Ram Subramanyan, assistant professor of surgery, speaks at a June 13 STOP CANCER event at the Health Sciences Campus. The event, hosted by USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Director Stephen B. Gruber, recognized STOP CANCER members for their many years of support, and provided an update on the progress of the USC Norris STOP CANCER awardees. … Read More »
Keck School of Medicine of USC ophthalmology fellows Anne Elizabeth Barañano, MD (left), and Jennifer Hu, MD (right), chat with Keck School Dean Carmen A. Pulifito, MD, MBA, at a party at the dean’s home. The June 26 event celebrated the graduation of the school’s retina fellows. … Read More »
Kathleen Ann Burke, a longtime research scientist at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, died June 30. She was 66.
Kathleen Ann Burke
Born in in Newark, New Jersey, Burke graduated from Douglas College and received her Master of Science from Penn State. After graduate work at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, she moved to Los Angeles, where she worked at USC for more than 20 years until her retirement in 2011.
As a scientist, she specialized in researching gene therapy, and managed two large labs. Her last project focused on developing a new therapy for AIDS patients. … Read More »
The Institute for Genetic Medicine recently hosted “Memories of the Way We Were,” a public forum on mental health issues related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Discussion topics at the June 22 forum included Alzheimer’s and dementia research and treatment, music therapy for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, caregiver support, the effects of cross-generational interaction (seniors and preschool children), and new technological therapy options. … Read More »
The Keck Medical Center of USC will host the annual meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management (SABM).
The theme for the annual meeting, which runs from Sept. 19-21 at the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel, is “Patient Blood Management —From Bench to Bedside.” The event gives health care professionals from all over the world the opportunity to learn some of the latest trends and techniques in how hospitals can use less blood during medical procedures —or even none at all. … Read More »
Making connections is the goal of a growing Interprofessional Education (IPE) Committee of the USC Health Sciences campus.
“Despite the fact that IPE activities were taking place on the Health Sciences Campus, most were occurring in silos,” remembered Eileen Eandi, IPE Committee chair and associate director of the Educational and Research Services Division at the USC Norris Medical Library. … Read More »
Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have been awarded a five-year, $1.8 million grant to study the links between genetics, tobacco addiction and withdrawal in African-Americans.
Adam Leventhal, assistant professor of preventive medicine and psychology and director of the USC Health, Emotion and Addiction Laboratory, will be the principal investigator of the study, which is being funded by the American Cancer Society.
“(African-Americans) have a lower rate of smoking,” Leventhal said. “And they smoke fewer cigarettes a day than whites, but they have a higher risk of cancer, which makes it critical to study the causes of nicotine addiction in African-Americans.” … Read More »
Art can be a true healing agent, and USC’s collection recently grew thanks to the donation of “Dreams without Limits,” a painting by Howard Murad, CEO and founder of skincare manufacturer Murad.
Rheumatic diseases affect millions of people in the United States every year: Nearly 54 million have been diagnosed with arthritis; 1.5 million Americans have a form of lupus; fibromyalgia affects an estimated 5 million U.S. adults; and scleroderma impacts an estimated 300,000 Americans.
To learn more about these conditions and what can be done to treat them, 150 rheumatology patients and their families gathered at the recent USC Rheumatology 6th Annual Community Seminar. The April 27 event, sponsored by Amgen and Genentech and held at the Mayer Auditorium on USC’s Health Sciences campus, gave the attendees a chance to share their insights and experiences with rheumatic diseases and get information from physicians from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. … Read More »
More than 20 local students are enjoying a summer of hands-on experience in stem research laboratories, through the USC Early Investigator High School (EiHS) and the USC CIRM Science, Technology and Research (STAR) programs.
Darren Harris, a student at Lifeline Education Charter School, explained what the opportunity means to him at the USC Stem Cell Public Policy Education Forum, held in the Aresty Auditorium on July 12. … Read More »
He’s a respected researcher, prolific author, valued mentor, and selfless humanitarian.
For Henri Ford, professor of surgery, vice dean for medical education at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and vice president and chief of surgery at Keck School-affiliated Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, life’s journey has been one of learning, sharing and giving.
To honor his many contributions to healthcare, diversity and philanthropy, Ford was given the 2013 NMF Academic Medicine and Clinical Practice Award by National Medical Fellowships. The award was presented at the NMF Champions of Health Awards ceremony on June 26 in Los Angeles. … Read More »
Mariya Kalashnikova
Keck School of Medicine of USC student Mariya Kalashnikova has been selected as the sole medical student representative to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) executive board.
The AAMC is governed by a 17-member board of directors, which manages the affairs of the association by providing strategic direction, fiduciary oversight and generative thinking.
Associate Dean for Student Affairs Donna Elliott said, “The Keck School of Medicine is honored to have one of our students, Mariya Kalashnikova, selected to serve … [she] will be the voice of all U.S. medical students and have a role in influencing medical education and health care policy on a national level.” … Read More »
More than 20 local students are enjoying a summer of hands-on experience in stem research laboratories, through the USC Early Investigator High School (EiHS) and the USC CIRM Science, Technology and Research (STAR) programs.
Darren Harris, a student at Lifeline Education Charter School, explained what the opportunity means to him at the USC Stem Cell Public Policy Education Forum, held in the Aresty Auditorium on July 12. … Read More »
Ninety-one-year-old Filomena Flores recently welcomed a very special group of USC students into her home.
Although her visitors came from seven different professional programs spanning the university — dentistry, medicine, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant practice and social work—they arrived as a team.
This meeting, led by an accompanying faculty mentor, was the first of a series aimed at teaching students to work collaboratively in examining the health issues facing Flores and identifying ways to improve her care. … Read More »
Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital are once again ranked among the best hospitals in the United States in U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Hospitals” rankings. The hospitals have been included in the rankings since 2009, when the University of Southern California purchased the hospitals.
USC-affiliated Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, staffed exclusively by faculty physicians from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, also was named last month to U.S. News’ Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll, and ranked in the top five in the nation. … Read More »
David R. Hinton, M.D., professor of pathology, neurological surgery and ophthalmology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, has been named the school’s inaugural associate dean for vision science. Hinton is a distinguished scientist and educator, and one of the world’s foremost experts on the biology of macular degeneration.
Hinton will spearhead the development of new vision science programs in education, training and research. He will also be responsible for coordinating vision research efforts that are located throughout Keck School departments, and between the Keck School and other departments and schools at USC. … Read More »
Len LaBella (left), CEO of Verdugo Hills Hospital and Tom Jackiewicz, CEO of USC Health, celebrate USC Verdugo Hills Hospital’s debut as the newest member of the Keck Medicine of USC family. They joined hospital employees at a July 24 celebration, featuring the USC Trojan Marching Band, a barbecue luncheon and decorations in cardinal and gold.
Photo/Steve Cohn
Cardinal and gold colors swept through the Foothill communities of Los Angeles in mid-July as the University of Southern California debuted its newest member of the Keck Medicine of USC family, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital.
A kick-off celebration luncheon was held for employees under a tent on the grounds of the hospital, where employees were greeted by Tom Jackiewicz, CEO of USC Health, and Len LaBella, CEO of Verdugo Hills Hospital.
Amid red and yellow balloons and festooned tables, the newest members of the Trojan family took time out to enjoy a barbecue feast and a visit by the Trojan Marching Band.
“This is a wonderful change,” said nurse Maral Atashian of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital’s Med-Surg Unit. “The future looks great for us!”
The acquisition of this Foothill communities’ hospital, which boasts a 40-year legacy of delivering health care to residents in the area, was part of a larger strategy to address the challenges of a changing health care environment. Keck Medicine of USC offers the size and resources, as well as the innovation to improve care and reduce costs, needed by community hospitals to remain viable and competitive.
The addition of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital expands and improves Keck Medicine of USC’s ability to deliver community-based services. … Read More »
Henri Ford (center) celebrates with Keck School National Medical Fellowship winners (from left) Ruth Montes, Miriam Lassiter, Dr. Ford, Maria Sandoval and Edwin Kulubya.
Photo/BlankLogo Photography
He’s a respected researcher, prolific author, valued mentor and selfless humanitarian.
For Henri Ford, professor of surgery, vice dean for medical education at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and vice president and chief of surgery at Keck School-affiliated Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, life’s journey has been one of learning, sharing and giving.
In recognition of his many contributions to health care, diversity and philanthropy, Ford was recently honored with the 2013 Excellence in Academic Medicine and Clinical Practice Award from the National Medical Fellowships, presented at a ceremony on June 26.
The National Medical Fellowships is a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships for underrepresented minorities entering the health professions. … Read More »
A new infectious diseases laboratory at the Keck School of Medicine of USC will allow researchers to study bacteria and viruses that threaten humans with serious airborne diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), SARS and pandemic influenza.
Now under construction on the top floor of the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, the lab is being built to the exacting requirements of a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) lab, a federal classification of a facility designed for the study of agents that can cause potentially severe or fatal illness as a result of exposure by inhalation. … Read More »