Dr. Richard Laue

How long have you been at TXST?

Four years last Thanksgiving.

What makes working with students meaningful for you?

I like that when I help younger people, I am doing more good over a longer period of time. Things that I teach or say many times will be with the student for a lifetime and gets them off on the right foot for physical or mental health issues. Also, I find that students are very receptive to learning about health issues. They are new to healthcare and the healthcare system, and so they are more willing to learn whereas older patients who have “been there, done that” are often less open to learning. So, I feel that my ability to make a difference is often greater for students than it would be for other populations.

What’s one project or event you love being a part of? 

One project that we have done at TXST Student Health Services is developing a mental health model and process to smoothly help students in mental health crises get the care they need. This process involved the Counseling Center and Student Health Center and has been so successful that Dr. Sarah Doss (Student Health Services director) presented it at a national conference last year. I was just a small part of this, but it still, in my opinion, is one of the real success stories at the Student Health Center.

What accomplishment at TXST has meant the most to you?

Personally, I love to teach, and part of my job as chief medical officer is assisting the staff of the Student Medical Center with more challenging cases and education. We have an excellent group of physicians and nurse practitioners. Helping in assembling that team and keeping them up on the latest medical evidence and recommendations for care is one of the things that I enjoy most about my job. I am very proud of the team of medical providers we have at University Health Services.

What inspires you when you come to work each day?

Almost every day I am able to help at least one student in a way that they are likely to remember a long time, possibly for the rest of their lives, and that to me is the greatest privilege and reward of being a doctor.