2016 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 50
BY SENATORS PEACOCK, ALARIO, ALLAIN, APPEL, BARROW, BISHOP,
BOUDREAUX, BROWN, CARTER, CHABERT, CLAITOR,
COLOMB, CORTEZ, DONAHUE, ERDEY, FANNIN, GATTI,
HEWITT, JOHNS, LAFLEUR, LAMBERT, LONG, LUNEAU,
MARTINY, MILKOVICH, MILLS, MIZELL, MORRELL, MORRISH,
PERRY, PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH,
TARVER, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To commend Robert A. Barish, MD, Chancellor of Louisiana State University Health
Science Center in Shreveport, for extraordinary leadership which has resulted in
improved academic accreditation and increased health care services for the populous
of North Louisiana and the state at-large.
WHEREAS, LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport is an integrated network of
academic medical training composed of the School of Medicine, the School of Graduate
Studies, and the School of Allied Health Professions, along with E. A. Conway Medical
Center in Monroe and Huey P. Long Medical Center in Pineville that collectively facilitate
one-half million patient visits annually; and
WHEREAS, before Dr. Robert A. Barish began his service in 2009 as chancellor and
dean, following Dr. John C. McDonald, he had amassed an inordinate background of
knowledge and experience in the field of medicine; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Barish is a biomedical innovator with a superb work ethic who
possesses a fearless sense of adventure, an appetite for new professional challenges, and the
insight to create clinical efficiency in complex medical infrastructures; and
WHEREAS, as an emergency medicine intern, Dr. Barish joined the International
Rescue Committee, founded by the late Dr. Albert Schweitzer, to provide assistance to
rudimentary clinical facilities in Cambodia, Somalia, and Kuwait; and
WHEREAS, returning to the United States, Dr. Barish completed his residencies in
internal medicine at St. Vincent Hospital in New York City and in the newly-emerging
specialty of emergency medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine in
Washington, D.C., and he obtained an advanced MBA degree from Loyola University-
Maryland; and
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WHEREAS, he was the youngest person appointed chief of hospital emergency
services at the University of Maryland School of Medicine where he served for twenty-four
years; that program evolved into one of the largest programs of its kind in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Barish also enlisted in the Maryland Air National Guard, became
a flight surgeon in aerospace medicine, and became a candidate in the astronaut program at
NASA; and
WHEREAS, as chancellor, Dr. Barish accelerated growth by implementation of the
Vision 2020 strategic plan and, through its development, enrollment increased by
twenty-five percent and in 2014 and 2015, applications for admittance exceeded all previous
school records; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Barish and his leadership team achieved a decade of reaffirmations
with commendations for leadership, operational effectiveness, and contributions to the
regional workforce from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure the institution achieved full accreditation from the
Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the Residency Review Committee, the
Association for Accreditation of Human Research Participant Protection Programs, as well
as a five-year approval rating from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical
Education; and
WHEREAS, recognizing the importance of a skilled faculty in preparing future
health care professionals and improving the availability of quality health care to North
Louisiana and the state, Dr. Barish successfully recruited more than thirty exceptional
physicians and specialists, earning him the reputation of "most valuable recruiter"; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Barish holds prestigious affiliations and fellowships with Alpha
Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and
the American Academy of Emergency Medicine; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Barish took patient care into the community through Barbers for
Blood Pressure Awareness and mobile 3-D mammography screening; and
WHEREAS, he further developed community awareness of life-saving techniques
through events such as "An Evening For Heroes", a program that highlights the expertise of
911 operators and trauma surgeons; and
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WHEREAS, Dr. Barish serves the community through participation in organizations
such as The Strand Theatre, Committee of 100, the Barksdale Global Power Museum, the
Military Affairs Council, and Boy Scouts of America, Inc. to name a few; and
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana owes Dr. Barish a debt of gratitude for his
humanitarian efforts as a volunteer physician who brought much-needed medical treatment
to Jefferson Parish in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; and
WHEREAS, Robert Barish shares his wonderful life with his wife, Jenny, and their
daughters, Dani B. Blevins, Liza, and Sophie; Liza continues the family tradition in her final
year of medical school; and
WHEREAS, as Dr. Robert Barish now enters a new phase in his phenomenal career,
as vice chancellor for health affairs at University of Illinois at Chicago, he is appreciated as
a renaissance man of many skills and talents; for his mentorship that has advanced others in
his profession; and for his leadership that has elevated LSU Health Sciences Center
Shreveport to a higher realm in the national hierarchy of academia, clinical care, and
research.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend Robert A. Barish, MD, Chancellor of Louisiana State University Health Science
Center in Shreveport, for extraordinary leadership in the advancement of the institution and
for the rich legacy of medical instruction and research that he leaves to the state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby extend
its best wishes to Dr. Robert Barish for success in all future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Robert A. Barish, MD.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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