How Loyola Shaped Me

Debbie Calogero Applebaum ’99 (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)

When you meet and speak with Debbie Calogero Applebaum, it is quickly apparent that Debbie has a desire to serve others, and has a wonderful joie de vivre.

A native of the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans, Debbie attended St. James Major Elementary School, Mount Carmel Academy, and LSU.

“I always knew I liked science classes, and I knew I wanted to do something for others, but like most 18-19-year olds, I just was not sure,” Debbie shared. Two of her friends were looking into attending nursing school, and before she knew it, Debbie and her two friends returned to New Orleans, enrolled in Touro School of Nursing and graduated in 1978.

The next few years moved quickly for Debbie: starting her career in the ICU Department at Touro, falling in love with and marrying Dr. Robert Applebaum, and starting a family—son Benjamin and daughter Sarah. It wasn’t until her children were in school that she herself returned to school.

Debbie’s father, the late Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Pascal Calogero, J.D. ‘54, H ‘91, was a proud Loyola graduate. “Loyola University was so important to my father. His values began to be formed there. His care and concern for others, his stance on social justice and civil rights for all, came from his education at Loyola.”

Debbie knew that her father would be so happy for her to receive an education from Loyola. She recalls when she stopped by Stallings Hall on Loyola’s campus “. . . just to pick up some information. I met Dr. Billie Wilson, who was the director of the nursing school and a wonderful person, nurse, and administrator. Within 10 minutes of meeting with Dr. Wilson, I was enrolled.”

“I loved my time at Loyola. I had to take classes other than science, such as art and English. It afforded me a broader education, a more well-rounded education, and I am grateful for that.”

Along with Dr. Wilson, Debbie mentions that Dr. Barbara Ewell and Dr. Barbara Bihm were instrumental in her development. “It was just so much fun and interesting.”

Today, Debbie is proud to say that her Loyola New Orleans diploma hangs on her wall. “I always wanted a Loyola degree, and I learned that Loyola had a nursing program for working, non-traditional students."

Debbie works at the Tulane University Student Health Center at the Uptown campus. She has been there since 1999, serving Tulane students from all walks of life, ages, and nationalities. “It is a primary care clinic where we see staff, undergrads, law students, graduate students and med students who become ill or just come in for medical check-ups.”

The health center has been able to test faculty, staff, and students for COVID-19. Debbie believes that some of her patients showed symptoms of the COVID-19 virus in early January. “They were very sick with respiratory challenges and high fever but would test negative for the flu. At the time, we did not know what we were dealing with. Thankfully they all got better.”

Debbie is proud that her daughter, Sarah Applebaum, graduated from Loyola with a Master of Science in Counseling degree in May 2017. Debbie is also joined by two of her brothers who, like their father before them, are Loyola Law alumni; Michael Calogero, J.D. ’93 and Gerald Calogero, J.D. ’99.

Debbie’s zest for life shows in her love of Jazz Fest and vacations with her life-long friends. She has been to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival every year and every day since 1978! “The only thing that could stop us was a worldwide pandemic. We managed to have our own Jazz Fest at home, but we missed being with all of our friends.”

Each summer since 1998, Debbie has traveled to the Gulf Coast beaches with her Catholic school girl friends — the “Holy Sisters of the Gulf Coast.” It is a girls only trip. No husbands. No children. When asked if the daughters of the “Holy Sisters” get to join in on the fun, Debbie emphatically says, “No! They have to start their own Convent.”

Debbie Calogero Applebaum strives to live the teachings of St. Ignatius of service to others. Whether to her family, students, or the community, Debbie serves others and has a good time doing it.

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