PMEHV Sponsored Event 2024
On Sunday, March 10th, 2024, the Tulane Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society gathered with senior medical students at the Tulane University School of Medicine for camaraderie and time to play with puppies, sponsored by the Program in Medical Ethics and Human Values (PMEHV). As with fourth-year medical students around the country, anxious senior medical students were awaiting the release of “The Match” results – where each student has been placed in a residency. To blunt the trepidation over the imminent, life-altering email that would appear in their inboxes the next day, Tulane and GHHS provided quality time with friends of both the human and hound variety. PMEHV, with GHHS logistical help, sponsored the “Puppy Party” event made possible by volunteers at Take Paws Rescue. Take Paws is a non-profit rescue group based out of New Orleans, LA. Its mission is to “meet the moral obligation to protect and save the lives of pets in Louisiana” by enabling the movement of animals from shelters into foster and forever homes or other shelters with higher capacity for furry residents. In one afternoon, a donation was made in support of their worthwhile efforts, while anxious medical students got the chance to relax as they helped socialize with some of the sweet animals in the care of this organization.
The Very Rev. William “Bill” Terry, celebrated his retirement after 20 years of faithful service.
On Sunday July 23, 2023, PMEHV Adjunct Faculty member, the Very Rev. William “Bill” Terry, celebrated the Feast of St. Anna Mass on the occasion of his retirement after 20 years of faithful service. The event at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church in Treme’ was followed by a celebratory reception in Fr. Bill’s honor. We anticipate that Fr. Bill will soon be increasing his involvement in Spirituality in Medicine course teaching at Tulane School of Medicine.
Mollye Demosthenidy Named New Dean of Newcomb-Tulane College
Mollye Demosthenidy, a nationally recognized expert in healthcare and associate dean for Strategic Initiatives in the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (SPHTM), has accepted the appointment as the new dean of Newcomb-Tulane College (NTC), effective July 1.
Her appointment follows an extensive national search that attracted outstanding candidates from across the country.
An award-winning and beloved professor, Demosthenidy joined Tulane University in 2011 and has been a stalwart leader in her dedication and service within her department and school, across the university and among her peers at the national level. She is active at Tulane as a Clinical Associate Professor in The Program in Medical Ethics and Human Values. Click to read more about how she desires to continue the work of making Tulane a place where all students thrive.
First Presidential Award at the Academy for Professionalism in Health Care Annual Meeting
On June 8, 2023, Dr. David J. Doukas was awarded the first Presidential Award at the Academy for Professionalism in Health Care Annual Meeting. The award was presented for Dr. Doukas' efforts as Founder and President of APHC for seven years (2012-2019).
The meeting was held at the Health Education Campus of Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.
The award was presented by Dennis Novack, MD, the current President of APHC. The Academy for Professionalism in Health Care’s mission is to optimize patient care through professionalism education, scholarship, policy, and practice in all health-related fields, and has over 300 members in the US and internationally.
Leader in Medical Ethics Commends School of Medicine
The UMKC School of Medicine has long been a leader in instilling professionalism and ethics throughout its teaching environment.
Medical schools that excel in teaching professionalism are the exception, not the rule, said David Doukas, M.D., Tulane School of Medicine chair of humanities and ethics in medicine and director of the school’s program in medical ethics and human values. Read more...
Promoting Professionalism: Transformation Via The Humanities
Watch Dr. David Doukas Deliver the 2023 William and Marjorie Sirridge Annual Lecture
How to Avoid Medical Gaslighting
Field Medical Director Tracy Wilson suggests five ways to advocate for yourself.
Author: Joseph Herrgard
In 2015 Tracy Wilson tested positive for strep and flu, but her experience as a healthcare provider led her to believe it could be something more serious. She went to the emergency room to seek additional care, but was met with dismissal from her doctor. Fortunately, she went to another emergency room a couple of days later where she tested positive for viral meningitis.
“Looking back at this situation, I know now and understand that I was gaslit by this healthcare provider and I could have died,” she says. “I know how to handle myself in future appointments, but not everyone knows how to do that.”
Today, Tracy uses her voice to encourage patients to be advocates for their health. She took part in a panel discussion this month at the South by Southwest conference titled “Gaslighting in Women’s Healthcare,” and raises awareness of the issue on the SHE Media digital platform.
Here are Tracy’s top strategies for advocating for yourself in a medical setting:
Trust your instincts. “[Your instincts] are never going to steer you wrong. Make sure you’re listening to what your gut is telling you to do.”
Research your healthcare provider. Just like you research a new gadget or appliance, Tracy says it’s the same for a new healthcare provider. “You want to make sure you’re entrusting your health to someone who is compassionate and skilled in their field.”
Gain clarity. “Make sure you understand exactly what is being said to you. Don’t leave that visit being unsure, and if they need to sit down with you longer, then they need to sit down with you longer.”
Come prepared. Tracy suggests going to your appointment with all your questions written down, and not leaving until all of them are answered. “That’s what your healthcare providers are there for.”
Seek a second opinion. Lastly, if you’re not satisfied with the answers or diagnosis, it’s okay to seek a second opinion. “Your very life may depend on it.”
Bioethics and Medical Humanities M.S. student receives 2nd Crest Award
Vid Raturi, who will graduate this summer with an MS in Bioethics and Medical Humanities, has been awarded a prestigious Crest Award, one of Tulane’s highest honors recognizing graduate and undergraduate students.
The Crest Awards are a unified campus recognition of student efforts outside the classroom, demonstrating excellence in leadership, scholarship, and community service, as well as initiative and promise in campus leadership, and are sponsored annually by the Division of Student Affairs. Ms. Raturi received the 2022 James F. Kilroy Provost Award for academic scholarship, research achievements, community involvement, and leadership. This award is given to one senior undergraduate and one graduating graduate student a year who have excelled scholastically either through academic achievement or research, have distinguished records of involvement, and have excelled in the area of student leadership on campus.
This is not the first time Ms. Raturi has received such a prestigious award for her exceptional performance at Tulane. In 2021, Ms. Raturi received the Dean Donald R. Moore Award for service, leadership, and exceptional character.
The Bioethics and Medical Humanities program at Tulane is only two years old, and Ms. Raturi is a member of the first graduating cohort of the program. The entire program wishes to congratulate Vid on her well-deserved awards and to thank her for her excellent efforts at Tulane inside and outside the classroom!
On June 21, Dr. Roig will become the next Chief of Staff at Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, the New Orleans VA Hospital. Dr. Roig is a graduate of the Tulane University School of Engineering and the LSU School of Medicine. He completed a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he served as chief resident. He served as president of the Resident Physician Council of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) and as the chair of the Organization of Resident Representatives of the Association of American Medical Colleges. He is American Board of Medical Specialties board-certified in PM&R, pain medicine, and spinal cord injury medicine.
Dr. Roig returned academic practice at VA after 15 years of private practice. He is now the Associate Chief of Staff for education, assistant chief of the PM&R service, and chief of the pain medicine section. He is on the faculty at Tulane Program in Medical Ethics and Human Values, and at LSU and Emory. He is program director for the pain medicine fellowship at LSU in addition to being the course director for the second-year musculoskeletal medicine and dermatology systems block. Dr. Roig has been inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Gold Humanism Honor Society, also having been awarded the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award. He was named the 2017 mentor of the year at LSU and has received numerous teaching and professionalism awards. Dr. Roig will bring his impressive background as a leader and mentor to his new position as the leader of a clinical team. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Roig as the VA’s new Chief of Staff.
Congratulations to Dr. Marcia Glass for receiving a scholarly retreat in A Studio in the Wood.
Glass used her time in residence to create a year-long curriculum in palliative care, and compose a poem entitled Cleveland Clinic to be published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Glass has been recognized for teaching with various awards, including the
- Tulane Medicine 2008 Best Inpatient Attending Award
- 2011 Tulane C. Thorpe Ray Internal Medicine Educator Award
- 2014 UCSF Core Clerkship Teaching Award
- 2017 UCSF Pathways to Discovery Mentor Award
She is also currently on the Fulbright Specialist Program Roster for teaching.
