The Rural Reach of Tulane Researchers
The most recent issue of Tulanian shone a spotlight on a number Tulane faculty throughout the university working with rural communities in Louisiana and around the country, using their expertise and discoveries to improve lives. Among the faculty and projects covered were:
Dr. Anita Raj and the Louisiana Violence Experience Survey, which looked at rates of violence across the state and what form that violence took. Many of the society problems typically associated with large cities also impact rural life, and Raj’s research showed how there are demographic differences as well as differences in care access. “You cannot assume programs that work in urban areas will work or even be made available in rural areas,” she said in the article.
Dr. Emily Harville and the Southern Center for Maternal Health is researching how to improve the care that pregnant and postpartum patients receive. One of the main goals of the center is to test methods to increase remote monitoring of blood pressure during pregnancy. Conducting this research statewide in Louisiana is important, Harville said, because convincing people to participation a program like remote blood pressure monitoring requires community buy0in, which can vary in different plays.
Harville also works with the Bogalusa Heart Study team, looking at the relationship between cardiovascular disease and pregnancy. The Bogalusa Heart Study was started by Tulane in 1973 in this rural town nestled on the Louisiana-Mississippi border and in still ongoing.
The ongoing work of Tulane researchers in rural Louisiana bolsters the goal of Tulane President Michael A. Fitts to strengthen the bonds between the university and its home state. This commitment includes, among numerous other initiatives, the Louisiana Promise program and the $5.2 billion annual economic impact Tulane has statewide. It also encompasses the university’s plans to create a national hub of research, innovation and destination healthcare in downtown New Orleans — within driving distance of many rural areas.
“Through our cutting-edge research we are creating lifesaving treatments and advancements that benefit all Louisianians,” Fitts said. “We are also ensuring that the best and brightest students stay right here in Louisiana.”
