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Welcome to The Big Easy(New Orleans...not med school)

Well, you’re in med school. All those hours spent on studentdoctor.net forums, that subscription to US News & World Report grad school rankings, and your on-again off-again relationship with your Kaplan MCAT Flash Cards have landed you in New Orleans. It’s known amongst the colloquially privileged as The Big Easy, but you’d be remiss to think that being a New Orleanian is a walk in the park. Do you know when to Stand Up and Get Crunk at Saints games? (Thanks Ying Yang Twins) Why a Zulu coconut is arguably worth more than your pinky toe? Rocking a bow tie with

your suit gives you license to go sockless? Who Ignatius is? The dos and don’ts of drinking a Sazerac? What to do if you bite into a baby Jesus in your King Cake? Get to work.

If earning some N.O. street cred wasn’t enough to keep you busy for the next little while, there’s the small matter of medical school. Relax. Well, not too much. Like, sort-of relax but tuck in your shirt or something. This year is going to be ‘different’. Ladies, you may experience impulse shopping for Netter or Robbins textbooks instead of Jimmy Choo heels. Fellas, you will miss televised sports. A lot of it. I’m sorry.

The good news is that you’re a first-year at Tulane. We’re pretty cool here. You wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think you were pretty cool too. Tulane University School of Medicine has a very special role in this very special city, and soon enough you’ll find your place in a community that sincerely wants to see you succeed and will be there to help you do it. Welcome to Tulane.

Clinton PiperClass of 2013

MSG SecretaryVital Signs Editor

Welcome Class of 2014

Hello from Tulane MSG

Inside the Baton Rouge LEAD Academy

Care for the Living: A new elective in end of life care

Geauxing Bald for St. Baldrick’s 2010

Class Updates

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MEDICAL STUDENT GOVERNMENT NEWSLETTER

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From the desk of Dean Sachs

On behalf of the faculty and staff, it is my privilege to welcome you into the medical community of Tulane University School of Medicine (TUSOM). I hope you have enjoyed a relaxing summer vacation, and have arrived in New Orleans primed for your first year of medical school.

TUSOM has been a vital component in the renewal of one of America’s greatest cities. Our environment provides you the opportunity to become a capable, compassionate physician who will provide high quality specialty or primary care locally, nationally and globally. I challenge you to take advantage of all that TUSOM, Tulane University, the city and its citizens have to offer.

I also encourage you to take time during your first several weeks at TUSOM to seek out organizations and positions of leadership that may be of interest. There are more than forty student clubs, and your Medical School Government is dedicated to enhancing your experience as a TUSOM medical student. Your involvement will help you develop the skills for a productive career as an innovative and effective leader in the medical community.

In closing, I offer you the sincere support of TUSOM’s faculty and staff as you strive to achieve your goals. Know that you are surrounded by those who wish only for your greatest success, and that we will provide assistance and encouragement as you develop into a medical professional. Congratulations, and welcome to Tulane University School of Medicine!

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Benjamin P. Sachs, M.B., B.S., DPH, FACOG is Senior Vice President of Tulane University & Dean of the School of Medicine

Admissions UpdateDr. Beckman

Tulane Admissions received a record number of applications again this year. There were 10,038 AMCAS applications compared to 9431 last year.

The Student Admissions Board again stepped up to the plate and facilitated many of the activities that made this year successful. Beginning in September, the Hosting Committee was co-chaired by Stephanie Seasley and Caitlin Howard. Greeting Committee co-chairs were Lauren Boyle and Chris Wong. Monday Interview Co-Chairs were Denise Ammon and Jason Codding. Friday Interview co-chairs were Andrew Siegel and Yelena Karbinovskaya and tour co-chairs were Michael Ehmann and GiGi Alldredge.

In January and February the Greeting co-chairs were Catherine Hambleton and Holley Green and the Interview co-chairs were Christopher Terndrup, Catherine Hambleton, Erin Kutay and Marissa Karpoff; for tours Meghan Garstka and Ian Goldstein.

Jamie Elson (T4) unveiled a new Ambassadors Program this year that encourages accepted applicants to communicate with current medical students who have agreed to share

information to facilitate their arrival at Tulane and in New Orleans.

SAB Outstanding Volunteers in the Class of 2012 were Brant Domangue, Joe Larriviere, William Kethman, and Roman Groisberg for Housing; Kenneth Perry, Sara Berkey, Mike McCormack, and Christy Mazza for Greeting; Caitlin Howard, Lindsey Forur, Christy Mazza, Charise Shively, Julianna Finelli, Lawrence Purpura, Shubho Sarkar, Kenneth Perry, Katarine Unger, Sean

Kim, Stro Ashburn, Dustin Hill, John Wang, Prianca Naik, Pat Lang, Amber Fontenot, Stephanie Losq, Natalie Rodden, Shweta Sood, and Larissa Thomas for Interviewing. For Tours, Larissa Thomas and William Kethman were recognized. Amanda Feige (Class of 2011) also helped out a great deal.

Dr. Barbara Beckman,Associate Dean of Admission

Class of 2014 Stats...

10,038 AMCAS applications

438 applicants interviewed

348 applicants accepted

176 females, 172 males

34 States represented with Louisiana, California, and  New York having the greatest numbers.

94 colleges and universities represented.  Top four are: Tulane, UC Berkeley, Washington University, and Notre Dame

32 Avg. MCAT

3.5 Avg. GPA

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Letter from Marc J. Kahn, MDSenior Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs

I want to take this opportunity to welcome all of our new first year students and to welcome back all of our upper level students. I look forward to getting to know each of the members of the class of 2014.

The Office of Admissions and Student Affairs is located on the 15th floor of the Murphy Building on South Robertson, and we are your first stop for any questions or issues that arise during your time at Tulane. I think it a good idea to introduce all of the

members of the office. Our office number is 504 988 5187.

Dr. Barbara Beckman, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and the Associate Dean for Admissions. Dr. Beckman is in the office most mornings and runs our admissions process. If you have any friends or family applying to Tulane for whom you would like to put in a good word, Dr. Beckman would love an email.

Dr. Ernest Sneed, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. Dr. Sneed is our Multicultural Affairs Officer and is happy to meet with any students needing his services.

Rondel Frank is the Registrar and the Senior Department Administrator for Student Government Support. He is your “go to guy” for any problems or issues related to scheduling, student organization issues, billing issues, etc.

Karen Joia is the Office Manager. She is in charge of all of the major school ceremonies including White Coat Ceremony, match and graduation. She is available to answer any questions you may have.

Carol Terre is my Secretary. She also works the front desk and is a friendly face in Student Affairs.

Susanna Vargas usually works at the front desk. She knows a whole lot about the city and school and is another very friendly face.

Melissa Riley works to insure the accuracy of your transcripts and also works closely with the match process. She is always happy to work with you.

Kim Melerine has worked in student affairs for a long time. She handles correspondence, helps with the match, and is a wealth of information. She will also help with any excused absences.

Remember that we have an accreditation visit this year from the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME). This is the group that accredits medical schools throughout the US. We are looking forward to a successful visit and I know that some of you are already actively involved in the accreditation process. I thank you for your time. I am also excited that our Baton Rouge LEAD program has gotten off to a very successful start. My personal thanks extend to those student volunteers who got the process underway.

We have a Dean’s bicycle ride each Sunday at 7AM at the fountain in Audubon Park off of St. Charles. We have riders at all levels of fitness. We also have a Dean’s running group that meets at the same time and place. Hope to see many of you out there.

Finally, I am always available to meet to discuss any matters of concern that you may have. My office number is 504 988 5331. My home number is 504 392 1225. My cell number is 504 256 3238.

I am looking forward to another year working with the finest medical students in any medical school. Best wishes for a successful year.

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Top 5 Things to Know About theTUSOM Bookstore

#5 The taller one is Maris. The shorter one is Helena. He likes his music from the 80’s. She puts up with it.

#4 We’re open Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

#3 Check out our Web Site! You can pre-order your textbooks and let your parents buy things for you. http://tulane-med.bncollege.com.

#2 We have EVERY book you need for your classes. When you’re done with your books, sell them back. We buy back books every day of the year, no matter from where you bought

them. And, on select titles, we offer you the chance to RENT YOUR TEXTBOOKS!

#1 You can put EVERYTHING on your Tulane I.D. Card! Books, Scrubs, Starbucks, and the fifth food group: Chocolate. We try to be your one-stop shop. If you don’t see what you want or need, ask one of us.

Maris Hazners is the manager of the bookstore

504-988-5204bkstulanemed@bncollege.com

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Welcome to Tulane! The Office of Academic Affairs is responsible for medical student education and works closely with every course and clerkship

director to assure that you are well prepared for each stage of your training: pre-clinical medicine, licensing exams, clinical rotations and finally residency. As you will see, Tulane has a tradition of student involvement in almost every aspect of the school. The Curriculum Committee, the central governing body for the curriculum, has five student voting members, and your class will elect a non-voting member this fall. There are several sub-committees, all having student members from the Owl Club to provide student input at all levels. Course surveys from students are also a way of life here. We look forward to your participation.

Our goal is to maximize your long-term learning. As a result, you will find a major emphasis on active learning: team-based learning, simulation center activities, just-in-time-teaching, independent study, and small group learning. The curriculum is always

being improved; this year there will be new learning activities on patient safety and quality improvement, accessing the medical literature, and evidence-based medicine in addition to on-line exams. While you will have plenty of opportunity to demonstrate learning that is knowledge-based, it is also important to realize that there are also expected skills, attitudes, and behaviors. These are defined in the institutional educational objectives that are posted at: http://tulane.edu/som/courses/courses.cfm. You will find many activities in the curriculum that focus on these objectives.

There is an outstanding team that includes your course directors and the Office of Medical Education to assure your educational success. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact me directly.

N. Kevin Krane, M.D., kkrane@tulane.edu

Welcome from Dr. KraneVice Dean for Academic Affairs

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Cynthia T. Hayes

Executive DirectorTulane Medical Alumni Association

Voted 2013 Class Mom!

Email: chayes@tulane.eduVoice: 504-988-6248Cell: 504-228-6172Fax: 504-988-5288

Dr. Kevin KraneOne of the few guys who can play a face melting guitar solo, then treat you for your melted face

The halls at 1430 Tulane Avenue, especially those near my office, have been very quiet this summer. I have missed our medical students and I will be very happy to see you all once again and to introduce myself to our T-1s. Welcome back!

I have had numerous interactions this summer with medical alumni, including those who are on the Tulane Medical Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Dean’s Council. They want to get involved with the school and to assist our medical students in many ways, so our medical alumni student outreach list and program continues to grow. Soon, that list will be available on Tmedweb, so watch for an announcement.

For the sake of our new students, I will outline the programs and services that are provided by the Tulane Medical Alumni Association (TMAA):

1. Alumni physician mentors in specialty areas that you may be interested in pursuing

2. Finding an alumnus in the city and state that you will be visiting while being interviewed for your residency that will host you at his/her home during that time

3. Running a report from our database to find physicians in particular cities, and by specialty

4. Invitations to medical alumni events for networking purposes

5. Invitations to attend the Tulane Medical Alumni Outreach Program – alumni speaker series at lunch time on topics that are not naturally covered in class

6. Finding an alumnus in a city or at an institution where you would like to spend the summer doing a clinical rotation or research

Please continue to send me emails with your questions and needs, and stop by my office. I look forward to meeting the first year medical students and catching up with the rest of you.

Update from the Alumni AssociationCynthia Hayes

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Welcome to Tulane University School of Medicine and the great city of New Orleans. It is going to be a wonderful ride for the next four years as you start your career in medicine. I look forward to

meeting those of you I have not met, and getting reacquainted with those I have met. I am Fr. Donald Owens the chaplain to the medical school. I also hold the James A. Knight, M.D. Chair of Humanities and Ethics in Medicine, and am an Associate Professor in Medicine and Psychiatry. You will get to know me through classes I teach and as you see me in various roles. For many of you this time at Tulane will be the beginning of the fulfilling a lifelong dream, and for others it will be a more recent affair. For all it will be an experience far different from your other educational experiences. You will come quickly to understand that medical school is not like college. The stress will be greater and the hours longer. The amount of material is enormous. But remember that at Tulane we want well rounded individuals, so as you work hard you will also play hard. This is a great city, and has many experiences to offer. It is a place of great history, culture, and song. You will see the places that you have heard about in music, novels, and movies. Here at school you will meet folks who will become lifelong friends, and some will meet their future mates.

This has been another great year at Tulane School of Medicine.  Interviews went very well and we have a great group of folks preparing to be here for the Class of 2014 Orientation and White Coat.  I am again looking forward to being with

the group on the tubing trip getting to know more of the class.  

Graduation was another exciting time as the Class of 2010 walked across the stage and took that last step towards residency and the reason all of you have come here in the first place.  They were still riding high over their Matches which happened in March when they found out where they were going in June.  The first Friday of June we (Barbara, Kevin and I) hosted our annual Third Year Class party at our home which also included induction of this year’s group into the Gold Humanism Society.  This is always a great time for us and I think for the class.  They have spent their first year on rotations, often not seeing their friends because of time and scheduling of rotations.  This is a time when they can come back together and relax and visit, getting caught up on all that has been going on the past year.  This is also the special time when those who have been chosen by their classmates are recognized and inducted into the Gold Humanism Society.  This is one of the special honors that we participate in at Tulane.  The Gold Humanism Society is recognized around the world, and represents those who have demonstrated their ability to embody the humanistic values of medicine.  I look forward to many of you being inducted into this society in the years to come.

The Calm in the StormFrom the desk of Father Don Owens

‘The Dancing Don’Father Don Owens, Ph.D(504) 988-7401dowens@tulane.edu

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Class of 2011 Gold Humanism Society Awards

Every Spring the third year class gathers at Father Don’s house for the induction of those students who exemplify patient care and compassion into The Gold Humanism Society.

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Phil Hitchcock - Technical OfficerCodenames: Indeanna Jones (see picture), MCP, RubiconCollege: Lehigh University, NYUFavorite Quote: "Nobody puts 'Baby' in a corner." (Dirty Dancing)If I could be one other person for a day: Jack WhitePublications: “The Art of Beatboxing: A Beginner’s Guide”Sponsored by: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

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Sean Kim - Vice PresidentCodenames: Otter Paws, Kit, SkimCollege: Johns Hopkins UniversityMovie: The Life Aquatic with Steve ZissouHobbies: Tulane Water Polo, New Orleans Inspirational Figure: Richie TenenbaumGuilty Pleasure: Abs, Buns, and Thighs class at Reilly

Bartlomiej W Szczech (Bart) - TreasurerCodenames: Gold Finger, The (Gordon) GeckoCollege: Johns Hopkins UniversityMovie: Lord of WarMantra: Sail, Fly, Dive, LiveSafety Word: fluggaenkdechioebolsen (per EuroTrip)If I could be one other person for a day: Sean Kim

Christina Le - President Codenames: Mama Le, The ChiefCollege: Tulane UniversityHometown: New OrleansWhat vegetable do you most resemble: Corn on the cobIf you were trapped in a TV show, what would it be: Wizards of Waverly Place  Words to live by: "Always keep them guessing." - W. Faulkner

Clinton Piper - SecretaryCodenames: Stardust, Old Spice, C-(insert word here)College:  Texas State University, NYUFavorite Band: Dirty NetterSpecial Skills: Nunchucks, Irish Goodbyes, AbbreviatingStreet Fighter II Doppelganger: GuilePersonal Entrance Music: The Final Countdown (Europe)

Hello from MSG  Medical Student Government is

TUSOM’s governing body consisting of student leaders from all classes whose mission is to keep our student organizations running smoothly and be TUSOM students’ representation to the larger Tulane community. Besides printing this gripping newsletter every year, MSG does a few other things. What have we been up to this year? We went all Extreme Home Makeover on the 1430 Student Lounge (yes, we got Ms Pac-Man working again). We helped bring recycling to the downtown campus and

aided in revamping the 1430 cafeteria. We also reigned in the MSG budget and made adjustments that will allow us to invest in additional capital improvements, like the lounge renovations, that will benefit all TUSOM students. If you have an idea about a project or improvement around campus big or small, we want to hear them. Seriously. Find one of us and let’s talk it out (at Handsome Willy’s preferably).

This year we also formalized the MSG Technology Officer position to help us make it through those lonely nights when Tegrity and Tmedweb aren’t playing nice. If you see Tim Park around campus, offer to buy him a beer. His blood, sweat, and tears have kept

Tmedweb running the past two years and made every Tulane student’s life a lot easier. Thank you Tim.

Class of 2014: Early this Fall, we’ll host the MSG Club Fair, where you’ll learn about the more than 40 student-run clubs at Tulane, how you can get involved, and tips to score a free lunch at least 3 days a week. In the meantime, there’s complete listings and info about MSG and the clubs online at tmedweb.tulane.edu/portal/msg, so take a look. TUSOM has a strong history of student leadership and involvement in the New Orleans community and we look forward to passing these traditions on to the Class of 2014.

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Class of 2011

Class of 2012

Class of 2013

Class of 2013

By Clinton Piper

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Care for the LivingFrom Dane Cook to Judd Apatow: An invitation to join an elective in Palliative and End-of-Life CareBy Ben Azevedo

What do comedian Dane Cook, writer and NY Times columnist Dr. Pauline Chen, movie producer Judd Apatow, Tulane Chaplain Father Don Owens, and the TV show “House” have in common? No, it’s not a contagious laugh or cult-like following. It’s that they all are willing to take on the difficult subject of the end of life. However, they all express it in very different ways. In his recent, darker and more personal standup comedy set called "Isolated Incident," Dane Cook, one of the most successful standup comedians of our generation, shares with his audience: "Yea, my mom and my dad, I know, this is ... this is tough stuff … Within nine months both my parents passed away of cancer." But he does something that many of us struggle with when faced with someone’s death, inevitable as it is. He uses a complex blend of humor, candor, and emotion to let others know that it’s all right to feel what we feel when faced with the death of a loved one, or perhaps even one’s own death. In Dr. Chen’s 2007 book, entitled “Final Exam,” she wrote about her experience with death from medical school onward. Judd Apatow’s recent blockbuster, Funny People, casts Adam Sandler as a superstar comedian in his struggles with cancer diagnosis and his inevitable death. Father Don is an ethicist and a champion of patient rights, and it doesn’t take more than an episode to realize that the TV character Gregory House is quite the opposite.

What impact do these people have on the population of medical students at Tulane? A new pilot elective will give first-year students at Tulane the opportunity to use icons like these as part of a multi-disciplinary and multimedia approach to learning about palliative and end-of-life care.

End-of-life care, closely associated with hospice, is a specific part of

palliative care and an increasingly important aspect of medicine. It can be an uncomfortable topic, especially at a time when medical culture focuses on curing patients and prolonging life, and thereby views death as a failure. However, with an aging baby boomer population, more advanced life-sustaining technology along with its price tag and ethical considerations, and an unknowable future in terms of healthcare reform, end-of-life care is a vital competency of medical school graduates, residents, and practicing physicians.

After a shift of focus post-Katrina, Tulane School of Medicine is placing a renewed emphasis on palliative and end-of-life care. Seventy percent of 344 Tulane medical students responding to a survey put out by Tulane’s new palliative care specialist, Dr. Dominique Anwar, expressed a belief that 1st and 2nd year medical students would be interested in an opportunity like this, many of them adding encouraging comments and disappointment at this not being available earlier for them. This elective is a step in the right direction for improving end-of-life care learning in the United States, hopefully doing our part to provide competency for future doctors in this important topic.

Since palliative and end-of-life care calls upon aspects of many different professions and specialists, the elective plans to reflect such a multi-disciplinary approach. Dr. Anwar’s partners in psychiatry, oncology, and geriatrics will join with hospice nurses, social workers,

clergy, ethicists, and lawyers to bring interesting topics and hands-on learning to the selected students using Tulane’s state-of-the-art education tools. Shadowing opportunities at local hospices, participation in the Tulane Hospital Ethics Committee, and added opportunities to learn by trial-and-error with the Standardized Patient Program are in store for this two-year elective.

The preclinical elective includes opportunities to explore one’s own feelings on death and dying, which students can bring into their clinical years. In addition, students will receive timely integrations of pathology and pharmacology, opportunities for creative expression, and an introduction to the mindset of caring for dying patients. Some respondents to the Tulane survey indicated that they would not need these skills because they do not plan to work with patients who are dying, but the truth is that all medical students and first year interns see a range of patients, including those at the end of life. Learning how to communicate about death and dying will make students more comfortable when asking depressed patients about suicidal ideations, or explaining risk to open-heart surgery candidates, or speaking to expecting parents about genetic diseases and defects. Participants in the elective will have a chance to gain communication techniques and knowledge that they can put into practice immediately, which will serve them well within the world of medicine and without.

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"Yea, my mom and my dad, I know, this is ... this is tough stuff … Within nine months both my parents passed away of cancer."

Dane Cook

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When the LEAD program was first discussed with the student body last year, we were all interested as to what this would actually entail.  At that point, we were just coming off two years of class work and inexperienced as to the specifics of the clinical setting of next two years.  We didn’t know exactly what we were signing up for, but the 10 of us who moved to Baton Rouge decided that we would do our best to help shape it into a great program for future Tulane students.

Now that we are a few months into the clinical rotations, the LEAD Program has thus far been an an extremely positive experience.  From the first day we were introduced to the physicians, we felt welcome at Baton Rouge General and at Woman’s Hospital (for the OB/Gyn clerkship).  From the executives to the support staff, the presence of Tulane medical students has brought to life all the work that has gone into

forging this ambitious partnership.  The culmination of the all the planning and preparation involved in setting up this unique opportunity translated into pure excitement at the groundbreaking ceremony that was held a few weeks ago at Baton Rouge General.  Everyone involved in the process was able to come together and celebrate that the vision was finally in motion.

One unique aspect of the curriculum here in Baton Rouge is what is called a longitudinal experience.  For this, I am paired with a Radiologist/Oncologist.  For the next full year I will be with him at the clinic every week on Thursday mornings.  The idea is that the patients will be followed for an extended period of time and I will be able to see their care for longer than just the eight weeks of a normal clerkship.

The experience here in Baton Rouge has alleviated the anxiety and uneasiness that we had from being the first students to go through the LEAD Academy, and we feel privileged to be a part of such a unique program.  We are excited about the upcoming year and are proud to represent Tulane here in Baton Rouge at the General.

Student’s Perspective from Baton Rouge General

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Tulane University School of Medicine and Baton Rouge General Medical Center have entered into an agreement to create a satellite Tulane medical school campus in Baton Rouge. This bold and progressive initiative partnership will provide unique opportunities for medical students in the state of Louisiana, and will define the our state as a national leader in medical education.

Third- and fourth-year medical students will work side by side with a carefully chosen medical faculty, accessing innovative teaching models that will provide unique learning experiences and opportunities. In particular, the curriculum will includes a longitudinal ambulatory experience, something not typically available in a traditional program. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in rotations in healthcare policy and operations with various state agencies and healthcare organizations. Interdisciplinary education and training will occur, as the Baton Rouge General nursing program and students from the University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Pharmacy are also on-site.

All Tulane School of Medicine students will complete their first two years of basic science curriculum in New Orleans. Then, those students interested in healthcare management and leadership will attend the Baton Rouge LEAD (Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Discovery) Academy. The Baton Rouge campus of Tulane School of Medicine is will be located at Baton Rouge General’s Mid City hospital. Bill Holman, FACHE, is president and CEO of Baton Rouge General Medical Center. Dr. Flip Roberts, Chief Medical Officer for Baton Rouge General, will serve as Regional Dean for our students. A new educational building is planned for the campus to include lecture halls, classroom space, study areas and student services. State-of-the-art

technology will connect the Baton Rouge Campus to the main Tulane campus in New Orleans. Students interested in this program should contact Dr. Marc Kahn in the Office of Student Affairs at mkahn@tulane.edu or 504-988-5331.

This important partnership will also allow Tulane School of Medicine to strengthen and eventually expand our graduate medical education (GME) programs. Baton Rouge General has a family medicine resident program that will come under the Tulane umbrella. Additionally, if government funding for GME expands, our partnership with Baton Rouge General will allow us to expand our GME programs.

With an inaugural group of ten medical students opening the Baton Rouge satellite campus in May of 2010, this facility will eventually matriculate 160 students. Additional faculty and staff in the immediate area, as well as expanded research facilities, will be needed to support the satellite campus.

I am very excited about the opportunities that this partnership creates for the future of Tulane School of Medicine and Baton Rouge General Medical Center as we educate and train the next generation off clinicians and physician leaders.

Tulane Baton Rouge LEAD Academy starts off strongBy Dean Sachs

Class of 2012 Baton Rouge LEAD Academy Pioneers: Wendy Wong, Kenneth Perry, Marc Quinlan, Vaughn Alexis, Shai Rosenfeld

By Kenneth J. Perry, Class of 2012 - LEAD Academy

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Since 2000 through May 2010, the St. Baldrick's Foundation has raised over $87 million for children’s cancer research, hosted over 3,200 head-shaving events and shaved over 145,000 heads in theU.S. and 28 other countries. This was the third year Tulane SOM has hosted a St. Baldrick’s Foundation event and in that time we have raised over $180,000.  

Tulane's St. Baldrick's Day is one of the larger events in the Southern US both in terms of number of participants and money raised.   Thank you to all the people that made the Tulane School of Medicine 2010 St. Baldrick's event a huge success.  St. Baldrick's fun atmosphere makes the event something that Tulane students have come to look forward to every

year, and each year has been better than the last. This year we had lots of help from numerous Tulane volunteers and several well know members of the community. I would like to specifically thank Sir Saint and Gumbo (the Saints Mascots), and Mr. Fred LeBlanc (drummer of the local band Cowboy Mouth) who acted as the emcee for the event.  

There are many great causes out there but what I like about this charity is the specific focus on children’s cancer.  St. Baldrick's Day is the service project of the TUSOM Pediatric Interest Group and I wish the best of luck to next year's leaders, Jonathan Santoro, Kayleen Bailey and Ashley Case.  I hope to see you all at next year's event!

Geauxing Bald in 2010TUSOM and St. Baldrick’s team up to fight children’s cancerBy Davis Ogitani

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Tulane St Baldrick’s 2010 by numbers

$63,000 raised for the St. Baldrick's Foundation

$4800 for the Tulane Pediatric Dept. Playground Fund

13 Females Shaved

150 Males Shaved

5 Females Locks for Love

6 Barbers

Numerous Volunteers

Larissa Thomas channels her inner Sinead O’Conner (left)

Dr. Franklin and the T1 men’s swim team (not really)(top right)

2010 St. Baldrick’s Coordinators Christy Mazza, Davis Ogitani, and Katie Unger (bottom right)

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We're finally done with the most of our core rotations!  BUT we're back to thinking about a step exam and will be participating in the most grueling application cycle yet.  This has us all a little bit stressed but we can find solace in the fact that the big cores are over and we're finally able to enjoy some free time and the people outside of our rotation lottery cohort.

This year we found out very quickly that our previously unstructured lives were changing forever.  No longer did we have the freedom to make of our daily schedules what we wanted.  We had to go to work.  Every day!  And because of it many of us lost touch with the world from time to time *cough* q4 medicine call and OBGYN *cough*. But even so a number of our classmates still took notice of the world outside of meditech and rounds reports to make a difference not only in New Orleans, but also in Haiti and Romania.  That isn’t to say we didn’t have our fun too.  We had a number of great block parties and an amazingly energetic Mardi Gras season that was kicked off by a parade unlike any other for our World Champion New Orleans Saints. Some of us even found the time to get married or add another member to their families. Congratulations to Dan Davis, Jake Shank, Meroe Morse, Gleb Medvedev and Meghan Howell!

While it may be a bit scary that we're only a year away from being the overworked interns we interact with every day, it will be exciting to see next chapter of our lives unfold this Fall with the upcoming interview and match season. 

We're going to be doctors and on our way to practicing our chosen fields less than a year from now, but in the meantime lets enjoy our last year here at Tulane together! And to quote the ever-special Ehsan Mozayan before our exams all of first and second year, "Good luck everyone!"

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Class Update: 2011by Raj Patel, Class Secretary

The class of 2012 has certainly had a busy year!  We’ve all taken Step 1 and are now busy on our rotations.  This is an exciting and hectic time of new experiences and transitions, but let’s take a look back at the good times we had during our second year of med school!

 The year began with joyful reunions after summer break, and the worry and dread of boards were far from our minds.  Many in the class of 2012 went on medical service trips abroad. Destinations for these service trips included Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Kenya.  The beginning of the year was full of fun events, and I think we took full advantage of our short-lived freedom! There were festivals, concerts, Halloween, and of course – football!  Many of us grew to love the Saints during the 2009-2010

football season, watching the Saints go all the way to a Superbowl Championship!  It was a miracle the city was still standing the day after the victory, and for the next few months it was impossible to go anywhere without hearing spontaneous “Who Dat” chants and cheers in the streets.  As the weather grew colder, we all knew what was coming.   Mardi Gras. Yes, Mardi Gras season was a little overshadowed this year by the looming exams thanks to our condensed curriculum, but it was still a fantastic season, especially with the residual excitement from the big Saints win. 

 Throughout the year, the class of 2012 also participated in many Service Learning projects like Bridgehouse, Fleur de Vie, SMILE, and Habitat for Humanity. In December we participated in the Bridgehouse fundraiser at the Howling Wolf where med student bands and singers provided the music and entertainment.  There was also a tacky holiday attire costume contest, which was

won by our very own Maura Steed!  Other fundraisers planned by second years included Take Art to Heart, and St. Baldrick’s day – where we raised over $60,000 for childhood cancer research, shaved 13 female heads and 150 males heads. 

 In addition to our regular social events, block parties, and community service, the class of 2012 has also been busy with some new experiences.  We were the first class to finish our academic year in early April, and will therefore have extra clinical time on rotations. Some of our classmates have even been selected to pioneer a new clinical experience at the new satellite campus in Baton Rouge.  We are sad to see our classmates leave, but we wish them all the best in their adventure!  And I wish the rest of the class of 2012 the best of luck in our own new experiences as we begin our 3rd year! (pics next page)

Class Update: 2012by Christy Mazza, Class Secretary

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Class of 2012 lending a helping hand, a WHO DAT!, and a salute for those about to rock

Known as the T-WONderful Year (first year students at Tulane are known as T1’s), this first year of med

school has been one for the books. We’ll start with that hallowed post-exam tradition: The Block Party. The epic 2013 block parties included whale riding(!) at Beach on Bourbon, Christmas carols at Pat O’s, bead catching from Drew Brees at the Bacchus Parade, and the unforgettable Jersey Shore themed block party at Bourbon Blues Co.

To prove we’re capable of planning events off of Bourbon St, we toured the Botanical Gardens, visited the National WWII Museum, the Aquarium, and in true NOLA style, ended the year with a joint T1/T2 crawfish boil at the Fly.

We learn stuff, too! At the annual Owl Club Banquet, the T1’s voted Dr. David Jerrett as “Professor of the Year,” and Dr. Kreisman’s Physiology Department took home the awards for Best T1 Course and Best Overall Department.

Recap: The Best Two Weeks of the Year. Sun, 1/31: The Tanmay Mathur trick play allowed us to move back our BioChem exam to celebrate the Saints’ NFC Championship win. Fri, 2/5: We enjoyed a phenomenal Pudendless Night MedProm at the Board of Trade where we (ahem, Dr. Beckman) rocked out to the hits of our very own T1 rockband/entourage ‘Dirty Netter and the Wayfarers’. Gino Mortillaro and Ashley Case were named Prom King and Queen. Sun, 2/7: Superbowl Saints! Who Dat! Tues, Feb 16: Mardi Gras!

The T1’s took home the Tulane IM co-ed flag football championship. The T1 team, The Bunt Pirates, finished second overall Tulane men’s softball. Laura Douglass began the new tradition of “T1 of the Week.” Ben Archer made his big screen debut in “Ben Archer: Med School Enforcer”. A special congrats to Kristy Bojazi who was awarded both the George Adrouny Memorial Award (for

BioChem) and the Goldie Mintz Award (for the highest average in Gross Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience)! Erik Romanelli and Albert Hor were selected to perform the Edward/Mannina anatomy pro-sections. Ryan Roach did an excellent job of keeping Tegrity going for us.

This first year was tough and second year may be tougher, but we will make sure we get through it together by having some fun along the way. Thanks and welcome back!

- Erik, Vik, Nick and Kayleen

Class Update: 2013by Kayleen Bailey, Class Secretary

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A Tulane Med Student’s Guide to NOLAV

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Jacques-Imo’s - 8324 OakCommanders Palace - 1403 WashingtonDick and Jenny’s – 4501 TchoupitoulasEmeril’s – 800 TchoupitoulasStella – 1032 ChartresBrennan’s - 417 RoyalGalatoire’s - 209 Bourbon

Favorite Cheap Eats...Domilise’s (Poboys) - 5240 AnnunciationReginelli’s (Pizza) - 741 StateJuan’s Flying Burrito (Mexican) - 2018 MagazineSushi Bros. (Sushi) - 1612 St. CharlesLebanon’s Café (Mediterranean) -1500 S. CarroltonPort of Call (Hamburgers) - 838 EsplanadeCamellia Grill (Diner Food) - 626 S. Carrolton

Monday Night: 1⁄2 Priced Margaritas @ Nacho Mamas $3 Pitchers @ Brunos for Monday Night FootballTuesday Night: 50 cent night @ the Boot $1 Newcastle @ Balcony BarWednesday Night: Pint Night @ the Bulldog2 for 1 Drinks Louisiana Pizza KitchenThursday Night: Eighties night @ One Eyed Jacks

Starbucks7700 Maple St2801 Magazine St 365 Canal St 500 Canal St 5800 Magazine StCCs900 Jefferson Avenue 941 Royal St701 Metairie Road2917 Magazine St

PJs644 Camp St7624 Maple 5432 Magazine 1100 PoydrasRue de la Course 3121 Magazine1140 South Carrollton

Abita Brewery and TastingLocated across the lake in Abita Springs Complimentary Tours www.abita.com Bayou Sauvage Swamp TourDaily tours: 10am and 2pm $18 for adults $8 for children. 10 miles from downtown www.nowildlifetours.comAudubon Zoo6500 Magazine St Behind Audubon Park. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm $12 for adults $7 for childrenAquarium of the Americas1 Canal St. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm $17 for adults, $12 for kidshttp://www.auduboninstitute.org

The Caffeine Connection... Happy Hour To Do List...

New Orleans Classic Cuisine...

Have Some Free Time?

I hope you’ve enjoyed this issue of MSG’s Vital Signs. A very special thanks to all our contributors and spiritual advisors. Questions or comments? Email cpiper@tulane.edu

Levee – a.k.a. the Fly Located behind the Zoo Great place to get some sun, bbq, etc.Jackson SquareFrom live music to fortune tellers...Don’t forget to stop by Café Du Monde.Prytania TheatreNOLA’s indie movie theatre. Shows new releases and midnight cult classics.www.theprytania.comNew Orleans Museum of Art1 Collins C. Diboll Circle – in City Park $8 for adults $7 for students $4 for children www.noma.org

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