Changes Ahead for The Weekly
In the coming months, you’ll be seeing more — and less — of The Weekly.
Big plans are in the works. Soon we’ll be going digital and you’ll find us online! But, don’t worry — you’ll still find us in print. … Read More »
USC researchers discover biomarkers to help prevent failure after tissue transplants
By Josh Grossberg
Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have found a way to identify patients who may be susceptible to certain complications while recovering from large wounds and complicated reconstructive surgeries. The team’s findings have been published in August in the Public Library of Science’s online publication PLOS ONE.
The team, led by Alex Wong, MD, assistant professor of clinical surgery at the Keck School, discovered five genetic biomarkers that can identify patients who could be susceptible to vein failure after receiving “flaps.” Flaps are tissues that are teeming with tiny blood vessels, which can be moved from one part of the body to another to help the healing process. … Read More »
New and returning Keck School students make a splash at welcome receptions
It’s the start of the fall semester, and Keck School of Medicine of USC students are back on the Health Sciences Campus! … Read More »
Second annual Roxanna Todd Hodges lecture highlights stroke reduction
The second annual Roxanna Todd Hodges Visiting Lectureship in Stroke Prevention and Education was awarded to Cheryl Bushnell, MD, MHS, associate professor of neurology at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Bushnell is director of the Wake Forest Baptist Stroke Center and a thought leader in issues regarding women’s health and stroke, and performing community interventions for reducing stroke risk.
Bushnell’s lecture, “21st Century Stroke Prevention: What will it look like?” was presented at Neurology Grand Rounds held the morning of Aug. 6 at the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, part of the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
Campus Premiere: New Television Spots for fall coming for Keck Medicine of USC
After years of limited advertising in the market, Keck Medicine of USC will hit the airwaves this fall with two 30-second television commercials featuring 15 physicians, researchers, nurses and support staff.
The two ads promote Keck Medicine of USC by showcasing Keck Hospital of USC and the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. They will air on major networks and cable outlets the week of Sept. 7 and will continue through May 2014. (Schedule to be announced.) … Read More »
USC stem cell researcher receives a $1 million pledge for “eureka moments”
By Cristy Lytal
Chinese businessman Yong Chen has pledged $1 million to USC stem cell researcher Qi-Long Ying to support his future “eureka moments.”
“When I talked to Mr. Chen, I told him that groundbreaking discoveries often come from unexpected directions,” said Ying, PhD, associate professor of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC. “You suddenly have a very creative and unusual idea, and you test it. And it works.” … Read More »
Verdugo Hills Hospital joins USC amid rousing celebration
Celebration and fanfare continued for USC Verdugo Hills Hospital as leaders from the organization welcomed more than 150 dignitaries from throughout the community at a reception held Aug. 19 at the Glendale, Calif., hospital, the University of Southern California’s newest addition to its growing clinical enterprise.
Following a rousing entrance by the USC Trojan marching band, USC Health Senior Vice President and CEO Tom Jackiewicz, MPH, kicked off the event with a special greeting and introduction of elected and community officials and guests and the hospital’s new CEO Debbie Walsh, RN, MSN. … Read More »
Keck students inspired to think beyond borders
By Ryan Ball
Moving beyond the metropolis of Panama City and into the rural provinces, Keck School of Medicine of USC student Javier Sotelo was struck by the disparity in health-care accessibility he witnessed. He was surprised to find himself handing out emergency kits to midwives and educators, who provide primary care in areas where physician visits involve traveling several hours over dirt roads.
Sotelo was one of 32 students who studied abroad last semester as part of USC’s Master of Science in Global Medicine program. He and some classmates recently participated in the inaugural Global Citizenship Roundtable, where they shared their experiences and encouraged Keck School of Medicine of USC students to broaden their perspective.
In addition to Panama, students visited Taiwan, Honduras and India. … Read More »
Patient Experience helps couple celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary
By Josh Grossberg
About to celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary, Grace and Ray Vagas weren’t going to let anything as bothersome as a hospital stay stop them. And neither was the staff at USC Norris Cancer Hospital, where Ray had been a patient for nearly a month after being diagnosed with leukemia.
When their son, Ray Vagas Jr., realized the anniversary was approaching, he knew he had to do something. He contacted the staff of the Patient Experience Program at the Keck Medical Center of USC. … Read More »
Debbie Walsh, Don Larsen appointed CEO, CMO of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
Two new leaders will take on the management of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. Debbie Walsh, RN, MSN, has been appointed the new CEO of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, succeeding former CEO Len LaBella who is retiring after 12 years at Verdugo Hills Hospital.
In addition, Donald Larsen, MD, MBA, has been appointed chief medical officer for USC Verdugo. The announcements come on the heels of a hospital-wide celebration event and the transformation of Verdugo Hills Hospital as a part of Keck Medicine of USC. … Read More »
New postdoctoral scholars program announced for clinical residents and fellows
In a memo sent out recently to academic deans, faculty and staff, USC Provost Elizabeth Garrett, JD, announced the creation of a new program to enhance the “success and effectiveness of tomorrow’s health-care professionals.”
Garrett stated that she and Keck School of Medicine of USC Dean Carmen A. Puliafito, MD, MBA, worked together to create the Provost’s Postdoctoral Scholars Program for Clinical Residents and Fellows. Beginning in fall 2013, this new signature program will award qualifying senior residents and fellows at Keck Hospital of USC, LAC+USC Medical Center and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles the rights and privileges of a postdoctoral scholar at USC. Those privileges include up to 20 units of graduate tuition funding to support their education and full access to library material and facilities for their study or work. … Read More »
PT student attends signing of student loan bill at White House
By Hope Hamashige
Zuleima Hidalgo, a student in the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, was in attendance at the White House on Aug. 9 when President Barack Obama signed into law a student loan reform bill.
Hidalgo, who is about to enter her second year in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, was one of several students asked to attend the signing. Prior to putting his signature on the legislation, Obama thanked the students who had raised their voices in support of the legislation.
“Without their voice, without their participation, we probably would not have gotten this bill done,” Obama said. … Read More »
Russell Paul Sherwin, 89
Russell P. Sherwin, MD, died peacefully at his home in Pasadena, Calif., on July 24. Sherwin served as a member of the Department of Pathology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC for 51 years. … Read More »
John Niparko tapped as president of USC Care Medical Group
John K. Niparko, MD, has been appointed to the position of president of USC Care Medical Group. Niparko will serve a two-year term, which began on July 1. He succeeds Edward Crandall, MD, chair of the Department of Medicine, who also served a two-year term. … Read More »
HANDS-ON IN STEM CELLS
James Hur (right), a student from Harvard-Westlake School, describes his research on healing radiation wounds at the USC Early Investigator High School (EiHS) & USC CIRM Science, Technology and Research (STAR) Colloquium and Poster Presentation on August 2. … Read More »
New director of electrophysiology brings love of tech to the Keck Medical Center
By Josh Grossberg
Pacemakers and defibrillators are fairly common life-saving devices these days, but when Rahul N. Doshi, MD, was getting his start in the medical profession, they both relied on fairly rudimentary technology. A self-described tech geek, Doshi knew the field of electrophysiology was on the cusp of great change, and he wanted to be part of it.
As the new director of electrophysiology at the Keck Medical Center of USC, Doshi will help guide the future of this exciting field that is advancing in ways he couldn’t have imagined.
“It’s a relatively new and fast-growing sub-subspecialty of cardiovascular medicine,” he said. “It’s very different from what the interventional cardiologists do. They look at arteries and pipes; I look at the heart’s internal wiring.” … Read More »
Conference offers students insight into careers in health care
By Josh Grossberg
Students from across the country came to Los Angeles in July to get some real-world advice on careers in health care from staff at the Keck Medical Center of USC.
The USC Diversity in Healthcare Leadership Initiative connects students interested in health industry jobs that are not directly clinical. To do that, attendees focused on topics including administration and policy.
KECK SCHOOL HOSTS CME LUNG CANCER EVENT
Nearly 60 health professionals attended a continuing medical education event about multidisciplinary approaches to treating lung cancer, hosted by the Keck School of Medicine of USC. … Read More »
CHLA Emergency Department wins Lantern Award for outstanding patient care, research, leadership
The Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles was selected for the Lantern Award, a national honor from the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) in recognition of the department’s outstanding performance in patient care, research and leadership.
(Courtesy ENA)
The department was chosen along with eight other emergency departments across the country from an applicant pool of 38 departments. The association then reviewed the extensive submissions.
“This acknowledgement reflects Children’s Hospital’s Emergency Department’s efforts in leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research,” added Alan Nager, MD, MHA, associate professor of clinical pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and director of Emergency Medicine and Transport at CHLA. “The application was filled with examples of the superb care and innovation contributed by our team.” … Read More »
STEM CELL IMAGE OF THE MONTH
(Photo/Elisabeth Rutledge)
This embryonic mouse at day 10.5 has a special glow thanks to the fluorescent labeling of its neurofilaments, which are major structural element of neurons. The picture by Elisabeth Rutledge, a PhD student in the lab of Andrew McMahon, PhD, won the July 2013 Image of the Month contest at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC.