LSU EMRP In The News - Emergency Medicine Residency Program

LA Medical News Feature Drs. Mandry and d'Autremont

Louisiana Medical News featured Drs. Mandry & d'Autremont in their "physician spotlight" section of the October Newsletter. Once again, we could not be more proud of our leadership!

Through Work and War

By: Lisa Hanchey

Wedded more than 11 years, Drs. Cris Mandry and Sarah d'Autremont have battled through the trenches together. In 1991, the emergency room specialists undertook a massive project - a residency program in emergency medicine at LSU Earl K. Long Medical Center in Baton Rouge. Since their marriage, the couple has supported each other through both medicine - and military.

The two met through working in emergency medicine in Baton Rouge. Mandry came to EKL in 1986 for his internal medicine residency. At the time, d'Autrement was working in emergency medicine at Baton Rouge General Medical Center.

During her 25-year stint at BRG, d'Autremont worked with a number of residents from LSU's medical school in New Orleans, and toyed with the idea of starting a program in Baton Rouge. She bounced around her thoughts with Mandry, who had become the medical director of EKL's emergency department in 1989. Over cocktails one afternoon, the two ER docs outlined an experiential rotation program. "I wish I still had that cocktail napkin," d'Autremont recalled with a laugh. "We thought it would be fabulous to teach. We loved one-on-one bedside teaching."

The tenacious team's proposal was accepted on the first try; a rare occurrence in the application process. Backed by the administrative departments at BRG and EKL, the couple started EKL's first emergency medicine residency class in 1992 with eight students. Over time, the three-year program grew to 15 residents per year.

As of June 2009, 167 emergency medicine residents had completed the course. "We are probably very close to the largest training program in the LSU system - that includes New Orleans," reported d'Autremont, who serves as EKL's emergency medical residency director. "It's one of the largest programs in the country, really."

Doctors from all over the country have gone through the program. About half of the graduates have stayed in Louisiana. "A lot of people from Louisiana stay on, but a lot of them leave to try living in another area of the country," d'Autremont noted. "And, people who are not from Louisiana get here, love it, and stay."

Despite the growing number of EKL emergency-trained residents, Louisiana still faces a shortage of emergency room doctors, particularly in rural areas. "The bigger hospitals can always attract board-certified and/or residency-trained emergency physicians, and they pay better," d'Autremont said. "The smaller hospitals have had less ability to attract them. But, I think that as we turn out more graduates from programs, that will change."

Besides serving the medical community, Mandry is also serving his country - in combat. He departed in July for his third tour in Afghanistan as member of the National Guard. His current role is as a lieutenant colonel in Special Forces, training an Afghan commando force. "He is out sleeping on the ground, taking shots and giving shots - shooting, not injections," d'Autremont clarified. Mandry is scheduled to complete his assignment in March, 2010.

This is not the first example of Mandry's bravery. Prior to medical school, he joined the New Orleans Police Department. After finishing med school in NOLA and training in emergency medicine at Charity Hospital, he moved to Baton Rouge for an internal medicine residency at EKL. But, the New Orleans native never forgot his roots. When Hurricane Katrina hit his home town, he returned to help the NOPD rescue flood victims in the Lower Ninth Ward. Mandry's military dive training came in handy when he had to enter homes underwater.

D'Autremont hears from her husband occasionally from the combat zone. "You do get used to it, but it does get a bit lonesome," she said. "I have great friends, though. And, the residency can really take up a lot of time. I am spending a bunch of time with the residents. It's always wonderful to see them start the first day and see them mature over three years."

When Mandry returns in March, the couple plans to take a much-needed vacation to St. John in the Virgin Islands for a month. We wish them the best on this well-deserved trip!

To read this article on Louisiana Medical News' website click here