Foothills Community Celebrates the Joining of USC and Verdugo Hills Hospital

OCTOBER 11 • 2013 The Weekly theweekly.usc.edu PUBLISHED FOR THE USC HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS COMMUNITY VOLUME 19 • NUMBER 28

Foothills community celebrates the joining of USC and Verdugo Hills Hospital

By Celine Petrossian expands access to specialty services Right: Debbie Walsh, More than 700 members of the that a world-class academic medical the recently appointed Foothills community joined the wide center can offer.” CEO of USC Verdugo array of cardinal-and-gold-themed Event participants also enjoyed a Hills Hospital, welcomes festivities at the USC Verdugo Hills visit by the USC Trojan Marching the Foothills community Hospital Wellness Celebration on Sept. Band and USC Song Girls, and to the USC Verdugo 28 on the USC-VHH campus. The had an opportunity to take photos Hills Hospital Wellness event celebrated the new affi liation of with Traveler, USC’s mascot. In Celebration. the two organizations. addition, the Radio Disney road crew “I’m terribly in favor of the new entertained children of all ages with Below: Hands-on partnership,” said Sunland resident games and prizes. cardiopulmonary Bob Pinkston, who attended the event Other exhibitors included the Keck resuscitation (CPR) with his wife Diane. “I love USC. Medical Center of USC, Glendale training for adults and Verdugo Hills has been a great hospital Healthy Kids, Glendale Police and children was among the and the association with USC is a step Fire Departments, and Crescenta many off erings for the up. All of my three children were born Valley Drug and Alcohol Prevention community at the Sept. at this hospital.” Coalition. 28 event. Photos/Paul Edward Robison Edward Photos/Paul From cholesterol and bone density Suzy Jacobs, executive director of screenings administered by the USC Crescenta Valley Drug and Alcohol School of Pharmacy students to Prevention Coalition, said the new balance and blood pressure screenings partnership between USC and provided by the USC-VHH clinical Verdugo Hills Hospital is great for staff, community members received the community. “The hospital was their health check-ups and met many already a great community resource, of the members of the Trojan Family. and now it’s even better,” she said. Car seat safety, hands-on CPR training The integration of Verdugo Hills and infection control methods were Hospital into Keck Medicine of also among the educational activities USC creates a unique opportunity offered at the event. for exceptional patient care in the Debbie Walsh, the new CEO of community through synergies USC-VHH, welcomed the crowd to the that enhance the strengths of both celebration. “This partnership provides organizations. Keck Medicine of USC everyone who lives in the Foothills includes the Keck Medical Center of community the same great services and USC, the USC Norris Comprehensive care from the physicians and staff you Cancer Center and the Keck School know and trust,” she said, “but also of Medicine of USC.

Keck Medicine of USC opens diagnostic and Strengthening the community, treatment center for children with hearing loss one good neighbor at a time By Alison Trinidad The center builds on the Hearing loss among world-renowned clinical By Sara Reeve awarded in June 2013 to children is a major challenge and scientifi c expertise How many high school partnership programs for pediatricians and parents. of the Department of students voluntarily give up developed between the According to the National Otolaryngology-Head & many of their Saturdays just to university and local com- Information Center for Neck Surgery at Keck go to school? Every year, more munity organizations. Of ‘We wanted Children and Youth with Medicine of USC. than 185 Los Angeles students those 50, 23 grants went to Disabilities, children who “Research and clinical do just that, in the USC programs surrounding the to create a are hard of hearing often innovation go hand in Med-COR program, funded in Health Sciences Campus continuity of fi nd it much more diffi cult hand at the Keck School of part thanks to the USC Good community. to learn vocabulary, grammar Medicine,” said Carmen A. Neighbors Campaign. One of the programs to care for these and word order. Puliafi to, MD, MBA, dean USC’s staff , faculty and receive funding is the Med- children, ... where No single treatment is the of the Keck School. “We friends can pledge to help COR program. Originally answer, however. To offer are enthusiastic about the organizations that improve founded in 1970, Med-COR, audiologists could patients and their families opening of this new center.” the community by promot- which stands for Medical see patients comprehensive clinical The center is the result of ing better health and edu- Counseling Organizing and have access care backed by innovative the hard work and dedication cational opportunities in and Recruiting, works with research, Keck Medicine of of many departments the areas surrounding both high school students of to both clinical USC recently opened the university-wide, according to the Health Sciences and color to help prepare them and research USC Center for Childhood Coreen Rodgers, MBA, CPA, University Park Campuses. for careers in the health Communication on the chief operating offi cer of the The 2013 USC Good professions. resources.’ campus of John Tracy Clinic, Keck School of Medicine of Neighbors Campaign “The Med-COR program 806 W. Adams Blvd., in Los USC. “Coordination for the kicked off on Oct. 1 and exposes underrepresented Angeles. Pediatric audiology logistics of starting things runs through the end of minorities living in inner- —Coreen Rodgers, and speech pathology up in just 10 days’ time has the month. Begun in 1994, city communities of Los MBA, chief operating specialists began seeing been a massive task between the USC Good Neighbors Angeles to health profes- patients on Oct. 1. legal, USC Care, marketing, Campaign encourages USC sional careers and helps oﬃ cer, Keck School The new center provides the audiologists and USC real faculty and staff to contrib- them become competitively of Medicine of USC audiology and speech estate,” she said. “We wanted ute a portion of their pay- eligible for admission to language pathology services to provide continuity of care checks to support programs top universities,” said Joyce to children with hearing loss for these children, setting up through grants from USC Richey, PhD, director of the from birth to adulthood, a location where audiologists Neighborhood Outreach USC Med-COR program. including access to national could see patients and have (UNO) and United Way. “The process of attaining clinical trials and state-of- access to both clinical and Fifty UNO grants were See NEIGHBOR, page 3 the-art rehabilitative care. See HEARING, page 2 OCTOBER 11 • 2013 HEARING: New center provides comprehensive clinical, research resources

Continued from Page 1 Tracy Clinic (JTC), which was founded in 1943 The USC Center for Childhood Communication research resources targeted for a pediatric population.” and is a leading diagnostic and education center for is the latest addition to the Department of Fully staffed by USC faculty, the center is able to young children with hearing loss in the world. John Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, which test the degree and type of hearing loss a child may Tracy Clinic’s integrated services include pediatric recently recruited four physicians specializing have; fit assistive devices such as hearing aids, bone audiology, community hearing screening, parent-infant in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders that conduction devices and cochlear implants; and assess programming, an auditory-verbal preschool, counseling affect hearing, balance, speech, swallowing, sleep listening and communication skill development. It and child development, parent distance education, and and facial function. The department is home also will participate in various National Institutes of an accredited master’s degree and credential program. to preeminent surgeons who have unparalleled Health-funded research projects that focus on hearing “Without the John Tracy Clinic, we could never experience in cochlear implantation — Niparko and speech development, in hopes of developing have gotten up and running so quickly,” said and Rick A. Friedman, MD, PhD, together innovative technologies and procedures for people Rodgers. “We’ve already seen patients at the JTC have performed nearly 2,000 cochlear implants with profound hearing loss. facilities, and we are now building a full audiology — including advanced surgical techniques and “With the right care, young children with hearing clinic on-site with four hearing booths, family therapy multidisciplinary approaches to rehabilitation. loss can achieve developmental, academic and social rooms and a second floor with offices for research “Keck Medicine of USC is growing its network outcomes commensurate with their hearing peers,” facilities and staff, all due to open Jan. 1, 2014.” and expanding its reach to meet the needs of the said John K. Niparko, MD, professor and chair of “We are pleased to have our two remarkable community at large,” said Tom Jackiewicz, MPH, the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck institutions under one roof,” added Gaston Kent, senior vice president and CEO of USC Health. “We are Surgery. “Our center fills a regional gap, integrating president and CEO of John Tracy Clinic. “Our pleased to have these hearing and speech specialists join research, clinical services and education to serve proximity will be a tremendous asset to children the Trojan Family. Their expertise and experience in families with special needs.” with hearing loss and we look forward to a long and clinical care and research will be invaluable in building a The center is located on the first floor of John collaborative relationship.” first-class center for patients with hearing loss.”

Dermatologist discusses the science of cellular water at USC The Weekly NEWSMAKERS By Amy E. Hamaker Murad explained that his science of Hydration is vital for a well-functioning cellular water theory states that people go A Sept. 24 broadcast on CBS News This Morning featured body. USC faculty, staff and students had the from a state of full hydration to a state of low an interview with David Agus, MD, professor of medicine at opportunity to learn more about “the science hydration as they age, and that this change the Keck School of Medicine of USC, about research showing of cellular water” by the originator of the in condition affects cell health and regenera- that when mice were infected with a common parasite, they concept, Howard Murad, MD. tion. “After reviewing more than 300 dif- appear to lose their fear of cats. Murad, an associate clinical professor of ferent theories of aging,” he said, “I found medicine at UCLA and CEO/founder of skin that all of them had to do with one thing: A Sept. 23 episode of The Doctors featured an interview care product company Murad Inc., visited dehydration.” with Armand Dorian, MD, clinical associate professor of the Health Sciences Campus on Aug. 29 to Murad recommended a three-pronged emergency medicine at the Keck School, about odd cases he’s present “An Integrated Cellular Strategy for approach to look better (using targeted topical treated in the emergency room. Optimizing Whole Body Health.” skin care), live better (making careful choices Introduced by Marc Weigensberg, MD, of food and dietary supplements) and feel bet- A Sept. 23 article in Science Codex featured research associate professor of clinical pediatrics and ter (put yourself first and manage the impact by Si-Yi Chen, MD, PhD, professor of molecular microbiol- director of USC’s Institute of Integrative of stress). ogy and immunology at the Keck School, and Keck School Health, Murad’s lecture focused student Vijayalakshmi Nandakumar on how natural on the concept of whole-body killer (NK) cells in the human body can be manipulated by health, and the skin’s connection epigenetics. These cells can be used to contain the spread to every system within the body. of tumors. “While scientists all around the world are working “As a dermatologist, I have no on developing new drugs using NK cells, none of the drugs in acne patients,” explained Murad. development focuses on epigenetic regulation of the cells,” “I have patients who have acne. It’s Chen said in the article. “To date, there are no elaborate a difference in understanding a pa- reports linking an epigenetic phenomenon to natural killer tient as a whole person, rather than cell development,” Nandakumar added. The research by the as a disease. We tend to categorize two was also featured by Nature Medicine, Medical News patients rather than viewing them Today, Medical Xpress, Health Canal and RedOrbit. as a whole person.” He also noted that the skin A Sept. 22 report in SingularityHub quoted Sharon conditions he sees in his clini- Orrange, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine at the cal practice are often symptoms Amy E.Amy Hamaker Keck School, about Calico, a company focused on aging and related to comorbidities, including related diseases. digestion, lack of energy, poor Dermatologist and skin care manufacturer Howard Murad shares his sleep and chronic disease. theory of the science of cellular water.

TheWeekly Next Issue: Oct. 25

Did you know? The Weekly is published for the faculty, staff, students, volunteers and visitors in the Epigenetics is a burgeoning field with deep roots at the USC University of Southern California’s Health Sciences campus community. It is written and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. The study of changes produced by the Health Sciences Public Relations and Marketing staff. Comments, suggestions in genes that do not alter the DNA sequence, epigenetics and story ideas are welcome. Permission to reprint articles with attribution is freely given. demonstrates that cancer stems from genetic changes and that nonhereditary factors can lead to abnormal gene Associate Vice President, Health Sciences Public Relations and Marketing: expression resulting in cancer. Deborah S. Fullerton In 1980, Peter Jones, PhD, DSc, former cancer center director and distinguished professor of urology and Executive Director of Creative Services: Tom DeSanto biochemistry and molecular biology at the Keck School of Editor: Amy E. Hamaker Medicine, and his research team discovered the benefits of the epigenetic drug azacitidine for leukemia patients. The drug Contributors: Ryan Ball, Eva Blaauw, Tania Chatila, Carol Matthieu, Jessica Morin, Jon Nalick, causes profound changes in gene expression and inhibits DNA Celine Petrossian, Sara Reeve, Leslie Ridgeway and Alison Trinidad methylation, which can lock genes in the “off” position. In 2008, with the support of the Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Vice President, Public Relations and Marketing: Brenda Maceo Foundation, USC Norris opened the USC Epigenome Center, one of the first institutions in the country devoted to advancing epigenetic research. “The field has exploded in every measurable way, from the number of scientists working in this field, to the ways Phone: (323) 442-2830 Fax: (323) 442-2832 in which epigenetics has been found to be at the basis of many Email: [email protected] Web: theweekly.usc.edu biological processes,” said Peter Laird, PhD, center director. Two grants totaling $1.1 million assist pacesetting programs at USC

By Amy E. Hamaker cancer center and professor/vice chair The foremost mission of the of pediatrics at the Keck School, and UniHealth Foundation, an inde- Debu Tripathy, MD, professor of medi- pendent private health care founda- cine at the Keck School, to implement tion founded in 1998, is to support the Clinical Core for AYA@USC. pacesetting programs that positively “The UniHealth grant will help impact health in the communities it us launch the clinical end of the pro- serves. Two recent grants from the gram,” explained Siegel. “We will be foundation totaling $1.1 million will able to implement a database to allow help support vital programs at USC us to see the population of AYAs with that are making a real difference to cancer in the USC system, assess the Health Sciences Campus com- their support needs and make sure munity and its patients. they get them in a timely fashion, The first is a grant of $500,000 ensure that each medical team has over two years to the Keck School of a champion for the correct protocols Medicine of USC and the USC Norris and treatments evolving for this age Comprehensive Cancer Center to sup- group, and who can identify research port the Adolescent and Young Adult protocols that are available.” Program (AYA@USC). The second grant totals $600,000 Joel Milam AYA@USC, in collaboration with over three years to provide support for Patients of Keck Medicine’s AYA@USC Program, pictured here during a recent surfing Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, was restructuring graduate medical educa- expedition, will be helped through a recent grant by the UniHealth Foundation. created specifically to meet the needs tion (GME). The Accreditation Coun- of cancer patients between the ages cil for Graduate Medical Education, of 15 and 39. The National Cancer which accredits all GME institutions ous GME accreditation cycles for the that under the umbrella of a compre- Institute estimates that 70,000 U.S. and programs, recently implemented Keck School’s 57 residency programs. hensive cancer center, this program will adolescents and young adults are a major transformation for seven core Opas and his team will be able to se- continue to deliver meet the unique diagnosed with cancer each year, specialties in GME structure and cure the personnel needed to educate clinical needs of young adult cancer pa- and survival rates for this population focus. This change is called the Next and supervise residents and faculty tients as well as survivors of childhood have not improved in almost 30 years. GME Accreditation System (NAS). in innovative patient safety/quality cancers,” said Mary Odell, UniHealth AYA@USC tailors many existing Accreditation will be mainly depen- improvement initiatives, monitor out- Foundation president. “We also clinical programs, expands social dent on patient safety and quality comes and disseminate best practices value the important role Keck plays in services and strengthens and expands improvement outcomes. Changes in through national publications. graduate medical education and the research with a focus on the distinct the remaining 19 core specialties will “UniHealth Foundation saw the provision of specialty clinical services to needs of AYA@USC patients. be implemented in July 2014. successful development of the AYA underserved residents of Los Angeles The grant will help the program, The grant will help Associate Dean Oncology Program at Providence St. County. We hope our continued sup- co-led by Stuart Siegel, MD, associate for Graduate Medical Education Joseph Medical Center under Dr. Sei- port will strengthen Keck’s capacity to director for pediatric oncology at the Lawrence Opas maintain the meritori- gel’s capable leadership. We anticipate meet the demands of the NAS.”

NEIGHBOR: USC neighborhoods benefit from UNO grants The Weekly ETCETERA Continued from Page 1 School, King-Drew Medical Campuses,” said Richey, higher education can be in- Magnet High School, Or- who is also an assistant timidating for some minority thopaedic Hospital Medical dean of educational affairs The Keck School of Medicine of USC Parents students and their families, Magnet High School and and faculty at the Keck Association is hosting two upcoming events as part of particularly first-generation Van Nuys High School. School of Medicine of Trojan Family Weekend. “Mini-Medical School: A Day in college students. Med-COR Richey believes strongly USC. “The USC partner- the Life of Your Medical Student” will be held on Oct. 25, at has ensured that the stu- that Med-COR and the ship requirement with local Mayer Auditorium beginning at 12:30 p.m. The Trojan Family dent participants and their UNO grants that have organizations has allowed Tailgate will be held at Argue Plaza on the University Park parents receive financial aid, helped to support the the university to collaborate Campus on Oct. 26. Register online at www.keck.usc.edu/ academic advising and SAT program send a positive with organization leaders TrojanFamilyWeekend. For more information, contact Teresa preparation through a series message to the university’s to implement programs Whitaker at (626) 457-4207 or [email protected]. of workshops. Parents are surrounding communities. that will ultimately lead to engaged and have organized “The UNO grants show improvements and overall Glenn T. Ault, MD, MSEd, associate professor of surgery a support group that meets that the university has wellness of the community.” and residency program director for the division of colorectal monthly to receive help- taken an active role in To date, the Good Neigh- surgery, has been elected to serve on the American Board of ful information about the solving some of the most bors Campaign has raised Colon and Rectal Surgery. He will assist in reviewing candidate program activities.” pressing issues faced by the more than $16 million to qualifications for practicing within the specialty. The program currently predominantly Latino and support more than 550 com- serves 188 students from African American population munity partnership grants. The Southern California Clinical and Translational four local schools: Francisco surrounding the University For more information, visit Science Institute has extended the deadline for individual Bravo Medical Magnet High Park and Health Sciences http://goodneighbors.usc.edu. pilot funding opportunities to Monday, Oct. 21. For more information or to apply, visit www.sc-ctsi.org/funding.

Pat Levitt, PhD, provost professor of neuroscience, psychiatry and pharmacy, has been elected as a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Election is granted based on professional achievement and interest, concern and involvement with critical public health issues.

Medical insurer Aetna has approved Keck Hospital of USC’s lung transplant program continuation as an Aetna Institute of Excellence (IE) after meeting extensive quality and cost-effectiveness criteria to participate in the IE program.

Carmen A. Puliafito, MD, MBA, dean of the Keck School, has received the Innovator Award for Technology through the LA Health Care Awards, to be presented to Puliafito on Oct. 17.

Jon Nalick The call for abstracts for Innovations in Medical Education 2014 is now open. The submission deadline is Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. PRETTY SURE THERE’S A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE — Salerni Collegium hosted its annual Kick-Off Dinner in Pas- adena on Sept. 24, welcoming first-year medical students who joined the group, which raises funds for student For submission and registration information, visit www.keck. scholarships. On hand were members of the Salerni Collegium Executive Board (from left): AJ Katz, Dan Gardner, usc.edu/en/Education/Department_of_Medical_Education/ MD, Michele Cannis, MD, Carmel Gardner, MD, Donna Pachorek, MD, Ashley Prosper, MD, John Osterkamp, MD, Conference.aspx. Brent Allen, MD, George Stoneman, MD, Ken Geller, MD, Greg Harlan, MD, and Donna Elliott, MD, EdD. OCTOBER 11 • 2013

Celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness this October Calendar of Events As part of its breast cancer awareness campaign, the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Find updated Calendar information online! Center is offering specially designed breast Visit www.theweekly.usc.edu every Friday cancer T-shirts for sale only through the end and search on “HSC Weekly Calendar.” of October. Your purchase will promote breast Sunday, Oct. 13 cancer awareness while supporting breast cancer research at USC Norris. 4 – 7 p.m. Keck Hospital of USC Guild Benefit. “Celebrate Visit any USC Bookstore or hospital gift shop an Afternoon Among the ‘Super Stars,’” former USC football to get yours; you can also purchase one at www. players Shane Foley and Anthony Davis. Sports Museum of L.A., 1900 Main St., Los Angeles. $75 per person. Info: Janie uscbookstore.com/breast-cancer. Fan, (626) 755-0955, [email protected]. Additionally, on Oct. 26, get behind more than just the Trojan football team by celebrat- Tuesday, Oct. 15 ing breast cancer awareness at a USC Trojan football game. During halftime, USC Norris Noon. Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine physicians, staff members, and former and cur- and Stem Cell Research at USC. “Muscle Stem Cell Self- Renewal and Aging,” Andrew Brack, Center for Regenerative rent breast cancer patients will be recognized Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Broad CIRM on the field as leaders in the fight against Center Seminar Room. Info: (323) 442-8084 breast cancer.

Thursday, Oct. 17

Noon – 1 p.m. Research Center for Liver Diseases. “Regulation of Intestinal Epithelial Integrity by ErbB4: Not Just Another Brick in the Wall,” Mark R. Frey, CHLA. Hastings Auditorium. Info: (323) 442-1283

Friday, Oct. 18

8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Genomic Medicine: The Power and the Promise,” various speakers. Aresty Auditorium. Register by Oct. 7: www.keckapps.usc.edu/esvp (code: Genomic). Info: www. uscnorriscancer.usc.edu/40thsymposium

Saturday, Oct. 19

1 – 5 p.m. Bloomingdale’s Century City “Pink Party.” 10 percent of cosmetics sales go to USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Cosmetics on 1, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. Info: (310) 772-2100

Sunday, Oct. 20

8 a.m. American Lung Association. Fight for Air Walk, sponsored by the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Third Street Promenade, 1351 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica. Info to register for walk: www.lung.org/associations/ states/california Cancer Team Norris Kickin’ USC Courtesy KICKIN’ CANCER — A team of USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer staff members took to the streets to sup- Tuesday, Oct. 22 port the early detection and prevention of women’s cancers. The 12th annual Kickin’ Cancer 5K run/walk and family expo, held on Sept. 29, was held by the Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research. The USC 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Center for Applied Molecular Medicine Norris team raised a total of $5,535 for preventive care, collaboration and education for ovarian and breast Physical Sciences in Oncology Center. “Convergence of the cancer. Pictured here (top row): Nick Bertole, Lee McCabe, Brooke Glazer, Muna Deriane, Brian Finster, Carla Sciences 101: A Short Course on Integrating the Physical, Baker and John Baker; (bottom row) Charite Richter, Jacqueline Andrejich, Charlotte Baker, Bourke [the dog], Engineering and Biological Sciences in Medicine,” various Binh Ngo, MD, and Laurel Barosh. speakers. Davidson Conference Center, UPC. Info: (323) 442- 3849. Register by Oct. 17: www.uscpsoc.org/ShortCourse

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Diabetes & Obesity Research Institute Seminar. “Does Sugar Consumption Contribute USC Health Sciences Non-Profit Organization Public Relations and Marketing U.S. POSTAGE PAID to the Epidemics of Metabolic Disease?” Kimber Stanhope, 1975 Zonal Ave. KAM 400 University of Southern California University of California, Davis. Harkness Auditorium, CSC Los Angeles, CA 90033 250. Info: www.dori.usc.edu

Thursday, Oct. 24

Noon – 1 p.m. Research Center for Liver Diseases. “Hepatitis C Virus Mediated Innate Immune Regulation,” Ratna Ray, St. Louis University. Hastings Auditorium. Info: (323) 442-1283

6:30 – 8:3- p.m. Health Matters Seminar. “Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Attack: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment Options,” Michael A. Gaglia, USC. University Club of Pasadena, 175 N. Oakland Ave. Info: (323) 442-2805; RSVP: www.usc.edu/esvp (code: HEALTHMATTERS10)

Friday, Oct. 25

8 a.m. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Grand Rounds. “Laboratory Evaluation of Thyroid Function,” Kathleen Kelly, UCLA. Norris Topping Tower, Conference Room 7409. Info: (323) 442-1180

Noon – 1 p.m. Department of Medicine Grand Rounds. “Hypothermia After Cardiac Arrest,” Anita Ravi, USC. IPT Conference Room B. Info: (323) 226-7556

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