Tulane Talk March 20, 2009
TULANE TALK
March 20, 2009
Good Morning:
The economy and its effect on Tulane, an overview of our undergraduate admissions and financial aid processes and an annual report from the Tulane Alumni Association were all part of the busy agenda in meetings of the Board of Tulane and the President’s Council this week.
As I told you previously, despite the struggling global economy I remain optimistic that Tulane University will likely withstand this period better than most. Our post-Katrina reorganization, record levels of student interest, quality and achievement, our dedicated faculty and staff and the continued support of our alumni and friends provide us a solid grounding during these uncertain times.
The Tulane community, like others around the country, is finding ways to operate as cost-efficiently as possible and make sacrifices when necessary, which I very much appreciate. As we finalize the budget for 2010 in the next six weeks, I will write you a more detailed message regarding the actions underway to ensure we are being fiscally prudent while we remain focused on our highest institutional priorities.
Providing our young people with solid grounding is also the topic of my meeting today with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek, Recovery School District Superintendent Paul Vallas and New Orleans Public School Superintendent Darryl Kilbert. In a frank and fruitful roundtable discussion we will join other educational leaders to exchange ideas about the future of education in Louisiana and the role Secretary Duncan’s office can play as we continue to transform our schools into model institutions of learning.
As is very obvious by our blooming city, today is the first day of spring. So, I want to wish all of our students a safe and enjoyable time as they begin their Spring Break and hope that all of you take some time to enjoy our beautiful weather.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk March 13, 2009
TULANE TALK
March 13, 2009
Good Morning:
I hope to see you at the upcoming community forum where we will discuss some of the big ideas that may be included in the Quality Enhancement Plan we’re preparing for Tulane’s 2011 reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Since the purpose of the Quality Enhancement Plan is to improve student learning at Tulane, we need a good mix of students, faculty and staff to make this forum a success. The forum will take place on Thursday, March 19, at 3 p.m. in the Lavin-Bernick Center’s 1834 Club. Refreshments will be served. We will discuss specific ideas and strategies to further enhance student learning and the uniqueness of a Tulane education.
You can also catch some Tulane teaching in action Tuesday, March 17, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. as Tulane alumnus Newt Gingrich serves as a guest lecturer in James Carville’s class “The 2008 Presidential Election.” Class space is full but you can still have a front row seat as the lecture will be simulcast a few doors down in Norman Mayer Room 101. Both gentlemen will visit the simulcast room at the conclusion of class.
James Carville and Newt Gingrich teaching together. Only in New Orleans. Only at Tulane.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk March 06, 2009
TULANE TALK
March 6, 2009
Good Morning:
We will confer honorary degrees at this year’s Commencement to four extraordinary individuals whose contributions share one common value – making life better for others.
FranÁoise BarrÈ-Sinoussi, who along with her research partner Luc Montagnier won the Nobel Prize in 2008 for their discovery of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science. Dr. BarrÈ-Sinoussi’s discovery of HIV led to the development of methods to diagnose and treat infected patients and to screen blood products, which has substantially decreased the spread of AIDS and dramatically increased the life expectancy of AIDS patients.
Harry Connick Jr., a native New Orleanian and internationally popular musician and actor, will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. Harry has been a driving force in the recovery of New Orleans, navigating flooded streets by boat to help where he could, testifying on Capitol Hill about conditions in the city, dedicating record proceeds to hurricane relief and helping launch Musicians’ Village, an effort to rebuild a community for New Orleans artists whose homes were destroyed by Katrina.
Rebuilding homes in Katrina’s wake is also a top concern of William McDonough’s, who will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. A world-renowned architect and designer, Bill is one of the partners, along with Brad Pitt, in the Make It Right Foundation, which is leading the redevelopment of the Lower Ninth Ward by developing a neighborhood of safe and environmentally-friendly homes.
After Katrina we have all been dubbed survivors, but I don’t think any of us can lay claim to that title as convincingly as honorary degree recipient Dr. Jessie Gruman, founder, president and executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Health. A survivor of Hodgkin’s disease, cervical cancer, viral pericarditis (a potentially fatal infection of the heart’s lining) and colon cancer, Dr. Gruman has dedicated her life to improving the health of others. We will recognize her numerous contributions and personal triumphs with an honorary Doctor of Science.
These four individuals, along with our keynote speaker and Tulane President’s Medal recipient Ellen DeGeneres, plus special tributes to our “Katrina Class,” promise to make Commencement 2009 one of the best ever. You, too, can play a critical role in all the excitement by joining “Krewe du TU,” the cadre of volunteers who help make Commencement possible.
In addition to the satisfaction of helping our graduates and guests, you will receive a parking pass for the ceremony, continental breakfast and lunch on the day of the ceremony and a 2009 Commencement pin. You will also receive two tickets to this year’s Wave Goodbye celebration featuring Bonerama, along with an invitation to our annual thank-you party. Aaron Martin of University Communications will serve again as volunteer coordinator. Please sign up to join Aaron’s team today at http://tulane.edu/grads/volunteers.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk February 27, 2009
TULANE TALK
February 27, 2009
Good Morning:
For the first time since 1999, Tulane will have the honor of hosting the Conference USA Women’s Basketball Championship March 5-8 at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse. As the tournament’s host institution, we also have the pleasure of making all the great matchups, intrigue and excitement of this annual tourney free to Tulane students, faculty and staff.
In her 15 years at Tulane, Women’s Basketball Coach Lisa Stockton has built a consistently winning program, guiding her teams to nine NCAA tournaments and winning four C-USA tournament titles. She was also Conference USA’s Coach of the Year in 2007 and is the winningest coach in Conference USA history.
Most importantly, Lisa has developed young women of character who have found success as professional basketball players and in many other fields. Barbara Farris, one of her former players now with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, says this of Lisa’s coaching philosophy: “She is so knowledgeable and she really individualizes her coaching style to each player to find a way to reach every one. I became the player that I am because of my years at Tulane.”
The success Lisa has had at Tulane and her positive influence on so many of our graduates deserves our support. I hope as many of you as possible will be able to attend the tournament. Simply show your Tulane ID at the door and you will be admitted for free. For information on the tournament matchups, game times and more visit the http website.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk February 20, 2009
TULANE TALK
February 20, 2009
Good Morning:
This past Wednesday USA Today published a letter I sent in response to an earlier article in their newspaper stating that more than $3.9 billion in Hurricane Katrina recovery money remains unspent more than three and a half years after the storm.
What was so troubling about the article, which you can read http, was that Jim Stark, who runs FEMA’s recovery effort in the Gulf Coast, reportedly suggested that the bureaucratic logjam holding up the recovery money was the fault of local governments.
What will readers around the country think when presented with a statement such as this? As I noted in my http, this is an insult to a region that continues to recover in spite of, not because of, FEMA.
For instance, for more than two years we worked under the guidance of FEMA personnel on plans to mitigate future flood and water damage to Howard-Tilton Memorial Library. Then, last June, we were told by FEMA that the counsel provided by their own employees was actually bad advice. In addition, Tulane has been told by FEMA officials that more than $217 million worth of our repair work is eligible for public assistance reimbursement. Yet, to this day, FEMA has agreed to pay only $56 million.
One bright spot is that new Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has pledged to get FEMA moving faster on long standing Gulf Coast issues. Hopefully, FEMA, under new leadership and direction, will finally complete its long overdue work in this area. Let’s take that happy thought with us as we begin our Mardi Gras weekend. Please be safe, responsible and have fun.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk February 16, 2009
TULANE TALK
February 16, 2009
Good Afternoon:
I thought you would all be interested in seeing the http we are distributing to the media today.
I suspect this year’s commencement, like all our others, will once again be memorable and unique.
Enjoy the week,
Tulane Talk February 13, 2009
TULANE TALK
February 13, 2009
Good Morning:
Tulane’s longtime commitment to public service, which has gained greater prominence and purpose post-Katrina, received some national recognition this week, for which we should all be proud.
First, we were named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for commitment to service learning and civic engagement.
On the heels of this honor, we were notified by the Clinton Global Initiative University that the commitment Tulane made at the group’s initial meeting last spring will be featured on stage at its 2009 meeting, held this weekend at the University of Texas at Austin. I will also speak at one of this weekend’s sessions “Turning Economic Obstacles into Opportunity.”
The Clinton Global Initiative University is an effort by former President Bill Clinton to harness the power of universities to address poverty, human rights, climate change, education, energy and other worldwide challenges. Tulane is being singled out for its commitment to work with local neighborhoods in opening a system of community-based health centers to provide high quality health care for those who cannot afford health insurance.
Last summer we partnered with the Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corporation and, through a gift from the Qatar Katrina Fund, established the Tulane Community Health Center New Orleans East. With a staff fluent in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, the center provides adult primary care, chronic disease management, obstetrics/gynecology and mental health services at affordable rates for the uninsured. In the last quarter alone the center received nearly 1,600 visits.
When I rise to speak at the Clinton Global Initiative University’s meeting tomorrow I will do so in your name and in honor of all that you have done and continue to do to heal our city.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk February 06, 2009
TULANE TALK
February 6, 2009
Good Morning:
Women and power is the topic of this year’s Newcomb College Institute’s Summit, “Power Lines: Women Transform the Grid,” which began yesterday and continues through Saturday. This year’s summit examines how women are challenging and changing, for the better, the traditional power structure in business, politics, entertainment, art and more.
Political strategist Donna Brazile; former Gov. Kathleen Blanco; New Orleans blues queen Marva Wright; documentary filmmakers Therese Shechter and Shannon Sonenstein; the Urban Bush Women; and the leaders of Kiva.org, an organization that facilitates small loans from individuals to entrepreneurs in the developing world, are among the high profile participants in this year’s program.
I will attend part of Saturday’s program and hope you will consider attending one or both of the conference’s remaining days. Admission is free and open to the public. For the full schedule of speakers and events visit the http website.
The annual summit is just one of a host of events and programming organized by the Newcomb College Institute to enhance the education of women at Tulane, who will no doubt construct the power grid of the future.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk January 30, 2009
TULANE TALK
January 30, 2009
Good Morning:
I am pleased to announce that the Board of Tulane has appointed two new members – Kim Boyle and Michael Friedman.
Kim, a native of New Orleans and graduate of Princeton University and the University of Virginia School of Law, is a partner in the employment law group in the New Orleans office of Phelps Dunbar LLP. Kim practices in the areas of labor and employment, civil rights, constitutional law, commercial litigation and general litigation.
Joining the Board of Tulane is the latest in Kim’s long commitment to New Orleans. She has also served as co-chair for the Committee for a Better New Orleans/Metropolitan Area Committee; is a current member of the local advisory board for the United Negro College Fund; former secretary and current board member of the Greater New Orleans Foundation; a former trustee for the WYES-12 board of directors; and a former board member on the Bureau of Governmental Research. She has also served as chair of the Louisiana Recovery Authority’s Healthcare Committee and previously served on the Bring New Orleans Back Commission as chair of its Health/Social Services Committee. She was also a founding member of the Fleur-de-Lis Ambassadors program and is currently president-elect of the Louisiana State Bar Association.
Michael is president and chief executive officer of City of Hope, an independent biomedical research, treatment and education institution, located near Los Angeles. City of Hope is a world leader in the fight to conquer cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. Before arriving at City of Hope, Michael was a senior vice president of research and development at Pharmacia Corporation. Following the events of September 11, 2001, he also simultaneously served as chief medical officer for biomedical preparedness at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. He previously served as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner and was then tapped by the Clinton administration to serve as acting commissioner of the FDA.
Michael received his bachelor of arts degree, magna cum laude, from Tulane University and a doctorate in medicine from the University of Texas. He completed postdoctoral training at Stanford University and the National Cancer Institute and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.
Together Michael and Kim bring a wealth of knowledge, leadership, vision and dedication to our board. I look forward to their guidance and counsel as we continue to fulfill the promise of Tulane.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk January 23, 2009
TULANE TALK
January 23, 2009
Good Morning:
The whole country cheered the heroics of US Airways pilot Chesley B. Sullenberger III, who last week landed a disabled airliner filled with passengers safely in the Hudson River. Sullenberger’s ability to react so quickly was due in large part to the aviation industry’s practice of training crews using both high fidelity simulators and Crew Resource Management, a method of team training developed by NASA, the military and commercial aviation to improve safety.
This team concept, in which individuals with disparate roles and responsibilities are trained to act together for a single outcome, has been adopted by the medical community and will be on display Monday with the unveiling of the Tulane Center for Advanced Medical Simulation and Team Training.
This 14,000 square foot, $3 million facility located on the third floor of Tulane’s Murphy Building at 131 S. Robertson St., replicates a hospital setting with a fully equipped emergency room, intensive care unit, operating room, exam rooms and more. The center is also equipped with robotic patients that mimic ailments and offer incredibly realistic simulated training in laparoscopic surgery, colonoscopy, heart catheterization, suturing, intubation and infant delivery. The robotic patients can even “die” and be resuscitated.
While robots and other high-tech equipment capture the imagination, the real value of the center is the system-wide training it provides so that all members of a medical team are equipped to work together toward the common goals of reducing medical errors and ensuring patient safety.
The center is the brainchild of Dr. Benjamin Sachs, senior vice president and dean of Tulane University School of Medicine. The center will teach Crew Resource Management using a training program Ben helped create for the Department of Defense and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the leading federal agency for research on health care quality, costs, outcomes and patient safety.
Prior to his arrival at Tulane, Ben built an international reputation for improving patient care and safety. We are delighted that Tulane is now positioned to provide real-world training in patient safety for our own students as well as to serve as a training center for medical professionals from throughout the country and world.
Have a great weekend,