"Beta Brothers are the Best Friends You can Ever Have"

A lot has changed for Jim Milburn ’90 since he graduated from UMKC’s Medical School.  He is now a well-known physician, program director and Associate Chairman of Radiology at the Ochsner Clinic, with 21 residents and two fellows in the program. 

Jim completed his internship and radiology residency in New Orleans, Louisiana.  After a neuroradiology fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis and a brief period in private practice, he came back to practice and teach at Ochsner Clinic, the institution where he trained. 

“My specialty is interventional neuroradiology.  I diagnose and treat patients with a variety of conditions in the brain and spine, such as the brain aneurysms, strokes, spinal fractures, etc...”

Another big change from his Beta Theta Pi days is his family.  Jim has been married to his wife, Cristina, for 16 years, and has two beautiful daughters, Nicole, 13, and Sophia, 10.

But not everything changes.  Jim fondly remembers the Beta football team winning university intramural championship and playing in the rock band, the Recliners, at Beta parties.  Jim still loves music and watching football.  He currently plays music and encourages his children to play guitar and piano.  Jim adds proudly, “Cristy has taken up the drums, and we play together regularly.”  He also enjoys the New Orleans’s live music scene. 

Jim holds the distinction of being in the first class of pledges at the UMKC Beta colony. With only a small Greek system in place at UMKC, Jim credits friend Harold Wessley Duke III, aka Tad, as the reason many of the members of the first pledge class became involved.

“Tad was an idea man.  His father remained very active with Beta Theta Pi throughout his life, and Tad wanted to recreate that tradition with all of his good friends.  We are all glad he convinced us to give it a shot,” states Jim.

So, began the new Colony of Beta Theta Pi. With the help of Tad's father, Harold Jr., and some prominent local Beta alumni, Tad's dream became reality.  Jim adds, “Pretty soon we were singing Marching Along, Beta Lullaby, and The Froggie Song with three-part harmony.”

Jim regrets not living in the Beta house, but he and roommate Rob Rao had already committed to an apartment.  They were part of a group of actives who lived on the bottom floor of an apartment building near campus.  Eventually, the house employed a cook and the Brothers had meals. 

However, Jim and Rob visited the house often. “It was a great place to meet, relax, barbecue, listen to music, have meetings, and enjoy time with the pledges.  I was usually in charge of the grill, and "Milburgers" had quite a good reputation,” remembers Jim.  “I was the Social Chairman for a couple of years,” and quickly adds, “I, of course, spent many nights in the house after long nights of studying.”   

Extremely active in the fraternity, Jim and Rob played on nearly every athletic team.  “We developed a great rivalry with the other Greek teams, especially Lambda Chi.  I still vividly remember turning double plays, catching passes from Rob for touchdowns, and spiking sets, again from Rob, on the volleyball court.” 

After a great season in his next to last year, the Betas won the Championship and were invited to the tournament in New Orleans.  “That directly led to my ranking the Ochsner Clinic first in my Radiology Residency Match, meeting my wife Cristy in the hospital, and developing my Neurointerventional career in New Orleans,” Jim affirms.

As years passed, staying in touch with his brothers became increasingly difficult.  “Tony Sun is the main exception: We live near each other in New Orleans and have remained very close.  I have seen Cole Wheeler and some of Tony's best friends every year or so around Mardi Gras or the New Orleans Jazz Festival.  I suppose the rest of them are busy with their medical careers and families, like me,” Jim reflects.

After the recent 25-Year Anniversary, Jim hopes to stay connected with many of his Beta brothers. “It is so easy to keep in touch these days; we have no excuse for not staying close from the reunion forward.  I may even get a Facebook account like my daughters!” laughs Jim.

On a more serious note Jim adds, “I want to thank John Hickman and the current Beta actives for working so hard to keep the Beta website strong and connect brothers via email.”

“Stay in touch with your Beta brothers,” Jim concludes, “they may be the best friends you can ever have for a lifetime.”