH graduate and emergency (CDC) U.S. Army Capt. DR. HUNTER SMITH, a Tulane MD/MPH graduate, on his medicine resident at UC Davis, on latest ethics research through the changing behavior of doctors lens of various religions. who over-prescribe antibiotics.
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and policy. He’s now in a resident pro- has worked for the World Health gram in emergency medicine at the PLACES WHERE Organization in Cairo, studying cardio- University of California–Davis. vascular disease. Smith’s focus, ultimately, His long-term goal is to change percep- TULANE MD/ is bioethics. tions within private practices across the “I framed my latest ethics research country. This is essential for good public MPH GRADS GO through the lens of organ transplantation, health, he said. With resistant strains of using three different religions … bacteria popping up all over the world, Catholicism, Islam and Shinto. Each has Schmalz has become a proponent of CDC, NIH, very different sociopolitical concepts,” changing the behavior of doctors who Smith said. overprescribe antibiotics by utilizing WORLD HEALTH “It was thought that remunerating peo- something called the “Nudge Unit,” a ple for donating organs would make the theory utilized by British psychologist ORGANIZATION, numbers soar. But we’ve concluded there’s Dr. David Halpern. DOCTORS a social divide. Poorer people end up selling “It calls for alerting doctors, through their organs, yet don’t end up benefiting mailed notifications, that they are in the WITHOUT economically, long-term. Additionally, they top percentages of antibiotic prescribers. suffer social isolation, have future health We tell them what most doctors are doing BORDERS problems and are often depressed. Effective and ask that they consider tailoring their policies should produce optimal health prescriptions. There are no consequences, AND MORE outcomes, but often modifications must be but it’s a matter of making doctors aware made if certain cultures vehemently reject of what kinds of public health problems aspects of the policy. A major source of might be ameliorated by something as organs, for example, is cadaveric, but simple as watching how and when antibi- prison. The older people have terrible Shintoism, the main religion of Japan, otics are prescribed. These interventions health issues, and this doesn’t even take believes once the body is dead, it becomes have been tracked—and they work,” into consideration mental health issues,” polluted. So donations from cadavers are Schmalz said. Lenane said. near zero. So, organ tourism, or buying “These are people who are given $20 and organs from other countries, is prevalent. POSTPRISON CARE a bus ticket. However, to re-enter society it In policy construction, you attempt to As a fourth-year student in the MD/ means getting training, getting housing remove these cultural and political biases.” MPH program, with a concentration in and being in good health. Our doctors and global community health and behavioral residents address their medical needs, and PUBLIC GOOD OVER PRIVATE GAIN sciences, Zach Lenane was a recent as part of my public health training, I help There is no doubt this is a distinctive group National Institutes of Health–funded them navigate the system. Along with folks of people who choose the public good over translational research predoctoral scholar. like Thad Tatum, a formerly incarcerated private gain. Armed with their dual degrees He was also selected for a Top Ranked man who spent 20 years in Angola and in medicine and public health, Tulane’s Poster for his research on post-traumatic now has a degree in counseling, we coordi- MD/MPH students and graduates are stress disorder as a predictor for cardio- nate their postprison care. The best thing working with some of the most prestigious vascular outcomes at the Association for about Tulane’s program is that we partner health agencies in the world—the CDC, Clinical and Translational Science in with people in the community who give NIH and the World Health Organization. Washington, D.C., in April 2017. back.” They’re traveling the world with the inter- With a grant from the American national humanitarian nongovernmental Psychiatric Association, Lenane also has BIOETHICS OF ORGAN organization Doctors Without Borders, worked as a case manager at the Formerly TRANSPLANTATION heading up healthcare organizations and Incarcerated Transitions (FIT) Clinic in For U.S. Army Capt. Dr. Hunter Smith, a going into academics, where they’ve the Ruth U. Fertel/Tulane Community May 2017 graduate of the MD/MPH become leading researchers, contributing to Health Clinic in New Orleans. program with a focus on epidemiology, a the understanding of disease prevention. “FIT is free health care for those who’ve preventive medicine residency awaits at “Our students have a toolkit for address- just gotten out of federal prison. Many are Johns Hopkins and Walter Reed hospitals, ing some of the greatest public health coming from Angola [the Louisiana State with a transitional year beginning at the challenges facing the world today,” Penitentiary], and have been in prison for Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii. Krousel-Wood said. “It’s wonderful to be a a long period of time, with chronic health Already the recipient of the 2017 United part of this program which has such an issues that haven’t been addressed well in States Public Health Service Award, Smith impact globally.” Þ
20 tulane med | fall 2017 ROUNDS
Tribute Dr. Andrew A. Lackner Andrew A. Lackner, DVM, PhD, DACVP, director and chief academic officer of the Tulane National Primate Research Center, died on April 2, 2017. Andrew was an outstanding scientist who had the capacity to address and solve research questions that positively impacted the lives of millions, especially those with HIV. Even when faced with a major scientific challenge, he maintained his composure and was able to take advantage of the situation to create important new knowledge. He arrived at Tulane in 2001, and under his leadership, an extraordi- narily talented group of scientists successfully competed for a broad array of peer-reviewed grants from the NIH, including about $100 million for new construction and renovation projects at the center and the $40 million state-of-the-art BSL3 Biosafety Laboratory, one of only a handful in the nation. Grant support under Andrew’s leadership grew from approximately $10 million per year to a peak of about $40 million per year, supporting research projects for more than 400 investigators and appropriately leading to a renaming of the center as the Tulane National Primate Research Center.
BY PAUL WHELTON, MB, MD, MSC Show Chwan Professor of Global Public Health, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
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Letter from Dean Lee Hamm
IN WITH THE NEW You’ve undoubtedly noticed our magazine has a new look and a new name—Tulane Med. We’ve updated the graphics, shortened the stories and created new sections to JENNIFER ZDON PHOTO: address medical issues of our time. All this to bring you a lively publication, which many of you told us—in focus groups and surveys—that you are looking for from the Tulane School of Medicine. This fall, I welcomed the Class of 2021, our newest first-year class.With over 10,000 applicants to the School of CLASS Medicine this past year, the 190 members of the Class of 2021 are the most diverse class to date with 49 identifying as being from groups underrepresented in medicine. This is an all-time high for us at the School of Medicine. As has been true of recent years, the class is half men and half women. NOTES From a geographical perspective, the incoming class continues to shine from a diversity perspective, representing 36 U.S. neurosurgeon and Research and states and over 50 colleges and universities. 1960s the founder of The Excellence 2017 Lifetime Eleven students are from outside of the Dr. Lida Dahm NeuroMedical Center in Achievement Award in U.S. The Class of 2021 continues a (NC ’59, M ’62) Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Boston. The award is commitment to service fostered at the works part time as a Dr. Robert Goldfarb presented annually to an school for many years. Three have served in designated doctor with (M ’62) retired extraordinary individual the U.S. armed forces, and seven have the Texas Department from the practice with exceptional volunteered with the Peace Corps, Teach of Insurance in the of neurosurgery contributions and a For America or AmeriCorps. Division of Workers’ and is currently consistent history of The Class of 2021 continues the tradition Compensation. a neurosurgical service to the clinical of academic excellence with many summa, Dr. Chester consultant. research industry magna and cum laude graduates. The Danehower Jr. (A&S throughout their average GPA is 3.57 and the average ’59, M ’62) is a clinical career. MCAT is 512, both up from previous years. assistant professor of 1970s Dr. Stephen The new class attended its White Coat dermatology at the Dr. Michael F. Murphy Abshire (M ’72, Ceremony on Aug. 6, 2017. University of Illinois (M ’70, R ’71, G ’80), I ’73, R ’74) practices College of Medicine chief medical and gastroenterology in at Peoria. scientific officer at Lafayette, Louisiana. Dr. Thomas Flynn Worldwide Clinical Dr. Mark Strauss (M ’62, I ’63, F ’65, Trials, was presented (M ’72) left private R ’67) is a retired with the Clinical practice in Little Rock,
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Arkansas, in 2003 after approaches for prostate where he specialized 27 years and is working cancer management. in sports and adult as a hospitalist at Dr. Joseph Ronaghan reconstructive TULANE MEDICAL ALUMNI Florida Baptist Hospital (M ’77) was welcomed surgery. He was the ASSOCIATION AWARDS in Pensacola, Florida. to the International team doctor for Dr. Steven Cavalier Association of North Carolina State DR. L. MAXIMILIAN BUJA (A&S ’73, M ’77, HealthCare Professionals University Wolfpack (M ’67, G ’68, I ’68) was presented with the TMAA R ’78) practiced with his upcoming football for 21 years, Lifetime Achievement Award on neurology with a as well as at other publication in The May 18, 2017, at the awards specialty in multiple Leading Physicians of area colleges and high brunch for the medical class of sclerosis for 23 years in the World. Ronaghan is schools. 1967. The award is given to a Baton Rouge, Louisiana. a surgeon with expertise Dr. Royal Gerow member of the 50th reunion He currently leads the in the treatment and (M ’82) is the chief class who has made many MS Global Scientific management of benign of plastic surgery at contributions to medicine, Communications team and malignant diseases Royal Gerow Regional research, and his constituents, for Sanofi Genzyme. of the breast, minimally Service, Colorado and has exemplified exemplary Dr. George invasive surgical Permanente Medical prowess as a physician. Ellis Jr. (M ’77) is techniques, oncoplastic Group, a member of the president-elect surgical incisions, and the board at Colorado of the Orleans Parish sentinel lymph node Permanente Medical DR. KIRK BELLARD Medical Society and biopsies. He serves Group, and chief of (M ’74, R ’77) is back in general the Louisiana Academy patients in the Plaza plastic surgery at St. pediatric practice after being of Eye Physicians and Medical Center in Fort Joseph Hospital in retired for 11 months. Bellard Surgeons. Worth, Texas. Denver. received the Tulane Medical Dr. Larry Kaiser (A&S Dr. Herbert Van Horn Dr. Robert Gold Alumni Association Distin- ’74, M ’77) is the Lewis III (M ’77, R ’82) works (A&S ’78, M ’82) is guished Service Award on June Katz Dean at the Lewis in the Department of the senior partner 2, 2017, for his unending service Katz School of Medicine Otolaryngology and of Eye Physicians to Tulane University School of Medicine. He is past president of at Temple University in Head and Neck Surgery of Central Florida, the TMAA board of directors and Philadelphia, the senior a division of Florida at Ochsner Clinic has served for years as the class executive vice president Foundation in New Pediatric Associates, agent for the Class of 1974. for health affairs for Orleans. with offices in Temple University, and Dr. Thomas E. Weed Maitland and the president and CEO (M ’77) has been Orlando, Florida. He of the Temple University training Ochsner DR. GARY WILTZ Health System. He is a surgery residents at (A&S ’75, M ’79, I ’80, R ’82) cardiothoracic surgeon Chabert Medical Center TULANE received the Tulane Medical and still maintains a in Houma, Louisiana, for DESIGNATIONS Alumni Association C.D. Taylor Award on June 2, 2017, for his limited clinical practice. the past 12 years. A&S: College of Arts outstanding leadership and Dr. Cary Robertson & Sciences service in his community and (G ’77, M ’77) is B: A. B. Freeman School of Business beyond. He is a past president approaching 30 years 1980s of the TMAA board of directors. of urologic oncology Dr. Mark Clanton E: School of Engineering practice at Duke (M ’82) is the chief F: Fellowship University Medical medical officer of G: Graduate School Center after a NIH/ Accenture Operations DR. MADELAINE FELDMAN I: Internship NCI fellowship. He is of the Texas Medicaid (NC ’77, M ’82, F ’88) received Project in Austin, M: School of the Tulane Medical Alumni the associate director Medicine of urologic oncology, Texas. His research Association Distinguished NC: Newcomb Service Award on June 2, 2017, Duke Cancer Center, and peer-reviewed College for her continued work and and section chief publications focus on PHTM: School of service to Tulane University in urology, Durham tobacco-related health Public Health and School of Medicine. Feldman is Tropical Medicine VA Medical Center. disparities. the first vice president of the For the past decade, Dr. Michael R: Residency TMAA board of directors. She his clinical research Fajgenbaum (A&S ’78, SLA: School of was also the chairperson of the has been directed M ’82) worked for 28 Liberal Arts volunteer committee that toward developing years at the Bone and SSE: School of planned her 35th medical school Science and class reunion, which took place high-intensity focused Joint Surgery Clinic in Engineering ultrasound therapeutic Raleigh, North Carolina, June 2–3.
23 tulane med | fall 2017 has practiced pediatric Dr. Hoke Shirley III Dr. Carolyn Agresti investigator for clinical in Charlotte, North ophthalmology and (M ’82) has been a (NC ’83, M ’87) trials at CNS Healthcare Carolina. has been treating adult rheumatologist with opened her solo ear- in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Julia Jones strabismus since 1987. Concord Orthopaedics nose-throat practice Dr. Craig Coenson (M ’87) has joined His son Peter Gold in Concord, New in West Palm Beach, (A&S ’83, M ’87) Houston Methodist (SLA ’12, M ’16) is an Hampshire, for 27 years. Florida, in January 2015. is a national medical Neurologic Institute orthopedic resident at Dr. Jacqueline Turner Dr. Tracy Young executive for Cigna after 25 years in private Hofstra/Northwell Health: (M ’83) received the Biediger (M ’87) has Health Family. He lives practice. North Shore University Stellar Performer joined the dermatology in New Orleans. Dr. Lorraine Kaelin Hospital and LIJ Medical Award at the Salute clinic at Audie Murphy Dr. William Daly Jr. (M ’87) is practicing Centers in New York. to Excellence in Memorial VA Hospital (M ’87, R ’89) is an pediatric and adult Dr. Bruce Hershatter Health Care Awards in San Antonio, Texas, anesthesiologist at anesthesia in Orange (M ’82) is a radiation Luncheon in St. Louis, where she staffs Ochsner Medical Center County, California. oncologist at Winship an event whose net residents and sees in New Orleans. Dr. Jeffrey Kirsch Cancer Institute of proceeds fund college patients. Dr. Cynthia Dolan (M ’87, R ’93) is the Emory University in scholarships through Dr. Lawrence (NC ’82, M ’87) has president/partner of the Atlanta. the St. Louis American Breitkreutz (G ’87, been in private practice ENT Center of Conway, Dr. Robert Roth Foundation. Aside M ’87) practices dermatology in the Arkansas. He is also (M ’82) practices from her gynecology cardiothoracic surgery Atlanta area for 26 years. chief of otolaryngology interventional cardiology practice, Turner is also at East Jefferson Dr. Darlene at Baptist Health in Milwaukee, serving as on staff at Barnes- General Hospital in Ifill-Taylor (M ’87) Medical Center. lead physician for the Jewish Hospital and Metairie, Louisiana. is medical director Dr. Johannes Koch cardiovascular service participates in training Dr. Lora McGill and lead clinician in (M ’87) has lived line of a 25-hospital residents and medical Bridgewater (M ’87) outpatient behavioral in Seattle since statewide organization. students. is the lead principal health at Novant Health (cont.)
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Gifts matter Class of ’82 Backing the next generation of amount25% the class exceeded Tulane physicians its gift goal The reunion committee Dr. John L. Smith (M ’60) Smith’s experience working of the School of and his wife, Linda, are at Charity Hospital and with Medicine Class of 1982 thrilled to be part of the edu- Tulane physicians and students set an ambitious goal cation and training of future inspired him to apply to medical professionals. They are Tulane medical school, where for its June 2017 supporting a scholarship in he became interested in study- reunion celebration: For their name for Tulane ing pathology. He has since their 35-year reunion, University School of Medicine, had a long and successful they wanted to raise which, Dr. Smith said, “seemed career in private practice in $200,000 in support of like the right thing to do.” Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Since Dr. Lee Hamm, right, dean of “Tulane gave me a great retiring, he has remained their named class schol- Tulane School of Medicine, celebrates a gift of a medical preparation for my career,” proud of his training and the arship and the medical school scholarship from Dr. he said. people he worked with at annual fund. Well, the John Smith, center, and his This was after he received a Tulane. Class of 1982 not only wife, Linda. zoology degree from the “In recent years, I have been University of Oklahoma. On impressed and inspired by broke this record, but the advice of an Oklahoma Tulane,” Smith said. “We have alumni decided they pediatrician who was also a been pleased and proud of the wanted to reach a new Tulane medical graduate, amazing recovery from Katrina goal of $250,000, which Smith moved to New Orleans and the focus on public ser- in the 1950s and began work- vice. They are doing great, and they did by auctioning ing as an orderly at Charity it shows in the application off reunion co-chair Hospital. He was interested in numbers.” Hank Chambers at their pursuing a medical career but The Smiths’ generosity will class dinner at was unsure if it was the right now inspire the next genera- direction. tion of Tulane physicians, giv- Antoine’s during “My first day on the job was ing future doctors the gateway reunion weekend. Class to insert enemas in patients,” to a similar experience at members have raised Smith said. “If that’s not start- Tulane and in New Orleans $251,906 through their ing from the bottom—I don’t like the one that influenced know what is!” their lives. combined efforts.
“My first day on the job was to insert enemas in patients. If that’s not starting from the bottom—I don’t know what is!”
— Dr. John Smith, M ’60
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2000, where he is a an organization called medicine and orthopedic Tennessee, working with gastroenterologist at Sante Total that started surgery in Jonesboro, two wonderful nurse Virginia Mason at Tulane, and has been Arkansas, where he practitioners. Medical Center. on over 13 one-week is also the head team Dr. Ricardo Rodriguez Dr. Cathlin Harrold medical trips to a rural physician for Arkansas (A&S ’87, M ’92, Milligan (M ’87) community in Haiti. State University. He R ’97) practices at ALUMNI continues practicing Several classmates have specializes in tactical the Baton Rouge EVENTS internal medicine in accompanied her on medicine, having served Orthopaedic Clinic in San Francisco. In March these trips. They are in both forward surgical Baton Rouge, Louisiana. REUNION 2014, she became co- trying to “work their teams and combat Dr. Jennifer Keyes Get ready—if your medical director of a way out of a job” by support hospitals for Ronderos (M ’92, class year ends in medically supervised strengthening disease the U.S. Army in Iraq. R ’93) is practicing in a 3 or an 8, it’s weight-loss program. prevention (water and After military service, Mobile, Alabama, where your reunion year. Dr. Morris Sandler sanitation systems, he became the medical she has had a solo Classes of ’58, ’63, ’68, ’73, ’78, '83, (A&S ’82, M ’87, I ’88) sustainable agriculture, director and a tactical practice since 2006. ’88, ’93, ’98, ’03, is the medical director and education) and are medic for the Arkansas Dr. Stephen Tsang ’08, ’13 in Tulane Lakeside currently working on State Police SWAT (E ’88, M ’92, R ’96) Hospital’s Emergency building a permanent team. He is also a has a successful solo Plan your trip to Department in Metairie, health clinic. special deputy U.S. OB/GYN practice with New Orleans to Louisiana. Marshal, serving on the motto “Exceptional celebrate with Dr. David Santos a medical task force Service. Innovative your classmates. (M ’87) has lived in 1990s supporting FBI SWAT Care” in Tracy, April 20–21, 2018 Seattle since 1995, and Dr. Asha Devereaux and other federal SWAT California. Spring Reunion is in private practice (M ’91, PHTM ’91) has operations. He is the Dr. Shelanda Hayes Weekend in otolaryngology and been named the 2017 founder and president (M ’97) has her own May 17–19, 2018 facial plastic surgery. Outstanding Clinician by of the nonprofit family practice in a Class of 1968 Dr. Yvonne the California Thoracic Stop the Bleeding suburb of Chicago. 50th Reunion Satterwhite (M ’87, Society, the largest Foundation, which Dr. Stephen Van R ’88, R ’92) is an chapter of the American provides free training Laborde (M ’97, orthopedic surgeon Thoracic Society. and medical equipment R ’98) lives in Houston, March 24, 2018 Dr. Treg Brown Tulane Alumni with a certificate of to law enforcement, where he is in a solo Association added qualifications (M ’92, R ’93, R ’97) fire/rescue and EMS dermatology private Awards Gala in sports medicine. lives and practices in personnel, as well as practice. She is in private Carbondale, Illinois. other professional Dr. Michelle April 20, 2018 practice at Resurgens Dr. Mark Cruz first responders. Puzdrakiewicz 1834 Society and (E ’91, M ’97) is Tulane Medical Orthopaedics in Johns Dr. A. David Lein (M ’97, PHTM ’97) is Alumni Creek, Georgia. practicing emergency (M ’92, PHTM ’92) the medical director of Association Dr. Julia Temple medicine in the busiest did a residency at a Tennessee pediatric Awards Reception (G ’81, M ’87) is emergency department Dartmouth-Hitchcock hospitalist program in private practice in Georgia. He has been Medical Center, and spends most of her psychiatry in Princeton, living in Atlanta for over followed by a fellowship time working in-patient Contact Cynthia New Jersey. A small but 20 years. in infectious disease, with a few days per Hayes, senior fun part of her practice Dr. Jeffrey Fidel and remained on staff month dedicated to director of Medical is equine-assisted (M ’97, R ’98) is living until 2000. He worked a clinic that cares for School Alumni psychotherapy with in South Florida. He at the Kansas City Free children with special Relations, at has written a book: I: [email protected] patients. Health Clinic from needs. She lives north of for information Dr. Barbara Weis unnameable, which is 2000–2005, Chase- Memphis, Tennessee. about all upcoming (M ’87, PHTM ’87) sold on Amazon. He still Brexton in Baltimore events. has been working as works as a radiologist; from 2005–2008, and a pediatric outpatient however, his career Dartmouth-Hitchcock 2000s attending physician is now focused on Keene from 2008–2017. Dr. Jennifer Baima at Sinai Hospital in teaching people natural He is looking for (M ’02) is currently Baltimore. She has ways to increase their something new now, an assistant professor many interests: resident inner well-being. He potentially something in at the University of education, pediatric has a website: www. infectious disease/HIV. Massachusetts Medical HIV, advocacy, asthma jeffreyfidelmd.com. Dr. Carol Ingraham School, working and and global health, Dr. Spencer Guinn Lynn (M ’92) is in teaching as a physiatrist among others. She has (A&S ’93, M ’97) a solo gynecology and doing cancer become involved in practices sports practice in Germantown, rehabilitation research.
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Dr. Chayan Dr. Ashley Doucette Dr. Norberto “Lalo” Schor M ’85, R ’86), who holds the Chakraborti (M ’09, PHTM ’09, died on Jan 3, 2017. Dr. Schor Joseph B. Chastain MD Chair in (M ’02) is employed R ’13) was welcomed taught pathology in the School Dermatology. at Tulane University to the International of Medicine for 27 years. “I had “He was a great mentor, School of Medicine. Association of Health the great pleasure and luck to an inquisitive scientist and He is vice chair for Care Professionals work for him in the Department simply a lovely person. He had education and director with her publication in of Pathology in 1975–1977,” many friends in the School of of student programs The Leading Physicians writes Dr. Erin Boh (G ’78, ’80, Medicine.” in the Department of the World. Doucette of Medicine. is a psychiatrist with Dr. Vanessa Ohmes expertise in the (E ’98, M ’02, R ’05) is treatment of mood the Blake Section Head disorders, psychosis In Memoriam of Pediatric Hospital and opiate dependency. Medicine, Ochsner Doucette serves patients ’42 Dr. Harry Loomis Zengel Jr. ’58 Dr. Peter G. Drake Dr. James A. Montgomery Health System in within her own practice, ’43 Dr. Claude M. Pasquier Jr. ’59 Dr. Adrian B. Cairns New Orleans. Doucette Psychiatric ’44 Dr. Nadene Denison v Dr. Milton H. Donaldson Dr. Lance Stuke Consultants in New Dr. Eugene M. Murphey III Dr. Charles H. Fohn (A&S ’93, PHTM Orleans. She is the Dr. Herbert M. Perr Dr. Waite S. Kirkconnell Dr. Howard Quittner ’96, M ’02) is the director of psychiatry Dr. Palmer J. Texada general/trauma surgery and mental health Dr. George T. Schneider program director at LSU services at New Orleans Dr. Eugene C. St. Martin ’60 Dr. John M. McCuskey Jr. Department of Surgery. East Hospital, the ’46 Dr. John R. Black ’61 Dr. Charles K. Fischer Dr. Steven Levine Southwest Louisiana Dr. Hinton J. Merritt Dr. Julian C. Henderson Dr. James E. Payne Jr. (M ’03) was featured Primary Clinic and the ’47 Dr. Lucas A. Dileo recently on NBC Nightly Positive Living Treatment Dr. Tom H. Mitchell ’62 Dr. Victor P. Chisesi Jr. News discussing his Center, and is also a Dr. John K. Schellack Dr. Guy E. Knolle Jr. Dr. Michael A. Russin use of ketamine to deputy psychiatric ’49 Dr. William C. McQuinn Dr. Nelson P. Trujillo Sr. treat patients with coroner at Orleans Parish ’50 Dr. Val F. Borum ’63 Dr. William R. Bridges severe depression Coroner’s Office. Dr. Lawrence N. McCullough Dr. Gary P. Cooper and post-traumatic Dr. Donald T. Morrison Dr. Raymond H. Hernandez Jr. stress disorder. ’51 Dr. Albert L. Gore ’64 Dr. Jack D. Clayton Dr. Chad Abbott 2010s Dr. Thomas B. Guyton Dr. Benjamin F. Hatchett Jr. (M ’07, PHTM ’07) Dr. Amber Fontenot Dr. William S. Harwell Dr. Hamilton E. Hunt is a family medicine Ferriss (M ’12) has Dr. James B. Moss Jr. ’65 Dr. Jerry O. Penix physician at Kaiser joined a private practice ’52 Dr. Henry W. Post Permanente in Southern outside Denver. Dr. Gene D. Ratcliff ’53 Dr. Charles L. Brown Jr. Dr. Karthik Kura ’66 Dr. J. Lee Leonard III California. He works Dr. Jack K. Clemons and lives in Orange (SSE ’08, M ’12) Dr. John B. Holland ’67 Dr. David A. Depp County. He is mentoring is working as an Dr. Warren H. Hunt III ’68 Dr. Thomas L.R. Bower first- and second-year anesthesiologist at Dr. William A. Middleton ’71 Dr. John E. Rea III University of California– Tejas Anesthesia in ’54 Dr. Patty Scarborough Duarte Irvine medical students San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Jerry M. Shaw ’73 Dr. Richard H. Kent Dr. Robert Miller Dr. Harlan W. Sindell and precepting Kaiser ’74 Dr. John P. Hess III Orange County family (M ’12, R ’14) is an Dr. Robert M. Wells ’76 Dr. Leslie R. Hightower medicine residents. academic hospitalist at ’55 Dr. Francis I. Tanaka Dr. Jennifer Berumen Tulane Medical Center Dr. Leonard Tunis ’77 Dr. Charles S. Hatchette Dr. Pamela O’Neal (E ’03, M ’07) is an and the New Orleans ’56 Dr. H. Beauchamp Burch Dr. William L. Wells abdominal transplant VA Hospital, working Dr. Gerald M. English surgeon at University of as associate residency Dr. Bill Epstein ’79 Dr. John L. Dupre California–San Diego. program director. Dr. Hiram G. Haynie Jr. Dr. Stephen R. Meyer Dr. Marvin B. Rothenberg Dr. Mandy Dr. Alisa Wray ’81 Dr. Calvin G. Durel Jr. Dr. George F. Smith (M ’12) is an Weidenhaft Dr. Henry L. Stoutz III ’86 Dr. Lisa L. Dyer (NC ’03, M ’07, R attending emergency Dr. Warren V. Wulfekuhler ’11) is a radiologist at medicine physician ’87 Dr. Ross A. Gallo ’57 Dr. Nicholas A. D’Amato at the University ’01 Dr. Stephen L. Hendry II Tulane Medical Center Dr. Frederick E. Lind Jr. in New Orleans and of California–Irvine. Dr. Stanley Saperstein ’04 Dr. Jason D. Smith program director of ’14 Dr. Dustin C. Draughon the radiology residency.
27 tulane med | fall 2017 STANDOUTS: Spirit of the Heart Award
Dr. Ferdinand has served as Heart, Lung and Blood it also might be reflective of a chairman and chief science Institute that has attempted to disproportionately high num- officer for ABC, which was identify areas of ongoing ber of African-Americans, who founded in 1974 and boasts a research that are important for have the highest risk for widely diverse membership health disparities. I recently hypertension, diabetes, prema- that is not limited to race, was the lead author in a publi- ture heart attacks, stroke, profession or education level. cation that addressed the lack chronic kidney disease and Before he received the ABC of adherence to medications as dialysis, and heart failure. In award, TulaneMed asked him a barrier for blood pressure fact, the rates of hypertension about the organization and control in African-Americans. are the highest among the the most pressing topic in Adherence to evidence-based major racial/ethnic groups in American heart health. medicine is disparate in the United States and clearly minority populations but is a drive a lot of the adverse out- Q. What is the most pressing real problem in all populations comes we see in heart disease topic in preserving in the United States. and stroke. Americans’ heart health? Disparities not only in cardio- Q. How does the training of Q. Is the co-morbidity for vascular disease but also in care providers and other these diseases significant as diabetes, certain cancers and healthcare workers fit into well? Qeven infant mortality are a this picture? Diabetes and hypertension are reality. These disparities are Similar to the lack of awareness conditions that travel together prevalent, persistent, significant in the general population, many and cause early heart attacks and unacceptable. clinicians including physicians, and stroke. In fact, the rates of nurse practitioners, physician chronic kidney disease and Q. How is the Association of assistants and even clinical dialysis are very high in Black Cardiologists helping medical assistants read blood African-Americans, and with outreach? pressures that are elevated, see although diabetes is the pri- Through ABC programs, patients with end-stage renal mary driver of end-stage renal unacceptable disparities in disease, admit patients with disease in the general popula- DR. KEITH C. cardiovascular disease are uncontrolled diabetes and tion, it is accompanied by addressed. These include out- somehow subconsciously think hypertension as the potent risk FERDINAND reach programs using commu- that this is normal or accept- factor that leads to dialysis in A cardiologist and professor nity health workers, which we able. It is not. So in the ABC, blacks. There’s some discussion of medicine at the Tulane have trained, throughout the we have ongoing education of genetic factors such as apoli- University School of United States, community programs which address these poprotein L1, which, if you Medicine and the Tulane events for the early identifica- disparities in CVD and give have alleles for that particular Heart and Vascular tion and referral for patients helpful hints on how clinicians protein, it’s protective against Institute, Ferdinand is also who have uncontrolled hyper- can identify and control risk African sleeping sickness, but a member of the Association of Black Cardiologists tension, high lipids and diabe- factors that eventually lead to also may be deleterious for (ABC), which honored him tes, and the use of social media premature cardiac death. kidney disease. Nevertheless, with the Spirit of the Heart and medical publications to these genetic factors, I don’t Distinguished Leadership identify problems related to Q. Keeping in mind that we think, explain the overwhelm- Award at a gala in New York access. live in the Stroke Belt, are we ing disparate rates of chronic City on Oct. 7, 2017. nonetheless turning a blind kidney disease and end-stage Q. What do your own eye to these disparities? renal disease, which are pri- research projects address? The disparities clearly are marily due to poorly controlled I’ve been a member of the related to geography. Some of high blood pressure and working group for the National it’s driven by food and culture; diabetes.
28 Plan your Legacy With Tulane School of Medicine
The late Dr. Dean B. Ellithope (M ’62, I ’63, R’68, F’71) had the foresight to include Tulane School of Medicine in his estate plans. His gift is currently funding the work of Dr. Ross Klingsberg, an associate professor at the School of Medicine. Ross is continuing Dr. Ellithorpe’s passion for the care of patients with cystic fibrosis. The funds he provided allow Ross to dedicate a ROSS KLINGSBERG, MD large portion of his time to the everyday care (A&S ’88, M’02, F ’08) Dean Ellithorpe Professorship of these complex patients. Ross is confident in Cystic Fibrosis that Dr. Ellithorpe would be proud of the ongoing work that Tulane is doing to aid patients with cystic fibrosis.
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Charity Hospital, December 1964—Medical interns and their instructors make the rounds. Do you know a story about Charity Hospital? Dr. Mark Brinker and Dr. Bo Frederick are compiling stories from doctors and nurses who worked and trained at Charity. Go to www.charitytales.com. COURTESY OF TULANE UNIVERSITYCOURTESY ARCHIVES