Tulane’s MD/MPH program is celebrating its 50th anniversary! Coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, the anniversary is a perfect time to reflect on the critical importance of the intersection between medicine and public health—where the work to address COVID-19 is ongoing and where the heart of MD/MPH training lies. We are proud that one of our alumni was also recently featured in Michael Lewis’ New York Times best-selling book for her role in anticipating and responding to the pandemic. When Tulane inaugurated the MD/MPH combined degree program, it was one of the first 4-year programs of its kind in the country. Since then, the program has grown substantially and currently stands as one of the largest in the country with over 1,200 alumni to date and recent graduating classes regularly exceeding 30 students per year. In celebration of this 50-year milestone, we hosted two webinars featuring several of our alumni: Building Health Resilience: The Role of the Tulane MD/MPH Program and COVID-19 and Chronic Disease: The Intersection of Medicine and Public Health. Please visit our website for updates and special upcoming programs as we continue to celebrate 50 years!
In the midst of major shifts in clinical medicine, research, and teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tulane MD/MPH and MD/PhD in public health students have had an impressive past year! Being recognized for their accomplishments in COVID-19 frontline work, receiving accolades for their academic and community achievements through graduation awards, being selected for honors at scientific meetings for their publications and research, and receiving fellowships and scholarships to support their research activities, our MD/MPH students continue to display impressive initiative and leadership. Further, the MD/MPH Class of 2021 matched in excellent residency programs in 15 different states and nine different specialties across the spectrum of medical and surgical disciplines. These graduates have been recognized for their notable scholarly contributions and community service.
Additionally, our National Institutes of Health-funded TL1 Pre-doctoral Research Training Program in partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) has successfully trained a total of 17 medical students in translational research in a year-long mentored research program designed to prepare translational thinkers to address acute and chronic conditions affecting the Gulf South and related health disparities. Three Tulane medical students are in the newest cohort of TL1 Scholars. Applications for the 2022-2023 cycle will be accepted in Fall 2021.
This edition of the newsletter highlights some of the recent events celebrating the program’s 50th anniversary and recognizing our MD/MPH students and recent graduates with research scholarships and awards. Please let us know how you are using your combined degree and share your recent updates that can featured in future editions of our newsletter. We want to hear from you! Please visit our website to view more information about our programs and related opportunities. Your continued support and engagement are greatly appreciated!
M. A. "Tonette" Krousel-Wood, MD, MSPH
For more information about Public Health and Medical Education, please contact:
M. A. Krousel-Wood, MD, MSPH
Associate Dean
504.988.1145
mawood@tulane.edu
Rachael Ruiz Currier, MPH
Senior Program Coordinator
504.988.1145
rruiz1@tulane.edu
