Med alum celebrates successful surgery with twins
Eighteen years ago, the Copeland twins were born joined at the liver and Dr. Kevin Lally separated them when they were 10 months old. They celebrated their 18th birthday with their surgeon. (Photo from the Children"s Memorial Hermann Hospital)
Lally says celebrating the twins" 18th birthday and their selection as co-valedictorians for their high school was unique and very fulfilling.
“You get a lot of positive reinforcement being a physician,” says Lally. “But that"s hard to beat.”
Lally is chair of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center, and the twins" successful surgery was just one of many in his impressive career as a pediatric surgeon. During a 23-year career at UT, Lally has tripled the size of the pediatric surgery department and expanded research funding and the residency-training program. He has been recognized with the UT President"s Award for Mentoring Women, as well as a Teaching Excellence Award and Outstanding Surgical Educator Award.
But Lally credits his time at Tulane School of Medicine with inspiring his interest in surgery and academic medicine.
“My initial exposure to research and surgery, even as a freshman, paved the way to a career which morphed into a passion,” says Lally.
Lally considers himself lucky to have the opportunity to help children, like Emily and Caitlin Copeland, every day. Lally will be celebrating his 35th reunion from the School of Medicine this spring.
Kirby Messinger is a communication/marketing officer in the Office of Development Communications.
