Medicare Advantage enrollment outpaces traditional Medicare

Despite a dramatic increase in the size of the Medicare-eligible population due to an aging society, enrollment in traditional Medicare has declined by almost 3% since 2006. This was the result of a significant increase in the share of beneficiaries Read More »

February 13th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

Stem cell studies point the way to broadly effective treatments for ALS

In the quest to find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, researchers led by Justin Ichida, PhD — head of the Ichida Lab at the Read More »

February 7th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

Keck School program to study skin of color welcomes new fellow and new supporter

At the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Research Fellowship is part of a growing effort to end the disparities that patients of color face in dermatological care. This year’s Read More »

February 6th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

Electric vehicles linked to reduced air pollution and improved health

In the first study to use real-world data to link electric cars, air pollution and health, researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC have begun to document the impact of electric vehicle (ZEV) adoption. Leveraging publicly available datasets, Read More »

February 3rd, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

USC Norris Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cell Therapy Program achieves 90.3% one-year survival rate

A new federal report shows that the USC Norris Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cell Therapy Program, an adult-only program at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, has achieved a historic one-year survival rate of 90.3%. This surpasses Read More »

February 1st, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

Keck School of Medicine of USC dean and professor named AAAS Fellows

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has honored Carolyn Meltzer, MD, dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and Richard M. Watanabe, PhD, professor of population Read More »

January 31st, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

Physical therapy research probes shoulder tendon issues

The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research has bestowed a grant to Lori Michener, PhD, PT, ATC, SCS, for her upcoming study, Biomarkers of Tendon Recovery for Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy.

Currently it’s challenging to get meaningful Read More »

January 30th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

Lack of blood pressure awareness lessens patient intentions to seek care

Almost two-thirds of adults do not know the upper thresholds for healthy blood pressure, according to a new study co-led by the Behavioral Sciences program at USC’s Leonard D. Schaeffer Center For Health Policy Read More »

January 27th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

Occupational therapy via telehealth presents challenges for children with autism

The effectiveness of telehealth for children on the spectrum relies on a strong clinician and patient relationship, but it hinges on family involvement and the clinic’s infrastructure. Due to an increased need for teleheath due to COVID-19, researchers from Read More »

January 24th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

It takes two: Using dance to augment STEM course content

Most undergraduates in the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention course are on the pre-med track, so they mostly focus on science as they pursue careers in the health care industry. Yet David Black, PhD, associate professor at Read More »

January 23rd, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

Multipotent progenitor cells protect bone marrow transplant patients from a fatal complication

When patients receive bone marrow transplants, they are infused with not only stem cells, but also complex mixtures of many other cell types that regenerate their blood and immune systems. Now in a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at Read More »

January 20th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

How to rewind the clock on arthritic cartilage — stat

A key protein called Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3), can turn back the clock on aging cartilage, according to a study co-led by Denis Evseenko, MD, PhD, a professor of stem cell biology and Read More »

January 17th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

New graphic novel heightens awareness of prescription opioid addiction

A new graphic novel — or foto novela — titled, “Jackie’s Pain,” explains the risks of prescription opioid addiction to communities surrounding the Keck Medical Center of USC. “Jackie’s Pain” is the 11th in the popular Health Read More »

January 17th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

Meet Ekta Vyas, Keck Medicine’s chief human resources officer

Ekta Vyas, PhD, MS, joined Keck Medicine of USC in July 2022 as the organization’s new chief human resources officer.

Since then, Vyas has begun overseeing the development and execution of human resources strategies in Read More »

January 10th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

Consumption of fast food linked to liver disease

People with obesity or diabetes who consume 20% or more of their daily calories from fast food have severely elevated levels of fat in their livers, according to a study from Keck Medicine of USC. The findings Read More »

January 10th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

Notifying doctors of patients’ fatal overdoses reduces their opioid prescriptions

A low-cost intervention has been confirmed by USC researchers to make a difference in the opioid epidemic, which costs 100,000 lives each year: a letter from a medical examiner notifying doctors that their patient has died from an overdose.

The team’s Read More »

January 9th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

In memoriam: Former USC School of Medicine Dean Robert E. Tranquada, MD

Robert E. Tranquada, MD, dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC from 1986 to 1991, died on Dec. 4, 2022 at the age of 92.

Tranquada was a diabetes researcher and public health advocate who was instrumental in increasing Read More »

January 4th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

USC Verdugo Hills Hospital welcomes first baby of 2023

USC Verdugo Hills Hospital welcomed their annual New Year’s baby, who is the first child born in their maternity department each year. Rachel Rose Marino was born to parents Christina and Nicholas on New Year’s Day at 11:13 a.m. In Read More »

January 4th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

Sensory issues that worsen in early years can help predict autism

After following more than 1,500 children over six years, a USC-led study has helped to confirm that sensory symptoms are an early behavioral marker of autism. The findings showed that 3% of all children have elevated sensory traits that worsen Read More »

January 4th, 2023|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|

Justin Ichida, PhD, celebrates new endowed professorship

In March 2020, Justin Ichida, PhD, was appointed to a prestigious endowed professorship at the Keck School of Medicine of USC through a gift from the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation. On October 20, Read More »

December 19th, 2022|Announcements, Keck Net Intranet|