FEBRUARY 26 • 2016 PUBLISHED FOR THE USC HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS COMMUNITY VOLUME 3 • NUMBER 4 Neuroscientist, author hold talk on Alzheimer’s By Alison Stateman Neuroimaging and Informat- lzheimer’s disease not ics Institute, was joined by Aonly takes a profound Lisa Genova, PhD, author of physical toll but has a huge best-selling novel Still Alice. emotional and financial Moderated by NPR corre- impact on society as well, two spondent Ina Jaffe, the talk experts on the disease told a between Genova and Toga USC crowd. touched on the many impacts “Today in the United of the disease. States, we spend $250 billion “Those people who are over to $260 billion dollars a year 65, one in nine will get Al- to take care of Alzheimer’s zheimer’s disease. Those who patients. By 2050, we will are over 85, one in three will spend over $1 trillion a year,” get Alzheimer’s disease,” said USC neuroscientist Arthur Toga, who has created some of Toga, PhD, told the audience the largest databases and data Mary Dacuma at Something’s Not Right mining tools used to support Jonathan Russin finished his first marathon with former patient Kathy Nguyen and her husband, Robby. With Alice: Understanding global efforts against Alzheim- Alzheimer’s, a Visions & er’s and other neurologically Voices event Feb. 4 at Bovard degenerative diseases. Recovery team joins patient Auditorium. “This is the grandest Toga, director of the USC challenge we have in neu- from aneurysm to marathon Mark and Mary Stevens See ALZHEIMER’S, page 6 By Mary Dacuma associate professor of neurological surgery, former patient at the USC Comprehen- find the aneurysm causing the bleed. He A sive Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center quickly recognized the complexity of the at Keck Medicine of USC ran the Los An- problem. geles Marathon on Feb. 14, accompanied “There was a ruptured aneurysm that by the treatment team that saved her life. involved the entire left vertebral artery, Prior to her stroke, 41-year-old Kathy including the posterior inferior cerebellar Nguyen had nine marathons under her artery (PICA), which provides blood to part belt. In March 2015, Nguyen collapsed at a of the patient’s brainstem,” said Jonathan family brunch and was taken via ambulance Russin, MD, associate surgical director at to a local emergency room. Her doctors the USC Neurorestoration Center. “Cut- determined she had serious bleeding in her ting off the blood supply to the artery brain, but could not determine the source would also cut off blood to the brainstem, of the bleed. causing brain damage or even death. “ “The bleed was so severe that the neuro- Russin performed a PICA-PICA bypass, surgeon told my family I would be lucky to which involves suturing the right and left

wake up,” Nguyen recounted. PICAs together to ensure proper blood Sprague David Nguyen was transferred to Keck Medical flow to the brainstem while preventing From left, Arthur Toga, Lisa Genova and Ina Jaffe take the stage on Feb. 4 Center of USC for evaluation by their com- additional bleeding from the aneurysm. for a Visions and Voices event on University Park Campus. prehensive cerebrovascular stroke team. The USC Stroke Center is one of a handful A CAT scan helped William Mack, MD, in the country that can perform this rare procedure. Immediately following the “There are not many patients bypass, Mack and his team blocked the Read about the Keck School’s vertebral artery and the aneurysm through endovascular coiling. diversity efforts in this issue that I can push to do circuit On Friday, March 13, Nguyen woke up. he Keck School of Medicine of USC is focused on promoting “Friday the 13th has always been my lucky Tdiversity and inclusion among its students, faculty and in the training after a stroke. But day,” she said. “My twins were born on that surrounding community. Under Dean Carmen A. Puliafito, MD, day.” MBA, the Keck School has developed several premier programs her spirit inspired me to Nguyen made a remarkable recovery that reach out to underrepresented students, offering support and with strong support from her treatment guidance as the students pursue health degrees. push myself and join her team. Read about how the new associate dean for faculty diversity “Kathy’s motivation and commitment is crafting a five-year plan for the Keck School; see how student to physical fitness enabled her to engage groups address cultural issues affecting underrepresented stu- for her comeback race.” in high-intensity activities soon after her dents; and celebrate an award-winning pipeline program that aims surgery,” said Cherise Lathan, PT, DPT, — Cherise Lathan, PT, DPT to introduce health care careers to local high school students. See MARATHON, page 2 All of this and more, on pages 3-4. Hundreds learn about women’s, children’s health at symposium ith events ranging from refugee health Keck School of Medicine of USC and was Wlectures to hands-on vaginal delivery sponsored by the Graduate Student Govern- workshops, more than 200 health professions ment, Associated Students of the School of students and over 45 health care provid- Medicine, American Medical Association and ers participated at the annual Women and the Dean’s Office for Events. Children’s Health Symposium with a focus on Attendees included medical students from medical advocacy. the Keck School and nearby medical schools,

Steve Cohn Steve Held Feb. 6 on the Health Sciences Cam- as well as pharmacy, physician’s assistant, Attendees listen to a speaker during the Women and Children’s Health pus, the event was organized by the OB/GYN occupational therapy and physical therapy Symposium, held Feb. 6 on the Health Sciences Campus. and Pediatrics student interest groups at the students. FEBRUARY 26 • 2016 2 Finding her calling: a love for medicine By Amanda Busick students through their early clinical and the USC-Mellon Mentoring amela Schaff, MD, was 17 years skills, what it means to become a doc- Award in 2008; and USC’s Remark- Pold when she had a revelation. tor — those first steps of professional able Woman Award in 2010. Schaff, now associate dean for cur- identity formation.” Since her appointment as associate riculum at the Keck School, was just Her solid grounding in literature dean for curriculum in 2012, Schaff a teenager visiting her mother, who and humanities steered her to the has overseen the four-year educa- was recovering from minor surgery. Humanities, Ethics, Art, and Law tional program for all Keck School “I was walking down the hospital (HEAL) program, which she cur- medical students. She calls the job corridor to go visit her, and I got my rently directs. The program embraces challenging but rewarding. calling; I just knew that I was going narrative medicine, a practice that “We strive to teach our medical to be a doctor,” she said. “It sounds concentrates on narrative compe- students to be lifelong learners,” she corny, but that’s what happened.” tence, enabling students to interpret said, explaining that their knowledge In college, she was a pre-med Eng- and act on the stories that their pa- base also must include grounding in lish literature major and, after earning tients share. This ability fosters em- the humanities. “We want to make her bachelor’s degree, she was off pathy in medical students, benefiting sure our students practice with com- to Mount Sinai School of Medicine. their future patients and enhancing passionate brilliance.” Pamela Schaff Training at Children’s Hospital Los their own professional satisfaction. Even with all of this work with Angeles followed, as well as more Schaff also has been an integral students, Schaff still finds time to see medical students, I’m reminded of than a decade in private practice. part of USC Visions and Voices, the patients in the family practice clinic what called me to medicine, of the She initially joined the Keck university-wide program that brings at Keck Medicine of USC. incredible privilege it is to care for School in 1986 as a voluntary faculty renowned artists and distinguished “One of the most rewarding things children and their families. And I’m member in the Introduction to Clini- speakers to campus. is the time I spend in clinic seeing a better doctor in the clinic because cal Medicine (ICM) program. She has received the Excellence patients,” she said, adding that her I spend so much time being inspired “I fell in love with the process (of in Teaching Award in 1998, 2002 and teaching and work in curriculum by my students and colleagues as we ICM),” Schaff said, “shepherding 2005; KSOM’s Master Teacher Award enrich her practice. “When I’m with ‘grow and develop’ future doctors.”

Congresswoman receives Calendar of Events Friday, Feb. 26 Seminar. “Role of Exosomic MicroRNAs Alzheimer advocacy award Noon. USC Institute for Global Health in the Biology of the Tumor Microenviron- Lecture. “Mexico’s Feasible Path Toward ment,” Muller Fabri, MD, PhD. Aresty By Amanda Busick Reducing Premature Mortality,” Jaime Auditorium. Info: Mary Jane Chua, ongresswoman Linda Sánchez Sepulveda, MD, DSc, MPH, UCSF. SSB [email protected] Cwas recognized for her work as 115/116. Info: Larissa Puro, an advocate for Alzheimer’s research (323) 442-7233, [email protected], Tuesday, March 8 and care at the Feb. 12 conference, http://globalhealth.usc.edu 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Department of The Many Faces of Dementia, in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative downtown Los Angeles. The Pioneer Monday, Feb. 29 Medicine; Eli and Edythe Broad Center Award was presented by the Al- Noon. KSOM Research Seminar Series for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell zheimer Disease Research Center. Seminar. “Cellular Tools for Virus War- Research at USC. Symposium, Junior Fac- “This issue is very personal to me,” fare,” Benjamin tenOever, PhD, Mount ulty Candidate Mini-symposium, Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center Auditorium. she said in a prerecorded speech that Sinai School of Medicine. Aresty Audito- Info: Cristy Lytal, [email protected], was shown during the conference. rium. Info: Mary Jane Chua, [email protected] http://stemcell.usc.edu “My father, like millions of others, suffers from this tragic disease. It’s Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 29-March 1 Friday, March 11 difficult for me to talk about, but I 7-11 a.m. Feb. 29; 7 a.m.-8 p.m. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Department of Medicine: share his diagnosis because I know March 1. Office of Safety & Emergency Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research I’m not alone.” Management Lecture. “Active Shooter Symposium. “The Pulmonary Challenge: Sánchez is on the Bipartisan Con- Linda Sánchez — Remaining Prepared in a Run, Hide, Innovations in lung development, stem gressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Fight World,” Robert C. Vance III. cells and regeneration,” Aresty Audito- disease and was a co-sponsor of Institute, the Alzheimer’s Verdugo Hills Hospital Council Room B. rium. Info: Mariana Gonzalez, the National Alzheimer’s Project Therapeutic Research Institute and Info: Robert Vance III, (323) 442-9915, [email protected], Act, which was signed into law by the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute [email protected]. Lecture and RSVP: https://hcpr.eventbrite.com hands-on exercise repeated hourly. President Obama in 2011. The law can all kick their research into even Saturday, March 12 higher gear, positioning USC to ensures that ethnic and racial popula- 6 p.m. Keck School of Medicine of USC. tions who are at higher risk from become an Alzheimer’s research pow- Monday-Friday, Feb. 29-March 4 6:30 a.m.-12:35 p.m. Continuing Medical “Keck Scholarship Gala,” Town and Alzheimer’s be included in the gov- erhouse right here in our backyard.” Education 44th Annual USC Diagnostic Gown, University Park Campus, Los Helena Chui, MD, chair of the ernment’s efforts on research, care, and Therapeutic Skills in Internal Medi- Angeles. Info and RSVP: and home and community-based Department of Neurology and a cine Conference. USC course director http://usc.edu/ESVP Code: KeckGala programs. More recently, Sanchez featured speaker at the conference, Ron Ben-Ari, MD. Hapuna Beach Prince supported a government funding said that this support is integral to the and Mauna Kea, Big Island Hawaii. Info: Saturday, March 19 measure that increased funding for research and patient care challenges Anika Bobb, (323) 442-2547, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. USC Tina and Rick Alzheimer’s research by $350 million. in combating this disease. [email protected], Caruso Department of Otolaryngology — The Congresswoman has been a “The $350 million is the first time http://usc.edu/cme Head & Neck Surgery, Continuing supporter of the NIH-supported USC we’ve seen a significant increase Medical Education Event. “Break- throughs in Clinical Otolaryngology: Alzheimer Disease Research Center in funding,” Chui said. “It’s very Tuesday, March 1 important because there are 5 million 5:30 p.m. Ophthalmology Grand Rounds. Pragmatic, Cost-Effective Approaches,” for many years. Sánchez pointed out Huntington Library, San Marino. Info: that this funding will directly affect Americans with Alzheimer’s now and Ananth Sastry, MD. HC4 Conference Room, 3rd Floor. Info: Tyaisha Ashley Foster, (323) 442-9918, the Keck School. another 5 million will be added every [email protected] 10 years.” Christopher, (323) 409-5233, “With the recent increases in fed- [email protected], For more information about the eral funding for Alzheimer’s research, http://usceye.org Monday, March 28 programs like the new Stephens USC Alzheimer Disease Research Noon. Department of Medical Education Neuroimaging and Informatics Center, go to www.usc.edu/memory. Wednesday, March 2 Seminar. “Faculty Development Seminar: Noon. The Saban Research Institute Engaging Learners in a Large Group,” Seminar. “Gene Environment Interac- Dixie Fisher, PhD. KAM 206. Info and MARATHON: Nguyen’s contagious tion in the Pathogenesis of Pediatric RSVP: Cris Argosino, (323) 442-2746, NAFLD,” Nicola Santoro, MD, PhD, [email protected], http://bit.ly/1Oijrt9 spirit motivated team to join race Yale University School of Medicine. Au- ditorium, Saban Research Building, 4661 Thursday, March 31 Continued from page 1 tive assistant, and Chris Sickels, Sunset Blvd. Parking is available at the 4 p.m. Visions and Voices Discussion. physical therapist at Keck Medical development officer to run by her main hospital garage. Info: Ritu Gill, “Music and Medicine: Experiments and Center. “There are not many pa- side. It was the first marathon for (323) 361-8715, [email protected], Explorations,” Berislav Zlokovic, director, tients that I can push to do circuit all of them. http://chla.org/tecpad Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute. Mayer training after a stroke. But her Nguyen also raised more than Auditorium. Info: http://visionsandvoices. spirit inspired me to push myself $4,800 for the USC Stroke Center. Monday, March 7 usc.edu, RSVP on the website beginning and join her for her comeback “In addition to raising aware- Noon. KSOM Research Seminar Series at 9 a.m. March 8 race.” ness for brain aneurysm research, Nguyen recruited Lathan, I wanted thank my treatment Russin, Joseph Hendrix, physi- team, especially all the nurses at 7 cian assistant at the neurosciences South ICU. I wouldn’t be here if it Notice: Calendar items are due at least 10 days before publication date. Timely submission does weren’t for them.” not guarantee publication in print. See more calendar entries at hscnews.usc.edu/calendar-of- clinic, Valerie Sanchez, administra- events. Submit items at tinyurl.com/calendar-hsc. Include day, date, time, title of talk, first and last name of speaker, affiliation of speaker, location and a phone number/email address. 3 Diversity has deep roots at Keck School By Amanda Busick als with programs like Med-COR, nearly 50 years ago in response to Because, they concluded, it was uilding and supporting a diverse Bridging the Gaps, the PA Pipeline student requests to highlight the the right thing to do. Bcampus community is a corner- Program and many student groups. issue of diversity on campus. The Keck School has graduated stone principle of the Keck School The Keck School continues to “In 1968, five white, male medi- 756 black and Latino physicians since of Medicine of USC. The school has strive to be the most diverse, most cal students went to the dean and 1968, with another 31 to be added a multi-pronged plan to support that inclusive medical school possible, said that they were tired of going to this year. The Office of Diversity and principle — building a pipeline of recently establishing Dean Carmen school with people who looked like Inclusion not only is responsible to interested and qualified students, A. Puliafito’s Diversity Cabinet, them,” Assistant Dean of Diversity black and Latino students, but also supporting those students when they which gathers staff and faculty to Althea Alexander said. “They said, Asian and Native American aspiring come to the Keck School, and attract- address the Keck School’s needs and ‘we are in the heart of the Spanish- health care professionals and LGBT ing and retaining an outstanding and acknowledge its accomplishments in speaking community, not far from students. diverse faculty. diversity. the black and Asian communities, This is one of many ways the Keck The school’s Office of Diversity Not only is the Office of Diversity and we have a small Native Ameri- School continues to encourage its and Inclusion promotes inclusion and Inclusion one of the medical can community. We need to be doing very important underrepresented among aspiring medical profession- school’s oldest programs, it began more.’ ” student population. Groups help students feel at home on campus By Hope Hamashige onducting hepatitis B screenings at local health Cfairs is one way that members of the Keck School of Medicine’s Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) give back. The students join forces with the Asian Pacific Liver Center to check for the disease, which touches the lives of Asians and Asian-Americans disproportionately. “We find that APAMSA provides great opportunities for us to actively help and give back to the community through mentorship and networking,” said Laurie Song, co-chair of the Keck School’s APAMSA chapter. “This allows for students in the club to feel at home on campus and makes us more well-rounded as medical students.” APAMSA is one of several diverse student organiza- tions at the Keck School, which has long felt that having such groups was a critical piece of its long-standing effort to enroll and retain a diverse student body. “Diversity has always been part of the intrinsic fabric of the Keck School of Medicine of USC; it is a vital core of our DNA and that of the entire Trojan family,” said Henri Ford, MD, MHA, vice dean of medical education. Many of the groups have, as part of their mission, a commitment to ensuring diversity among future genera- tions of medical students and doctors. For example, members of the Student National Medical Association,

an organization for medical students of color, make Norman Claire by Photos monthly visits to the nearby Tom Bradley Elementary High school students interact with volunteers from the Primary Care Physician Assistant Program during one School to give a science lesson, while the Latino Medi- of the PA program’s monthly Pipeline Program events. The teenagers learn about a range of health care- cal Student Association hosted a mentorship day in the related topics, including neurology, anatomy, nutrition and first aid. fall for students from nearby community colleges, offer- ing guidance about the application process to aspiring medical students. And in addition to providing a source of fun and com- PA program recognized munity, these groups provide a forum to tackle serious issues facing both minority students and the populations of patients they represent. The Keck School’s chapter for community outreach of MedGLO, a national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender medical students, organized By Amanda Busick The teenagers who participate in the program a lunch talk on gender confirmation surgery and hosted nce a month, up to 60 local high school stu- are almost all from underserved schools in the a workshop for first-year students about talking to their Odents join volunteers from the Primary Care area and are considering careers in a variety of patients about sexual orientation. Physician Assistant (PA) Program at Keck School medical positions. Topics at these events range “Being part of MedGLO has provided me with the of Medicine of USC for the Pipeline Program, from neurology, anatomy and physiology to opportunity to work to enhance awareness and under- which teaches these students knowledge and nutrition and basic first aid, and the students standing regarding the way in which diverse cultural, skills that could transform their future careers. are introduced to a wide range of health care psychosocial, economic, political, and historical factors This program was one of the reasons cited by careers. come together to impact LGBTQ health,” said Justin the Physician Assistant Education Association The enthusiasm for the program and the Trop, a co-chair of the Keck School’s MedGLO chapter. Forum for recognizing the Keck School’s program subject matter is clear when Mariah Ginez, a with the Excellence Through Diversity Award. 17-year-old senior from Montebello High School, The Pipeline Program was established almost shares her experiences. four years ago under the guidance of Maria G. “I love this program,” she said with a smile. Maldonado, MPH, MPAP, PA-C, faculty instruc- “I never knew about PAs before I came and now tor of clinical medicine and pipeline recruitment it’s pretty much the career path I am going to director. The program is one of the ways the take.” Keck School reaches out to the community, Maldonado’s vision for the future includes sparking interest in medical fields among a expanding the program to include parental sup- diverse base of qualified students. port workshops, information about financial aid Maldonado is quick to point out that she’s not options and academic support once the students the only influence on the program. make it to graduate school. “It’s a team effort on every level, and that’s “There are unique barriers and challenges that one of the things that really makes this program extend beyond the high school and college years successful,” she said. “I really think that’s one to graduate school,” Maldonado said. “So that’s

Annie Chen of the strong foundational pieces for this to where we need to help any student who may be Keck Bhangra student group members pose before a continue to be in action and to be sustainable.” in academic risk. performance at APAMSA Diwali Day 2014. FEBRUARY 26 • 2016 4 Expert: Inclusion is important factor in fostering diversity By Melissa Masatani ties throughout the univer- s the chief diversity officer sity.” Afor the American Associa- Diversity just means differ- tion of Medical Colleges, Marc ences, Nivet said, and admin- Nivet has a message you’d istrators must focus on how to never expect: Diversity is not make sure students and faculty good. flourish in a diverse campus “There is nothing inherently community. good about diversity, there’s “In the simple-minded nothing magical about diver- way of thinking about (diver- sity,” Nivet said during a Feb. sity), what we do is we count 17 lecture at Mayer Auditori- people,” Nivet said. “But we Photos courtesy of Jonathan Nguyen courtesy Photos Two students from the Keck School of Medicine of USC served as members of the executive committee um. “What is required to make don’t make sure people count. for the second annual Southern California LGBTQ Health Conference, held Feb. 20. diversity useful and positive We need to make sure that and good is this concept of people are bringing their full inclusion. Inclusion is the fuel selves to the institution and that animates the diversity. are being harnessed to make Bringing patient care It is what makes use of all more of the institution.” of our different experiences, First-year student Nana attributes, talents and inherent Bonsu agreed. diverse characteristics.” “I think the idea of inclu- issues out of the closet Nivet, EdD, MBA, was on sion is important because, By John Hobbs Two Keck School students also joined the Health Sciences campus to just because you have these or patients in the lesbian, gay, bisexual aspiring health care professionals from local present “Diversity 3.0: From numbers of minority people, it Fand transgender (LGBT) community, universities to organize the second annual Fairness to Excellence,” a dis- doesn’t necessarily mean that a routine check-up can bring up topics out Southern California LGBT Health Confer- cussion about the direction of you’re doing something,” he of the norm for practicing physicians. As ence. diversity on medical campuses said. “It’s a step, but if you’re a result, students from the Keck School The event, which was held Feb. 20 at across the country presented not actually doing something of Medicine of USC are taking strides to the University of California, Irvine, was by the Office of Educational with the minorities to make improve health care workers’ understand- intended to foster conversations about Affairs and Office of Diversity sure they feel included, then I ing of the issues. LGBT health and wellness in the context and Inclusion. think it’s futile.” “The students are ahead of us on this of individual lives and stories. The nearly “We have been thrilled Nivet also emphasized that and driving change,” acknowledged 200 attendees included currently practicing to have him with us (on diversity is not just an impor- Suzanne Palmer, MD, professor of clini- and future health care professionals as well campus), where he has met tant conversation — it must cal radiology and medicine and president as LGBT community members. with a number of us, includ- be an urgent priority, which of the Keck School of Medicine of USC As members of the conference’s execu- ing members of the Dean’s resonated with several of the Faculty Council. “They were instrumental tive committee, second-year Keck School Diversity Cabinet as well as students in attendance. in establishing LGBT Thrive, a group students Justin Trop and Jennifer Franks some of our student leaders,” “The school knows diversity on USC’s Health Sciences Campus that said they would like to see LGBTQ patient said Educational Affairs Vice is important,” second-year includes staff, students and faculty from care issues better represented in health care Dean Henri Ford, MD, MHA. student Vanessa Arientyl said. across the hospitals and medical school, that curricula. LGBT cultural literacy takes on a “The message coming from “We’re talking about diversity, is helping to integrate LGBT-friendly poli- new level of importance with a doctor, who him has been quite insightful but how do we go about it? cies into education and clinical practice.” focuses on the entire patient. and should help Keck on its Right now, diversity is just Recently, Keck School administrators ap- “If your patient is a trans man in need of path to promote diversity and important, but I think people proved a lecture on LGBT health thanks to a pap smear or is intersex and has retained also allow us to embrace what recognize that it is becoming the advocacy work of MedGLO, an LGBT testes, if you don’t ask your patient about it, has been the fabric of USC: urgent. We have the potential organization with more than 70 members at you will never know, and they could be in the importance of diversity to be frontrunners in this, so the Keck School. danger,” Trop said. through all of the various facul- why not?” Ricardo Carrasco III Carrasco Ricardo The Southern California LGBT Health Conference was intended to foster conversations about LGBT Marc Nivet, chief diversity officer of the American Association of health and wellness in the context of individual lives and stories. Medical Colleges, speaks Feb. 17 at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Faculty diversity among administration’s priorities

By Amanda Busick getting different perspectives on the issues and and retention of students, faculty, residents and ven the most diverse student body can feel gathering information on what the current climate staff. Ealienated and underrepresented if there isn’t offers staff and students. The community surrounding the Keck School a diverse faculty to match it. The Keck School of He is well aware of the national attention this always has been an important part of the makeup Medicine of USC has a proud heritage of diversity very important issue has received. of the institution as well. This is something that and is taking steps to further develop and maintain “Obviously major universities are taking this Upperman wants to continue to foster. a diverse faculty and staff. fairly seriously,” he said, “and I think as we begin “As you are trying to figure things out within Jeffrey Upperman, MD, associate dean for to craft what our five-year strategy is for the Keck various communities that are ethnically and socio- faculty diversity, was appointed to this position School, we need to make sure that we have all economically diverse, it’s important to reflect those in November of 2015. He is making sure that this of the appropriate information so that we make a communities,” he said. important task is something he and his team are strong investment in our future.” “I think that the Keck School has a long history tackling in a thoughtful way. Upperman is a member of Dean Carmen A. of being part of the community and this is an Upperman’s plans include a “listening tour” Puliafito’s Diversity Cabinet, one of the ways the ongoing extension of really trying to step it up and of various departments and teams at the school, Keck School is focused on enhancing recruitment continue to do great things.” 5 Students tackle global health crises By Larissa Puro Health Case Competition in Atlanta or the fifth year, nearly 100 USC this April. Fstudents from 10 schools faced By contending for first place with current-day issues of global health their peers, the students learned to during the USC Global Health Case collaborate with others under pres- Competition on Feb. 11. sure. Instead of handpicking a team Teams were mock consultants to go to Emory University — which “hired” by the American Cancer So- some universities, in fact, do — USC ciety and had a week to identify and leaves it up to the students, which implement global programs to foster motivates them to think creatively — healthy communities in lower-income and competitively. countries. On competition day, students The annual cross-campus chal- presented to judges comprising USC lenge, which began in 2012, is faculty and American Cancer Society coordinated by the USC Institute for representatives. Each team had to Global Health and a partnering orga- analyze research related to health nization — this year, it was American promotion and cancer prevention in Cancer Society. low- and middle-income countries Previous competitions have fea- and develop a five-year sustainable, realistically financed strategic plan

tured partnerships with organizations Larissa Puro including TOMS, the World Health to further cancer prevention through Members of the winning team in the fifth annual USC Global Health Case Competition Organization, Centers for Disease healthy environments and lifestyles. are, from left, Danielle Pappas, Amy Nham, Evan Pye and Jessica Frankeberger. Not Control and International Medical Teams included students from the pictured is Jennifer Bailey. Corps. Marshall School of Business, Viterbi Master of Public Health candidates School of Engineering, Keck School Rosie Henson, American Cancer most pervasive challenges facing us Danielle Pappas, Evan Pye and of Medicine, Dornsife College of Society Vice President for Preven- today: improving Americans’ health Jessica Frankeberger; psychology Letters, Arts and Sciences, An- tion and Early Detection — and and well being. The lecture will be undergraduate Jennifer Bailey and nenberg School for Communication, one of the day’s judges — treated available to watch online. dual-degree pharmacy and PharmD/ Price School of Public Policy, School participants to a lecture midway The students will receive guid- MPH student Amy Nham are mem- of Social Work, Leventhal School of through the day as part of the USC ance from global health faculty bers of the winning team. Accounting, School of Pharmacy and Global Health Lecture Series. She before they compete at Emory They will represent USC at the In- the Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young addressed the movement to include University on April 8-9 for a chance ternational Emory University Global Academy. cancer in discussions of one of the to win $6,000. Urology leaders gather for inaugural conference ore than 150 medical profes- national and international leaders Msionals watched simulta- in the fields of urology, oncology neous open and robotic radical and others. Organized by Inderbir cystectomies recently, as a group Gill, MD, the founding executive of global leaders in the urology director of the USC Institute of field gathered for an inaugural Urology and chairman and profes- conference at the Keck School of sor, Catherine and Joseph Aresty Medicine of USC. Department of Urology, the course The First Annual Conference: included hands-on labs, live Practical Urology, held Feb. 4-6 surgeries, interactive discussions at the Health Sciences Campus, and more. offered a state-of-the-art show- The next conference will be Cristy Lytal case of practices in urology from held Feb. 2-4, 2017. Ismael Fernández-Hernández is one of 11 Mexican postdoctoral fellows at USC. Mexican researcher tapped for fellowship at stem cell lab By Cristy Lytal lowship at USC, Fernández-Hernández e can learn a lot from fly brains, and his wife are open to opportunities Waccording to Ismael Fernández- anywhere in the world. Eventually, how- Hernández, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow ever, he hopes to start his own laboratory in the USC Stem Cell laboratory of in Mexico, while maintaining collabora- Michael Bonaguidi, PhD. tions with his USC colleagues. Fernández-Hernández is an accom- He began using fruit flies to study plished researcher who showed that cancer during his master’s degree at adult fruit flies have the potential for the Spanish National Cancer Research replenishing brain cells lost to disease, Centre (CNIO) and the Autonomous Ricardo Carrasco III Carrasco Ricardo injury or aging. He is also one of 11 University of Madrid in Spain. Then Attendees view a display of a Da Vinci Xi Surgical Systems robot. new Mexican postdoctoral fellows at his PhD work at the University of Bern USC jointly funded by the university in Switzerland showed, for the first and the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y time, that fruit flies have a remarkable Tecnología (CONACYT) — Mexico’s regenerative capacity to produce new equivalent of the National Science neurons after brain injury. He continued Industry partnership to help Foundation. to work with fruit flies while studying “This arrangement between the brain tumors during his first postdoc at research in immune diseases USC and CONACYT is great, because the Institute for Research in Biomedi- By Zen Vuong flow from bench to bedside. Akbari it allows Mexican researchers to come cine (IRB) in Barcelona, Spain. nvestigators at Keck Medicine will be a principal investigator here to a distinguished university with In the Bonaguidi Lab, Fernández- Iof USC are tackling immune- of the new Janssen Immunology state-of-the-art facilities to increase Hernández is using these surging mediated diseases in a whole new Postdoctoral Program. their knowledge and experience, which swarms of flies to find genetic factors way with the creation of a joint USC has a three-year contract eventually benefits people in both and test drug-like compounds that may postdoctoral program. with Janssen. During that time, countries,” he said. “This has been a help the brain counteract degeneration Omid Akbari, PhD, a professor USC will own 50 percent of any very important opportunity for me.” from disease, aging or injury. in the Department of Molecular intellectual property that results As a USC-CONACYT Provost Fellow, “Flies are, genetically speaking, Microbiology and Immunology at from the collaborative postdoctoral Fernández-Hernández will receive fund- quite related to humans,” Fernández- the Keck School of Medicine of program, Akbari said. ing for up to two years of postdoctoral Hernández said. “Sixty percent of the USC, said a combined postdoctoral “It is very uncommon for a com- research at the Eli and Edythe Broad genes causing diseases in humans are effort with Janssen Research & pany to give intellectual property Center for Regenerative Medicine and shared with flies. Along with several Development, a unit of Johnson rights away,” Akbari said. Stem Cell Research at USC, part of the technical advantages, that’s why it is a & Johnson, will give his lab’s “This is a novel approach to Keck School of Medicine of USC. very suitable model organism to study researchers the ability to practice finding solutions for patients’ After his two-year postdoctoral fel- the genetic causes of diseases.” translational research that could maladies.” FEBRUARY 26 • 2016 6

HSC Newsmakers A roundup of news items related to Keck Medicine of USC, which may include philanthropic donations, research grants, publication in academic journals and mentions in the news media: Lisa Chakrabarti Stand of Iris by Lisa Chakrabarti USC Norris to mark second anniversary of Survivor Art Series

For two years, cancer survivors have been able to showcase their artwork in a rotating show at the Jennifer Diamond Cancer Resource Library in the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. The library will host a recep-

tion to mark the second anniversary of the ongoing program at Mary Dacuma 2 p.m. March 9, featuring its eighth cancer survivor/artist. Lisa HELPING RUNNERS: Volunteers from Keck Medical Center of USC and Los Angeles County + USC Medical Chakrabarti will talk about her life as an artist, her experi- Center pose before aiding runners on Feb. 14 at the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon finish line. ence as a patient at USC Norris and how her cancer diag- nosis has informed her creative process. “Another reason to celebrate is that all seven of our previous artists are still ALZHEIMER’S survivors,” said Mary Aalto, volunteer library coordinator for Continued from page 1 the Jennifer Diamond Cancer Resource Library. Refresh- roscience. If we don’t solve this problem, it will not only ments will be served, no RSVP is necessary. The library is bankrupt our families financially and emotionally, it will located in the Harlyne J. Norris Research Tower, G501. For bankrupt this country.” more information, call (323) 442-7805. Genova, a Harvard-trained neuroscientist who was inspired to write Still Alice — her first novel — after her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, sees her work Residential traffic reduces child’s as a vehicle to spread understanding and galvanize action genetic protection from asthma toward a once rarely discussed condition. “I always start with the science, but my job is to write a Too much residential traffic removes the protective compelling, human story that brings compassionate under- effect a specific gene has on lowering asthma risk, accord- standing,” she said about her fiction, which is dedicated to ing to a new USC study. Children could have zero, one Melissa Archer exploring the human dimension of neurological diseases. or two copies of a common gene variant. “Environmental While there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s, both Toga and exposures such as traffic-related air pollution can trigger USC Clinical Genova say the situation is moving in a positive direction. lung inflammation, but the effects depend on genetic For instance, the public conversation created by increased background,” said Frank Gilliland, MD, PhD, MPH, se- Trials Office awareness of the disease — helped in part through the nior author, preventive medicine professor and director of successful film adaptation of Still Alice, for which Julianne the division of environmental health at the Keck School announces Moore won an Oscar in 2015 as an early-onset Alzheimer’s of Medicine of USC. “Some people have a genetic back- sufferer — is leading to greater investments into a cure. ground that reduces their risk for lung inflammation, but if new director “The progression of knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease they are highly exposed, then that protection goes away.” has been impressive in the last 25 years and continues to fter assuming oversight The study, published in the journal PLOS One, examined grow in a very accelerated way,” Toga said. “There is great of the USC Clinical Tri- exhaled nitric oxide levels in 2,457 white and Hispanic A hope, great excitement and great enthusiasm among scien- als Office (CTO) in January, children in Southern California. Exhaled nitric oxide is a tists to push forward with this disease.” biomarker of airway inflammation; higher levels of it in- the Keck School of Medi- crease a child’s risk of developing asthma. Children with a cine of USC has announced common variation of “NOS2,” the primary gene that pro- the appointment of Melissa duces nitric oxide in airways, tend to have lungs that are Archer, JD, as the new direc- USC Health Sciences Non-Profit Organization less inflamed. Thus, they are less likely to develop asthma. tor of the CTO. Archer, who Public Relations and Marketing U.S. POSTAGE PAID — Zen Vuong has a background in law, was 2011 N Soto Street - SST-2830 Industry CA identified through a compre- Los Angeles, CA 90032 Permit 4029 hensive national search and comes to USC from leader- ship positions in clinical tri- als operations in the private sector and academia. “I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the talented and diverse faculty and staff in the USC research com- munity,” Archer stated. “I look forward to bringing my experience to collaborate, and to support the school’s Glenn Marzano Glenn Vibrant visuals accompany soothing music in the Herman Ostrow efforts to expand our clinical HSC News School of Dentistry of USC’s new mobile dental clinic. trial programs.” HSC News is published for the faculty, staff, Archer will lead the CTO students, volunteers and visitors in the University Dentistry school unveils world’s through a transition that is of Southern California’s Health Sciences Campus largest mobile dental clinic designed to enhance the community. It is produced by the Health Sciences efficiency, user-friendliness Public Relations and Marketing staff. Permission to At 48 feet long — just five feet shy of a standard semi and transparency of services reprint articles is available upon request. No artwork trailer — and 22 feet wide, it’s the largest mobile dental clin- available to support clinical may be reproduced without the creator’s consent. ic in the world. And the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry trials at USC. of USC celebrated the opening of the colossal clinic — the The transition coincides Editor: Melissa Masatani crown jewel in its mobile fleet — with a ribbon-cutting cere- with other major advances Director, Internal Communications: Virginia Baca mony and walk-through tours in February at the Westminster in USC’s environment for Contributors: Andrea Aldana, Meg Aldrich, Amanda Busick, Ricardo Presbyterian Church in Pasadena. More than 85 USC den- clinical research, including Carrasco III, Louise Cobb, Mary Dacuma, Nathan Cowen, Cristy Lytal, tal students attended the event, which commemorated the a new clinical trials manage- Douglas Morino, Sara Reeve, Sherri Snelling, Carol Sussman, Zen Vuong clinic’s opening at its first stop, where Ostrow faculty, staff ment system, a clinical data and L. Alexis Young and students provided dental treatment to 120 disadvan- warehouse for research, and taged children. “It is our hope that these community ex- a one-stop Clinical Research Phone: (323) 442-2830 periences engender in our students a lasting commitment Support Office to assist Fax: (323) 442-2832 Next Issue: to give back to the community,” said Avishai Sadan, DMD, research teams in the design Email: [email protected] March 11 dean of the dental school. — John Hobbs and conduct of clinical Web: hscnews.usc.edu | kecknet.usc.edu studies.