Bicyclist rides 10,500 miles to raise funds, awareness for cochlear implants

By Amy E. Hamaker

Early childhood is a time for discovery, playing with friends and learning more about the world. But for Jacob Landis, it was also a time for that world to go silent.

Two-year-old Landis took his first hearing test when his mother felt that his speech development was slower than normal. Landis’ hearing was compromised, and over the next three years, his hearing continued to deteriorate — he was fitted with his first hearing aids in kindergarten. By fourth grade, Landis had lost his hearing entirely.

After more than 600 appointments with otolaryngology doctors, audiologists and other specialists, Landis was finally referred to John Niparko, MD. In June 1999, Niparko performed cochlear implant surgery on Landis, who was just 10 years old. … Read More »

September 6th, 2013|Announcements|

Mack named to board of directors of neurointerventional surgery society

William J. Mack, MD, was named to the board of directors of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) at the group’s Annual Meeting. In this position, Mack, an assistant professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, will play a leading role with the society in continuing initiatives to resource, train and support veteran and new practitioners to bring advanced treatment approaches to neurovascular conditions. … Read More »

September 6th, 2013|Announcements|

Laurie Johnson tapped as new executive administrator of ambulatory services

By Tania Chatila

Laurie Johnson comes to the Keck Medical Center of USC with more than 30 years’ experience in L.A.-based health care. (Photo/Courtesy Keck Medical Center Human Resources) Laurie Johnson comes to the Keck Medical Center of USC with more than 30 years’ experience in L.A.-based health care.
(Photo/Courtesy Keck Medical Center Human Resources)

The Keck Medical Center of USC has welcomed the newest member of its leadership team — a longtime, Los Angeles-based health-care administrator who will oversee outpatient operations while also ensuring long-term growth of the medical center’s overall ambulatory business.

Laurie Johnson assumed the position of executive administrator of ambulatory
 services on Sept. 3. In this role, reporting to Scott Evans, PharmD, CEO of Keck Hospital of USC
 and USC Norris Cancer Hospital, Johnson will manage the administrative, fiscal and
operational activities of all of the Keck Medical Center’s hospital-based outpatient offices. She will be responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating delivery of care, service excellence, performance improvement and fiscal stewardship. … Read More »

September 6th, 2013|Announcements|

National Health Information Technology Week comes to campus

Keck Medicine Health Information Services is celebrating National Health Information Technology Week, Sept. 16-20, here on the Health Sciences Campus.

Information booths can be found daily during lunchtime at the Keck Hospital of USC cafeteria. Visitors can receive free gifts, snacks and a chance to win a free Microsoft Surface RT tablet device. … Read More »

September 6th, 2013|Announcements|

Noninvasive monitor gift will help physicians diagnose cardiac patients more effectively

By Amy E. Hamaker

Bernice Christenson has a long history with USC, beginning with her time studying for her master’s degree in education in 1955. She was a founding member of the Keck Hospital of USC Hospital Guild, and president in 1995; she received the Widney Alumni House Award in 1997 for outstanding leadership, volunteerism and loyalty to the university.

Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital CEO, Scott Evans, PharmD, and Luanda Grazette (right), MD, MPH, associate professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of USC, celebrate the gift of a Cheetah NICOM monitor from Bernice Christenson (left) at a special luncheon in Christenson’s honor. (Photo/Amy E. Hamaker) Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital CEO, Scott Evans, PharmD, and Luanda Grazette (right), MD, MPH, associate professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of USC, celebrate the gift of a Cheetah NICOM monitor from Bernice Christenson (left) at a special luncheon in Christenson’s honor.
(Photo/Amy E. Hamaker)

At 95 years old, Christenson continues her support of USC through the gift to Keck Hospital of USC of $15,000 for a noninvasive monitor that will help physicians to better evaluate cardiac conditions with less discomfort to patients.

… Read More »

September 6th, 2013|Announcements|

Pfizer lecturer to discuss careers in therapeutic development

The USC School of Pharmacy, the 
USC Center for Excellence in Research and the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC have collaborated to present a Careers in Science lecture.

The lecture will be held on Friday, Sept. 13, from 3-6 p.m. in the conference room (BCC 101) at the Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research building at USC. … Read More »

September 6th, 2013|Announcements|

Stroke awareness and prevention seminar comes to USC Verdugo

The Roxanna Todd Hodges Stroke Foundation will be holding a Stroke Awareness & Prevention seminar at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital on Thursday, Sept. 5, from noon to 2 p.m. The guest speaker will be Nerses Sanossian, MD, assistant professor of neurology and associate director of the Neurocritical Care/Stroke Section at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. … Read More »

September 3rd, 2013|Announcements|

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 »

August 30th, 2013|Announcements|

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 »

August 30th, 2013|Announcements|

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 »

August 30th, 2013|Announcements|

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.

… Read More »

August 30th, 2013|Announcements|

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 »

August 30th, 2013|Announcements|

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 »

August 30th, 2013|Announcements|

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 »

August 30th, 2013|Announcements|

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 »

August 30th, 2013|Announcements|

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 »

August 22nd, 2013|Announcements|

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 »

August 22nd, 2013|Announcements|

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 »

August 22nd, 2013|Announcements|

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 »

August 22nd, 2013|Announcements|

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 »

August 22nd, 2013|Announcements|