JUNE 5 • 2009 TheWeekly PUBLISHED FOR THE USC HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS COMMUNITY VOLUME 15 • NUMBER 19 Renowned breast oncologist heads to USC By Cheryl Bruyninckx patient-focused programs.” having the two work side by A national figure in breast Tripathy comes to USC side,” said Tripathy. “I believe ‘Dr. Tripathy is a cancer research is headed to from the University of Texas that clinical care, clinical re- national authority USC to serve as co-leader of Southwestern Medical Center search and laboratory research the Women’s Cancer Program at Dallas, where he served as all go hand in hand.” in breast cancer. at the USC Norris Compre- Professor of Internal Medicine, A nationally recognized fig- We are delighted hensive Cancer Center. Director of the Komen/UT ure in clinical research, Tripa- Debasish (Debu) Tripathy Southwestern Breast Cancer thy’s primary area of interest is that he is com- has been appointed professor Research Program and holder breast cancer therapy. For the of medicine by Keck School of the Annette Simmons past 20 years, he has studied ing to USC as we of Medicine Dean Carmen Distinguished Chair in Breast growth factor receptors, impor- strengthen our A. Puliafito, effective Aug. 1, Cancer Research. He was also tant targets in breast and other 2009. Tripathy will hold the President and Chief Executive cancers. Tripathy was part of clinical research Art and Priscilla Ulene Chair Officer of Physicians’ Educa- Debasish (Debu) Tripathy the original team that brought activities and our in Women’s Cancer, and will tion Resource in Dallas, a the now commonly used drug be head of the Section of continuing medical educa- matches the needs of patients Herceptin into clinical care. patient-focused Women’s Cancers, Division of tion and publishing company and interfaces with the areas Currently, his focus is on ex- programs.’ Oncology, in the Department specializing in oncology and of scientific excellence at panding what is known about of Medicine. He will join Dr. hematology. USC; setting up community growth factor receptors and Michael Press, Professor of Pa- As the incoming co-leader of outreach programs and forums; developing newer treatments —Keck School thology, who has been associ- the Women’s Cancer Program, and establishing a national and for patients who are resistant of Medicine ated with the Women’s Cancer Tripathy has identified several international leadership posi- to the existing therapeutic Dean Carmen A. Program for the last 16 years. goals, including developing a tion in medical peer oncology options. “Dr. Tripathy is a national nationally recognized women’s education. “Dr. Tripathy’s work will en- Puliafito authority in breast cancer,” cancer service; increasing the “I believe that USC is hance our efforts to bring basic said Puliafito. “We are delight- number of treatment and clini- responding to a new mission molecular research on breast ed that he is coming to USC cal trial options for patients; that is an expansion of patient cancer from the lab to the as we strengthen our clinical developing a clinical trials care, a bigger commitment to clinic, where we can directly research activities and our and research program that research, and a dedication to See TRIPATHY, page 3 USC scientist receives accolades for research, community service By Katie Neith eration. Understanding these messaging Cheryl Craft, the Mary D. Allen Chair systems inside nerve cells has widespread in Vision Research at the Doheny Eye implications for all neuroscience, includ- Institute and professor of ophthalmol- ing unraveling the mysteries of Alzheim- ogy and cell & neurobiology at the Keck er disease.” School of Medicine of USC, has received The Muses of the California Science numerous honors in the past months for Center Foundation also recently hon- her vision research work and community ored Craft for the research advances she service efforts. has made in macular degeneration and On April 16, Craft was honored at retinitis pigmentosa. On May 16, she was a luncheon hosted by The Founding celebrated as The Muses 43rd Annual © Steve Cohn Associates of the John Douglas French Woman of the Year at a reception and At the May 30 event welcoming Inderbir S. “Indy” Gill to USC are (from left): Keck School of Medicine Dean Carmen A. Puliafito, Gill and actors Shirley MacLaine, Annette Bening and War- Alzheimer’s Foundation (JDFAF). Held lecture held at the Valley Hunt Club in ren Beatty. at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Craft was Pasadena. recognized for her long-term commit- The Muses is a volunteer organization ment to the foundation, as well as for her associated with the California Science USC welcomes new Dept. of Urology scientific research. She has served on the Museum, which raises funds to support International Scientific Advisory Board educational youth science programs and chair at Beverly Hills reception since the late 1990s, and also is currently the California State Science Fair. a Member on the Board of Directors of “As a scientist, it is really humbling to By Leslie Ridgeway the foundation. go out and interact with the public. I am Pioneering urologist and surgeon Inderbir S. “Indy” Gill, was welcomed “Over decades of dedicated pursuit, proud to represent the Keck School of to Los Angeles and the Trojan Family at a Beverly Hills reception hosted Dr. Craft and her fellow colleagues have Medicine of USC and spread supporting by actress Shirley MacLaine and Keck School of Medicine Dean Carmen A. deciphered the keys which turn chemical words for science and science education. Puliafito on May 30. pathways on and off inside nerve cells,” I am honored to receive these prestigious More than 300 guests, including USC friends, donors and referring physi- said Helena Chui, chair of the Depart- awards from these dedicated individuals cians, attended the cocktail gala at the Montage Hotel, including MacLaine’s ment of Neurology at the Keck School raising resources for research and to sup- brother, actor Warren Beatty and his wife, actress Annette Bening, and USC of Medicine and director of the USC port future scientists,” Executive Vice President and Provost C.L. Max Nikias. Alzheimer Disease said Craft. Gill is chair of the Catherine and Joseph Aresty Department of Urology and Research Center, in In addition, Craft is the founding executive director of the USC Institute of Urology. Recruited her introduction of has been named a 2009 from the Cleveland Clinic, where the urology program is ranked #2 in the Craft at the JDFAF silver fellow of the As- country by U.S. News and World Report, Gill has pioneered minimally invasive event. “In following sociation for Research surgeries for cancers of the kidney, prostate and bladder. the trail of arrestin in Vision and Oph- Gill is the first in the world to perform single-port “belly button” laparo- and retinal cones thalmology (ARVO). scopic kidney donation surgery in a virtually scar-free manner. He also is the responsible for color The ARVO Fellows world leader in performing minimally invasive, kidney-sparing surgery for vision, Dr. Craft has are recognized for their kidney cancer. contributed greatly to long-term accomplish- MacLaine, in her introduction of Gill, noted that Beatty found him when our understanding of Mary Ann Surprenant ments, leadership and Cheryl Craft speaks at the April 16 John Doug- looking for a surgeon to help a friend. MacLaine said she spoke to Gill at retinitis pigmentosa las French Alzheimer’s Foundation event, which contributions to the length and was impressed with what she heard from him. and macular degen- association. See GILL, page 4 honored her for her work. JUNE 5 • 2009 Stephen J. Ryan appointed to ETCETERA new term as IOM home secretary John Peters, Hastings new Center for Personalized Stephen J. Ryan, the Grace as chair of the Membership Professor and director of the Medicine (CPM). and Emery Beardsley Chair Committee after representing division of environmental The CPM will coordinate, in Ophthalmology, has been his section on the committee health in the Keck School’s support and expand the named to a second four-year for the previous three years.” Department of Preventive hospital’s basic and transla- term as Institute of Medicine Ryan, an ophthalmolo- Medicine, recently received tional research in genomics, (IOM) home secretary begin- gist and an internationally the Harvard University proteomics, bioinformatics, ning July 1. recognized expert in the field School of Public Health’s molecular genetics, mo- IOM President Harvey of retinal diseases and ocular Alumni Award of Merit. lecular microbiology and Fineberg recently announced trauma, is a member of nu- Peters, who received his cytogenetics. the appointment, saying Ryan merous professional organi- M.D. and M.P.H. degrees Triche, who is also vice “has been of extraordinary as- zations and is the Founding from Harvard in 1964, was chair of the Department of sistance to the President and President of the Alliance for honored for his work on Pathology and professor of the Council in strengthening Eye and Vision Research. He diverse fields such as the pathology and pediatrics at and supporting membership was elected to the Institute of health effects of air pollu- the Keck School of Medi- activities and participation Medicine in 1995. tion, magnetic fields, asbes- cine, said the CPM is “an and we anticipate with plea- Established in 1970 under tos, vinyl chloride and other absolutely vital component sure the continued progress the charter of the National chemicals in both the work of our commitment to the his stewardship will accom- Academy of Sciences, the and general environments. research enterprise.” plish.” Institute of Medicine pro- Peters also recently At the hospital, he will He added, “Dr. Ryan’s vides independent, objective, received the 2009 John M.