Six researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC were recently selected to join the Society for Pediatric Research. Membership in the society is based on peer nomination and election, and marks the member’s standing as an internationally recognized pediatric researcher.

The newest members will be honored at the Society for Pediatric Research annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on May 3. Researchers to be recognized include: Jamie Wood, MD, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics; Robinder Khemani, MD, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics; Vincent Wang, MD, MHA, associate professor of clinical pediatrics; Yong-Mi Kim, MD, MPH, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics; Douglas Vanderbilt, MD, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics; and Toni Frederick, PhD, MSPH, associate professor of pediatrics. … Read More »

Keck School of Medicine of USC has named one of its own, Rohit Varma, MD, MPH, to become chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and director of the USC Eye Institute as well as to serve as professor of ophthalmology and preventive medicine and hold the Grace and Emery Beardsley Chair in Ophthalmology. Rohit Varma

Varma, who is currently chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, returns to the Keck School of Medicine where he previously served as professor of ophthalmology and director of the glaucoma service, ocular epidemiology center and clinical trials unit.

An accomplished physician/scientist, Varma is recognized worldwide as a visionary leader in the epidemiology of eye diseases. Among his many significant contributions to the field, Varma has been a funded researcher for the past 20 years by the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

He is the principal investigator of the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES), Multi-Ethnic Pediatric Eye Diseases Study (MEPEDS), African-American Eye Disease Study and the Chinese-American Eye Study in addition to his studies on blindness and vision impairment for the World Health Organization. Varma’s experience with national and international organizations will aid in his additional role as associate dean for strategic planning and community network development with the Keck School of Medicine of USC to expand the eye care network. … Read More »

By Hope Hamashige

Helen Hislop

Helen Hislop, PhD, a pioneering former chair of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, a division at the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, died on Nov. 15 in North Carolina at the age of 84. Hislop spent 30 years at USC, heading the division from 1975 to 1998.

In a message to colleagues at USC, James Gordon, EdD, current chair of the division, wrote, “More than anyone, she was responsible for the growth of our research programs, the formation of our clinical programs, and the excellence of our education programs. She was a true visionary, and she is recognized as a giant in the physical therapy profession. Every physical therapist, not just those of us at USC, benefits from her legacy.” … Read More »