The Shepherd Institute for Medical Knowledge
The Shepherd Institute for Medical Knowlege was founding in the first decade of Faerun settlement of The Frontier. When the portal opened in Faerun to the The Frontier on a different continent, Doctor Eliza Shepherd was among the vast number Tieflings immigrants who came to the Wild Wastes in hope of a new life, with less persecution. However, in addition to those seeking a new life, also came those looking for fortune and the lawless lands West provided opportunities, including those who would take advantage of the sick and injured to make a quick buck. This in addition to the introduction of The Frontier's more advanced firearms led to new horrific injuries that the newcomers were unaccustomed with, led Dr. Shepherd to found her Institute. She was dedicated to the study of both scientific and magical healing and saw a need for people with similar knowledge in this new land. Her Insititute started off small as a room in her newly build home in the brand new capital, Crimson City, with only 3 students, but it would soon grown into the large Institution it is today. The Institute now consists of two study hall, an office buildings, two dorm building, and two chapels. With between 100-300 students per year, the Institute is among the largest organizations in the Near West. In regards to size, it is on par with the Mage's Academy and is only dwarved by the Religious Institutions in the area.
Former students of the Shepherd Institute are highly regarded in The Frontier, irregardless of if they graduated or not. A town that has a former student of The Institute as the town doctor is lucky. A town that has a graduate as their doctor is blessed. Shepherds (as they are often called) are always welcomed graciously in any frontier town and many towns will make incentives to try to lure them into settling as their town doctor. Even Shepherd Institute dropouts are valued, since even a partially trained doctor is better than no doctor.
Former students of the Shepherd Institute are highly regarded in The Frontier, irregardless of if they graduated or not. A town that has a former student of The Institute as the town doctor is lucky. A town that has a graduate as their doctor is blessed. Shepherds (as they are often called) are always welcomed graciously in any frontier town and many towns will make incentives to try to lure them into settling as their town doctor. Even Shepherd Institute dropouts are valued, since even a partially trained doctor is better than no doctor.
Structure
Chancellor: Abraham Hendricks [Frontier Orc. Sixth Chancellor of the Shepherd Institute. Former Professor of Alchemy]
Vice-Chancellor: May Walters [Frontier Human. Vice Chancellor. Professor of Human and Tiefling Anatomy]
Administrators: Rulthand Waters [Frontier Lizardfolk. Head Administrator] and Stella Walsh [Frontier Human. Assistant administrator]
Professors
Department of Alchemy
Head Custodian: Joseph Sears [Frontier Human]
Other: All ther administrative, library, kitchen, and custodial positions are filled by students on a work-study program that goes towards tutition costs or outside contractors.
Vice-Chancellor: May Walters [Frontier Human. Vice Chancellor. Professor of Human and Tiefling Anatomy]
Administrators: Rulthand Waters [Frontier Lizardfolk. Head Administrator] and Stella Walsh [Frontier Human. Assistant administrator]
Professors
Department of Alchemy
- Mirik Canimesh [Frontier Lizardfolk. Professor of Frontier plants used in Alchemy]
- Rasashi Ularlob [Frontier Orc. Professor of Alchemy]
- Lillie Kane [Frontier Tiefling. Professor of Alchemy]
- Hiram Potts [Frontier Tiefling. Professor of Tiefling, Goliath, and Dragonborn Anatomy]
- Thuldal Hammerpride [Frontier Dwarf. Professor of Dwarven, Gnomish, and Halfling Anatomy]
- May Walters [Frontier Human. Vice Chancellor. Professor of Human and Elf Anatomy]
- Khazink [Faerun Bugbear. Professor of Goblinoid Anatomy]
- Caelynn Galanodel [Faerun Elf. Professor of All Other Anatomy]
- Mother Marguerite Simon [Frontier Tiefling. Priestess of Medela, Frontier goddess of Medicine and Healers]
- Father Eltumal Spiritgaze [Faerun Elf. Priest of Lathander, Faerun god of light and life]
- Sister Xilphine Oakflight [Faerun Firbolg. Priestess of Silvanus]
- Otto Larson [Frontier Human. Professor of Trama Surgery]
- Bettie Reilly [Frontier Ratfolk. Professor of Trama Surgery]
- Aiden Stafford [Frontier Fire Genasi. Professor of Burn Treatment]
- Redemption Harris: [Frontier Tiefling. Professor of Obstetrician Gynecology]
- Edna Stanton [Frontier Human. Institution Librarian]
- Aiden Stafford [Frontier Dragonborn. Professor of Pediatrics]
- Louis Flynn [Frontier Ratfolk. Professor of Dentistry]
Head Custodian: Joseph Sears [Frontier Human]
Other: All ther administrative, library, kitchen, and custodial positions are filled by students on a work-study program that goes towards tutition costs or outside contractors.
Culture
The Shepherd Institute boasts a culture of learning and self-improvement. The Institute does not judge perspective students on their wealth, class, race, or religion, but rather on their dedication to the study of medicine. The Institute often offers scholarships and work-study programs to their students who show promise and dedication. All students take a medical oath of treating everyone regardless of wealth, status, morals, race, religion, etc. and to do no intentional harm towards patients.
Public Agenda
The goal of the Shepherd Institute is to educated individuals in both scientific and magical healing practices in an effort to being the healing arts to the wasteland that is The Frontier. It also aims to combat the fake doctors and snake oil salesmen that the lawlessness of The Frontier has allowed to arise.
Assets
The Institute houses the most extensive library on the healing arts found in the entire Frontier and it even rivals medical libraries f Faerun (with the exception of Candlekeep, of course).
History
The Shepherd Institute was founded about 90 years ago by Dr. Eliza Shepherd (originally) of Waterdeep, when she followed her fellow Tieflings to The Frontier. The new firearms found abundently in this new land to the west created new problems for healers, which Dr. Shepherd pioneered new techniques to solve. She begun teaching these techniques to other healers and to a handful of apprentices, and this eventually grew into what would become the Shepherd Institute for Medical Knowledge.
Demography and Population
The student body and faculity population is mostly made of peoples who were decendents of immigrant to The Frontier, also known as Frontierians. Specifically it as a larger number of Avinfernum (Frontier Tieflings) and Frontiersman/Frontierswoman (Frontier Humans) and a smaller but steady number of Gamzîndwarrow/Gamzîndwarrowdam (Frontier Dwarves) and Malarg-Hai (Frontier Orcs).
Through the bulk of the population is made up of the immigrated population, a number of native Lizardfolk and Ratfolk have begun to join the Institute, though they have their own cities and academies/instutions further East.
There is also a very small number of students that come every so once in a while though the Portal from Faerun to study at the Institute.
Through the bulk of the population is made up of the immigrated population, a number of native Lizardfolk and Ratfolk have begun to join the Institute, though they have their own cities and academies/instutions further East.
There is also a very small number of students that come every so once in a while though the Portal from Faerun to study at the Institute.
Technological Level
The Shepherd Institute is a medical research center as much as it is a univeristy. They work on developing the newer and more effective methods of healing and medical care. The Shepherd Teaching Hospital is perhaps the best health care one can recieve in the Near Frontier.
Religion
As many institutions that train Clerics, the Shepherd Institute is associated with any god of healing, life, and good/neutral gods of death; though the students are left to choice a god of their choice outside of these as long as said diety is not evil aligned.
The association that the Institute has with these dieties can include a priest, monk, or other representatives of their church having an office in the Institute, and/or an area of the multi-faith chapel dedicated to them.
The gods associated with the Shepherd Institute come from both the Old World Pantheon of Faerun, such as Lathander, Selune, and Ilmater, or from the New World Patheon of The Frontier, such as Orava, Imber, and Laetithia. However, the Institute's patron goddess is the New World goddess of Medicine and Healers, Medela.
Although most students at the Institute are clerics, it is not a requirement for study. There are students who graduate from the without having entering any of the chapels, instead dedicating their focus to the study of scientific medicine and potions.
The gods associated with the Shepherd Institute come from both the Old World Pantheon of Faerun, such as Lathander, Selune, and Ilmater, or from the New World Patheon of The Frontier, such as Orava, Imber, and Laetithia. However, the Institute's patron goddess is the New World goddess of Medicine and Healers, Medela.
Although most students at the Institute are clerics, it is not a requirement for study. There are students who graduate from the without having entering any of the chapels, instead dedicating their focus to the study of scientific medicine and potions.
Education
The education system seperated into two seperate schools: scientific and magical/clerical. Most students study both, however there are those who dedicate themselves to a singular school in an effort to become an expert in that field, many of these students go on to becoming professors. Students spend an average 4-8 years studying at the Institute before beginning their careers, most taking on internships with past alumni or becoming small town doctors. Most students enter the Institute between the ages of 16-18, having been sent by their families who saved up the money in hopes of a better future, though there are those who are older who save up to pursue a dream or in a effort to gain a better postition in society. The tution costs while not exorbitant, are not cheap either as they are dedicated to the wages of the professors and towards the upkeep of the Institute. However, The Institute often offers scholarships (provided by wealthy patrons and alumni) and work-study programs to their students who can't afford tuition costs but show promise and dedication to the study of the healing arts.
"Health to the New Frontier"
Founding Date
About 90 years ago
Type
Educational, School/Academy
Alternative Names
The Shepherd Institute, The Institute
Demonym
Shepherd's Healers, Shepherds
Leader Title
Gazetteer
The Healer's Observer, a newspaper that outlines new medical discoveries and updates about the Institute.
Deities
Location
Notable Members
Related Species
Related Ethnicities
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