contact: Patrice Bell Mercadel (504) 520-5452 orJanella Newsome (504) 520-5120

Alumnus Physician Provides Hands-on Experience for Xavier Premed Students

New Orleans LA - Hammering, sawing, and drilling could be heard throughout the Norman C.

Francis auditorium as a Xavier-educated orthopedist demonstrated to a group of Xavier

University of Louisiana premed students exactly how to mend broken bones during the

Sawbones Orthopedic Bioskills Workshop for Premeds.

According to Dr. Christopher Marrero ’87, one of several physicians who participated in the

event, the workshop is one of the best approaches in helping indecisive students determine if a

specialty in orthopedic surgery is something they should consider.

“I had mentors that reached back to help me and gave me advice, so I feel obligated and I

actually enjoy helping youth navigate the path to their careers,” said Marrero, who practices

general orthopedics with emphasis in sports medicine, adult reconstruction, and trauma for the

LSU Health Healthcare Network.

During the event, small groups of students would rotate at each of the four available stations

every 15 to 20 minutes. Most received one-on-one attention either from the orthopedists or

residences. Students learned how to handle surgical equipment in an orthopedic surgical setting

using makeshift bones.

This is the third year for the workshop presented by Nth Dimensions Education Solutions, Inc.

The non-profit was founded in 2004 by orthopedic surgeons working collaboratively with

academic institutions, community surgeons and the industry to address the need for more

women and underrepresented minorities in orthopedic surgery.

“We maximize opportunities at HBCUs like Xavier,” said Christin Zollicoffer, Nth Dimensions’

director of strategic partnerships and one of the coordinators of the workshop. “We want

students to see surgeons who look like them so they can see themselves as surgeons one day.”

Fellow alum Quo Vadis Webster ’00 ‘10, Xavier’s director of the premedical program, credited

other Xavier alumni with encouraging Nth Dimensions to bring the Sawbones workshop to

campus.

Marrero was one of those physicians who advocated for the partnership. He said left Xavier

READY for his profession and he felt that incorporating the sawbones workshop into the training

of future medical students is advantageous to their medical careers. “The experience not only

allows our students to explore this specialty (orthopedics) as a career option, but it affirms that

Xavier graduates are poised to pursue a range of medical practice areas,” said Webster.

About Xavier University of Louisiana

XULA students Leave Ready to serve, care, and lead their communities. For more information about

Xavier University of Louisiana visit us online at www.xula.edu or follow us on Facebook, YouTube, or

Twitter @XULA1925. Take a moment to learn more about how Xavier is preparing students for the

future at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD4mb-jYZC8.

Once again, Xavier University of Louisiana received national accolades as one of the best universities in

the country. Most notably, XULA is ranked as the best value among southern regional colleges and

universities in the 2018 edition of “Best Colleges” by the U.S. News Media Group. Xavier also ranked

No.1 in its grouping, heading the list of only 15 schools that qualified for the Southern Region category

listed under “Great Schools, Great Prices.”

To book interviews about our recent accomplishments and or to speak with our experts in the field of

pharmacy, premed, public health, science, technology, math, business, English, communications and the

arts, contact Patrice Bell Mercadel, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at 504-520-5452 or via

email at pbellmer@xula.edu.

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Xavier premed students interested in orthopedic surgery as a specialty received a first-hand look at the profession during a Sawbones Orthopedic Bioskills Workshop presented on campus by orthopedist Dr. Christopher Marrero ’87 and Nth Dimensions Education Solutions, Inc.