Dr. Jerry Rabalais

Professor of Pediatrics
Emeritus Chairman, Department of Pediatrics
Associate Vice-President for HSC Faculty Development
Pediatric Infectious Diseases

How long have you worked in Pediatrics?   Since 1987

What is your favorite thing about your job? As an ID doc, I love the thrill of the detective work required to figure out the diagnosis; as a faculty development leader, I really love to create content and experiences that engage, equip and inspire faculty to become the best educator and leader they can be.

What is your hometown?
New Orleans, LA

What is your favorite movie?
Dave with Kevin Kline

Tell us about your family:
I am still married to the girl of my dreams, Karen; now 39 years.  We have two daughters, Nicole and Nina, ages 36 and 34; one son, Alec, age 22.  We have one grandson, age 5.

Do you have pets?
Yes, but the dog is really Karen's.  I don't claim him.

What are you doing, where are you going, for your next vacation?
We are planning a 40^th anniversary trip for next spring/summer to Europe, probably to Switzerland and Italy

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to join the Air Force like my big brother.

What is one of your proudest accomplishments?
Work related: establishing the Forensics Division and getting Kosair Charities to fund it
Home: three grown successful children

What is your favorite quote?
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails whie daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat" - Theodore Roosevelt

What was your first job?
Cutting grass and hauling garbage off the ferries for the Mississippi River Bridge Authority in New Orleans, age 16

What is your favorite ice cream?
just plain chocolate