Common genetic disease linked to father’s age

By Robert Perkins

Scientists at USC have unlocked the mystery of why new cases of the genetic disease Noonan Syndrome are so common: a mutation that causes the disease disproportionately increases a normal father’s production of sperm carrying the disease trait.

When this Noonan syndrome mutation arises in a normal sperm stem cell, it makes that cell more likely to reproduce itself than stem cells lacking the mutation. The father then is more likely to have an affected child because more mutant stem cells result in more mutant sperm. The longer the man waits to have children the greater the chance of having a child with Noonan syndrome. … Read More »

June 24th, 2013|Announcements|

New USC research points to prospective avenue of treatment for Alzheimer’s patients

By Sara Reeve

A USC team of scientists has published research that highlights a new potential therapeutic agent for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers from the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have found that a mutant protein helps to bind amyloid beta peptide in the brain more efficiently than a wild type — or naturally occurring — version. Amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) is a primary component of amyloid plaques — deposits found in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients — and most researchers believe it plays a central role in the development of Alzheimer’s.  … Read More »

June 24th, 2013|Announcements|

Keck Medical Center program doles out $250,000 in community grants

By Josh Grossberg

Although it is not even a year old, the Community Grants and Sponsorship Program of Keck Medical Center of USC is already making its presence felt.

In the fiscal year ending July 1, the department has given out $250,000 in grants and $25,000 in sponsorships, according to Sevanne Sarkis, administrative director of community benefit and outreach for the medical center. … Read More »

June 24th, 2013|Announcements|

Keck School of Medicine of USC launches NIH-funded study to improve treatment for pre-diabetes and early type 2 diabetes

The Keck School of Medicine is looking for volunteers to take part in a National Institutes of Health-funded clinical trial, the BetaFat Study, to improve and preserve the production of insulin in people with prediabetes or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes. … Read More »

June 24th, 2013|Announcements|

CHLA earns back-to-back top five rankings in the U.S. News & World Report survey

By Lorenzo Benet

For the fifth year in a row, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has been named to the elite Honor Roll of the nation’s “best” children’s hospitals in the U.S. News & World Report rankings released online June 11.

Staffed by faculty from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the hospital is often referred to as USC’s third campus. It is one of only 10 children’s hospitals in the country and the only West Coast pediatric medical center to make the list. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles also secured a fifth place overall national ranking, repeating its placement from last year’s survey. … Read More »

June 24th, 2013|Announcements|

What It Means to Be a Trojan

By Pamela J. Johnson

USC honored undergraduates, graduate students and teaching assistants — including four from the health sciences — for their volunteer work at the annual USC Community Service Awards Dinner, held April 16 at Town and Gown on the University Park Campus.

Health sciences honorees included Conan Teng of Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC; Jane Desmond and Kendra King Treichler of USC Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy; and Amanda Wong of the USC School of Pharmacy. … Read More »

June 24th, 2013|Announcements|

Keck Medical Center implements new EMR system

By Josh Grossberg

With hands-on training of a new electronic medical record system well underway, Keck Medical Center of USC is a step closer to eliminating most paperwork, as well as improving patient experience.

Several years in the works, KeckCare is now being implemented at Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital. … Read More »

June 21st, 2013|Announcements|

Keck School alumnus Mitchell Lew named USC trustee

By Annette Moore

Mitchell W. Lew Photo/Dietmar Quistdorf Mitchell W. Lew
Photo/Dietmar Quistdorf

Physician, health care entrepreneur and longtime USC volunteer Mitchell W. Lew has been elected to the USC Board of Trustees. Lew is CEO of Prospect Medical Systems, an independent physician association with a network of primary care physicians, specialists and affiliated hospitals throughout Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties.

In May 2012, Lew became the first Asian-American president of the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors. Previously, he served as president of the USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association (APAA) from 2009 to 2011. … Read More »

June 21st, 2013|Announcements|

Gift of $90,000 makes the little things possible

By Amy E. Hamaker

The little things are what the Office of Patient and Family Experience at the Keck Medical Center of USC is all about.

The Patient Experience team welcomes and visits every patient within 24 hours of admission. During these visits, the staff answers any questions the patients or family members may have, checks on issues like staff responsiveness and room cleanliness, and makes sure that patients and their families feel cared for at USC’s hospitals. These initial connections help foster communication and trust between patients, their families and their medical care teams. … Read More »

June 21st, 2013|Announcements|

Physician departures reflect well on Keck faculty strength

By Josh Grossberg

Showing that the reputation of the Keck School of Medicine of USC is well regarded in the national medical community, three top doctors in their fields have been recruited for prestigious chairmanships at other institutions.

On July 1, Anthony Senagore will be leaving his position as professor in the Keck School and chief of colorectal surgery at Keck Medical Center of USC to accept a tenured position as chair of Surgical Disciplines at Central Michigan University School of Medicine.

Rohit Varma left his position as associate professor of ophthalmology and has accepted the chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

And Eila Skinner has left her post as associate professor of clinical urology to become chair of the Department of Urology at the Stanford School of Medicine. … Read More »

June 21st, 2013|Announcements|

USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center 40th anniversary

As USC celebrates the 40th anniversary of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Weekly will run in each issue through the end of the year items highlighting key moments in the history of the institution.

On May 10, 1979, ground is broken for the new site of the Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Research Institute. At the time, the effort was described as the “largest building project in the 99-year history of the University.” … Read More »

June 21st, 2013|Announcements|

Students present research at annual MD/PhD symposium

By Sara Reeve

As Tom Buchanan, vice dean for research of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, welcomed the room full of MD/PhD candidates to the annual USC-Caltech MD/PhD symposium, he had a very simple message — doing good science will make you happy.

“To me, at its core, science is fun,” he stated. “There are incredibly complicated structures in the world out there, and as a scientist, you get to figure out how the world works. … And medicine at its core is a real opportunity to do good for society. With an MD/PhD, you can make a difference in the way medicine is practiced. You can have an impact on a very large number of people while doing science, and I can’t think of a better thing than that.” … Read More »

June 21st, 2013|Announcements|

Research points to prospective treatment for Alzheimer’s patients

By Sara Reeve

A USC team of scientists has published research that highlights a new potential therapeutic agent for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers from the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have found that a mutant protein helps to bind amyloid beta peptide in the brain more efficiently than a wild type — or naturally occurring — version. Amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) is a primary component of amyloid plaques — deposits found in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients — and most researchers believe it plays a central role in the development of Alzheimer’s. … Read More »

June 21st, 2013|Announcements|

For patients, a thoughtful gesture makes all the difference

By Josh Grossberg

Keck Hospital of USC patient Jennifer Sutherland shows off the beaded necklace given to her by USC volunteers in recognition of her courage and inspirational attitude. Photo/Jon Nalick Keck Hospital of USC patient Jennifer Sutherland shows off the beaded necklace given to her by USC volunteers in recognition of her courage and inspirational attitude.
Photo/Jon Nalick

Jennifer Sutherland gently touched the beaded necklace as it was clasped around her neck. A piece of jewelry could hardly make up for what she had been through, but the gesture and the thought behind it made her cry softly.

During an informal ceremony at Keck Hospital of USC in May, CEO Scott Evans told her that the gift was a way to remember that even though she would soon be leaving the hospital after two months, she had friends who would be there for her.

“This gives you something to hold onto and look at,” Evans said. “It’s a token to say we’re here with you all the time.” … Read More »

June 21st, 2013|Announcements|

In Memoriam: Don Harper Mills, 85

Don Harper Mills, a longtime clinical professor of pathology and psychiatry at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, died May 21. He was 85.

Don Harper Mills Don Harper Mills

Mills, who taught at the Keck School and was a past president of Salerni Collegium, was also a practicing attorney. He served as medical director of the County of Los Angeles Medical Malpractice Program, devoted to claims management for the public hospitals and clinics in the county. … Read More »

June 21st, 2013|Announcements|

Keck Medical Center offers affordable lung cancer screenings

Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of breast, prostate and colon cancers combined because most patients are diagnosed after the cancer has already become advanced. The Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Program at the Keck Medical Center of USC is fighting to change that, which is why it is offering low-dose CT (LDCT) scans of the chest for lung cancer screening at a reduced cost of $99. … Read More »

June 21st, 2013|Announcements|

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Names Director of Diabetes and Obesity Program

June 7th, 2013|Announcements|

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Names Director of Diabetes and Obesity Program

Steven Mittelman Steven Mittelman

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has appointed Steven Mittelman as director of the new Diabetes and Obesity Program at The Saban Research Institute.  Mittleman also serves as assistant professor of pediatrics, physiology and biophysics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

The Diabetes and Obesity Program has evolved in response to the huge burden that childhood obesity places on patients and the community and represents an alignment of Children’s Hospital’s clinical and research programs. … Read More »

June 7th, 2013|Announcements|

Librarian Honored for Contribution to Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy

By Hope Hamashige

Pam Corley accepts her award from James Gordon. Photo/Gradimages Pam Corley accepts her award from James Gordon.
Photo/Gradimages

After devoting more than 30 years to USC, Pamela Corley retired in 2013 from her post at the Norris Medical Library. For her contribution, the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy honored her with the Division Tribute award at its commencement ceremony on May 17.

“Her official title is information specialist,” said James Gordon, chair of the division, of Corley, who was the liaison for the division at the Norris Medical Library. “That title, however, does not begin to express who Pam Corley is, and what she does. I like to think that her real title should be information therapist.’” … Read More »

June 7th, 2013|Announcements|

Global Health class visits Marine Air Ground Control Combat Center

As part of her class “Disaster, Conflict and Global Health,” USC Institute For Prevention Research lecturer Kathleen West took her Keck School of Medicine Master of Public Health students on an unusual field trip on April 17.

… Read More »

June 7th, 2013|Announcements|