Featured Health News

Federal Agency Features Professor’s Research on Depression

A federal agency that highlights groundbreaking health care research has featured USC School of Social Work professor Kathleen Ell’s innovative efforts to improve depression treatment among low-income Hispanics with diabetes.

Study Produces New Findings on Autism and GI Dysfunction

A researcher at the Keck School of Medicine of USC has published a study highlighting the importance of physicians listening to parental reports of gastrointestinal problems in their autistic children and screening these children for gastrointestinal dysfunction.

Ostrow School Celebrates Give Kids a Smile Day

The Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC took part in the national Give Kids a Smile Day service event on Feb. 3 by providing free dental screenings and oral health education to local elementary school children.

What’s Best for Your Aging Brain?

Conventional wisdom and popular science suggest many solutions to keeping our minds sharp as we age: medications, physical exercise, brain games. But which is truly best?

With Transformative Gift, USC Launches Keck Medicine Initiative

The W. M. Keck Foundation’s June 2011 $150 million naming gift is the lead donation to support the new $1.5 billion Keck Medicine Initiative.

Ostrow School Resident Provides Care in Thailand

Dozens of patients in Thailand received free dental care from first-year Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC advanced endodontics resident Sue Suh in December.

Cancer Study Examines Diets High in Fish

New research from USC and the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC) has found that eating salmon and other dark, fatty fish may decrease the risk of developing prostate cancer, while consuming flounder and other white, lean fish may increase the risk.

Bridging the GAP

Rekindling the romantic spark between a 90-year-old wife and her 94-year-old husband was just another day at the office for the Geriatric Assessment Program, a cross-campus project with interdisciplinary roots at USC.

Mexico Program Targets Care for Mentally Ill

In a neighborhood in Puebla, Mexico, a dozen promotoras - health care workers who screen ill people to determine what level of doctor care they need - gathered at a private home for a chat with a USC professor and his students.

Agus’ Book Focuses on New View of Health

A new definition of health and how to achieve it is the subject of a new book written by David Agus, a faculty physician and researcher at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

$15 Million Norris Gift Funds USC Cancer Care

USC has announced an expansion of cancer care facilities made possible by a $15 million donation from the Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation.

Gene Mutation That Increases Risk for Lupus Found

An international team of researchers led by Chaim O. Jacob, associate professor of medicine and microbiology & immunology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, has identified a gene mutation involved in causing lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the skin, joints and organs.

Breakthroughs Recalled by National Cancer Act’s Anniversary

On Dec. 23, 1971, the National Cancer Act was signed into law, strengthening the National Cancer Institute and signaling the start of what has come to be known as the “war on cancer.”

$11 Million Grant Funds Study of PTSD Therapies

Researchers at three centers have been awarded an $11 million, four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to test different ways to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including the use of a virtual reality exposure therapy developed at ICT.

Peter Jones Earns Top Honor for Cancer Fight

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has awarded Peter Jones, Distinguished Professor of Urology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, its highest honor for his contributions in fighting cancer.

Just Say Yes to Flu Shots

No one likes getting shots. But a two-second prick in the arm is the best protection against up to two weeks in bed with a high fever, crippling body aches and other painful symptoms of the seasonal flu.

Woman of a Certain Age

The floral crown - purple and white, intricately woven - shone in Ph.D. student Maria Siciliano’s dark hair. After chemotherapy, it had grown back thick, wild, exuberant.

Ostrow School Staffer to be Honored in Washington, D.C.

A staff member at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC will be honored on Dec. 6 for her outstanding efforts in oral health education.

Dentistry Offers New Online Program in Oral Medicine

A new program at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC allows dentists from around the world to enrich their clinical skills - all from the convenient location of their own dental practices.

Running Toward Greatness

“Cancer put me through the ringer,” McLaughlin blogs. “I came out of it insecure, anxious and with a major attitude. I wondered, ‘why me?’ 10 out of 24 hours a day. And I will admit to being miserable to be around.”

Keck Medical Center Targets Health Care in China

The Keck Medical Center of USC is extending its reach into the Far East.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Tammy Lumpkins, 46, has had heart disease for nearly 20 years. She was living comfortably on medication and a pacemaker until early this year. Her health quickly began to deteriorate, landing her in the hospital in July.

Study Finds Disparities in Hospital Care Associated with Excess Air Pollution

Black residents in California are more than twice as likely as white residents to seek medical care at hospitals because of health problems triggered by the state’s high levels of air pollution, according to a new study.

Helping Retirees Choose the Right Drug Plan

The USC School of Pharmacy has teamed up with the USC Emeriti Center and USC Senior Care to provide university retirees with counseling and information sessions to help them select the Medicare Part D plan that’s right for their specific needs.

USC Dental Humanitarian Club Headed to Colombia

The USC Dental Humanitarian Club will lead students and faculty on a trip to Colombia in December.

A New Name for World-Class Medicine

The University of Southern California’s renowned doctors and nationally ranked private hospitals have a new name: Keck Medical Center of USC.

Maternal Diabetes Linked to Obesity in Offspring

A research team led by Sebastien G. Bouret, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, has made critical discoveries demonstrating that maternal diabetes during pregnancy triggers obesity in the offspring and sets them up for lifelong health issues.

Genetic Variant in Pregnant Women Linked to Autism

A study by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the University of California, Davis, has found that pregnant women with a particular gene variation are more likely to produce autoantibodies to the brains of their developing fetuses and that the children of these mothers are at greater risk of later being diagnosed with autism.

Walking for a Cause

On behalf of the millions of Americans afflicted with or affected by Alzheimer’s disease, students, staff and faculty of the USC Davis School of Gerontology took a great stride forward by marching in the 2011 Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Gruber Named Director of USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

Stephen B. Gruber, a renowned physician-scientist from the University of Michigan, has been named director of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, effective Dec. 1.

USC Conference Looks at Future of Wireless Health

A video game that uses heart rate to speed up or slow a game character’s progress. A device that records a person’s electrocardiogram and sends the data to the person’s doctor or a daughter across the country. A wireless console that allows a mother to not only call in her sick child’s symptoms to a mobile nurse, but to conduct important tests and have the child monitored overnight, saving a trip to the emergency room.

Higher Deductibles May Reduce Health Costs

Prior research has shown that patients have little or no control over their health care spending once they began to receive a physician’s care, but a new study shows that plans combining higher deductibles with personal accounts - known as consumer-directed plans - can significantly reduce their costs.

USC Mobile Dental Clinic Cares for Vets

Hundreds of disadvantaged military veterans received medical help, counseling, employment assistance and other services as part of the eighth annual Compton Stand Down organized by the nonprofit group U.S. Vets.

USC, ASU Collaborate on Cancer Research

When the National Cancer Institute was looking for homes for its fledgling Physical Sciences Oncology centers, they looked to USC and Arizona State University to lead two of those centers that "think outside the box.”

Keck School Clinic Receives $125,000 for Breast Cancer Research

Women with little or no insurance who have a family history of breast and ovarian cancer are the beneficiaries of a $125,000 award to the Keck School of Medicine of USC from the Avon Foundation for Women.

Primary Care Curriculum Launches at Keck School

In an effort to attract more medical students into primary care, the Keck School of Medicine of USC has launched a longitudinal curriculum in community medicine that began this school year.

Starving the Body Impacts Brain’s Ability to Resist Unhealthy Foods

Low blood sugar influences the body’s ability to resist high-calorie food, especially in obese individuals, according to research conducted by Keck School of Medicine of USC and Yale University faculty.

Prominent Public Health Researcher Joins USC

Global health pioneer Sofia Gruskin has joined the Keck School of Medicine of USC with a joint appointment at the USC Institute for Global Health and the USC Gould School of Law.

Ming Hsieh Institute Awards First Grants

The Ming Hsieh Institute for Engineering Medicine for Cancer has announced its first research awards.

Medical Homes Linked to Better Health, School Performance

Undocumented children who have access to health insurance are healthier and more engaged in school than those without insurance, according to researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Habit Makes Bad Food Too Easy to Swallow

A new paper by USC researchers revealed why bad eating habits persist even when the food we’re eating doesn’t taste good.

USC Institute of Urology Adds New Technology

Detection of prostate cancer just became more accurate at the USC Institute of Urology, thanks to the addition of new technology, some of the first available in the United States.

The Man Who Declared War on Waste

David Belson once watched a CT scan technician reading a novel with a waiting room full of patients.

Health Sciences Campus Gets Fit With New Center

USC's Health Sciences campus kicked off the academic year with a new, 10,000-square-foot fitness center in the 2001 Soto Street building.

Most Physicians Will Face Malpractice Claims

While most physicians in the United States will face a malpractice lawsuit at some time in their careers, a new study finds the vast majority of those suits will not result in payment to a plaintiff.

U.S. Longevity Goes Up in Smoke

Why do people in Japan, France and Australia live longer than people in America?

Researchers Define Key Components in Lung Repair

A team of researchers has made crucial discoveries about the role of key proteins in wound healing.

Nutritional Lessons Boost Health of Latinos

Latino children who participated in an interventional gardening, nutrition and cooking program experienced significant health improvements, including lower body mass index and lower blood pressure, according to a study by researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the UCLA School of Public Health.

Taiwanese Get a Taste of Something New

As part of the USC School of Pharmacy’s dedication to spreading its global reach, the school hosted pharmacy students, faculty and practicing pharmacists from five Taiwanese universities during the month of July.

A Breath of (Not So) Fresh Air

Commuters on the Los Angeles Red Line subway are exposed to higher levels of potentially hazardous components of particulate matter in the air - in some cases twice as much - as commuters on the above-ground Gold Line light rail, according to a new USC study.

Raising U.S. Life Expectancy Could Save $632 Billion

Forty years ago, Americans could expect to live slightly longer than Europeans. This since has reversed: In spite of similar levels of economic development, Americans now live about a year-and-a-half less, on average, than their Western European counterparts and also less than people in most other developed nations.

School of Pharmacy Helps International Travelers

The USC School of Pharmacy has signed an agreement with Good Neighbor Pharmacy, a national network of independently owned and operated community pharmacies, to provide an international travel health program for community pharmacists.

Strategies to Help Manage Diabetes

A scientist at USC is filling a critical gap in knowledge and care by developing strategies for coping with diabetes that are targeted specifically at young adults. Young adults with diabetes - those 18 to 25 years of age - have to go through the same adjustment to adulthood as their nondiabetic peers.

USC Hospitals Ranked Among Top National Hospitals

USC University Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital placed among the best hospitals in the nation in the 2011-12 U.S. News & World Report magazine’s rankings of “America’s Best Hospitals.”

'Healthy' Habits Linked to Childhood Obesity in China

Teenaged boys from well-off Chinese families who say they are physically active and eat plenty of vegetables but few sweets are more likely to be overweight, according to a study led by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

SPPD Grads Make Instant Impact in Health Field

Soon after finishing his Master of Health Administration degree at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development in May, Veeral Shah found himself managing the day-to-day operations of three departments as an associate administrator at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center in Thousand Oaks.

L.A. Care Grant Funds Dentistry at Ostrow School

L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest public health plan in the nation and an advocate for accessible health care coverage, awarded the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Community Health Programs $75,000 to provide dental care for patients in need.

Bridging the Gap Brings Minorities to Keck School

A new effort to attract top minority students to the Keck School of Medicine of USC brought 12 undergraduate students to the Health Sciences campus this summer.

New Clues About Parkinson’s Disease

Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have uncovered structural clues about the protein linked to Parkinson’s disease, which ultimately could lead to finding a cure for the degenerative neurological disorder.

USC Receives $150 Million Naming Gift From W. M. Keck Foundation

The University of Southern California has received a $150 million naming gift from the W. M. Keck Foundation to accelerate groundbreaking medical, clinical and translational research and education.

Active Life Helps Prevent Health Decline in Seniors

Small, healthy lifestyle changes and involvement in meaningful activities - going beyond just diet and exercise - are critical to healthy aging, according to a new USC study.

USC Study Examines Stress Levels Among Couples

A new USC study found that it isn’t enough for couples to relax together for their stress levels to fall at the end of the day.

Apparent Genetic Link to Prostate Cancer in African-American Men Discovered

Some men of African descent may have a higher genetic risk of developing prostate cancer, according to research conducted at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Doctors of USC Celebrates Westside Opening

The cardinal and gold flag of USC officially was planted on the Westside of Los Angeles at the opening of the university’s new clinical satellite, The Doctors of USC Beverly Hills.

SPPD Sparks Conversation on Health Care Challenges

When physician Anthony Pollard asked a group of USC students if they trusted the government or insurance companies with their health care, the answer was an emphatic no. They did, however, trust their doctors.

Broad Stem Cell Building Makes Lab of the Year List

The Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC received high honors from R&D magazine, which announced its 2011 Laboratory of the Year winners.

Doctors of USC Open New Location in Beverly Hills

USC is bringing its medical expertise in ophthalmology and urology/prostate cancer to Los Angeles’ Westside with the opening of the Doctors of USC Beverly Hills.

Safety Is No Accident

Safety starts at home, or in USC’s case, on campus.

SPPD Revises Master of Health Administration Degree

While the United States reforms its health care system, the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development is following suit with a revamp of its Master of Health Administration program.

USC Breaks Ground for Student Health Center

Under a shower of cardinal and gold confetti, Michele Dedeaux Engemann pumped her spirited fingers to the beat of the Trojan Marching Band as she helped break ground April 4 on USC’s new student health center.

Researchers Show Drug Is Effective in Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes

Keck School of Medicine of USC researchers have found that pioglitazone, a drug that reverses some of the bad effects of obesity, reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 72 percent in pre-diabetic patients.

Essential Enzyme for Healthy Lung Development Discovered

Investigators at The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles have provided the first evidence showing that Eya1, a protein phosphatase, is a crucial regulator of the development of embryonic lung epithelial stem cells.

Vega Speaks at Dementia Conference

William Vega delivered the opening plenary lecture at the “Many Faces of Dementia” conference at the Davidson Continuing Education Center on March 18.

USC Annenberg Center Scores Top Health Care Journalism Award

USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism’s California HealthCare Foundation Center for Health Reporting, in partnership with the Chico Enterprise-Record, won the Award for Excellence in Health Care Journalism for “A Burning Issue,” an in-depth project exploring the politics, science and health consequences of woodstove smoke pollution.

Clinical Trial Tests New Heart Valve Treatment

USC University Hospital is one of 40 hospitals across the United States to participate in a clinical trial testing a new percutaneous treatment option for patients suffering from severe aortic valve stenosis.

Valter Longo Receives $11.5 Million NIH Award

USC Davis School of Gerontology cell biologist Valter Longo received an $11.5 million award from the National Institute of Health for a research program focusing on dietary restriction and mechanisms of differential cellular protection.

USC Receives Largest Single Gift in Its History

USC has received $200 million - the largest single gift in its history - from longtime supporters and international philanthropists Dana and David Dornsife.

Bass Delivers Annual Roybal Memorial Lecture

Rep. Karen Bass addressed the potential impact of government budget cuts and health care reform legislation on older adults during the 2011 Roybal Memorial Lecture at Town & Gown on Feb. 23.

USC Professor Outlines Advocacy for Better Health Care

With recent news that the state of California lost tens of millions of dollars in federal funding to provide health care to uninsured children - because it didn’t enroll enough children to qualify for Medicaid and Medi-Cal - the importance of patient advocacy has become clearer than ever before.

Obama Appoints USC Professor to Key Administrative Post

President Barack Obama has announced his intent to appoint USC professor Jonathan M. Samet to the National Cancer Advisory Board.

Scientists Discover a Protein to Fight Leukemia

Scientists have announced a breakthrough in understanding how the body fights leukemia.

NIH-Funded Study Widens Recovery Window From Brain Injury

In the largest stroke rehabilitation study ever conducted in the United States, stroke patients who had physical therapy at home improved their ability to walk just as well as those who were treated in a training program that requires the use of a body-weight supported treadmill device followed by walking practice.

Brushing Up on Dental Education

More than 150 children at John W. Mack Elementary School received a free oral health checkup and dental care supplies from students at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.

New Bilingual Health Literacy Tool in the Works

USC School of Pharmacy assistant professor Mel Baron is expanding his outreach efforts to the video/DVD format.

High-spending Hospitals May Save More Lives

Studies have shown that regions spending more on medical care, such as Miami, do not have better health outcomes than regions that spend relatively less, such as Minneapolis.

Pharmacy Students Take on Mental Illness

When staff members at the Weingart Center Association, a residential facility for homeless people on Skid Row, asked USC School of Pharmacy students to help them address the pressing needs of mental illness among their residents, Terrance Yu took up the challenge.

USC to Study Heart Rate in Football Players

NFL Charities has awarded a $100,000 medical research grant to the Keck School of Medicine of USC to study heart rate behavior in National Football League players and USC student-athletes.

Study Points to Environmental Factors of Autism

Living near a freeway may be associated with increased risk of autism, according to a study published by a team of researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the UC Davis MIND Institute.

Celebrating the Holidays Safely

'Tis the season for holiday parties, gift-giving, festive lights and time with family and friends - but it’s also the season during which common colds and other respiratory illnesses are most rampant.

Despite Longer Life Spans, Fewer Years Are Free of Disease

Increased life expectancy in the United States has not been accompanied by more years of perfect health, reveals new research published in the December issue of the Journal of Gerontology.

Pilot Grants Awarded by Science Institute

Building upon an increased focus on translational research at USC, the Los Angeles Basin Clinical and Translational Science Institute has awarded a total of $700,000 to 24 pilot grants recipients.

USC Scholars Named to New Training Programs

Aiming to train a new generation of translational researchers, the Los Angeles Basin Clinical and Translational Science Institute has named its first nine scholars in its new pre- and postdoctoral training programs.

Reaching Toward the Fountain of Youth

To understand the promise and pitfalls of anti-aging therapies, start with the research and lifestyles of anti-aging scholars.

USC Hospitals CEO Talks Shop

It doesn’t take much to run into Mitch Creem, chief executive officer of USC University Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital.

Novel Device Opened Clogged Arteries in the Brain

Neurosurgeons at USC University Hospital recently performed the first procedure in California using a unique, balloon-expandable stent to treat narrowing in the arteries of the brain.

New Fotonovela Deals With Dementia

An estimated 35.6 million people worldwide are living with dementia, according to a report by Alzheimer’s Disease International.

USC Norris Named Center of Excellence for Clinical Trials

The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center has been designated a Phase I Clinical Trial Center of Excellence by the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

Peter Jones to Step Down From Cancer Center Post

A passion for research has driven Peter Jones to a number of great successes as director of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center for the past 17 years.

Genetic Predisposition to Fatty Liver Disease

Two studies from the Childhood Obesity Research Center at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have found evidence that Hispanic children and adolescents are genetically predisposed to developing fatty liver disease.

How to Maintain Health on an International Getaway

Mosquitoes transmit diseases, including malaria, encephalitis and yellow fever, to 700 million people annually around the world.

Schaeffer Center Hosts First Health Policy Conference

The United States faces a Herculean challenge in trying to bend the curve on health costs, and it may take a national emergency before something finally can be done about it, health policy experts warned at an October conference at USC.

USC Opens Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined USC administrators, trustees, elected public officials and more than 150 invited guests in the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC held Oct. 29.

USC Wins Grant to Study Advanced Prostate Cancer Therapy

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center research team a three-year, $1.6 million grant for a clinical trial of a new drug to treat advanced prostate cancer.

Stem Cell Research Building Dedication Set for Oct. 29

The Keck School of Medicine of USC has started the countdown for the much-anticipated opening of the Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC.

Health Care Reform Presents New Opportunities in L.A.

Provisions of the federal health care reform law passed earlier this year will have a profound impact on Los Angeles and surrounding communities.

USC Hospitals Go Smoke Free

In an effort to promote health and wellness at the USC Health Sciences campus, several partners in the USC clinical enterprise are going smoke free.

$20 Million for Health Care Reform Research

USC’s growing community of behavioral economists and other experts on health care reform have received a $20 million boost with the announcement of three research grants.

Trojans Promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The Trojan Family is promoting breast cancer awareness now until the end of October.

NCI Awards $2.5 Million to USC Cancer Researcher

Fatih Uckun has been awarded $2.5 million from the National Cancer Institute to support development of a new class of anticancer drugs against acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Call to Action on Childhood Obesity

A call to action on childhood obesity drew a standing-room-only crowd and six U.S. Congress members to Town & Gown on Sept. 10.

USC Joins Collaboration for Charles R. Drew University

USC is among six California-based institutions that have joined together in an effort to rescue, restructure, reinvigorate and guide Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science toward a new, resurgent and financially viable future.

Elyn Saks Underwrites a New Institute

What would you do with $500,000 and no strings attached?

Obesity Focus Group Reveals Weighty Findings

USC School of Pharmacy associate professor Mel Baron recently conducted an obesity focus group that revealed interesting insights on the hot-button health topic highlighted by first lady Michelle Obama’s anti-childhood obesity action plan.

USC Holds Health Empowerment Camp for Teens

Victor Cano, 16, holding up a plastic bag filled with the 64 grams of white sugar he’d just measured out, exclaimed, “That’s a lot of sugar!”

Postmenopausal Therapy Poses Risk for Breast Cancer

Using postmenopausal hormone therapy for more than 15 years increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, particularly among leaner women.

The Positive Aspects of Aging

It’s tempting to think about aging as a time of losses, both internal and external.

Accolades Aplenty for USC’s Health Sciences Marketing Team

From billboards to radio spots to digital banner ads, USC’s Health Sciences Public Relations and Marketing team has been moving at full speed in its effort to increase awareness of and preference for the university’s two private hospitals.

Med COR Program Gets New Life

A nearly 40-year-old USC program designed to help high school students in underserved areas of Los Angeles County will remain open.

USC Hospitals Rank Among Top National Facilities

USC University Hospital placed among the top hospitals in the nation in the 21st annual rankings of “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report.

Keck School Receives $24 Million Gift

The Keck School of Medicine of USC has announced a $24 million gift from media executive and philanthropist Sumner M. Redstone to support cancer research.

Symposium Seeks New Cancer Treatments

Magicians don’t typically give keynote speeches at medical conferences, but then again, the first Physical Sciences in Oncology Center Symposium was no typical meeting.

Study: Higher STD Rates Among Users of ED Drugs

Physicians who prescribe erectile dysfunction drugs for their male patients should be sure to discuss the importance of safer sex practices, even with older patients, according to a report in the July 6 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.

USC Study Charts Pollution in Compact Regions

A study in the latest issue of the Journal of American Planning Association concludes that exposure to poor air quality is higher in compact U.S. regions than in sprawled locations.

Geller Named New Director of USC College-Keck School Program

USC College Dean Howard Gillman has announced the hiring of Kenneth Geller as the new director of the USC College-Keck School of Medicine Academic and Advising Program.

USC Participates in Major Clinical Trial

A major study of people at risk for stroke, conducted in part at USC University Hospital, showed that two medical procedures designed to prevent future strokes are safe and effective overall.

Dentistry Advances in National Grant Rankings

From 2008 to 2009, the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC jumped from 16th to 12th in a ranking of all United States dental institutions receiving funds from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Center Aims to Interrupt Cancer Pathways

A new program created at the Keck School of Medicine of USC aims to treat cancer and other diseases by discovering and modulating cellular communication pathways.

Experts Address Health Care at SPPD Panel

The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development hosted the latest in its 2009-10 Dean’s Speaker Series, a panel discussion focusing on leadership in health care policy.

Fighting Cardiovascular Disease in East L.A.

Community collaborators to form the Center for Population Health and Health Disparities.

New Prosthesis Offered at Doheny Eye Center

A special prosthesis that fits over the entire eye is bringing hope to patients suffering from corneal irregularities and severe dry eye.

NIH Awards $6 Million for Liver Research

The USC Research Center for Liver Diseases received a competitive renewal of a $6.07 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

New USC Center for Learning Support

USC parents Walter G. and Marcia B. Kortschak have made a historic gift commitment of $10 million to establish an endowment for the creation of the USC Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity in Student Affairs at USC.

Panel Focuses on Health Equity Issues

Student organizations unite for an event covering access, quality and outcomes in minority communities.

Social Work Sets Virtual MSW Program

USC has announced a second virtual master’s degree program, this time at the School of Social Work.

Brinton Featured in New York Times Magazine

Professor’s estrogen research is highlighted in Sunday’s edition.

New Molecular Subtype of Brain Cancer Discovered

A study conducted by a collaborative team led by USC researchers may lead to better insight into the clinical outcome for some patients with a particularly aggressive type of brain cancer.

Wrestling With Bouts of Pediatric Asthma

Professor Mel Baron’s new fotonovela dispels myths about the chronic medical condition among children.

Air Pollution Exposure at Schools Linked to Childhood Asthma

Living near major highways has been linked to childhood asthma, but a new study suggests that traffic-related pollution near schools is also contributing to the development of asthma in children.

Grant Funds Efforts to Prevent Stress Disorder

A USC School of Social Work professor will use a $1.8 million federal grant to help prevent long-term mental-health disturbances from developing among the children of military families.

Obstetrician Delivered Flourishing Program

Daniel Potter wanted to become a doctor, but found it difficult to gain firsthand experience as a volunteer at local clinics or hospitals.

Surgeons Find Improved Outcomes for Kidney Tumor Surgery

Several studies published in top medical journals by USC surgeons have found that surgical treatment of kidney cancer is not the daunting prospect it once was.

Staff Chosen for Health Reporting Center

The USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism has announced the hiring of top editors and reporters from around the nation to staff the California HealthCare Foundation Center for Health Reporting.

Shortcomings in Comparative Effectiveness Drug Research

An analysis by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC has found that only 32 percent of medication studies published in top medical journals compare the effectiveness of existing treatments.

Vivian Wu Studies Health Care Pricing

A study by USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development professor Vivian Wu finds that despite the increasing clout of HMOs in the 1990s, hospitals maintained a dominant position in determining health care pricing decisions.

USC to Collaborate With Autism Institute

The Keck School of Medicine of USC has announced a collaboration with the Dan Marino Foundation and its Marino Autism Research Institute to support multidisciplinary research into the causes and treatment of autism spectrum disorder.

USC Eye Trauma Program Wins Federal Funding

Restoring sight for combat troops who have suffered eye injuries in battle is one of the goals of a research program based at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Professor Honored for Environmental Leadership

John M. Peters has been honored for his leadership in environmental health research that has influenced California public policy.

Growing Gender Gap in Stroke Prevalence

When it comes to stroke prevalence, it appears that the gender gap is widening. According to a new report from a researcher at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, women between the ages of 35 and 64 are almost three times more likely to have a stroke compared to men in the same age group.

Dealing With Untreated Dental Disease

A huge percentage of underprivileged children in Los Angeles County have infectious dental disease that has gone unchecked, according to a study led by the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.

Air Pollution Linked to Progression of Atherosclerosis

Researchers have found that exposure to air pollution accelerates the thickening of artery walls that leads to cardiovascular disease.

Research Day Showcases Scientific Talent

Student and faculty investigators presented more than 100 research projects during the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Research Day event held Feb. 10 at the Galen Center.

Giving Children Healthy Smiles

More than 100 students at St. Agnes Catholic School, a member of the USC Family of Schools, received free oral health screenings and education as part of Give Kids a Smile Day 2010.

USC Stem Cell Researchers Receive Funding

Keck School of Medicine of USC researchers Qi-Long Ying and Gregor Adams are the recipients of a National Institutes of Health grant and an American Society of Hematology award that will enhance their individual work in stem cell research and therapy development.

Predicting the Recurrence of Gastric Cancer

For the first time, USC researchers have identified specific genetic variations that predict clinical outcomes in patients with gastric (stomach) cancer.

Update on Fasting Strategy for Chemo Patients

Case reports from 10 cancer patients suggest that limited fasting can help some individuals improve their tolerance for chemotherapy.

Developmental Neuroscience Program Flourishes

Researchers at the Saban Research Institute at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles are moving closer to understanding the complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors that impact the development of brain architecture.

Keck Students Voice Health Care Concerns

Students at the Keck School of Medicine of USC are taking an active role in the debate over health care reform.

Goldman Estimates Longer Life Spans

New estimates of the future life span of Americans exceed the government’s own projections by as much as 7.9 years, according to a research team of heath policy experts that included USC professor Dana Goldman.

Link Found Between Fitness and Cognition

In the first study to demonstrate a clear positive association between adolescent fitness and adult cognitive performance, Nancy Pedersen of USC and colleagues in Sweden find that better cardiovascular health among teenage boys correlates to higher scores on a range of intelligence tests - and more education and income later in life.

New Nanoscience Labs Are Completed

After four years - a blink of an eye in research time - the USC Biomedical Nanoscience Initiative has built out the core laboratories specified in Executive Vice President and Provost C. L. Max Nikias’ original vision.

USC Leads Way in Transformative Grants

USC recently learned that it fared remarkably well in a new grant program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

As Holidays Begin, Fight On Against the Flu

With H1N1 flu cases showing a small decrease nationally and locally in recent weeks, officials at the Health Sciences campus urge the public to continue taking precautions against the spread of flu-like illnesses.

Plaque Poses Problems for a Cardiologist

USC biomedical engineer and cardiologist Tzung Hsiai hopes to develop a new tool to help clinicians distinguish cardiac emergencies requiring immediate surgery from chronic problems that are manageable with drugs and changes in lifestyle.

Dental Hygiene Students Screen for Oral Cancer

Members of the USC School of Dentistry’s Dental Hygiene Class of 2010 provided oral health screenings and tobacco cessation advice for USC students, staff members and visitors during the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout.

Former USC Intern Fights for Cleaner Air

Otana Jakpor’s essay on how she spent her time with USC would include leading demonstrations on how to map demographic data and conducting research on diesel emissions from locomotives and other rail yard equipment.

D. Brent Polk to Lead Pediatrics Programs

D. Brent Polk has been named chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and chair of pediatrics and vice president of academic affairs at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, effective April 1, 2010.

Richard Bergman Honored by Columbia University

USC professor Richard Bergman has been honored with the Naomi Berrie Award from Columbia University Medical Center for his achievements in research on type 2 diabetes.

Sykes Gift Endows New Faculty Chair

A $1 million gift from the Sykes family has established the first endowed faculty chair within the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy.

Pollution’s Impact May be Underestimated

Heavy traffic corridors in the cities of Long Beach and Riverside are responsible for a significant proportion of preventable childhood asthma, and the true impact of air pollution and ship emissions on the disease has likely been underestimated, according to researchers at USC.

Study Links Children's Sites to Air Pollution

Research produced by Summer Undergraduate Research Fund students has won a top honor from the Association of Pacific Coast Geographers.

Samet Addresses International Health Concerns

Jonathan Samet reached an international audience with messages about global health during two sessions at USC’s 2009 Global Conference in Taiwan.

Agency Grants $16M for Stem Cell Research

Physician-researchers at USC received a nearly $16 million grant from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine to fund the development of a stem cell-based treatment for age-related macular degeneration

New Cancer Research Center to be Based at USC

USC has been selected to establish a $16 million cancer research center as part of a new strategy against the disease by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and its National Cancer Institute.

Newton Takes Part in Cancer Research

Paul K. Newton, a USC specialist in applied mathematics, will participate in a new physics oncology center, working with scientists at the Scripps Research Institute and other institutions.

Chen Named Co-Chair of Safety Group

USC School of Pharmacy associate professor Steven Chen has been appointed co-chair of the Health Resources and Services Administration Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Collaborative 2.0.

USC to Generate Data for Cancer Genome

The USC Epigenome Center has been awarded a $10.4 million National Cancer Institute grant that is expected to pave the way for more effective treatment and diagnosis for cancer patients.

Dana Goldman to Head Schaeffer Center

Dana Goldman, a widely respected expert in health economics, has been named director of the new Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics at USC.

New Health Policy and Economics Center at USC

A major new research center focused on health policy and economics has been established at USC, USC Executive Vice President and Provost C. L. Max Nikias announced.

USC Launches Health Care Reporting Project

The USC Annenberg School for Communication has announced a partnership with the California HealthCare Foundation to do in-depth reporting on health policy issues throughout the state.

Preet Chaudhary Joins USC Cancer Center

Preet Chaudhary has been named chief of the Jane Anne Nohl Division of Hematology and Center for the Study of Blood Diseases at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital, effective Jan. 1, 2010.

Leaving No Scars Behind

For the first time in Southern California, urologic surgeons at the Keck School of Medicine of the USC Institute of Urology and USC-affiliated Childrens Hospital Los Angeles performed “belly-button” single-port laparoscopic kidney removal surgery on a child with non-functioning kidneys.

USC Studies Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases have discovered high concentrations of a specific mutator protein in cells that develop resistance to drug treatment in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Changes Linked to Prenatal Smoke Exposure

A new study by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC has found that the lifelong effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy may occur through specific changes in DNA patterns.

Rep. Schiff Sizes Up Health Reform

The Keck School of Medicine of USC brought a hot topic to the table on Aug. 18 when it presented a health care reform discussion with Rep. Adam Schiff (D-29th Congressional District).

USC Braces for Tough Flu Season

Health officials around the world are expecting the 2009-10 flu season to be more intense than usual, with the possibility of significant rates of infection because of a new strain of flu that most people under the age of 50 have not encountered.

Is Heart Disease Not a Thing of the Past?

Heart attacks and strokes — the leading causes of death in the United States and other developed countries — may have been rare for the vast majority of human history, suggests a study published in the scientific journal PLoS ONE.

Safe Sleep Through Anesthesia

Some students may complain about professors making them drowsy, but in one Keck School of Medicine of USC program, the students are learning how to put others to sleep.

There Is a Doctor in the House

The USC Home Visit Program provides care for Los Angeles-area patients who have difficulty leaving their homes to attend medical appointments.

Keck School Launches Health Reform Initiatives

As the health reform debate heats up across the country and in Washington, D.C., the dean’s office at the Keck School of Medicine of USC is launching a number of initiatives to keep the university’s community well informed and engaged.

Doheny Eye Institute Wins R&D 100 Award

The Doheny Eye Institute at the Keck School of Medicine of USC has won a prestigious 2009 R&D 100 Award for its U.S. Department of Energy-funded artificial retina project designed to restore sight to the blind.

Stress and Pollution Up Risk for Children

Children with stressed-out parents may be more susceptible to developing asthma associated with environmental triggers such as high levels of traffic-related pollution and tobacco smoke, according to a new study led by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Jae Jung to Lead Virus Control Study

A multi-institutional team of researchers has received more than $10 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health to investigate virus control mechanisms.

Girth Plays Large Role in Social Networks

Researchers from the Institute of Prevention Research at the Keck School of Medicine of USC found in a recent study that overweight youth were twice as likely to have overweight friends.

Benefits of Healthy Kids Program

A program that provides health care coverage to uninsured children saved Los Angeles County health facilities more than $37 million in uncompensated costs over the past three years, according to an analysis led by USC community health expert Michael Cousineau.

Professor Receives Cancer Institute Award

Alan L. Epstein, professor in the Department of Pathology, recently received an award of $3.5 million for a drug development project through the National Cancer Institute’s Rapid Access to Intervention Development (RAID) program.

Stressed Men More Likely to Gamble

New research, published July 1 in the journal PLoS One, shows that men under stress may be more likely to take risks, correlating to such real-life behavior as gambling, smoking, unsafe sex and illegal drug use.

How One Kidney Became Four — And Counting

The story of Keenan Cheung and his new kidney is an unusual one. It began ordinarily enough. When Cheung, director of housing services at USC, began losing function of his kidneys, he was placed on dialysis. Because his wife, Jeanne, has an incompatible blood type and was unable to give him one of hers, he began the long wait for a donor.

A Chance to Serve Is Its Own Reward

Judy Stark gets a natural high coming to USC Norris Cancer Hospital. The cancer survivor has been a volunteer at USC Norris for five years and loves her work because of “the endorphins it creates.”

Renowned Breast Oncologist Heads to USC

A national figure in breast cancer research is headed to USC to serve as co-leader of the Women’s Cancer Program at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Rethinking Housing and Aging in Place

Combining home modifications with the Obama administration’s plan to retrofit dwellings throughout the country for energy conservation could help millions of older adults to age in place.

Andrus Center Swings for Healthy Aging

The Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center honored Edward P. Roski Jr., president and chief executive officer of Majestic Realty Co. and chairman of the USC Board of Trustees, at the 12th annual Rod Dedeaux Memorial Swing for Healthy Aging Golf Classic.

Renowned Surgeon Inderbir Gill Welcomed

Pioneering urologist and surgeon Inderbir S. “Indy” Gill was welcomed to Los Angeles and the Trojan family at a Beverly Hills reception hosted by actress Shirley MacLaine and Keck School of Medicine of USC Dean Carmen A. Puliafito.

Pharmacists and Physicians Team Up at Clinic

“Patients don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” advised USC School of Pharmacy commencement speaker Paul Gregerson at the ceremony held at the Health Sciences Campus Quad.

Surrounding Tooth Characteristics Don’t Govern Jawbone Graft Outcomes

The genetics of surrounding teeth do not necessarily predict how successful a jawbone graft will be.

Balancing Fitness and Fun

Staying fit in college can be a challenge. For many students, their rigorous academic schedules barely leave time to breathe, let alone hit the gym regularly.

$5M Gift Funds Cancer Research Initiative

The Keck School of Medicine of USC announced a $5 million gift from the Ellison Medical Foundation to support cancer research under David B. Agus.

Antipsychotic Drugs and Schizophrenia

Postponing antipsychotic medications and integrating psychological treatment to those suffering early episodes of schizophrenia may help reduce long-term dependence on antipsychotic drugs.

National Satellite Broadcast Held at USC

The School of Pharmacy presented outcomes data as part of a broadcast bringing together nearly 500 health professionals from across the country.

Aiming to End Alzheimer Disease

The USC Davis School of Gerontology welcomed Potamkin Prize winner Rudolph E. Tanzi, the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, on April 9 to discuss how genes affect Alzheimer disease.

USC Study Examines Diabetes Risk Factors

Reducing sugar intake by the equivalent of one can of soda per day and increasing fiber intake by the amount equivalent to one half cup of beans per day appears to improve risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes in Latino adolescents.

Preventing Falls Throughout L.A.

The USC Andrus Gerontology Center’s Fall Prevention Center of Excellence received a three-year, $240,000 grant from the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. to build a fall prevention coalition for the city of Los Angeles.

Creem Named CEO of Two USC Hospitals

Mitchell R. Creem has assumed the position of chief executive officer for USC University Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital as the university has taken ownership of the two hospitals.

Researchers Uncover Stem Cell Pathway

The discovery of a mechanism that regulates movement of blood-forming stem cells may help scientists increase the effectiveness of bone marrow transplants.

Report Reveals Surprising Data on Bulimia

The ailment is being underreported among black and low-income adolescents, according to a 10-year survey.

Stumping for Changes in Health Care

Brookings Institute senior fellow Henry Aaron discusses possible reform at a USC Davis School gathering.

Tiny Brain Region Better Part of Valor

Piece of hypothalamus is key to animals’ fear of territorial rivals and predators, according to a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

A Celebration of Research

School of Dentistry’s Research Day lauds the scientific investigation and innovation of students and faculty members.

How Nitric Oxide Maintains Health

Pharmacologist Louis Ignarro discusses the ‘miracle molecule’ responsible for dilation of blood cells in the human body.

Building Partnerships With Safety-Net Clinics

Pharmacy schools, clinics, government and associations come together to expand clinical pharmacy services in clinics nationwide.

Prevention: The Best Gift for Loved Ones

Correlation between chronic oral infection and heart disease highlights the need for good oral hygiene and healthy choices.

He Leads the Longevity Revolution

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Butler discusses how longer lives and an aging population will affect America’s health care system.

USC to Purchase Two Private Hospitals

The deal to acquire the USC University Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital is expected to close March 31.

Children With a Reason to Smile

Dentistry students and faculty provide oral health education, screenings and care referrals to youngsters at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary.

From Hospital to Home Care

Susan Enguidanos receives a three-year grant to study transitional care for diabetic Latinos.

Saying ‘Open Wide’ in a Virtual World

Treating ‘patients’ in an online clinic will test dental students’ knowledge and diagnostic skills.

Brushing Up on Oral Health Resolutions

A bright smile can yield success on many levels in everyday life.

Cancer Research Findings Explained

Valter Longo discusses his groundbreaking research on a rare population of dwarves who are seemingly immune to cancer.

Diabetes Increases Risk for Dementia

Getting diabetes before 65 more than doubles the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia, according to the latest findings from a longtime study of twins.

Traube to Study Adolescent Drug Abuse

Social work professor will examine key objectives associated with HIV-risk related behavior.

O.R. Downtime Cut at Three Hospitals

USC Viterbi department’s recommendations improve the work flow at safety net hospitals in Los Angeles, Riverside County and Ventura County.

Data Links Drugs to Jaw Necrosis Risk

USC School of Dentistry study is among the first to acknowledge correlation between the common medications and jawbone death.