Health
Samet Addresses International Health Concerns
- Keck School of Medicine researcher Jonathan Samet
By Katie Neith on November 2, 2009 3:10 PM
Jonathan Samet, holder of the Flora L. Thornton Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, reached an international audience with messages about global health during two sessions at USC’s 2009 Global Conference in Taiwan.
Held in Taipei on Oct. 29-31, the sold-out conference brought together leading experts in economics, energy, health and digital technology to examine current global challenges and explore the potential for change. Attendees included USC trustees, alumni, friends and business leaders from around the Pacific Rim.
On Oct. 30, Samet, the founding director of the USC Institute for Global Health, delivered a keynote presentation titled “Global Health: Saving Billions at a Time.” The speech was an overview of health challenges, including chronic diseases, spreading epidemics, obesity and tobacco. In addition, Samet touched on recent initiatives for promoting global health and possible solutions for positive change.
In his speech, Samet noted that “we face ever more complex problems with global reach, but we are also gaining experience with developing global solutions.”
He also participated in an Oct. 31 panel discussion about air pollution in Asia. Joining him on the panel was Junfeng (Jim) Zhang from Rutgers University and Chang-Chuan Chan from National Taiwan University. The group discussed local concerns about high concentrations of pollution in Asia and how it relates to health worldwide. They also talked about strategies for control.
In an interview prior to the conference, Samet remarked on the importance of USC holding a global conference, particularly with an emphasis on global health.
“The world is quite connected, environmentally, and the connections pose new challenges,” he said. “We need to be training and sensitizing people to their global roles and their responsibilities. At a large university like USC, we have all the different kinds of players represented who will figure into finding solutions for global health problems.”
TAGS: globalization, health
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The Wall Street Journal highlighted the $200 million naming gift from USC Trustee and alumnus David Dornsife and wife Dana Dornsife to the USC Dornsife College, and the $110 million gift from USC Trustee and USC Viterbi School alumnus John Mork and wife Julie to create the USC Mork Family Scholars Program.
KPCC-FM reported that this fall USC will offer Persian language courses for the first time. A $250,000 grant from the Farhang Foundation helped to establish the program. Bruce Zuckerman of the USC Dornsife College said he has many students interested in the Persian language, culture and region. “The Iranian region is one that has great impact on our lives today and has had great impact going back into ancient times,” he said. The story noted that USC and the Farhang Foundation hope to raise more money to create an Iranian studies minor. Payvand also featured the new courses.
American Songwriter ran a Q&A with Christopher Sampson of the USC Thornton School about the school’s Popular Music program, which Sampson founded. He noted that the program has been available as a major in Songwriting since 2009, and has incorporated a diverse range of musical genres. “We have now established a consistent track record of students having professional success to know that the program gets results,” Sampson said. He also highlighted the achievements of Songwriting faculty members Lamont Dozier, Andrea Stolpe and David Poe of the Thornton School.
The Economist featured research by Valter Longo of the USC Davis School finding that short periods of fasting could help cancer patients better tolerate chemotherapy, and may even make treatment more effective. The Globe and Mail (Canada) reported that cancerous tumors are essentially energy hogs. “They need to burn lots of energy just to stay alive,” Longo said. The study was also covered by Irish Independent (Ireland), Magyar Tavirati Iroda (Hungary), Anadolu Ajansi (Turkey), Son Haber (Netherlands), Vietnam+ (Vietnam), Turkish Radio and Television (Turkey) and Romania Libera (Romania).
L.A. Weekly featured research by USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies, which has developed video games based around physical movement for people recovering from strokes or other injuries. The games develop strength in specific body parts. Traditional video games weren’t right for these patients, said the institute’s Belinda Lange. “Often, the fun parts of the game would only be unlocked after a series of other levels, which our patients often couldn’t achieve,” she said. The games are now being tested with physical therapists in three major clinics.
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