VITALSIGNS Fall 2010

Tulane University School of Medicine

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

MEDICAL STUDENT GOVERNMENT NEWSLETTER

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 Piper
Class of 2013
MSG Secretary
Vital Signs Editor

1
VITALSIGNS Fall 2010
From the desk of
Dean Sachs
On behalf of the faculty and staff, it interest. There are more than forty
is my privilege to welcome you into the
medical community of Tulane University Government is dedicated to enhancing
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 strive to achieve your goals. Know
you the opportunity to become a capable, that you are surrounded by those who
compassionate physician who will provide wish only for your greatest success, and
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 welcome to Tulane University School
and its citizens have to offer.
Admissions Update
Dr. 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
2
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
student clubs, and your Medical School
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
Benjamin P. Sachs,
that we will provide assistance and
M.B., B.S., DPH, FACOG is
encouragement as you develop into a Senior Vice President of
medical professional. Congratulations, Tulane University & Dean of
the School of Medicine
of Medicine!
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
information to facilitate their arrival at Kim, Stro Ashburn, Dustin Hill, John
Tulane and in New Orleans. Wang, Prianca Naik, Pat Lang, Amber
SAB Outstanding Volunteers in the Fontenot, Stephanie Losq, Natalie
Class of 2012 were Brant Domangue, Rodden, Shweta Sood, and Larissa
Joe Larriviere, William Kethman, and Thomas for Interviewing. For Tours,
Roman Groisberg for Housing; Kenneth Larissa Thomas and William Kethman
Perry, Sara Berkey, Mike McCormack, were recognized. Amanda Feige (Class
and Christy Mazza for Greeting; Caitlin of 2011) also helped out a great deal.
Howard, Lindsey Forur, Christy Mazza,
Charise Shively, Julianna Finelli, Dr. Barbara Beckman,
Lawrence Purpura, Shubho Sarkar, Associate Dean of Admission
Kenneth Perry, Katarine Unger, Sean
VITALSIGNS Fall 2010
Letter from
Marc J. Kahn, MD
Senior 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.

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 Maris Hazners is the
shop. If you don’t see what
manager of the bookstore
you want or need, ask one
of us. 504-988-5204
bkstulanemed@bncollege.com

3
VITALSIGNS Fall 2010
Dr. Kevin Krane
One of the few guys who can
play a face melting guitar
solo, then treat you for your
melted face
Welcome to Tulane! The Office of
Academic Affairs is responsible for
medical student education and works
closely with every course and clerkship
Welcome from Dr. Krane
Vice Dean for Academic Affairs
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

Update from the Alumni Association

Cynthia Hayes
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.
4
For the sake of our new 4. Invitations to medical
students, I will outline the alumni events for networking
programs and services that are purposes
provided by the Tulane
Medical Alumni Association 5. Invitations to attend the
(TMAA): Tulane Medical Alumni
Outreach Program – alumni
1. Alumni physician mentors in speaker series at lunch time on
specialty areas that you may be topics that are not naturally
interested in pursuing covered in class
Cynthia T. Hayes
2. Finding an alumnus in the 6. Finding an alumnus in a city
city and state that you will be or at an institution where you Executive Director
visiting while being interviewed would like to spend the Tulane Medical Alumni
for your residency that will host summer doing a clinical Association
you at his/her home during rotation or research Voted 2013 Class
that time Mom!
Please continue to send
3. Running a report from our me emails with your questions Email:
database to find physicians in and needs, and stop by my chayes@tulane.edu
Voice: 504-988-6248
particular cities, and by office. I look forward to Cell: 504-228-6172
specialty meeting the first year medical Fax: 504-988-5288
students and catching up with
the rest of you.
 VITALSIGNS Fall 2010
ENDORSEMENT

5
 The Calm in the Storm
VITALSIGNS Fall 2010
From the desk of Father Don Owens
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
‘The Dancing Don’
have heard about in music, novels, and
Father Don Owens, Ph.D
movies. Here at school you will meet folks
(504) 988-7401
who will become lifelong friends, and
dowens@tulane.edu
some will meet their future mates.
This has been another great year at
Welcome to Tulane University School Tulane School of Medicine.  Interviews
of Medicine and the great city of New went very well and we have a great group
Orleans. It is going to be a wonderful ride of folks preparing to be here for the Class
for the next four years as you start your of 2014 Orientation and White Coat.  I
career in medicine. I look forward to am again looking forward to being with
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.
6
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.
 aided in revamping the 1430 cafeteria. Tmedweb running the past two years and
VITALSIGNS Fall 2010
Hello from MSG We also reigned in the MSG budget and made every Tulane student’s life a lot
By Clinton Piper made adjustments that will allow us to easier. Thank you Tim.
  invest in additional capital improvements, Class of 2014: Early this Fall, we’ll
Medical Student Government is like the lounge renovations, that will host the MSG Club Fair, where you’ll
TUSOM’s governing body consisting of benefit all TUSOM students. If you have learn about the more than 40 student-run
student leaders from all classes whose an idea about a project or improvement clubs at Tulane, how you can get
mission is to keep our student around campus big or small, we want to involved, and tips to score a free lunch at
organizations running smoothly and be hear them. Seriously. Find one of us and least 3 days a week. In the meantime,
TUSOM students’ representation to the let’s talk it out (at Handsome Willy’s there’s complete listings and info about
larger Tulane community. Besides preferably). MSG and the clubs online at
printing this gripping newsletter every This year we also formalized the tmedweb.tulane.edu/portal/msg, so take
year, MSG does a few other things. What MSG Technology Officer position to help a look. TUSOM has a strong history of
have we been up to this year? We went us make it through those lonely nights student leadership and involvement in the
all Extreme Home Makeover on the 1430 when Tegrity and Tmedweb aren’t New Orleans community and we look
Student Lounge (yes, we got Ms Pac-Man playing nice. If you see Tim Park around forward to passing these traditions on to
working again). We helped bring campus, offer to buy him a beer. His the Class of 2014.
recycling to the downtown campus and blood, sweat, and tears have kept

Christina Le - President Class of 2011

Who is MSG Anyway?

Codenames: Mama Le, The Chief

College: Tulane University
Hometown: New Orleans
What vegetable do you most resemble: Corn on the cob
If 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

Bartlomiej W Szczech (Bart) - Treasurer Class of 2011

Codenames: Gold Finger, The (Gordon) Gecko
College: Johns Hopkins University
Movie: Lord of War
Mantra: Sail, Fly, Dive, Live
Safety Word: fluggaenkdechioebolsen (per EuroTrip)
If I could be one other person for a day: Sean Kim

Sean Kim - Vice President Class of 2012

Codenames: Otter Paws, Kit, Skim
College: Johns Hopkins University
Movie: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Hobbies: Tulane Water Polo, New Orleans 
Inspirational Figure: Richie Tenenbaum
Guilty Pleasure: Abs, Buns, and Thighs class at Reilly

Clinton Piper - Secretary Class of 2013

Codenames: Stardust, Old Spice, C-(insert word here)
College:  Texas State University, NYU
Favorite Band: Dirty Netter
Special Skills: Nunchucks, Irish Goodbyes, Abbreviating
Street Fighter II Doppelganger: Guile
Personal Entrance Music: The Final Countdown (Europe)

Phil Hitchcock - Technical Officer Class of 2013

Codenames: Indeanna Jones (see picture), MCP, Rubicon
College: Lehigh University, NYU
Favorite Quote: "Nobody puts 'Baby' in a corner." (Dirty Dancing)
If I could be one other person for a day: Jack White
Publications: “The Art of Beatboxing: A Beginner’s Guide”
Sponsored by: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

7
 Care for the Living
VITALSIGNS Fall 2010
"Yea, my mom and my dad, I
From Dane Cook to know, this is ... this is tough
Judd Apatow: An stuff … Within nine months both
invitation to join an my parents passed away of
elective in Palliative and cancer."
End-of-Life Care Dane Cook

By 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
palliative care and an increasingly clergy, ethicists, and lawyers to bring
all express it in very different ways. In his
important aspect of medicine. It can be interesting topics and hands-on learning
recent, darker and more personal
an uncomfortable topic, especially at a to the selected students using Tulane’s
standup comedy set called "Isolated
time when medical culture focuses on state-of-the-art education tools.
Incident," Dane Cook, one of the most
curing patients and prolonging life, and Shadowing opportunities at local
successful standup comedians of our
thereby views death as a failure. hospices, participation in the Tulane
generation, shares with his audience:
However, with an aging baby boomer Hospital Ethics Committee, and added
"Yea, my mom and my dad, I know, this
population, more advanced life- opportunities to learn by trial-and-error
is ... this is tough stuff … Within nine
sustaining technology along with its price with the Standardized Patient Program
months both my parents passed away of
tag and ethical considerations, and an are in store for this two-year elective.
cancer." But he does something that
unknowable future in terms of healthcare The preclinical elective includes
many of us struggle with when faced with
reform, end-of-life care is a vital opportunities to explore one’s own
someone’s death, inevitable as it is. He
competency of medical school graduates, feelings on death and dying, which
uses a complex blend of humor, candor,
residents, and practicing physicians. students can bring into their clinical
and emotion to let others know that it’s
After a shift of focus post-Katrina, years. In addition, students will receive
all right to feel what we feel when faced
Tulane School of Medicine is placing a timely integrations of pathology and
with the death of a loved one, or perhaps
renewed emphasis on palliative and end- pharmacology, opportunities for creative
even one’s own death. In Dr. Chen’s
of-life care. Seventy percent of 344 expression, and an introduction to the
2007 book, entitled “Final Exam,” she
Tulane medical students responding to a mindset of caring for dying patients.
wrote about her experience with death
survey put out by Tulane’s new palliative Some respondents to the Tulane survey
from medical school onward. Judd
care specialist, Dr. Dominique Anwar, indicated that they would not need these
Apatow’s recent blockbuster, Funny
expressed a belief that 1st and 2nd year skills because they do not plan to work
People, casts Adam Sandler as a
medical students would be interested in with patients who are dying, but the truth
superstar comedian in his struggles with
an opportunity like this, many of them is that all medical students and first year
cancer diagnosis and his inevitable death.
adding encouraging comments and interns see a range of patients, including
Father Don is an ethicist and a champion
disappointment at this not being available those at the end of life. Learning how to
of patient rights, and it doesn’t take more
earlier for them. This elective is a step in communicate about death and dying will
than an episode to realize that the TV
the right direction for improving end-of- make students more comfortable when
character Gregory House is quite the
life care learning in the United States, asking depressed patients about suicidal
opposite.
hopefully doing our part to provide ideations, or explaining risk to open-heart
What impact do these people have
competency for future doctors in this surgery candidates, or speaking to
on the population of medical students at
important topic. expecting parents about genetic diseases
Tulane? A new pilot elective will give
Since palliative and end-of-life care and defects. Participants in the elective
first-year students at Tulane the
calls upon aspects of many different will have a chance to gain
opportunity to use icons like these as part
professions and specialists, the elective communication techniques and
of a multi-disciplinary and multimedia
plans to reflect such a multi-disciplinary knowledge that they can put into practice
approach to learning about palliative and
approach. Dr. Anwar’s partners in immediately, which will serve them well
end-of-life care.
psychiatry, oncology, and geriatrics will within the world of medicine and
End-of-life care, closely associated
join with hospice nurses, social workers, without.
with hospice, is a specific part of

8
VITALSIGNS Fall 2010 Tulane Baton Rouge LEAD
Academy starts off strong
By Dean Sachs
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
Student’s Perspective from
Baton Rouge General
By Kenneth J. Perry, Class of 2012 - LEAD Academy
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
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.
Class of 2012 Baton Rouge LEAD Academy Pioneers:
Wendy Wong, Kenneth Perry, Marc Quinlan, Vaughn
Alexis, Shai Rosenfeld
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.
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 VITALSIGNS Fall 2010

10
ENDORSEMENT
VITALSIGNS Fall 2010
Geauxing Bald in 2010
TUSOM and St. Baldrick’s team
up to fight children’s cancer
By Davis Ogitani
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.   emcee for the event.   13 Females Shaved
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 Tulane St Baldrick’s 2010
of help from numerous Tulane by numbers
volunteers and several well know
members of the community. I $63,000 raised for the St.
would like to specifically thank Sir Baldrick's Foundation
Saint and Gumbo (the Saints
Mascots), and Mr. Fred LeBlanc $4800 for the Tulane Pediatric
(drummer of the local band Dept. Playground Fund
Cowboy Mouth) who acted as the
There are many great causes
out there but what I like about this 150 Males Shaved
charity is the specific focus on
children’s cancer.  St. Baldrick's Day 5 Females Locks for Love
is the service project of the
TUSOM Pediatric Interest Group 6 Barbers
and I wish the best of luck to next
year's leaders, Jonathan Santoro, Numerous Volunteers
Kayleen Bailey and Ashley Case.  I
hope to see you all at next year's
event!

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)

11
VITALSIGNS Fall 2010
Class Update: 2011 “Congratulations to
by Raj Patel, Class Secretary Dan Davis, Jake
Shank, Meroe
We're finally done with the most of our core
Morse, Gleb
rotations!  BUT we're back to thinking about a step
exam and will be participating in the most grueling Medvedev and
application cycle yet.  This has us all a little bit stressed Meghan Howell!”
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! We're going to be doctors and on our way to practicing our
While it may be a bit scary that we're only a year away chosen fields less than a year from now, but in the meantime
from being the overworked interns we interact with every lets enjoy our last year here at Tulane together! And to
day, it will be exciting to see next chapter of our lives unfold quote the ever-special Ehsan Mozayan before our exams all
this Fall with the upcoming interview and match season.  of first and second year, "Good luck everyone!"

Class Update: 2012 football season, watching the Saints go all

the way to a Superbowl Championship! 
by Christy Mazza, Class Secretary It was a miracle the city was still standing
the day after the victory, and for the next
The class of 2012 has certainly had few months it was impossible to go
a busy year!  We’ve all taken Step 1 and anywhere without hearing spontaneous
are now busy on our rotations.  This is an “Who Dat” chants and cheers in the
exciting and hectic time of new streets.  As the weather grew colder, we
experiences and transitions, but let’s take all knew what was coming.   Mardi Gras.
a look back at the good times we had Yes, Mardi Gras season was a little
during our second year of med school! overshadowed this year by the looming
 The year began with joyful reunions exams thanks to our condensed
after summer break, and the worry and curriculum, but it was still a fantastic
dread of boards were far from our minds.  season, especially with the residual
Many in the class of 2012 went on excitement from the big Saints win.  rotations. Some of our classmates have
medical service trips abroad. Destinations  Throughout the year, the class of
for these service trips included Haiti, the 2012 also participated in many Service
Dominican Republic, and Kenya.  The Learning projects like Bridgehouse, Fleur
beginning of the year was full of fun de Vie, SMILE, and Habitat for
events, and I think we took full advantage Humanity. In December we participated
of our short-lived freedom! There were in the Bridgehouse fundraiser at the
festivals, concerts, Halloween, and of Howling Wolf where med student bands
course – football!  Many of us grew to and singers provided the music and
love the Saints during the 2009-2010 entertainment.  There was also a tacky
holiday attire costume contest, which was
12
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
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)
VITALSIGNS Fall 2010

Class of 2012 lending a helping

hand, a WHO DAT!, and a salute
for those about to rock

Known as the T- BioChem) and the Goldie Mintz Award (for the highest
Class Update: 2013 WONderful Year (first average in Gross Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience)! Erik
by Kayleen Bailey, Class Secretary year students at Tulane Romanelli and Albert Hor were selected to perform the
are known as T1’s), Edward/Mannina anatomy pro-sections. Ryan Roach did an
this first year of med excellent job of keeping Tegrity going for us.
school has been one for the books. We’ll start with that This first year was tough and second year may be tougher,
hallowed post-exam tradition: The Block Party. The epic 2013 but we will make sure we get through it together by having
block parties included whale riding(!) at Beach on Bourbon, some fun along the way. Thanks and welcome back!
Christmas carols at Pat O’s, bead catching from Drew Brees at - Erik, Vik, Nick and Kayleen
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
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 A Tulane Med Student’s Guide to NOLA
VITALSIGNS Fall 2010

New Orleans Classic Cuisine...

Jacques-Imo’s - 8324 Oak
Commanders Palace - 1403 Washington
Dick and Jenny’s – 4501 Tchoupitoulas
Emeril’s – 800 Tchoupitoulas
Stella – 1032 Chartres
Brennan’s - 417 Royal
Galatoire’s - 209 Bourbon

Favorite Cheap Eats...

Domilise’s (Poboys) - 5240 Annunciation
Reginelli’s (Pizza) - 741 State
Juan’s Flying Burrito (Mexican) - 2018 Magazine
Sushi Bros. (Sushi) - 1612 St. Charles
Lebanon’s Café (Mediterranean) -1500 S. Carrolton
Port of Call (Hamburgers) - 838 Esplanade
Camellia Grill (Diner Food) - 626 S. Carrolton

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

Starbucks PJs Monday Night:
7700 Maple St 644 Camp St 1⁄2 Priced Margaritas @ Nacho Mamas
2801 Magazine St 7624 Maple $3 Pitchers @ Brunos for Monday Night Football
365 Canal St 5432 Magazine Tuesday Night:
500 Canal St 1100 Poydras 50 cent night @ the Boot
5800 Magazine St Rue de la Course $1 Newcastle @ Balcony Bar
CCs 3121 Magazine Wednesday Night:
900 Jefferson Avenue 1140 South Carrollton Pint Night @ the Bulldog
941 Royal St 2 for 1 Drinks Louisiana Pizza Kitchen
701 Metairie Road Thursday Night:
2917 Magazine St Eighties night @ One Eyed Jacks

Have Some Free Time?

Abita Brewery and Tasting Levee – a.k.a. the Fly
Located across the lake in Abita Springs Located behind the Zoo Great place to get
Complimentary Tours some sun, bbq, etc.
www.abita.com Jackson Square
Bayou Sauvage Swamp Tour From live music to fortune tellers...Don’t forget
Daily tours: 10am and 2pm $18 for adults $8 for to stop by Café Du Monde.
children. 10 miles from downtown Prytania Theatre
www.nowildlifetours.com NOLA’s indie movie theatre. Shows new
Audubon Zoo releases and midnight cult classics.
6500 Magazine St Behind Audubon Park. Open www.theprytania.com
Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm $12 for adults $7 for New Orleans Museum of Art
children 1 Collins C. Diboll Circle – in City Park $8 for
Aquarium of the Americas adults $7 for students $4 for children
1 Canal St. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm $17 www.noma.org
for adults, $12 for kids
http://www.auduboninstitute.org

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

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ENDORSEMENT

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VITALSIGNS Fall 2010
ENDORSEMENT