Many doctors train to become emergency room physicians, hoping to save lives. But serving in this role for Debra Houry (M ’98, PHTM ’98) wasn’t enough. She wanted to help stop injuries before they ever happen.

Avery Siegel, a Tulane student majoring in communication with a minor in public health, can add the title “Oscar winner” to her resume.

The Advocate and The Times-Picayune celebrated the tricentennial of New Orleans with series focused on events and people, including many Tulanians — from artists and writers to civic leaders, politicians and business people — who have made their mark.

When Elaine Horn-Ranney (SSE ’08, ’13) and Parastoo Khoshakhlagh (SSE ’13, ’15) were pursuing their doctorates in biomedical engineering, they came up with an idea for a gel-based patch — Perf-Fix — to help physicians repair damaged eardrums without surgery. They were determined to take the technology as far as they could go.