He Was Born at This Hospital 26 Years Ago. Now He Has Returned as a Medical Student

Nearly 26 years after he was born at Tulane Hospital in New Orleans, Xander Boggs has returned to the same institution to begin an entirely different chapter of his life: medical school.

Boggs was born at Tulane on September 1, 2000, while his mother was completing her medical residency there. This summer, he came back to the same university as a first-year student at Tulane School of Medicine.

A Doctor Who Remembered His Birth

One of the most remarkable parts of Boggs’ story is that the physician who delivered him is still at Tulane.

Dr. Chi Dola, now a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of the university’s residency program, delivered Boggs more than two decades ago.

For Dola, seeing the baby she once delivered return as a medical student created a rare full-circle moment.

Medicine Runs Through His Family

Boggs’ connection to medicine and Tulane did not begin with his own education.

His father, Brian Boggs, graduated from Tulane School of Medicine. His mother, Olga Emgushov, studied medicine elsewhere before completing her combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency at Tulane.

The couple met while treating a patient in a New Orleans emergency room, and their son was born while his mother was completing her training.

Before Medicine, There Was Music

Although medicine was always part of Boggs’ plans, he spent several years pursuing another passion.

At the University of Florida, he studied cello performance while completing the academic requirements needed for medical school. He also plays guitar, bass and keyboards and sings.

After being accepted to Tulane in 2023, Boggs deferred enrollment for three years. During that time, he moved to Atlanta and performed with the indie-alternative band Driptones.

Where Music and Medicine Meet

Boggs now hopes to combine his interests in music and medicine. He is particularly interested in emergency medicine and neurology.

As an undergraduate, he volunteered with an arts-in-medicine program, performing for hospital patients and exploring how music can affect the brain and the experience of being in hospital.

He believes his musical background may ultimately help him become a more understanding physician.

A Story That Came Full Circle

For now, Boggs is adjusting to the demands of medical school after three years as a working musician.

But his return to Tulane carries a meaning that goes beyond education. The hospital where his life began has become the place where he is preparing to care for other people’s lives.

More than two decades after his birth, the connection between Boggs and Tulane has come full circle — from patient to future doctor.

Source: Tulane University News