MAY 20 • 2011 The Weekly theweekly.usc.edu PUBLISHED FOR THE USC HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS COMMUNITY VOLUME 17 • NUMBER 18

USC Norris makes its mark at annual race for women’s cancer research

By Tania Chatila Patricia Lozano will never forget the fi rst time she learned of the Entertainment Industry Brook Photography Brook Foundation’s annual Revlon Run/Walk For Women. She had just returned from a trip to Baja California and was on her way to the hospi- tal to visit her aunt, Eva, who had recently been diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer. “We stopped at a Sav- On to buy sunscreen and I saw the sign,” Lozano said. “I thought if I par- ticipated, maybe it would

Ryan Ball change things.” At 52 years old, Eva Lozano passed away just a few weeks before Patricia walked her fi rst Revlon 5K alone. That was 15 years ago. But USC celebrates Class of 2011 that hasn’t kept Patricia, Ryan Ball a biller with the Keck By Pauline Vu Share your expertise by volunteering in clinics or School of Medicine De- The mood at the 126th Keck School of hospitals at home or abroad.” partment of Obstetrics Medicine commencement ceremony was The 2011 commencement was the fi rst in and Gynecology, from celebratory. But speakers at the May 15 event which Elizabeth Garrett, who was installed as walking in her aunt’s also touched on some of the medical fi eld’s USC’s provost and senior vice president for memory every year current struggles and urged graduates to academic affairs in January, attended in her Photography Brook since her death. She has overcome those obstacles. capacity as provost. Clockwise from top left: USC School even recruited a support Keck School Dean Carmen A. Puliafi to Garrett told the graduates that they were of Pharmacy graduates Zahra group made up of sisters, urged the 163 M.D. graduates in the Shrine entering the profession at a time when society Azadbadi (left) and Francis Baking children, nieces and Auditorium to understand the needs of medically faces “grand challenges” as costs rise and new cheer their class at commencement; close friends to walk with underserved patients and support efforts to paradigms of health care are developed. “It is Keck School grads Devon Isaacson her. The group proudly (left) and Kim Ruby fl ash a victory improve access to care. my hope that you will practice your profession donned Team USC Nor- sign minutes before receiving their He referenced the Keck School’s partnership with confi dence, but also with a yearning to be degrees; Professor Sarah Hamm- ris T-shirts in this year’s with County+USC Medical Center, innovators and leaders in your areas of expertise Alvarez, the Gavin S. Herbert 18th annual race, which the largest single provider of health care in and beyond,” she said. Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences, attracted a 40,000-strong Los Angeles County, often to low-income and Student speaker Jared M. Greenberg delivered hoods Asma El-Magboub, who crowd to the Los Angeles uninsured patients. a speech full of acknowledgements to individual received an MS in Pharmaceutical Memorial Coliseum on “All of you came here highly altruistic; do classmates, whom he called out for being too tall, Sciences; and television May 7. personality Drew Pinsky delivers the not let that altruism wane. Keep that sense of talkative, loud or laid-back. He also praised the The walk raises money keynote address at May 15 Keck justice alive,” Puliafi to said. “Be generous in class of 2011 for their myriad talents. School graduation ceremony at the to help fi ght women’s your service. Treat some of your patients for free. See COMMENCEMENT, page 4 Shrine Auditorium. cancers. This year, USC Norris Comprehensive Doctors of USC celebrates grand opening of Beverly Hills location Cancer Center was selected as a race benefi - By Imelda Valenzuela building, at 9033 Wilshire Blvd at Wetherly. The ciary. The cardinal and gold fl ag of USC was of- new 14,000-square-foot location offers cutting- “It was wonderful to fi cially planted on the Westside of Los Angeles edge expertise from top specialists in three key see so many members of at the opening of the University’s newest clinical areas of medicine, ophthalmology, urology and the Trojan family come satellite, The Doctors of USC Beverly Hills. cancer care. out for an event that does With over 100 administrators, faculty physi- Neda Shamie, a leader in corneal transplan- so much for women’s cians, board members and other friends of tation, serves as medical director of the USC cancer research and the the Trojan family in attendance, the opening Doheny Eye Center, affi liated with USC’s na- work done here at USC reception was held at the beautifully appointed tionally ranked Doheny Eye Institute. Puliafi to, Norris,” said Tonya medical offi ces May 10. an expert in macular degeneration, also is seeing Strom, captain of the “It’s been a dream to come to the Westside patients at the USC Doheny Eye Center. 75-member Team USC for USC,” said Keck School Dean Carmen A. Leading oncologist David Agus sees patients Norris. Puliafi to. “This is the beginning of a new era in in the USC Norris Westside Cancer Center, In addition to its USC medicine. We’re here to inaugurate this affi liated with the National Cancer Institute- team presence, the USC

©Steve Cohn new outpost of USC medicine on the Westside.” designated USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Norris Comprehensive The Doctors of USC held its Beverly Hills The Doctors of USC Beverly Hills is located in Center. Inderbir Gill, executive director of the See WALK, page 2 site opening reception on May 10. suites 300 and 500 of the Archway Medical Plaza See DOCTORS, page 3 MAY 20 • 2011 Keck School, community leaders examine restructuring of ambulatory care in the DHS

By Ryan Ball of us is all of us.” The latest meeting of One of Katz’s primary goals Keck School Dean Carmen is to establish relationships A. Puliafito’s Community between patients and primary Leadership Council featured care providers so that patients a presentation by Mitchell aren’t going to the emergency H. Katz, director of the Los room when they need to see a ‘You can find Angeles County Department doctor. the very best of of Health Services (DHS). Among Katz’s accomplish- During the May 11 ments to date is facilitating healthcare within assembly, Katz spoke of a direct contract with health DHS, but you can’t the challenges he faces in plan provider L.A. Care, overseeing the second largest something DHS was previous- find it across health system in the United ly unable to do. The contract DHS.’ States, and detailed some ensures that roughly 30,000 of his plans for improving elderly and disabled individu-

the quality of care low- Ryan Ball als currently being treated at —Mitchell H. Katz, income residents receive at Mitchell H. Katz, director of the Los Angeles Country Department of Health Services, LAC+USC aren’t bounced out director of the Los Los Angeles County+USC discusses his goals for the organization at a Community Leadership Council con- of the system on July 1. Medical Center and other vened by Keck School Dean Carmen A. Puliafito. Puliafito praised Katz’s Angeles Country County public hospitals. strategic plan for DHS, noting Department of Katz came to DHS in Janu- don’t change because of one sociations, Katz chose to look similarities to USC’s efforts Health Services ary of 2011 after serving as person,” he stated. at what is working at DHS to transform the culture of its director of health for the City Katz said that when he first and try to systematize those private hospitals. (DHS) of San Francisco for 13 years. began to talk about making elements. “It is about the culture,” He said his goal is to make the move to DHS, he was hit “You can find the very best said Puliafito. “That is the DHS the best safety net in the with a lot of skepticism about of healthcare within DHS, but most precious thing we have country, and invited the com- the system and its potential you can’t find it across DHS,” — that engagement of su- munity leaders present to take for reform. But rather than Katz remarked, adding, “my perbly trained who part in the process. “Systems focusing on the negative as- job is to fix it so that the best actually want to work here.”

Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation awards CHLA $1.15 million for cancer clinical trials

The Pediatric Cancer Research, and Leo Children’s Hospital Los adults in the ,” for pediatric cancers. Know- Research Foundation (PCRF) Mascarenhas, director of the Angeles has tangibly improved said Siegel. “The road from ing that we can rely on the has awarded a five-year, $1.15 Pediatric Cancer Research the outcome for children with initial idea to clinical applica- support of PCRF to move the million grant to support the Foundation Clinical Trials previously resistant cancers tion can be a long one for new results we get at the lab bench Clinical Trials Program in Program and associate profes- and improved the initial treat- anti-cancer agents, particularly quickly to our patients is es- the Children’s Center for sor of pediatrics at the Keck ment that children with cancer for those agents to be used sential to our future success.” Cancer and Blood Diseases School. receive throughout the world. at Children’s Hospital Los The Pediatric Cancer Research breakthroughs in Angeles. Research Foundation Clinical the treatment of childhood The grant will provide criti- Trials Program identifies and cancers during the past 50 cal infrastructure support for tests new therapies intended years—many pioneered by clinical trials, and in gratitude, to decrease toxicity of these physician-scientists at the the hospital has named the treatments and improve Children’s Center for Cancer program the Pediatric Cancer patient outcomes and survival and Blood Diseases—have Research Foundation Clinical rates. helped the cure rate improve Trials Program. The program works closely from 10 percent to 80 percent. This research will be with other pediatric cancer Still, one in five children will overseen by Stuart E. Siegel, centers around the world to not survive their disease, director of the Children’s carry out the necessary clinical and many survivors—up to Center for Cancer and trials of new agents and new two-thirds in recent stud- Blood Diseases and profes- combinations of agents in a ies— suffer some long-term sor of pediatrics at the Keck rapid and efficient manner to consequences of their curative School of Medicine, Marcio battle pediatric cancers. By co- treatment. Malogolowkin, division head ordinating its studies with the “Cancer is the number one Tania Chatila Tania for Hematology-Oncology overall agenda of the national cause of death by disease in Abner Soto and his mother Patricia Lozano prepare to walk in honor of Lozano’s aunt at Clinical Affairs and Clinical Children’s Oncology Group, children, teens and young the 18th Annual Entertainment Industry Foundation Revlon Run/Walk For Women.

The WALK: Event part of ‘inspirational day’ Weekly Next Issue: May 27 Continued from page 1 Cancer Center and Hospital also hosted a booth at the event’s Health Expo. Organized by the USC Health Sciences Public The Weekly is published for the faculty, staff, students, volunteers and visitors in the Univer- Relations and Marketing Office, the booth attracted thousands of sity of Southern California’s Health Sciences Campus community. It is written and produced participants, who picked up copies of Norris publications and a by the Health Sciences Public Relations and Marketing staff. Comments, suggestions and drawstring backpack featuring the USC Norris Cancer Hospital and story ideas are welcome. Permission to reprint articles with attribution is freely given. USC University Hospital logos. “It was an inspirational day,” Strom said. “I was proud to be a Associate Senior Vice President, Health Sciences Public Relations part of it.” and Marketing: Jane Brust Executive Director of Communications: Ina Fried Assistant Director of Publications: Sara Reeve Did we say that?

Editor: Jon Nalick Contributors: Ryan Ball, Eva Blaauw, Tania Chatila, Carol Matthieu, In the May 6 issue of The Weekly, a story on a major new Leslie Ridgeway, Imelda Valenzuela and Pauline Vu Keck School of Medicine study appearing in Nature ran with the wrong headline. Senior Vice President, University Relations: Martha Harris The story, available online at http://tinyurl.com/43aev53, should have been headlined, “Groundbreaking Keck School Phone: 323-442-2830 Fax: 323-442-2832 study shows human placenta’s role in synthesizing serotonin.” E-mail: [email protected] Web: theweekly.usc.edu RSS: http://www.usc.edu/hscw The Weekly regrets the error. Born just blocks away, student’s journey to Keck School was still long and difficult

By Pauline Vu strength that I didn’t know I Claudia Martinez walked had,” she said. “I realized how proudly across the Shrine much I can accomplish and Auditorium stage on May 15 overcome.” to collect her degree from the Martinez returned in fall Keck School of Medicine. 2007 and threw herself into Next up for her: a her medical studies. She in emergency medicine at was selected for several State University of New York scholarships, including a Downstate Medical Center. prestigious one from Health Her commencement success Care Partners. was a far cry from where she As a senior she was was five years ago, when, named the Edward Zapanta ‘I took that time recognizing that she was Outstanding Medical Student to find my own battling depression, Martinez Photography Brook of the Year by the Latino strength that I took an 18-month break from Former Keck School of Medicine associate dean of admissions Erin Quinn (left) congratu- Alumni Association. Keck after her first semester. lates graduate Claudia Martinez, who overcame depression and other personal challenges As part of the American to fulfill her longtime dream of becoming a physician. didn’t know I “I think I had been Medical Student Association, depressed my entire life along with Martinez’s six- Another aspect of Martinez’s Martinez helped organize had. I realized and it wasn’t until I started year participation in the background that wowed the first-ever health fair for how much I can medical school that I started Keck School’s Med-COR Quinn: during high school and the local community on the to do counseling and try to program, starting when she college she had logged more Health Sciences campus. She accomplish and get better,” Martinez said. “I was in middle school, made than 1,200 hours as a student traveled to Tijuana every overcome..’ just needed to take time to her realize she wanted to be a volunteer at LAC+USC three months for two years resolve a lot of the issues that doctor. Medical Center. “I recall to set up mobile clinics with I had and make sure that I was After Martinez graduated thinking, ‘We should just give Healing Heart Across Borders. —2011 Keck healthy before I came back.” from California State her the degree now,’” Quinn “She’s a Renaissance Martinez’s path to Keck University, Northridge, she said. woman in so many ways,” School of Medicine wasn’t typical. She grew up applied to the Keck School, Martinez entered the Keck Quinn said. “She just forges graduate Claudia in a one-bedroom apartment primarily because she wanted School in the fall of 2005. ahead and does what needs to Martinez in Boyle Heights, just a few to work at the county hospital But then her depression re- be done.” blocks from Los Angeles and help people from her surfaced. Now Martinez is eager to County+USC Medical Center, community. Keck School faculty and start her residency at SUNY where she was born. Her Erin Quinn, former students rallied around her, Downstate. She picked mother worked as a seamstress associate dean of admissions, especially Quinn, who made emergency medicine as her and was the sole breadwinner said Martinez was the only sure that Martinez received specialty to help people for the family of six. Her person in all of Quinn’s 18 the care she needed, and who similar to her family—the family lacked health insurance years of interviewing medical stayed in touch with phone uninsured who end up in the and would end up in the school applicants who arrived calls and visits. emergency room. When her county hospital’s emergency for the interview via public Faculty members suggested residency is finished, Martinez room whenever they needed bus. From Northridge, it that Martinez take a break. It hopes to return to Los Angeles medical care. was more than a two-hour was just what she needed. “I and serve the community Those trips to LAC+USC, commute. took that time to find my own where she grew up.

DOCTORS: USC plants a cardinal and gold flag in Los Angeles’ Westside

Continued from page 1 tion for physicians, for community best academic medical centers right USC Institute of Urology, sees patients outreach and for donor and alumni here in Los Angeles. ’’ there as well. events for USC.” Nikias acknowledged the physi- Puliafito said that buying USC USC President C. L. Max Nikias cians who practice at the new center, University Hospital and Norris Cancer and his wife, Niki, were in attendance as well as the Keck School and its Hospital in 2009 “sent a signal that after taking a red-eye flight home from other doctors. “At this Beverly Hills USC is on the move” and that opening another USC event the day prior in location, the doctors practicing here, the Beverly Hills offices were the next Philadelphia. Dean Puliafito, Dr. Agus, Dr. Gill, step in USC’s plan for its academic “I am thrilled—it is wonderful to Dr. Shamie and others, will help medical center. plant the cardinal and gold flag in heal those suffering from devastating ©Steve Cohn “This center on the fifth floor was Beverly Hills,” said Nikias. “Most of diseases such as cancer and blindness. From left: David Agus, USC President C. L. Max Nikias, designed to align the clinical with the all it is deeply satisfying to be able to They will give hope to patients and Neda Shamie, Keck School of Medicine Dean Carmen A. Puliafito and Mitchell Gross. academic teaching mission of USC,” provide specialty care that is so vital their families,” he said. “I’m very said Puliafito referring to the satellite’s and so very convenient to those who proud of USC’s doctors, our professors video conferencing center. “We antici- live and work on the Westside. While of the Keck School of Medicine. On the vators and scholars. In their specialties, pate that this will be a very important we aspire to expand USC’s global reach, front lines of clinical care, they are heal- they are pioneers in developing new location for continuing medical educa- we also aspire to build one of the very ers. In the research labs, they are inno- treatments and surgical techniques.”

The Weekly NEWSMAKERS

On May 5 U.S. News & World Report quoted On May 9 Medscape Medical News quoted Mark for advanced treatment,” Sung said. Dr. Sung was Rodney Mason, associate professor of surgery at Humayun, of the Doheny Eye Institute, about the not involved in the study, the story stated. the Keck School of Medicine, as disagreeing with Argus II retinal prostheses system. With the retinal recent findings indicating that surgery is the most implant, Humayun states, “subjects are able to On May 11 Shape magazine featured research effective treatment for appendicitis. detect light and do well with certain performance by Richard Bergman, professor and chair of the The Tehran Times (Iran), MedPage Today, parameters. We’re continuing to study this in their Department of Physiology and Biophysics, and col- TopNewsUnited States, American Council on Science daily lives and develop it into a rehabilitation pro- leagues, who found a new way to measure percent and Health and 6minutes also covered the story. gram,” he added. body fat, called the Body Adiposity Index (BAI). The story reported that the currently used stan- A May 6 story in the Daily Pilot reported that USC A May 10 article in Medscape Medical News dard, Body Mass Index (BMI), doesn’t reflect true University Hospital honored one of its patients by quoted Gene Sung, director of the Neurocritical adiposity—the state of being obese. If its accuracy arranging for her to throw out the first pitch at a Los Care and Stroke Division at USC, about a study that holds up, BAI just might replace BMI as the body fat Angeles Dodgers game, and featuring her in a video found tat about 14 percent of all ischemic strokes test of choice, the story stated. shown at the game. occur during sleep. “A significant number of stroke patients wake up with stroke, making them ineligible MAY 20 • 2011

COMMENCEMENT: Health Sciences Campus unleashes eager health professionals

Continued from page 1 “I’m talking about things like art, music, dance, athletics, surfing, writing, singing, rock climbing, singing while rock climbing, standup comedy, sitdown comedy, kind of the whole orthostatics of comedy,” he said. “As long as it’s legal, I’m pretty sure somebody in this class can do it.” But his speech also mentioned the difficult experiences the students Beth Dunham discovered as they worked and Above, keynote speaker Connie Drisko, learned at LAC+USC Medical dean of the Medical College of Georgia Center: the scarce resources School of Dentistry, delivers her address for some patients, incurable to the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. conditions and jaded resident superiors. Right, Keck School graduate Kelsey Richardson displays the numerous “So that’s the bad news. But awards she received at the school’s the good news is that the Keck Senior Awards Ceremony on May 14. A full list of awardees is online at: Class of 2011 is the future of http://tinyurl.com/42enonc. medicine,” Greenberg said. Photography Brook “Whenever I would start to “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. feel disheartened, even feel Drew.” Other Health Sciences that I had chosen the wrong “This ceremony is one of schools held their graduations profession, it was you, dear the few degrees that, once earlier in the week. The Keck class, your actions that lifted conferred, changes who you School’s Master of Science, my spirits and gave me hope.” are and what you can do Master of Public Health and The commencement and your relationship to the Ph.D. students walked on address was delivered by world forever,” he said. “So, May 11 in Pappas Quad. Photography Brook Drew Pinsky, a Keck School my esteemed colleagues to The Ostrow School of alumnus and clinical assistant be, I welcome you to this Dentistry graduated 176 new professor of psychiatry who profession.” doctors of dental surgery, hosts the nationally syndicated Of the 163 M.D. graduates, 42 dental specialists and 13 radio show “” and four students received a com- masters of craniofacial biology is executive producer of bined M.D./Ph.D. while two in a May 13 ceremony at the VH1 television show also received their MBAs USC’s McAllister Field near the University Park Campus. “The school has a storied history of educating Calendar of Events individuals that go on to lead the profession, and we This Calendar of events is also online at fully expect that you will all www.usc.edu/hsccalendar for the Health strive to be leaders in your Sciences Campus community community, your field and

beyond,” said Dean Avishai Photography Brook Sadan. Top, Keck School of Medicine graduate Erica Kreller celebrates with family at Monday, May 23 The USC School of Founders Park. Bottom, Keck School students gather before marching into their May 15 ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium. 4 p.m. Neurology Grand Rounds. “fMRI in Disease: Pharmacy awarded 178 Applications, Challenges, and Solutions,” Scott Small, doctors of pharmacy, 29 Columbia Univ. UPC: Tutor Campus Center, 352. Info: (323) M.S. and 12 Ph.D. degrees, USC Health Sciences 442-7686 Public Relations and Marketing Non-Profit Organization and 27 certificates to those 1975 Zonal Ave. KAM 400 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Los Angeles, CA 90033 University of Southern California Tuesday, May 24 completing residency or fellowship programs on 9 a.m. Neurology Grand Rounds. “Zooming in on Hippocampal May 13 on Pappas Quad. Dysfunction: MRI Maps to Molecular Mechanisms,” Scott The Physician Assistant Small, Columbia Univ. ZNI 112. Info: (323) 442-7686 Program awarded 38 master Noon. Psychiatry Grand Rounds. “Mental Illness in the of physician assistant practice Homeless Population,” Suzanne Wenzel, USC. ZNI 112. Info: degrees the same day. (323) 442-4065 On May 13 at Bovard Auditorium, the Division of Noon. Women In Management Seminar. “Heart Disease in Women,” Helga Van Herle, USC. NRT LG 503/504. Cost: $15 Biokinesiology and Physical members, $18 non-members. Info: (323) 442-1865 Therapy graduated 92 new doctors of physical therapy, Wednesday, May 25 five Ph.D.s in Biokinesiology and an M.S. degree in 6 p.m. Urology Seminar. “Life After Prostate Cancer Surgery,” Biokinesiology, while the Daniel Park, USC. NRT Aresty Aud. Info: (323) 865-3731 Division of Occupational Saturday, June 4 Science and Occupational Therapy honored 25 bachelor 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Continuing Medical Education Seminar. of science and 113 M.S. “Pulmonary Updates 2011,” Various speakers. Los Angeles recipients, 23 doctor of Marriott Hotel, Downtown Los Angeles. Info: (323) 442-2547 occupational therapy and two Ph.D. recipients. Notice: Deadline for calendar submission is 4 p.m. Mon- day to be considered for that week’s issue—although three weeks’ advance notice of events is recommended. Please note that timely submission does not guarantee an item will In case of an emergency... be printed. Send calendar items to The Weekly, KAM 400 or fax to (323) 442-2832, or e-mail to [email protected]. Call the Emergency Information Phone: 213-740-9233 The emergency telephone system can handle Entries must include day, date, time, title of talk, first and last 1,400 simultaneous calls. It also has a backup system on the East Coast. name of speaker, affiliation of speaker, location, and a phone number for information. Visit the USC Web: http://emergency.usc.edu This page will be activated in case of an emergency. Backup Web servers on the East Coast will function if the USC servers are incapacitated.