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School Away from Schoolby Ron Gilmore It seemed a typical medical student orientation at Baylor College of Medicine. Hundreds of aspiring physicians crowded into an auditorium to listen to the sage offerings of their more experienced leaders. Only the students were from Tulane University School of Medicine (TU-SOM), the orientation was just one month after their school had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and the speaker, famed heart pioneer and BCM Chancellor Emeritus Dr. Michael E. DeBakey was sharing a story about when he used to play clarinet for a Tulane band—in the late 1920s.
"I wanted to join the band as a saxophone player, but they had too many. When I asked the director what he needed, he said 'clarinet players.' I said to him, 'I'll be back.'" Not long after, DeBakey, having taught himself to play the clarinet, played in the Tulane band. "Not very well," he added. The anecdote from the 1932 Tulane alumnus was one light vignette in a heartwarming welcome to the Tulane students to their temporary home at Baylor College of Medicine. As DeBakey, a native of Lake Charles, LA, regaled them with stories about his days in New Orleans, and BCM President Dr. Peter G. Traber was deeply moved by the standing ovation both men received from the students, it was clear that a special bond had been formed between Baylor and Tulane—one that is sure to pave the way for lasting ties for many years to come. You see, there was a point as the flood waters rose, and the students and faculty scattered to safety across several states, that Tulane's Dean of Medicine, Dr. Ian Taylor, wondered if this was the end for the venerable medical school. "There's no textbook for this," Taylor told the crowd, "and no one has ever been through anything like it." Tulane third-year medical student Justin Lefreniere summed up the general fear about Tulane's very future:
That Tulane did not "evaporate" was due to its work with the Alliance of South Texas Academic Health Centers, a single entity forged to work with Tulane officials in offering support for the school's educational needs. Alliance members include BCM, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. "There are certainly no instructions on how to deal with a special situation such as this, but I believe that by working collaboratively with a common mission of keeping Tulane's medical school intact that we are writing the book now," said Traber. "BCM and the other alliance members are committed to doing all that we can to ensure that Tulane is able to return to New Orleans as the same vibrant medical school that has existed for nearly 160 years."
In addition, the Alliance, Tulane and BCM students, and BCM staff assisted with finding housing for students, residents, fellows, faculty and staff, with almost 300 "matches" completed. Housing was provided through the generosity of countless BCM and Texas Medical Center employees opening up their homes. No one knows how long TU-SOM will be at its new "school away from school" at Baylor, but there can be no denying that they have been welcomed in the same manner that Houston opened its doors to New Orleans evacuees. As DeBakey said at the orientation (after providing students the name of a good Cajun restaurant), "You're going to feel at home here. Houston is a real friendly town." Taylor, who himself evacuated Houston during Hurricane Rita only two weeks after Katrina hit New Orleans, marveled at the swift pace of events. "For a school to be devastated only four weeks ago; to have our hospital and medical school flooded with many of our faculty, staff and students without homes; to re-establish the medical school in only three weeks—it's just phenomenal. This is a miracle in my opinion. Without every person in this institution opening their arms to us, none of this would be possible." |
Patient CareResearchThe Next Step in Cancer Research EducationHalf a Century Later... They're Still Giving Back Community ServiceFrom Despair to Hope: BCM Responds to Katrina Alumni & DevelopmentThe Vietnamese Cowboy and the Race Car Driver A Fortunate Life... A Fight Against Cancer College NewsA New Door for the East Campus New Museum to Showcase Maestro of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine: Making a Difference in the Community
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Volume 1, Issue 3, Fall 2005 |
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| Last modified: December 12, 2005 |
"You get kind of choked up with the fact that when you look at the situation of what might have happened if this thing [an alliance between BCM and three other medical schools to assist Tulane] wasn't pulled off, that Tulane would have simply evaporated."
Tulane University School of Medicine officials met with leaders from the four medical schools on September 7—just days after Hurricane Katrina—to set up temporary quarters. The goal was to have Tulane medical students in classrooms by September 26 and medical residents to begin training by October 1. The alliance helped in a number of areas including providing classroom facilities, clinical rotations, office space and a clinic for Tulane faculty to treat their employees, students and family. Tulane has approximately 580 residents and 600 medical students. The alliance is also helping with research projects on a temporary basis.