Podcasts about keck medicine

In Part 3 of our 4-part series on GERD and Barrett's Esophagus, we're joined by Dr. Caitlin Houghton, a foregut surgeon with Keck Medicine of USC, to discuss what happens after Barrett's Esophagus is diagnosed—and how patients can reduce their cancer risk and manage the condition effectively. From reflux control to endoscopic eradication therapy (EET), and in some cases, surgery, Dr. Houghton breaks down the latest treatment strategies and what patients need to know. This episode offers practical advice, expert insights, and real hope for those navigating life with Barrett's. Topics include: What Barrett's Esophagus is and why it matters How doctors decide when and how to treat The role of EET, medications, and lifestyle changes When surgery may be necessary Tips for patients to advocate for their care Missed the earlier episodes? Catch up here: Part 1 – From Reflux to Risk: How Heartburn and GERD Could Lead to Esophageal Cancer https://gastrogirl.com/podcast/from-reflux-to-risk-how-heartburn-and-gerd-could-lead-to-esophageal-cancer/ Part 2 – Barrett's Esophagus: The Hidden Risk of Chronic Heartburn https://gastrogirl.com/podcast/barretts-esophagus-the-hidden-risk-of-chronic-heartburn/ This series is sponsored by Castle Biosciences and produced in collaboration with leading clinicians and researchers committed to improving patient outcomes.  

In this episode of Ignite, Sr. Director of Digital Marketing at Keck Medicine of USC, Todd Richards, joins Cardinal's CEO, Alex Membrillo, for an insightful conversation on how healthcare marketers can adapt their digital marketing strategies to the evolving landscape influenced by AI and changing patient demographics. They explore the importance of truly understanding your audience by following the “Platinum Rule”—treating people how they want to be treated—and tailoring content to highlight unique selling propositions, such as patient testimonials and specific treatments. By focusing on service line-specific strategies and blending traditional and digital media, you can effectively engage patients and build trust, ultimately enhancing your marketing efforts in a competitive healthcare environment. RELATED RESOURCES Connect with Todd - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddsrichards/  Winning SEO in the Age of AI - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/webinars/ai-impact-seo/ How to Build a Full-Funnel Healthcare Marketing Strategy - https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/healthcare-resources/blog/healthcare-full-funnel-marketing-strategy/

In this episode, Chris Allen, CFO of Keck Medicine of USC, discusses the system's strategic growth, the increasing role of AI in healthcare, and the critical importance of cybersecurity. He also shares insights into M&A trends in academic health systems and how Keck Medicine is expanding its reach while maintaining financial and operational alignment.

In a recent episode of Oncology on the Go, several oncologists discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oncology care, 5 years later. Each doctor discussed a different aspect of multidisciplinary care, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, and epidemiology. CancerNetwork® spoke with leading clinicians including:  ·      Aditya Bardia, MD, MPH, FSCO, professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, and director of Translational Research Integration at the University of California Los Angeles Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center; ·      Ritu Salani, MD, director of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of California Los Angeles, and ONCOLOGY® editorial advisory board member; ·      Scarlett Lin Gomez, PhD, MPH, a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), and co-leader of the Cancer Control Program at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center ·      Marwan F. Fakih, MD, professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, associate director for Clinical Sciences, medical director of the Briskin Center for Clinical Research, division chief of GI Medical Oncology, and co-director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Program at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center; ·      Elizabeth Zhang-Velten, MD, a radiation oncologist at Keck Medicine of University of Southern California;  ·      Frances Elain Chow, MD, neuro-oncologist at the University of Southern California (USC) Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center ·      James Yu, MD, MHS, FASTRO, assistant professor adjunct, Department of Radiation Oncology, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Saint Francis Hospital, and ONCOLOGY® editorial advisory board member.  The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine cancer care in a number of ways. Many patients were unable to receive timely screening, diagnosis, and treatment, Fakih noted. Additionally, Bardia stated that the pandemic led to a decrease in the number of patients participating in clinical trials. One of the most significant changes in oncology care, according to Salani, has been the increased use of telehealth. Telehealth has allowed patients to receive care from the comfort of their own homes, which has been especially beneficial for patients who live in rural areas or who have difficulty traveling. Telehealth has also made it easier for patients to connect with their doctors and to receive support from other members of their care team.  For Gomez, the COVID-19 pandemic also highlighted the importance of addressing the structural and social drivers of health. These are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that can affect their health. For example, people who live in poverty or who lack access to healthy food are more likely to develop cancer. The pandemic has led to a renewed focus on addressing these disparities. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on oncology care. However, it has also led to a number of positive changes, such as the increased use of telehealth and the focus on addressing the structural and social drivers of health. In the years to come, it will be important to continue to build on these changes in order to improve the lives of patients with cancer.

Henry Mayo and Keck Medicine of USC urologist Kian Asanad, MD explains exactly what a vasectomy is and dispels myths about a vasectomy's supposed side effects.

Henry Mayo and Keck Medicine of USC urologist Kian Asanad, MD explains exactly what a vasectomy is and dispels myths about a vasectomy's supposed side effects.

In this episode, Dr. Kian Asanad, Urologist and Male Fertility Specialist with Keck Medicine of USC, discusses the microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (micro TESE) procedure, specifically for men with testicular cancer. He shares a unique case, the challenges involved, and the teamwork required to perform this intricate procedure, ensuring fertility preservation for a patient facing high stakes.

In this episode, Ekta Vyas, PhD - Chief Human Resources Officer, Keck Medicine at University of Southern California, shares her insights on leading a comprehensive HR transformation. Discover how Keck Medicine's innovative initiatives, from cultural alignment to leadership development and integration strategies, are setting new benchmarks in healthcare HR practices, fostering employee engagement, and driving organizational growth.

In this episode, hosts Dr. Kevin Chu and Dr. Justin Dubin engage in an insightful discussion about the effectiveness of fertility supplements with expert Dr. Kian Asanad, a fellowship-trained men's health urologist at Keck Medicine of USC who specializes in male fertility and reproductive health. Dr. Asanad brings a wealth of knowledge to the table as they explore the common questions surrounding fertility supplements and the data that supports or challenges their efficacy. The conversation addresses the widespread claims about various supplements and emphasizes the necessity of consulting a doctor for any serious fertility concerns. Listeners will learn that while supplements can potentially enhance fertility, they should not be seen as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for underlying issues. The hosts highlight the importance of understanding the role of supplements in the context of overall health and fertility, making it clear that they are intended to complement, not replace, medical intervention. Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, and YouTube! Enter discount code “MANUP” or use the link below to get 15% off your first pair of Koio shoes: koio.co/discount/MANUP

The fires- coverage, updates, support. Dean Sharp speaking with Tim Conway on what to do if your home burned down. News For Your Kitchen Table...or Couch. Interview with Richard Castriotta, MD, pulmonologist with Keck Medicine of USC.

When she first set foot in the United States, Ekta Vyas never dreamed she'd transform entire organizations with her courage, resilience, and strategic vision.   In this episode,  Rebecca speaks with Ekta, Chief Human Resources Officer at Keck Medicine of USC, who has faced and overcome immense adversity to carve her place in the world of HR leadership. Ekta's journey, beginning from her dream of becoming an Indian Administrative Services Officer to relocating to the United States, is filled with moments of vulnerability, persistence, and remarkable courage. Throughout our conversation, Ekta transparently shares the challenges of navigating workplace politics and presenting bold visions as an emerging young leader. You'll also hear her valuable lessons in diplomacy, patience, and the art of persuasion to drive transformational change.   In this episode, you will learn: Challenge the status quo and take calculated risks to drive transformational leadership. Blend positional power for decision-making with personal power to build trust and authenticity. Turn seemingly impossible challenges into triumphs through persistence and hard work.   Things to listen for: (00:00) What it takes to be a transformational leader (03:03) How to navigate academic equivalency (13:04) Why courage and bravery are crucial traits in leadership (15:45) How to conquer Stanford's toughest HR Challenges (20:28) Challenging the status quo fuels success (27:12) The role of personal power in effective leadership (37:06) How to integrate cultures in transformations (43:57) Valuable lessons from a transformation expert

Since the start of the pandemic (and really, before that), frontline healthcare workers have been rightfully lauded for the tireless work that they have done to keep the healthcare system from cratering in this country. This is no easy task, as we have seen the devastation that the pandemic has wrought among our communities, and especially within the healthcare field. In Southern California, the cost of living crisis has filtered into the workplace, with many healthcare workers finding themselves priced out of their neighborhoods due to rising costs and unchecked gentrification, their stagnant wages and dwindling access to healthcare benefits compounding an already untenable situation. More than 2,200 healthcare workers at Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California are fighting for improved working conditions and a chance to combat the cost of living crisis with a new contract. So far, they have been met with an aggressive management that is hellbent on freezing wages and striking some of the most important benefits that healthcare workers enjoy from the contract. Represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers, or NUHW, these workers - medical technicians, respiratory therapists, licensed vocational nurses, housekeepers and nursing assistants - have made clear their demands for improved working conditions at multiple USC healthcare facilities across Los Angeles, and we've brought on Francisco Cendejas and Noemi Aguirre, two worker-organizers at Keck Medicine, to talk about the ongoing contract negotiations.Note: This episode was recorded on July 18th, 2024. Negotiations with Keck-USC are still ongoing.Additional links/info below…NUHW - Keck-USC Negotiations FactsheetPenn Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, “How Inadequate Hospital Staffing Continues to Burn Out Nurses and Threaten Patients”National Union of Healthcare Workers - Main SitePermanent links below...Leave us a voicemail and we might play it on the show!Labor Radio / Podcast Network website, Facebook page, and Twitter pageIn These Times website, Facebook page, and Twitter pageThe Real News Network website, YouTube channel, podcast feeds, Facebook page, and Twitter pageFeatured Music...Jules Taylor, "Working People" Theme SongHelp us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Sign up for our newsletterLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterDonate to support this podcast

In this episode of the Becker's Healthcare Podcast, Laura Dyrda interviews Ekta Vyas, Chief Human Resources Officer at Keck Medicine of USC. Ekta shares insights into her extensive career in healthcare, emphasizing workforce development, talent management, and the critical competencies needed for healthcare leadership in a rapidly evolving industry.

In this episode, Deborah McCoy, Executive Director of the USC Nursing Institute, Keck Medicine of USC shares insights into her background & organization, the challenges surrounding nurse recruitment & retention, essential qualities for effective healthcare leadership in the coming years, and more.

In this episode, Deborah McCoy, Executive Director of the USC Nursing Institute, Keck Medicine of USC shares insights into her background & organization, the challenges surrounding nurse recruitment & retention, essential qualities for effective healthcare leadership in the coming years, and more.

Tune in to the latest episode of the Becker's Healthcare Podcast, recorded live at our 14th Annual Meeting, where we delve into insightful discussions with industry experts. Join Ekta Vyas, Chief Human Resources Officer at Keck Medicine of USC, as they share invaluable insights on leadership, growth strategies, and navigating workforce challenges in healthcare. Gain actionable advice and best practices to elevate your organization's performance in today's dynamic landscape.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD), characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the lungs, is associated with progressive dyspnea and results in approximately 25 000 to 30 000 deaths in the US each year. Toby M. Maher, MD, MSc, PhD, of Keck Medicine of USC, discusses the diagnosis and management of ILD with JAMA Deputy Editor Mary McGrae McDermott, MD. Related Content: Interstitial Lung Disease

Join us for an insightful episode featuring Dr. Sukgu Han, Chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Dr. Han discusses his new role and exciting opportunities at Keck Medicine of USC, as well as changes he has implemented for great results. Explore the future growth prospects for both the medical school and the USC Comprehensive Aortic Center in this captivating conversation.

In this episode of Derms and Conditions, host James Q Del Rosso, DO, sits down with Jennifer Hsiao, MD, associate professor of clinical dermatology at Keck Medicine of University of Southern California, to discuss the multifaceted world of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). From addressing diagnostic obstacles to understanding comorbidities, this episode guides clinicians through the many complexities of HS management. They begin by exploring the diagnostic hurdles associated with HS, with Dr Hsiao sharing insights to help clinicians navigate through potential misdiagnoses. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing subtle indicators of the disease and thinking outside the box when it comes to the location of lesions, as they may present in atypical areas. She also highlights the significance of recurrent history, which can serve as a diagnostic hallmark. Next, the pair discusses comorbidities associated with HS, with Dr Hsiao detailing the importance of inquiring about patients' primary care arrangements. She notes that while dermatologists may not directly manage these comorbidities, they can play a vital role in identifying and initiating the necessary steps toward management. The discussion then moves to the significant psychological impact of HS, emphasizing the necessity of open dialogue with patients about the psychological toll of HS and the benefits of seeking mental health support. Screening tools like the PHQ-2 can aid in identifying patients at risk and initiating necessary interventions. They next address the limitations of current clinical guidelines for HS and the need for a paradigm shift towards intervening earlier in the disease process to prevent irreversible tissue damage. The discussion concludes with the presentation of a clinical scenario describing a patient transitioning from oral antibiotics to a biologic, with Dr Hsiao outlining her suggested approach for such a patient.

Justin M. Lantz, DPT of USC's Keck Medicine and a 2023 SpineLine 20 Under 40 winner discusses Setting Patient Expectations with moderator Renee Rosati, DO.

What if you lead a business, department or team, but find it unnatural to see yourself as a leader? It's hard to fully step into your power when your personal identity as at odds with how others see you in your leadership roles. In this episode, we explore the power of mentorship in leadership identity and non-traditional leadership paths. We'll learn how well-matched mentoring relationships paired with systematic skills-based personal growth strategies can help leaders with marginalized identities conquer their dreams.Dr. Sara Rabinovitch is a clinical psychologist, as well as an expert trainer, supervisor, and consultant in evidence-based therapies for anxiety disorders, OCD & traumatic stress. Her clients are primarily engineers & scientists who are blessed with brilliantly logical & scrupulous minds that fuel their ability to solve complex problems, while sometimes diminishing personal happiness & life satisfaction. As a consultant, Dr. Sara provides training & support for employee wellbeing & inclusion across sectors including finance, tech, media & athletics. In her tech work, Dr. Sara founded EquiSkills App by MinMind, a skills-based training app for inclusive and progressive companies that addresses employee wellbeing and DEI issues with on-demand research-based skills from behavior science. EquiSkills offers effective, complementary support for translating employee learning into actionable and measurable outcomes. Sara is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Keck Medicine of USC, where she supervises & trains medical residents. pacificmndfl.com#DEI, #mindfulness, #employeewellbeing, #behsci, #skills, #inclusion, #mentalhealth#TheHardSkills #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching #leadershipconsultingTune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

Jeannine Taylor of Keck Medicine of USC shares her journey into a senior leadership position at a top 20 academic medical center in this episode of The Legal Department podcast. While leading the legal team at a $3 billion health system, Jeannine also serves as president of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, California's largest women's bar association. Her leadership development in the legal department showed how she values the feedback from her team, which paved her growth. Jeannine also touches on coaching, retreat sessions, techniques, and experiences she walked through with her coach. Join Jeannine Taylor in this captivating episode and be an inspired woman to stand in a leadership position today.

Today you'll learn about a zombie virus recovered from the arctic permafrost and brought back to life, some good news about 26 Australian animal species that have been brought back from the brink, and how a new pill could potentially limit the levels of “bad” cholesterol in the body. Zombie Virus “Scientists have revived a ‘zombie' virus that spent 48,500 years frozen in permafrost.” By Katie Hunt. 2023. “Arctic permafrost is thawing rapidly. It affects us all.” By Katie Hunt. 2022. Back From the Brink “Researchers find 26 Australian species recovered from the brink of extinction.” abc.net. 2023. “Lights at the end of the tunnel: The incidence and characteristics of recovery for Australian threatened animals.” by Woinarski, et al. 2023. “Humpback whales no longer listed as endangered after major recovery.” by Claudia Long. 2022. “Red List: Summary Statistics.” n.a. N.d. Bad Cholesterol “Oral pill cuts bad cholesterol by 60% in phase 2 clinical trial” By Michael Irving “Efficacy and safety of the oral PCSK9 inhibitor MK-0616: a phase 2b randomized controlled trial” by Christie M. Ballantyne et al. “What Is the Difference Between Good and Bad Cholesterol?” by Keck Medicine of USC “Coronary artery disease” by Mayo Clinic “PCSK9 gene” by MedLine Plus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks to Dr. Anastasia Martynova about the importance of breast cancer awareness and annual breast exams. They discuss who needs these screenings, why they are essential, and who is at higher risk.  Today's Guest  Anastasia Martynova, MD, specializes in breast cancer and medical oncology at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Keck Medicine of USC. She is committed to developing innovative cancer therapies and treatments, with an emphasis on early-phase clinical trials for women's cancers, such as breast and gynecological cancer. After completing her undergraduate studies in Immunology with honors she received her medical degree from First Moscow Medical University, earning summa cum laude.  Dr. Martynova completed her internal medicine residency and hematology/oncology fellowship at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and Los Angeles General, formerly Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. During her tenure at Keck Medicine, she has been recognized with research, teaching and excellence in patient care awards. Her research focuses on developing innovative therapies such as: triple negative and hereditary breast cancers in young adults. Beyond her research and clinical work, Dr. Martynova devotes considerable time to volunteering to the American Cancer Society where she contributes her expertise to support their mission of eliminating cancer as a major health problem. She resides in Arcadia, CA with her family. In her free time, she balances her passions for exploring nature, exercising and enjoying being a mother to her two children. About Dr. Raj Dr Raj is a quadruple board certified physician and associate professor at the University of Southern California. He was a co-host on the TNT series Chasing the Cure with Ann Curry, a regular on the TV Show The Doctors for the past 7 seasons and has a weekly medical segment on ABC news Los Angeles. Want more Dr. Raj? Check out the Beyond the Pearls lecture series! The Ultimate High Yield Bundle: The complete review of high-yield clinical medicine topics necessary for graduate medical education board exams including NBME, USMLE Steps 1/2/3, ITE and ABIM Boards. You can also listen to the Beyond the Pearls podcast. Check out our other shows: Physiology by Physeo Step 1 Success Stories The InsideTheBoards Study Smarter Podcast The InsideTheBoards Podcast Produced by Ars Longa Media To learn more about us and this podcast, visit arslonga.media. You can leave feedback or suggestions at arslonga.media/contact or by emailing info@arslonga.media. Produced by: Christopher Breitigan and Erin McCue. Executive Producer: Patrick C. Beeman, MD The information presented in this podcast is intended for educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or medical advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us on the Medical Marketing Executive podcast as we dive into the fascinating journey of Todd Richards, Senior Director of Digital Marketing at Keck Medicine of USC. In this episode, Todd shares his unique path from aspiring meteorologist to healthcare marketing executive. Discover how his diverse background, including roles in meteorology, media, and education, has led him to navigate the challenges of promoting a local healthcare system, bridging the gap between seemingly disparate fields, and finding innovative solutions to enhance engagement in the healthcare sector. Tune in for insights into the power of diverse experiences in shaping successful marketing strategies.

In this episode, Ben and Rahul break down the recent $46 million verdict Rahul obtained in a case on behalf of a client injured during a Brazilian Jujitsu class.  Rahul talks about how he frames the issues in the case to deal with the challenge of many jurors believing that those who engage in dangerous activities, like Jujitsu, assume the risk of injury.  He shares his approach to voir dire and to obtaining this high-value verdict in a relatively conservative venue where verdicts tend to be on the lower side.  Rahul talks about how the verdict was received in the Jujitsu community and how it is likely to lead to changes that will make the practice safer.  About Rahul RavipudiRahul Ravipudi is a partner at Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP and has spent his legal career handling catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving commercial vehicles, pedestrians, industrial or construction accidents, utility negligence, dangerous conditions of public and private property as well as cases of sexual abuse and sexual assault. Mr. Ravipudi also represents consumers in class actions against businesses who engage in unfair/illegal business practices and public entities in cases where corporations have endangered the safety, health, property or comfort of the public. Mr. Ravipudi currently serves as Public Entity Plaintiffs' Co-Lead Counsel in the JUUL Labs Product Cases, representing school districts and other public entities in California involved in litigation against the electronic cigarette manufacturer. Has also serves as Plaintiffs Co-Lead Counsel in the Southern California Fire Cases litigation arising out of the 2017 Thomas Fire and subsequent debris flows in Montecito, California as well as on the Plaintiffs Executive Committee in the California North Bay Fires litigation. Mr. Ravipudi previously served on the Steering Committee in the Blythe bus crash litigation. Named 2017 Trial Lawyer of the Year by Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Mr. Ravipudi has obtained numerous landmark verdicts and settlements including a $160.5 million jury verdict for a man who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of a vicious beating by security personnel for a nightclub, a $46,475,112.33 jury verdict for a beginning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu student who suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury while sparring with a Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Club instructor who performed a technique which rendered the student an incomplete quadriplegic, a $28,500,000+ settlement for a special needs student who was catastrophically injured after being struck by a vehicle while under the care and supervision of Victor Elementary School District (VESD) personnel, as well as a $23,500,000 settlement on behalf of the family of Paul Lee, a 19-year-old non-verbal autistic student who tragically died aboard a Whittier school bus after the driver left him behind to engage in a sexual tryst with a coworker. The Lee case was a catalyst for significant change in school transportation with Governor Jerry Brown signing the “Paul Lee School Bus Safety Law” in September 2016, requiring all school buses in the state of California to be equipped with a child safety alarm system that must be deactivated by the bus driver before departing the bus. The new law will go into effect at the start of the 2018-19 school year and requires bus drivers to receive training in child-safety check procedures. Committed to serving as an advocate for his clients, Mr. Ravipudi has obtained numerous eight-figure awards including a $20,500,000 jury verdict for the mother of a high school student who was killed while walking to a bus stop, a $19,786,818 jury verdict for a man who suffered severe burn and traumatic brain injuries when his rental home exploded as a result of Southern California Gas Company negligence, a $13,935,550 jury verdict for 19-year-old pedestrian who suffered extensive injuries as a result of being struck on the sidewalk by a vehicle driven by a Los Angeles County employee, a $13,000,000 settlement for the children and parents of a woman who was killed when her car was hit by a Hawthorne, California police officer, a $11,000,000 settlement for the family of a middle school student who drowned during a school-sponsored swim party, a$10 million for the family of an independent truck driver killed by an intoxicated heavy lift operator at a stevedoring terminal in Long Beach, and an $8,000,000 jury verdict in Clark County District Court for a Nevada man who suffered significant internal injuries after he was served and ingested what he believed was a Honey Blonde Ale but was actually a chemical cleaning compound left in the tap lines. Mr. Ravipudi shared his insight into successfully litigating cases against the stevedoring companies in an article entitled, “Danger on the Docks – Where there is an injury or death on the waterfront, drugs or alcohol are too often involved” published in the February 2011 edition of Advocate, journal of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. Additional recoveries obtained by Mr. Ravipudi include a $15,950,000 settlement for a teen who suffered a brain injury on an HOA playground, $8,000,000 settlement for an 81-year-old woman who suffered severe spinal cord injuries after falling at a hotel, a $7,000,000+ settlement during trial for the family of a man killed at SpeedVegas when the vehicle he was driving slammed into a track wall and burst into flames, $6,500,000 settlement for the two minor children and friend of a Southern California man who was killed after being struck on the highway by a freight truck whose driver had fallen asleep behind the wheel, a $6,000,000 settlement for a woman who suffered severe burn injuries when a faucet in the bathtub of her apartment detached and sprayed scalding hot water onto her body, a $5 million for an HVAC worker who suffered serious injuries when he fell through a skylight while working on a customer's roof, a $3.3 million gross jury verdict arising out of the death of a pest control person crushed and killed when a semi-truck reversed into him at a warehousing facility, and $9 million from the State of California (Caltrans) when a 16-year-old girl on a restricted license lost control of her vehicle and collided into a guardrail damaged two days earlier resulting in a bilateral traumatic below knee amputations. This case involved significant appellate issues which led to Mr. Ravipudi's article, “Dealing with the state of California's first line of defense – stonewalling any meaningful discovery” published in Advocate, Journal of Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles in February 2009. In recognition of his outstanding trial efforts, some of the awards Mr. Ravipudi has received include, but are not limited to:2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiffs Consumer Lawyers2023 Lawyer of the Year in Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Best Lawyer2022 Top Plaintiffs Lawyer in California – Daily Journal2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiffs Consumer Lawyers2021 Robert E. Cartwright Sr. Award – Consumer Attorneys of California2021 Consumer Attorney of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys of California2021 Top Plaintiff Lawyer in California – Daily Journal2021 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiffs Consumer Lawyers2020 Top Plaintiffs Lawyer in California – Daily Journal2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiffs Consumer Lawyers2020 Plaintiffs Lawyer Trailblazer – National Law Journal2019 Consumer Attorney of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys of California2019 Plaintiffs Lawyer Trailblazer — National Law Journal2019 Trailblazer Award – South Asian Bar Association of Southern California2018 Consumer Attorney of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys of California2017 Trial Lawyer of the Year – Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles2017 Consumer Attorney of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys of California2017 Top Plaintiffs Lawyers of California – Daily Journal2017 Top 100 Lawyers of California – Daily Journal2016  Trial Lawyer of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles2016 Consumer Attorney of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys of California2016 Top Verdict By Impact – Daily Journal2015 Trial Lawyer of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles2014 Top 20 Under 40 – Daily Journal In addition, Mr. Ravipudi has been consistently ranked top in his profession for his work in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs with annual inclusion to Best Lawyers since 2013 and selection to the Super Lawyers list since 2014, the latter of which recognizes no more than five percent of attorneys in the state. Mr. Ravipudi was previously selected as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” from 2006-2013 – an honor awarded to the top 2.5 percent of lawyers in the Southern California area under 40 years of age. Prior to joining Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP, Mr. Ravipudi worked at another consumer law firm where his work helped recover over $4 billion for his clients. He participated as co-lead class counsel in a consumer class action case brought on behalf of all gas and electricity rate payers in the State of California against El Paso Natural Gas Company and Sempra Energy. This case arose out of the California Energy Crisis of 2000/2001 and resulted in the recovery of more than $3.5 billion in restitution to California utility customers. To date, this is recognized as one of the largest antitrust settlements in American history. Mr. Ravipudi also participated as co-lead counsel on an antitrust class action case brought on behalf of all gas and electricity rate payers in California against Reliant Energy Services and other energy traders for manipulating the California natural gas market by engaging in wash trades, churning, and false reporting. Hundreds of millions of dollars were recovered for rate payers of the State of California as well. In addition to serving as an Associate Editor for the Advocate, Journal of Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Mr. Ravipudi actively publishes articles in various journals and trade publications and is a frequent speaker on various issues, including class action litigation and trial tactics. In 2010, Mr. Ravipudi was profiled in the California Law & Politics magazine in an article entitled “Class Act(ion)”. A Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Mr. Ravipudi is also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, and an Associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He is an active member of the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), the South Asian Bar Association (SABA), and the Nevada Justice Association. He serves on the Board for Loyola Law School, on the Executive Committee for the Los Angeles Chapter of ABOTA, on the Board of Governors for CAALA, on the Steering Committee for SABA, and on the Board for Public Counsel. He has previously served as Treasurer of the South Asian Bar Association Public Interest Foundation and is an active supporter of Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Mr. Ravipudi received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Minor in Chemistry from the University of California, Riverside and his law degree from Loyola Law School where he has served as an adjunct professor teaching Trial Advocacy since 2008. He resides in La Canada Flintridge with his three sons and wife Smitha, who serves as Chief Executive Officer at USC Care & Ambulatory Care Services at Keck Medicine of USC.

Highway to Health's David Kemp attended HFMA 2023 in Nashville and got some interesting insights on up-leveling the consumer experience in healthcare. Seth Cohen, President of Cedar, and Jeremy Church, CFO at Keck Medicine of USC, took a moment to sit down and discuss the importance of enhancing the patient experience through digital engagement strategies. Their conversation highlighted the role of digital consumer strategies in fostering patient loyalty and advocacy. Cohen and Church emphasized the need for a consumer-grade experience in healthcare, comparing it to other consumer experiences. They also discussed integrating systems of engagement with systems of record to improve patient financial engagement. The collaboration between Keck Medicine of USC and Cedar in 2020 highlights a successful example of this approach, with a 91% positive rating on patient financial experience leading to a 39% improvement in collection rates. The discussion concluded with a focus on the growing patient financial obligations and the importance of collective efforts to simplify the patient process. Cohen and Church prove that up-leveling the consumer experience is more than possible.

Patrick Corbin is an associate professor of practice at the USC Gloria Kaufman School and an internationally renowned dance artist whose career has spanned over 30 years and bridged the worlds of classical ballet, modern and contemporary dance. He recently spoke to us about his work, exploring the positive effects that dance can have on neurology. On movement and movement therapy Well, on a neurological level movement is cognition.  Movement stimulates cognition.  So that's sort of the sciencey part. The other part is that dance is a multifaceted, multilingual way of movement, and we're actually in a duet from the time your mother becomes aware of you in the womb, you're already in a duet with her. So you're dancing before you're born. We come into this world dancing and we dance through life. So, it is intrinsic to our development. So why shouldn't it be also important to therapies and things? Movement therapy can range from anything from occupational therapy and living with different disorders to dance class or performative sort of therapies. Also, movement therapy can be sports anything obviously involving movements.    Exercise can look like so many different things, and that's why we are getting in touch with each other and starting to work together. Because the more fun the exercise, the more people are going to do it. Dance is fun; therefore, people are going to do it and keep it going.  On the benefits of dance in general There are a whole host of different areas where dance brings people together.  We dance at parties; we dance at weddings we dance, and we don't even know that we're dancing. So, anybody who says, “ugh, you know, I'm not a dancer, I can't dance.” You know you don't even need two legs because that's even ableist going on.  Do you move through space and do you like music? Then you dance and it's doing something good for your brain.  Because of course, we focus on people maybe with disabilities or syndromes or some kind of situation that way, but actually dance is just really good for everybody, you know? It's all about community. You don't have to do dance in a group setting, but often we do.  So, it's always keeping that active, curious, creative form of connection going with others. And also, it makes you feel a little sexy, right? So why shouldn't somebody who's 80 years old who has Parkinson's feel a little sexy?  I think that's one of the best things that dance does, it puts us in touch with that sexier self, that sassy self, where you can express so many things through it. And I think that's one of the great gifts it can bring to anybody. On the benefits of dance for people with Parkinson's disease and other conditions The anecdotal evidence is just massive, right? Everybody has stories about their family member who just started going to dance class and their quality of life changed.  So, the scientific evidence is quite strong. Also, especially when you're talking motor skills, gait, and speed.  When you're talking about the, the experiential evidence we want to talk about dance as, once again, this multifaceted art or form of exercise that brings together other domains other than just the motor. So, you have the sensory, you have the motor, you have cognitive, you have social, emotional, spiritual, rhythmic, and of course your creative process.  So, what does that do to the whole person, right? What does that do for somebody who may be, have become isolated for whatever reasons? And, and I'm going to go across the board here with many different kinds of disabilities that this is, these are often invisibilized populations when you're talking about elders or when you're talking about, especially in the past, children with autism, or for instance. Now, one thing I did witness at one time is sometimes what happens the slowing happens so much, or the automaticity is so in decline that an actual freeze will happen.  And so there are different ways that you can cue people out of a freeze. And this is specifically in Parkinson's. So, the person who was teaching our class said that when one of her students froze at the door, she just said, no, just do your waltz. Do your waltz and waltz into the room. And they were able to cue themselves in waltz into the room where they were completely frozen and couldn't take a step.  So those are the kind of things, immediate things that we actually see in real-time.  On USC's Dance and Ability course focused on people with Parkinson's The goals for the course in a broad sense as far as the University and USC Kaufman goes, is that have been wanting to do something that was truly interdisciplinary since I landed here on campus eight, almost nine years ago. And it's been that gentle pressure and getting to know different people. And then that finally culminated this year in getting funded by Arts and Action, which is a great funding organization on campus here at USC that I was able to bring together Giselle Petzinger and Michael Jakowec from Keck Medicine and Neurology.  We brought the OT school; we brought the PT school into it. We brought John Walsh from Gerontology.  We worked with a community group in Pasadena called Lineage Performing Arts Center where we designed this course together. So, I want to give our students a chance to use their fierce intellects and their fiercely intelligent bodies to start changing things in the world and to start understanding that your research in the studio is real research and it has real effects on people's lives. And the best thing about it, and this was my greatest hope, and was sort of the greatest payoff, was the intergenerational connection that came with our students getting off this campus and going to work with an elder population in Pasadena. And we were just dancing together and the love that filled that room, that number one, are students valuing these amazing people, right, that are, that are dancing through this these elements of trauma in their lives. And those folks up there, you know, maybe viewing young people in a different light than they possibly have been lately…It's all about connection. So, we can sort of complain about the lack of connection because of social media, but what are we doing about it? So that's, that's the other thing I want to do is create a community. And that's what happened. It was really kind of magical up there. On the benefits for caregivers In Parkinson's the caregivers if joining into class are getting every bit of spiritual physical, feedback reward that anybody involved in the classes…The caregivers when we went to Lineage, I noticed that they were taking time to sit and read a book and maybe do a little self-care on their own if they weren't joining in, some were joining in.  And so, I know that it offers a respite, and it also offers a moment where they can view the person who's in their care as a dancer, right? As they're doing something, that maybe they're too afraid or don't feel able to do. So that's sort of a power dynamic shift that's kind of a beautiful thing too. When I was working with the children with autism, one of the services that we were providing was a respite for these parents who I mean, these were, these were working-class people in Carlstadt, New Jersey that could not leave their child unattended ever, right? Incredibly intelligent, these kids, one was a computer whiz, and he would go in and just wreck all of the computers.  So, I realized that they could go and have a cup of coffee and maybe be just a couple for 45 minutes.  So, I know that that's also something that any kind of service you're providing that, that is community and group-oriented, you're taking care of the whole family. And that's another thing that I wanted to impress upon the students. And they got it. The students really, really stepped up. On cross-campus collaboration So, the structure of the class is it's all in the studio, but we have lectures. So, we will have two lectures in a row and then a creative session, then two lectures in a row, creative session.  And then we also peppered three times throughout the through that were field trips, field work that will be again in Pasadena in the spring, and of course in the fall will be in Culver City. So, we have whoever might be available to do the lectures. What we tried to do is we tried to give some kind of background in whatever we're studying. So, we had a few lectures with the neurologists about Parkinson's, just what it is. Then we had a creative session with the practitioner from Lineage Performing Arts Center and myself, who was training in dance for Parkinson's at the time.  and then we rinse and repeat that cycle over with somebody from occupational therapy, in gerontology, in physical therapy. And then we would wrap it up again with the neurologist coming back into it.  And throughout that we're then putting it into action or putting it into practice when we, when we visit on the field trips. It's just a dream come true. And because I've been, you know, researching on my own just as a curious person in the world and doing so much reading and watching films and sort of diving in on a pretty deep level to some of these things that then when I'm sitting in a lecture with Gisele Petzinger and Mike Jakowec  or Dr. Walsh or Lisa Fukuzato from Occupational Therapy or Marisa Hentis, that as a dancer coming into this academic space that I know something and I know something that is valuable, and I've been able to bring these things together because I knew that there was a there there, and it just needed a spark to come together. So that was the most gratifying and invigorating, edifying takeaway from this whole experience is so that dancers in general, artists, I should say in general, can walk into these spaces and have a conversation with a neurologist, and we can have a real conversation about science because I've done the work. So, I want that to be apparent that we're, we're all doing our research, whether it's in the studio or whether it's in the laboratory. Yeah.  On dance and aging And of course, there are issues in the field. It's getting better.  Also, our perceptions as ourselves as aging bodies is different. You know I, as a 58-year-old going on, 59-year-old person don't feel old in this body at all. Whereas, my mom, God rest her soul, my mom at even at 40, she felt she perceived her aging body differently. So culturally that is changing in a broader sense. And so that is of course, filtering into dance in general. There are very few opportunities for aging dancers, but they are specialized and they, some of them are very high level but when you're talking about performing, it's the same sort of ageism and ableism that you have in any other sort of aesthetic process like acting, dancing, anything like that. But it's getting better. I'm working on it on a daily basis with my students. I'm like, you should be able to keep up with me, , look at me. I'm strong. You know?  And also, what I want to impart to my students in general is that if we take care and accept our bodies where they are and honor our bodies at each stage or season in life, then we can express through them instead of shutting down and becoming isolated. Share your aging body as a thing of beauty.

In this episode, Dr. Inaba discusses the history and importance of STOP THE BLEED®. From its origins in the military to its lifesaving ability for everyday injuries, STOP THE BLEED® can help anyone be prepared to respond in an emergency. Dr. Inaba shares why STOP THE BLEED® is important for forensic nurses and their patients, and how to learn more about the program and get trained. Kenji Inaba MD, FACS, FRCSC, is Chair of the American College of Surgeons STOP THE BLEED® Steering Committee. He is a Professor and Vice Chair of Surgery, the General Surgery Program Director, and the Chief of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California. Dr. Inaba is also Chief Surgeon and a sworn reserve officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. Resources: STOP THE BLEED® website: https://www.stopthebleed.org/ STOP THE BLEED® online interactive course: https://www.stopthebleed.org/training/online-course/ STOP THE BLEED® in-person course search: https://cms.bleedingcontrol.org/class/search History of STOP THE BLEED®: https://www.stopthebleed.org/our-story/

Shannon Bradley, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Keck Medicine of USC, joins the podcast to discuss her background & what led her into the healthcare field, what organizations need to do in order to improve the health of their communities, the most exciting and impactive initiative she's working on right now, and more.

Shannon Bradley, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Keck Medicine of USC, joins the podcast to discuss her background & what led her into the healthcare field, what organizations need to do in order to improve the health of their communities, the most exciting and impactive initiative she's working on right now, and more.

Shannon Bradley, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Keck Medicine of USC, joins the podcast to discuss her background & what led her into the healthcare field, what organizations need to do in order to improve the health of their communities, the most exciting and impactive initiative she's working on right now, and more.

Looking to brush up on the ins and outs of vitiligo? We've always got you covered. In this week's podcast, we're joined by Dr. Nada Elbuluk as she digs a bit deeper into the disease. Listen in as she discusses patient anxieties, what to check first, and how certain treatments are better catered to certain patients. Each Thursday, join Dr. Raja and Dr. Hadar, board certified dermatologists, as they share the latest evidence based research in integrative dermatology. For access to CE/CME courses, become a member at LearnSkin.com. Nada Elbuluk, MD MSc specializes in pigmentary disorders and skin, hair and nail conditions affecting individuals of color, along with general medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is the founder and director of the USC Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Program at Keck Medicine of USC. She also established the USC Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Research Fellowship and the Dermatology Diversity and Inclusion Program at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.   Dr. Elbuluk received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Princeton University. She received her medical degree and master's degree in clinical research at the University of Michigan. She completed her dermatology residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Afterwards, she was a fellow and clinical instructor in the Dermatology Department at the University of Pennsylvania and then spent four years as an assistant professor at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine, where she was the founder and director of the pigmentary disorder clinic and served as the diversity ambassador for the department.   Dr. Elbuluk's clinical and research interests include such pigmentary disorders as vitiligo and melasma, as well as conditions that cause lightening or darkening of the skin. Among the procedures she performs are chemical peels, microneedling, lasers and botulinum toxin injections for all skin types.    In addition, Dr. Elbuluk is devoted to ensuring health equity for all patients and improving health disparities. A passionate teacher, she created a Skin of Color educational curriculum for Keck Medicine dermatology residents and serves as the director of curriculum equity for the Keck School.     Dr. Elbuluk serves on the board of directors of the Global Vitiligo Foundation and the Women's Dermatologic Society. She also holds various leadership roles and memberships in the Skin of Color Society, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American Academy of Dermatology. Additionally, she is a sought-after media expert and has been widely interviewed by local, national and international news platforms, including print, radio and TV, on a range of topics related to dermatology, as well as health equity.    Outside of her clinical practice, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, along with traveling, playing tennis and trying new foods.  

Can you get a "second wind"? Is it real?Dr. William Roberts with the University of Minnesota Medical School and The American College of Sports Medicine along with Dr. Cara Hall from Keck Medicine at USC explain the "second wind" phenomenon.Why are some English word spellings so weird? Why is there a "k" in knife?! A "b" in doubt?! Our favorite linguistics professor, Jaye Padgett at UC Santa Cruz, is back to answer. And, why do we get gray hair?We find out from Dr. Sandy Johnson, board certified dermatologist at Johnson Dermatology in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Today you'll learn about a zombie virus recovered from the arctic permafrost and brought back to life, some good news about 26 Australian animal species that have been brought back from the brink, and how a new pill could potentially limit the levels of “bad” cholesterol in the body. Zombie Virus “Scientists have revived a ‘zombie' virus that spent 48,500 years frozen in permafrost.” By Katie Hunt. 2023.https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/08/world/permafrost-virus-risk-climate-scn/index.html“Arctic permafrost is thawing rapidly. It affects us all.” By Katie Hunt. 2022.https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/12/world/permafrost-climate-change-explainer-scn/index.htmlBack From the Brink“Researchers find 26 Australian species recovered from the brink of extinction.” abc.net. 2023.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-24/australian-animals-no-longer-meet-criteria-as-threatened-species/102020276“Lights at the end of the tunnel: The incidence and characteristics of recovery for Australian threatened animals.” by Woinarski, et al. 2023.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320723000460“Humpback whales no longer listed as endangered after major recovery.” by Claudia Long. 2022.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-26/humpback-whales-no-longer-listed-as-endangered/100862644“Red List: Summary Statistics.” n.a. N.d.https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/summary-statisticsBad Cholesterol“Oral pill cuts bad cholesterol by 60% in phase 2 clinical trial” By Michael Irvinghttps://newatlas.com/medical/oral-pill-bad-cholesterol-phase-2-clinical-trial/“Efficacy and safety of the oral PCSK9 inhibitor MK-0616: a phase 2b randomized controlled trial” by Christie M. Ballantyne et al.https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2023.02.018“What Is the Difference Between Good and Bad Cholesterol?” by Keck Medicine of USChttps://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-good-and-bad-cholesterol/#:~:text=As%20a%20general%20rule%2C%20HDL,cholesterol%20directly%20to%20your%20arteries.“Coronary artery disease” by Mayo Clinichttps://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronary-artery-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350613#:~:text=If%20there's%20too%20much%20cholesterol,blood%20flow%20through%20an%20artery.“PCSK9 gene” by MedLine Plushttps://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/pcsk9/#:~:text=The%20PCSK9%20protein%20controls%20the,in%20regulating%20blood%20cholesterol%20levels.Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/zombie-virus-back-from-the-brink-bad-cholesterol

Welcome to the Cancer Awareness and Resource Expo in Santa Clarita, April 22, 2023! We're excited to bring this event back for the first time since 2019, when it had to be postponed due to the pandemic. At the Expo, you'll find a wealth of information on cancer prevention, detection, treatment and recovery. You'll also get to meet with doctors and other medical professionals who are top experts in cancer care. Plus, there will be a variety of vendors offering resources and services to help you better understand and manage cancer. Don't miss this great opportunity to learn more about cancer and take advantage of the resources available. Join us at the Cancer Awareness and Resource Expo SCV held at the College of the Canyons on April 22, 2023! We're thrilled to have the support of two top-tier healthcare providers, Keck Medicine of USC and Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, as sponsors of the Cancer Awareness and Resource Expo SCV.

Dr. Regina Y. Baker is an associate professor of surgery in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California. She has faculty appointments at Keck Hospital of USC, Keck Verdugo Hills Hospital, Huntington Memorial Hospital, and LAC USC Hospital. Dr. Baker's clinical interests include breast reconstruction, cosmetic breast surgery, adolescent breast surgery, body contouring, complex reconstructive surgery, gender-affirming surgery, and all aspects of aesthetic surgery. She has special interests in women's health and issues. Dr. Baker received her medical degree from Keck School of Medicine of USC. She then completed an integrated plastic surgery residency at USC and later joined the faculty in the plastic and reconstructive surgery division at USC. She is dedicated to enhancing surgical education and is actively involved in teaching medical students and residents.In this episode, Nada sits down with Expert Dr. Baker to equip women to make informed decisions when considering plastic surgery. This conversation will give you the language and tools you need to speak with your doctor, whether for cosmetic or functional reasons. Because plastic surgery seems taboo, even amongst friends, Nada wanted to create a space that wasn't prescriptive or judgemental. She invited Dr. Baker to share her expertise to educate listeners with a head-to-toe explanation of various procedures available. Be sure to check out Dr. Regina Baker's profile on the Keck Medicine of USC website. Check out the American Society of Plastic Surgeons' website to access local plastic surgeons in your area.Please follow us at @thisislibertyroad on Instagram--that's where we hang out the most. And please rate and review us —it helps to know if this podcast is inspiring and equipping you to launch and grow your ventures.

Videos : Proof Government Lab Created COVID, Says Escaped Chinese Virologist Dr. Li-Meng Yan – Ask Dr. Drew   Fewer cases of melanoma among people taking vitamin D supplements University of Eastern Finland, January 10, 2023 Fewer cases of melanoma were observed among regular users of vitamin D supplements than among non-users, a new study finds. People taking vitamin D supplements regularly also had a considerably lower risk of skin cancer, according to estimates by experienced dermatologists. The study, conducted in collaboration between the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital and published in Melanoma Research, included nearly 500 people with an increased risk of skin cancer. 498 adult patients estimated to have an increased risk of a skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma, were recruited at the dermatological outpatient clinic of Kuopio University Hospital. Experienced dermatologists at the University of Eastern Finland carefully analysed the patients' background information and medical history and examined their skin. The dermatologists also classified the patients into different skin cancer risk classes, namely low risk, moderate risk and high risk. Based on their use of oral vitamin D supplements, the patients were divided into three groups: non-users, occasional users and regular users. Serum calcidiol levels were analysed in half of the patients and found to correspond to their self-reported use of vitamin D. A key finding of the study is that there were considerably fewer cases of melanoma among regular users of vitamin D than among non-users, and that the skin cancer risk classification of regular users was considerably better than non-users'. Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk for melanoma among regular users was considerably reduced, more than halved, compared to non-users. The findings suggest that even occasional users of vitamin D may have a lower risk for melanoma than non-users. Other relatively recent studies, too, have provided evidence of the benefits of vitamin D in melanoma, such as of the association of vitamin D with a less aggressive melanoma. (NEXT) Diabetics should pay attention to vitamin C University of Otago (New Zealand), January 9 2023. Research reported in Nutrients suggests that low intake and serum levels of vitamin C may be particularly risky for adults with diabetes. The study analyzed data from 25,206 men and 26,944 women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2018. Four hundred twenty-eight individuals had type 1 diabetes and 6,807 had type 2 diabetes. At the beginning of the study, 38% of the people had an intake of vitamin C that was below the estimated average requirement (EAR), which worsened to 46.5% by 2017-2018. Individuals whose intake of vitamin C was lower than the EAR had a 20% higher risk of type 2 diabetes compared with an intake above the EAR, and those who did not use vitamin C supplements had a 28% greater risk than vitamin C supplement users. Low and deficient serum vitamin C levels were associated with fewer years of life in comparison with normal vitamin levels. Compared with an adequate intake of vitamin C, the risk of mortality through 2019 among type 2 diabetics was 25% greater for those with a very low intake of the vitamin. Deficient serum levels of the vitamin were associated with an 84% greater mortality risk compared with adequate levels. Not supplementing with vitamin C was associated with a 25% greater mortality risk among people with type 1 diabetes, a 20% greater risk among those with type 2 diabetes and a 24% greater risk among nondiabetics compared with supplementation. “Observation of declining vitamin C intake and deleterious consequences of low serum vitamin C in US adults with diabetes suggests encouragement of vitamin C intake, including vitamin C supplementation of 500–1000 mg/day, may be beneficial for pre-diabetic and diabetic US adults,” the authors concluded. (NEXT) Feeling depressed? Performing acts of kindness may help Ohio State University, January 10, 2023 People suffering from symptoms of depression or anxiety may help heal themselves by doing good deeds for others, new research shows. The study found that performing acts of kindness led to improvements not seen in two other therapeutic techniques used to treat depression or anxiety. Most importantly, the acts of kindness technique was the only intervention tested that helped people feel more connected to others, said study co-author David Cregg at The Ohio State University. “Social connection is one of the ingredients of life most strongly associated with well-being. Performing acts of kindness seems to be one of the best ways to promote those connections,” Cregg said. The research also revealed why performing acts of kindness worked so well: It helped people take their minds off their own depression and anxiety symptoms. This finding suggests that one intuition many people have about people with depression may be wrong, Cheavens said. “We often think that people with depression have enough to deal with, so we don't want to burden them by asking them to help others. But these results run counter to that,” she said. “Doing nice things for people and focusing on the needs of others may actually help people with depression and anxiety feel better about themselves.” The study involved 122 people in central Ohio who had moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. After an introductory session, the participants were split into three groups. Two of the groups were assigned to techniques often used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression: planning social activities or cognitive reappraisal. Members of the third group were instructed to perform three acts of kindness a day for two days out of the week. Acts of kindness were defined as “big or small acts that benefit others or make others happy, typically at some cost to you in terms of time or resources.” Some of the acts of kindness that participants later said they did included baking cookies for friends, offering to give a friend a ride, and leaving sticky notes for roommates with words of encouragement. Participants followed their instructions for five weeks, after which they were evaluated again. The researchers then checked with the participants after another five weeks to see if the interventions were still effective. The findings showed that participants in all three groups showed an increase in life satisfaction and a reduction of depression and anxiety symptoms after the 10 weeks of the study. “But acts of kindness still showed an advantage over both social activities and cognitive reappraisal by making people feel more connected to other people, which is an important part of well-being,” he said. In addition, the acts of kindness group showed greater improvements than the cognitive reappraisal group for life satisfaction and symptoms of depression and anxiety, results showed. Cheavens noted that just participating in social activities did not improve feelings of social connection in this study. “There's something specific about performing acts of kindness that makes people feel connected to others. It's not enough to just be around other people, participating in social activities,” she said. (NEXT) Selenium protects a specific type of interneurons in the brain Helmholtz Zentrum München (Germany) December 29, 2022 Exactly 200 years ago, the Swedish scientist Jöns Jacob Berzelius discovered the trace element selenium, which he named after the goddess of the moon, Selene. Selenium is an essential trace element and indispensable for humans, many animals and some bacteria. A team led by Dr. Marcus Conrad, research group leader at the Institute of Developmental Genetics (IDG) at Helmholtz Zentrum München, showed for the first time why selenium is a limiting factor for mammals. The scientists have been investigating for years the processes of a novel type of cell death, known as ferroptosis. In this context, the enzyme GPX4, which normally contains selenium in the form of the amino acid selenocysteine, plays an important role. In order to better understand the role of GPX4 in this death process, we established and studied mouse models in which the enzyme was modified,” said study leader Conrad. “In one of these models, we observed that mice with a replacement of selenium to sulfur in GPX4 did not survive for longer than three weeks due to neurological complications.” In their search for the underlying reasons, the researchers identified a distinct subpopulation of specialized neurons in the brain, which were absent when selenium-containing GPX4 was lacking. “In further studies, we were able to show that these neurons were lost during postnatal development, when sulfur- instead of selenium-containing GPX4 was present,” stated first author of the study, Irina Ingold. Furthermore, the scientists were able to show that ferroptosis is triggered by oxidative stress, which is known to occur for instance during high metabolic activity of cells and high neuronal activity. “Our study demonstrates for the first time that selenium is an essential factor for the postnatal development of a specific type of interneurons,” said Dr. José Pedro Friedmann Angeli, a scientist at the IDG, describing the results. “Selenium-containing GPX4 protects these specialized neurons from oxidative stress and from ferroptotic cell death.” (NEXT) Association of Dietary α-Carotene and β-Carotene Intake with Low Cognitive Performance in Older Adults Sun Yat-sen University (China), January 3, 2023 With the increased life expectancy around the world, the number of elderly people with cognitive decline has been escalating, causing a burden for their families and governments. The decline in cognitive function is associated with various factors, including normal aging processes and neurological diseases. However, without any prevention measures to delay cognitive function decline, the decline in cognitive function will gradually develop into mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease. The process of Alzheimer's disease is irreversible, and medical treatment for this disease is still limited. The underlying mechanism of vitamin B12 on cognitive function is related to the activation of methylation reactions in the brain. According to previous studies, vitamin A, an antioxidant in the central nervous system, also participates in cognitive function decline in older people. Both α-carotene and β-carotene can be transformed into retinol, which will be converted into a long-chain fatty acid ester that is the main precursor of vitamin A in the human body. Thus, α-carotene and β-carotene may have similar effects on neurocognitive decline. Some previous studies showed that higher levels of α-carotene and β-carotene in the plasma were associated with better cognitive function. In this study, our results reflected that dietary α-carotene and β-carotene intake might have inverse effects on cognitive function decline in older people. However, the excessive intake of dietary α-carotene and β-carotene may be a problem that needs special attention. (NEXT) Consumption of fast food linked to liver disease University of Southern California, January 10, 2023 The new year has begun, and with it, resolutions for change. A study from Keck Medicine of USC published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology gives people extra motivation to reduce fast-food consumption. The study found that eating fast food is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a potentially life-threatening condition in which fat builds up in the liver. Researchers discovered that people with obesity or diabetes who consume 20% or more of their daily calories from fast food have severely elevated levels of fat in their liver compared to those who consume less or no fast food. And the general population has moderate increases of liver fat when one-fifth or more of their diet is fast food. “Healthy livers contain a small amount of fat, usually less than 5%, and even a moderate increase in fat can lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,” said Ani Kardashian, MD, a hepatologist with Keck Medicine and lead author of the study. “The severe rise in liver fat in those with obesity or diabetes is especially striking, and probably due to the fact that these conditions cause a greater susceptibility for fat to build up in the liver.” The findings also reveal that a relatively modest amount of fast food, which is high in carbohydrates and fat, can hurt the liver. “If people eat one meal a day at a fast-food restaurant, they may think they aren't doing harm,” said Kardashian. “However, if that one meal equals at least one-fifth of their daily calories, they are putting their livers at risk.” Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, also known as liver steatosis, can lead to cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, which can cause liver cancer or failure. Liver steatosis affects over 30% of the U.S. population. The study characterized fast food as meals, including pizza, from either a drive-through restaurant or one without wait staff. The researchers evaluated the fatty liver measurement of approximately 4,000 adults whose fatty liver measurements were included in the survey and compared these measurements to their fast-food consumption. Of those surveyed, 52% consumed some fast food. Of these, 29% consumed one-fifth or more daily calories from fast food. Only this 29% of survey subjects experienced a rise in liver fat levels. The association between liver steatosis and a 20% diet of fast food held steady for both the general population and those with obesity or diabetes even after data was adjusted for multiple other factors such as age, sex, race, ethnicity, alcohol use and physical activity.

This episode is brought to you by National Medical Billing Services, the ASC revenue cycle experts. This is a special episode with Ukrainian born and bred orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Vladyslav Kozanchuk with specialties in hip, knee and shoulder arthroplasty. This is one of our most impactful episodes being in the trenches of war in Ukraine. It was a challenge getting Dr. Kozanchuk on for this episode in-between the blackouts and having good cell service to call in. Dr. Kozanchuk showed up to the recording with a smile on his face and immense pride for his country. He says "We won't surrender. Russia won't win. We will win." He discusses the pride for all the soldiers on the front lines and support Ukraine receives globally. Topics include: -On our recording day, there are 267 injured soldiers in the ward with a train of another 100 wounded soldiers coming in later that night. With a curfew from 11p-5a, there are some nights Dr. Kozanchuk doesn't make it home and needs to wait until the curfew is lifted in the morning. In addition to the wounded soldiers, there are ongoing elective surgeries within their National Health Service. - Dr. Kozanchuk provides a shout out to Dr. Kenji Inaba from Keck Medicine and Dr. Gregory Beilman from University of Minnesota for traveling to his hospital and providing their services during the war. Find out more about Dr. Vladyslav Kozanchuk here.

In this Tech Barometer podcast segment with Christian Aboujaoude, CTO of Keck Medicine at USC, learn how hyperconverged infrastructure and...[…]

Meet James Staten:James Staten is the Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer for the University of Southern California (USC). In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Keck Medicine of USC and USC's three captive insurance companies. Prior to USC, James serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Yale New Haven Health System. James received a bachelor's degree in business and economics from the State University College of New York.  Key Insights:USC will be leaving the Pac-12 conference to join the Big 10. In this focused conversation, James Staten explains the factors behind the decision. Background Factors. Like many big college athletic programs, USC had run into deficits over the last few years, which negatively impacts facilities and recruitment. Additionally, this decision came at a time when the conference was about to soon enter media rights negotiations. Why the Big 10? USC decided to join the Big 10 because the increased media exposure would benefit student athletes as well as the university's national exposure and revenue. Additionally, it is a better academic conference.Healthcare vs Higher Ed. Higher education is favoring more partnerships and affiliations, rather than the consolidations seen in the healthcare sector. Relevant Links: Learn more about James StatenRead “Not your conventional chief financial officer”

      Understanding the brain, how it functions and its impact on our individual destiny is an endless quest.  Dr. Steven Siegel, Chair of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine and Chief Mental Health and Wellness Officer for Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC), in Los Angeles, has spent years conducting brain research.   It is a research that continues to be a frontier of learning, much like the exploration of space.           The challenge with understanding the human brain is the unbelievable complexity of its millions of cells.  The amazing fact is that Dr. Siegel explains how in embryo our brain is created with an individual pattern which sets the foundation for our nervous system, and our responses to our environment and stresses throughout life.            Dr. Siegel urges us to cease the artificial separation of mental illness from physical illness and allow for more comprehensive organic care. The legal and political challenges are embedded in the issues of one's rights to choose. The contradiction is that in mental illness, the organ that makes decisions about choosing care, the brain, is the organ that is in disrepair and in need.  The answer to this dilemma is still hanging and unresolved.  According to Dr. Siegel, the younger generation who he is seeing at the University is melting away the stigma of mental health and approaching mental illness the same as physical illness.  It gives hope for more humane and effective policies in the future.   To Contact Dr. Steven Siegel, email - steven.siegel@med.usc.edu

New book alert! In this Episode Adam Torres and Ekta Vyas Ph.D, SHRM-SCP, Chief Human Resources Officer at Keck Medicine of USC, explore Ekta's new book Mission Matters (Business Leaders Vol.7).Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.Apply to be a guest on our podcast:https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/Visit our website:https://missionmatters.com/Mortgage Connects, an MGIC PodcastInsights and tips from top mortgage industry pros!Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

New book alert! In this Episode Adam Torres and Ekta Vyas Ph.D, SHRM-SCP, Chief Human Resources Officer at Keck Medicine of USC, explore Ekta's new book Mission Matters (Business Leaders Vol.7). Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.Apply to be a guest on our podcast:https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/Visit our website:https://missionmatters.com/

The future of corporate communications is about staying ahead of the curve and keeping your messaging effective.  In today's episode, we're talking with Meg Aldrich, a communications strategist and trusted advisor of organizational leaders.  Meg heads up corporate communications for Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California. Together, we'll discuss the future of corporate communications and how companies can create an authentic communication plan.  How to be prepared for a crisis, how corporate communications has evolved, and how to ensure your messaging is on point are just a few of the topics we'll be talking about.  So, tune in to learn more about the future of corporate communications! Join the movement!

Drs. David Johnson (University of Texas) and Patrick Loehrer (Indiana University) host this live ASCO podcast with award-winning documentary producer/director Bill Brummel. After undergoing a laryngectomy in 2016, Mr. Brummel produced and directed a documentary film titled “Can You Hear My Voice?” that chronicles the one-of-a-kind Shout at Cancer choir, whose members have all had their voice boxes removed, as they prepare for the most ambitious concert. This podcast features audio clips from the film. Mr. Brummel, who is joined by his surgeon, Dr. Uttam Sinha, of Keck Medicine of USC, reflects on his own cancer experience and the psychosocial impact of losing one's natural voice. For more information about the film or hosting a screening, visit www.canyouhearmyvoice.com or email info@bbprods.com. If you liked this episode, please subscribe. Learn more at https://education.asco.org, or email us at education@asco.org.   TRANSCRIPT Dr. Dave Johnson: So we're back here with another episode of our world-famous Oncology, Etc. podcast with two very distinguished guests, Pat.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: Well, we're thrilled to be here to record this episode in front of an audience. Usually it's just Dave and I, and supposed to be a live audience. Although after three-and-a-half days of ASCO, I'm not sure if anybody's still alive. We have two very distinguished guests today. Mr. Bill Brummel is the award-winning documentary producer and director. He and his films have been recognized with the Peabody Award, two International Documentary Association Awards, five national Emmy nominations, and have been named for the Oscar shortlist. Many of Dr. Brummel's films have focused on civil rights and human rights issues.  After having his voice box removed in 2016 due to complications from radiation therapy, which he received for his head and neck cancer, Bill produced and directed Can You Hear My Voice? This film, which has not yet been publicly released, was shown on Saturday afternoon here, chronicles London's Shout at Cancer Choir, whose singers are living without voice boxes. It's amazing. The ASCO Annual Meeting attendees saw this on Saturday, and today what we're going to do is hear and see some of the clips from the movie and hear from the director himself.  Dr. Dave Johnson: We're also joined by Bill's physician Dr. Uttam Sinha who encouraged Bill to create this documentary about the psychosocial aspects of living without a voice box. Dr. Sinha is an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Southern California where he tells us he spent the bulk of his life. He's also the Watt Family Endowed Chair for Head and Neck Cancer at his institution. Dr. Sinha's holistic medical approach was really truly critical, Bill tells us, to his both physical and emotional recovery following laryngectomy. So Bill, Dr.Uttam, welcome to Oncology, Etc.  Mr. Bill Brummel: Thank you very much. But one thing your audience should know and you should know is that after having a laryngectomy, speaking with a voice prosthesis, we lose the ability to laugh out loud. So, Pat and Dave, if you happen to tell a joke or say anything funny, know that I'm laughing inside.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: I think Dave and I think that most of the people that listen to our podcasts probably have had laryngectomies because we hear no laughter at all from anything we say. So, Bill, we're really here today to talk about your documentary. And we're going to show a few clips. But before we show the first clip, can you set this up for us?  Mr. Bill Brummel: This clip sets up the choir and the premise of the film. We follow the choir as they prepare for the most ambitious concert they have ever attempted. So it's really just setting up the premise.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: Now this is extraordinary. So if you could run the first clip for us. Appreciate it.  [Clip starts playing]  Speaker 1: I'll remember quite well, when I first suggested let's form a choir. They responded with laughter and surprise and disbelief.  Speaker 2: It just seemed ridiculous that you would expect a group of  people with no voice boxes to stand up and sing in a choir. It didn't seem realistic. But Thomas had confidence that we could do some things. We went along with his mad scheme. And then one day was sort of now, what about a concert? What?  [Jazz playing]  Speaker 3: Well, the people in the choir are just normal people.  Speaker 4: I really admire the courage that it's kind of taken to come through all of their treatment.  Speaker 5: After all the stuff they'd gone through, they're able to turn that into something creative and artistic. That's really, really impressive.  Speaker 2: The concept is something new. It's almost a defiance, which is what people need, is to be defiant. Was that a F sharp I sang or what was it? You know, it doesn't matter.  Speaker 6: Most of them never read poetry before. Most of them never sang before. Most of them never were on stage before. And they were going to put on a show. And they're going to add this other two or three layers of emotional vulnerability.  Speaker 1: All right. Everyone, just like we prepared. We know what we're doing and we're going to enjoy ourselves. Yeah?  Speaker 6: We're doing a concert. People have paid money to come and see us. The adrenaline rush is incredible. I can't describe it really. I never thought I would do something like this.  [Applause]  [Clip ends]  Dr. Dave Johnson: Tell us a little bit about how this film came about. Obviously, you had a personal connection to it. But give us a little bit of background information, if you will.  Mr. Bill Brummel: Well, about nine months after my laryngectomy and after getting through some of the emotional and psychological problems that a lot of people who've had the surgery experience, and we'll go into that later on, I went to an appointment with Dr. Sinha, a regular scheduled appointment. And out of the blue, he suggested that I make a documentary about the psychosocial aspects of recovering from and living with a laryngectomy. Now my first thought was stick to medicine, doc. I'm the professional here. Just kidding. It was an excellent idea. But why on Earth did you suggest that?  Dr. Uttam Sinha: We never get to see the psychosocial aspect or the challenges or the suffering they go through, and most importantly, the head and neck cancer is not so well known in the society, unfortunately. So all my life, in my 25 years of practice, I always tried to promote head and neck cancer awareness in our society. One day I told my friends, 'I need to raise money for research for head and neck cancer.' So they asked me, 'What is head and neck cancer?' I said, 'This is head, this is neck – cancer of this area is called head and neck cancer.  So anyway, so that was one of the driving forces then to create awareness within the society and also how the head and neck cancer patient live after going through the treatment and surviving the cancer.  Mr. Bill Brummel: When Dr. Sinha suggested it, it was an excellent topic. But I knew I needed a story to illustrate it. So right after the appointment, I went home, fired up Google. And very quickly, I discovered the Shout at Cancer choir on a website. Shout at Cancer is a London-based nonprofit charity, that among other things, uses some breathing techniques and singing techniques to improve the vocal outcomes for laryngectomy. Now, I knew that if I could get all the pieces in line, that this would be a great way to produce the film that I wanted to produce, that of a group of people who've undergone a life-altering surgery, and all the hardships and drama that goes with that, but still leading a meaningful and productive lives in a very entertaining fashion.  Dr. Dave Johnson: There's some really extraordinary people in this film from the Shout at Cancer choir. How did you happen to select the specific individuals within that choir group?  Mr. Bill Brummel: Well, I took two production trips to the UK after we found funding and after I got the choir on board. I took two pre-production trips to the UK and went to every choir member's home individually and met with them and their spouses. Now, they all have compelling stories. But for reasons of time, I couldn't have personal profiles on all of them. But I eventually settled on five. And I knew even then, that only four would probably be included in the film. I say that they have compelling stories. I think I could have done a Netflix limited series 10 episodes, one on each choir member.  Dr. Dave Johnson: I think you should consider doing that.  Mr. Bill Brummel: That might be too late to do that. But they're really excellent and articulate and all have slightly different stories.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: You told their stories. And again, for those who haven't listened to the documentary, I really encourage you to do this when this comes out. But just I have a question. You've done so many different documentaries about so many important things over the years. Do you think you would have done this documentary had you not had a laryngectomy?  Mr. Bill Brummel: Definitely not. A laryngectomy was not even on my radar. I don't think I knew what it was before I was faced with having it. So no, I definitely wouldn't have done that.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: It really is a terrific service that you've done. You've helped so many people. Dr. Sinha, there may be a listener or two that listens to the podcast that is not a physician. Can you explain just in lay terms what a laryngectomy is and what it means and the process behind it?  Dr. Uttam Sinha: So, as you know, that larynx is an organ that produces sound. It doesn't produce speech. This a misconception within in our society that the patient undergoing laryngectomy they cannot talk. A laryngectomy patient, they talk well, but the patient when I remove a portion of the tongue for a partial glossectomy, then they have a hard time to speak because speech is produced within the oral cavity.  So a laryngectomy is basically, the removal of the voice box removing the trachea from the esophagus so that they can breathe well and also they don't aspirate because that's a big challenge. Aspiration pneumonia, is a consequence to fibrosis induced by radiation.  So early on in our practice at Keck School of Medicine, 25 years ago, we started this program where we decided to do neuromuscular electrical stimulation swallowing therapy to reduce the fibrosis so that there'll be less chance of aspiration, and aspiration-related pneumonia. So the laryngectomy we perform, especially in Bill's case, he's a cancer survivor, but he had a hard time breathing and talking and also mild aspiration. So that's why we had to do a laryngectomy where we remove the voice box, and that improved his overall quality of life.  Mr. Bill Brummel: I remember as my breathing difficulties increased, Dr. Sinha advised me that a laryngectomy was in my future. And like I said, I didn't even know what it was. But he advised me that my quality of life would improve in the long term. But I was in denial. So I stalled. I didn't have it when he first advised that I have it.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: Here at ASCO, we have 30,000 to 40,000 people there, many of them are cancer survivors, and I'm thinking about when we think about most cancer survivors, Dave is one of them, and we'll talk about that in a little bit, most of them fit in with the crowd. The cancer survivors with laryngectomies something that doesn't. This is something that not only have you survived it, but you have the wounds to show for this. Can you tell us a little bit about that and briefly the thought processes of 'Listen, someone's going to take out my voice box. I'm a director. I need to have this.' I'm sure you stalled making this decision. And what was the final tipping point for you to have this done?  Mr. Bill Brummel: Well, as my condition got worse and worse, it was really hard to speak. And it was really hard to breathe. At times, my wife could hear my labored breathing from the other rooms of the house. I couldn't even climb maybe three or four stairs without getting winded. And then I remember the date of March 10th of 2016. I went to another appointment with Dr. Sinha. And I don't think I got two sentences out before he interrupted me and said rather firmly and with a good sense of urgency, 'Bill, we have to do the surgery now.'  He was obviously concerned that I would have a breathing emergency at home or in the market, paramedics will be called in, they do an emergency trach on me. I knew that Dr. Sinha would do a much better job than a paramedic. But I remember sitting in that exam room with Dr. Sinha and my wife, and the Dr. Sinha was basically telling me I was risking my life if I didn't have the surgery. My wife was worried sick. And although I was frustrated, I couldn't come up with any more excuses. So I said, 'Yes, let's do the surgery.'  Dr. Sinha wanted to admit me right then and there, and not send me home, but the OR was booked on the next day. So Dr. Sinha, bless his heart, called an OR to come in to do the surgery on a Saturday. I was the only one in the recovery room or the pre-op room. And I remember that when we arrived at the hospital, I think we have a clip of our kids, my wife, and I, we were sitting in the admissions waiting room. And my wife got out her cell phone and asked if she could record my natural voice, although wheezy and weak, one last time. And this is the 35 seconds.  [Recording starts playing]  Frances Fitzgerald: Okay. What's happening today?  Mr. Bill Brummel: It's 5:30 in the morning, March 12th, 2016. And today, I'm giving away my vocal cords. And walk out of here, hopefully within a few days, with voice prosthesis and a new voice. Although I won't be able to test the voice for several weeks, I'll have to be silent, which will please many people around me. So that is what is happening. Last time you'll hear this voice. So to all of you, I love you. Thank you for all your support and prayers. Here we go.  [Recording stopped]  Dr. Dave Johnson: So I'm sure that that probably brings back some very emotional memories to you, Bill, and as Pat asked, post-operatively, what did you think about your future? What was your psychological state at that time? And how did you feel physically?  Mr. Bill Brummel: Well, physical recovery from the surgery was hard. And I vacillate by saying it was hard and it's awful, but it was physical recovery. But worse yet, I was saddled with insecurity and fear and doubt. People who have had the surgery can often lose confidence. They can sometimes retreat from society and withdraw into a world where we don't have to be seen in public. But when we do that, lonesomeness and depression are sure to follow. There were times I found it easier to isolate myself rather than navigate. I didn't want to go out. I didn't want people to see me. And I got depressed. It was just natural. Losing your natural voice is really traumatic. From the time we learn to speak, much of how we perceive ourselves is wrapped up in the unique tone of our voices. It expresses laughter and happiness. And with that gone, many patients really struggle with anxiety, self-doubt, and doubting their self-identity.  Dr. Dave Johnson: So, Dr. Sinha, is that a common reaction amongst your patients post-surgery?  Dr. Uttam Sinha: Yes, it's fairly common. That's why I started 16 years ago with my colleagues a survivorship program to support the psychosocial aspect of these patients. Whenever we can, we mentor the newly diagnosed patient with the established patient. Bill has done many, many mentoring for those patients who underwent laryngectomy after his laryngectomy. And I'm so grateful that our patients are so supportive to each other for the whole organization. So yes, this is very common and that's why we always talk about not just the physical but psychosocial aspects of our health. And also in our practice, we always try to promote not only the health of the patient but also health of the caregivers and the family to improve health. I think it depends on all four dimensions of health, which is the WHO definition of health, the best state of physical, mental, spiritual wellbeing, and not a mere absence of a disease process.  Dr. Dave Johnson: You mentioned the family. We want to get back to that in a moment. I think we have a clip from Sara. She was one of the patients that was featured in his film, and there's a wonderful clip. I want to get to that in just a moment. But I just have an important question to ask Dr. Sinha. Was Bill a good patient?  Mr. Bill Brummel: Was I a good patient?  Dr. Uttam Sinha: I have to think about that.  Dr. Dave Johnson: That's what I thought. We'll watch this clip while you think about that.  [Video clip playing]  Sara Bowden-Evans: I have two vivid memories of those moments just before going down to theater and having the realization that when I came back out, I wasn't going to be the same person. I would never be me again because they would taken my personality which would mean my voice. And then when I came around, I couldn't call for help. And that was so frightening, really scary.  That was pretty awful actually coming to terms with all of this. I lost all my confidence and didn't want to speak. You can sound very angry all the time, even when you're not. I didn't want anybody else to really see me or hear me and all the other things to contend with as well, not being able to swallow properly and losing all my taste with radiotherapy, suddenly gone. I think the loss of laughter is one of the most difficult things for me. So it's just one thing after another after another and it just made me angry all the time.  Speaker 7: Emotional changes were quite dramatic. She was very, very moody at times. She just felt that everybody was staring at her. And it just changed her personality.  Speaker 8: We know from evidence that people who've had a laryngectomy can be much more likely to experience anxiety, depression, social withdrawal that can have a really important impact on relationships.  Speaker 7: The emotional side is the hardest part of caregiving. That's part of a relationship. You take the bad times with the good times.  Sara Bowden-Evans: I know that I wasn't a very good patient because I know that there were times when I was really horrible to him because I was dealing with my situation, and I took it out on him. But he's still here. He stayed with me regardless.  [Video clip stopped]  Dr. Pat Loehrer: As you watch this film, you realize what a remarkable human being Sara is. She's a writer, she's a poet, and even the title of your documentary comes from her.  Mr. Bill Brummel: I stole it from her.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: Yeah, it's extraordinary.  Mr. Bill Brummel: It's one of the poems she wrote and we use in the film.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: The question I'd asked Dr. Sinha, if you don't mind just following up on this, when a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, as my wife was, there's this wonderful support community, and they even have a color of their own. And the women get together and they have runs and they do all the stuff. Similarly for several other cancers. I think with head and neck cancer, the inclination, I think, as Bill mentioned earlier, is to be isolated and almost withdraw yourself. This was a unique group of individuals that got together for this project. We'll hear about it more. But how common is it for laryngectomy patients to actually bind together? Or do they typically fight this battle alone?  Dr. Uttam Sinha: So they feel very isolated, no question, and depressed. That's why it's very important to have that kind of support system. Head and neck cancer is very unique. Most other cancers, squamous cell carcinoma, the same cancer when it happens in the lung, and you remove half of the lung, nobody would know and person's quality of life would not be compromised.  On the other hand, if same squamous cell carcinoma happens in the head and neck area, it compromises quality of life because all the function that makes us human beings - speech, swallowing, hearing, balance, smell, taste, all those things happen in this area. So when this area is damaged, whether by cancer itself or treatment related, that causes tremendous depression as their functional status goes down, and also they get isolated because they cannot go to the society freely, like to go to a restaurant and feeding himself with a G-tube with the rest of their friends or family are eating by their mouth. So that's quite depressing. In fact, I have patients, couple of patients who committed suicide because they were G-tube dependent. So head and neck cancer in that regard is very unique compared to other cancers.  Mr. Bill Brummel: I would say, to just add one point in regards to Sara and other women who have a laryngectomy, obviously, we don't have a lot of breakage in our voice. Our voices are very low. And it's really the same for women as it is for men. But men's typical voices are lower and women's are not. So that is a factor in their emotional recovery. They really don't sound how they used to when speaking with a voice prothesis or through an electrolarynx. So it's really difficult for women.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: As humans, we think in the past and the future, we go back and forth, but you've had a life as a very successful film producer, director. And I think in many ways, this is probably one of the most unforgiving professions for any kind of disability, whether it's even putting on some weight or having an accident. But tell me a little bit about your life before laryngectomy and after laryngectomy. How has this changed your life as a professional? What has happened?  Mr. Bill Brummel: Well before even my laryngectomy, before cancer, I was originally diagnosed in 1997 with tonsil cancer. It was treated by neck dissection, not by Dr. Sinha, and seven weeks of radiation antidotes over wide fields. I had been in television production for about 10 years prior to that. And I was doing mostly silly reality shows, or music video shows, stuff that didn't have really any substance to it. I had started my own production company about a year before, but after my cancer diagnosis, I really thought to myself that if, God forbid, the cancer comes back and my life is cut short, do I want to spend my days, my effort in terms of my work life producing shows with no substance. And I said, 'No, I don't want to do that. I want to produce shows that feed the soul as much as the wallet.' Unfortunately, 20 years after that, my soul got a lot better than my wallet. But I wouldn't change it for the world. But having cancer, having that diagnosis definitely changed the trajectory of my career. I wanted to have a legacy and something that my children would be proud of.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: Just a follow-up question, I had a very good friend of mine who had a glioblastoma. After his diagnosis, he said he learned things about friends. He said, there were three kinds of friends. There were these friends who were the loyal friends who he'd always had, who really were with him. There were the people that he had thought were friends that just disappeared. And then there was a third group of people who we never ever dreamed would be friends, but they came out of nowhere to become new friends for him. So reflect a little bit on that. Does that resonate at all with you?  Mr. Bill Brummel: It definitely resonates. After my laryngectomy, and I went through this period of emotional difficulty, I was still one of the fortunate ones. I was blessed to have a supportive network that included family and friends, others, colleagues aided my recovery. And obviously, the medical team at Keck Medicine of USC, a lot of them became my friends and are still my friends. So they came out of the woodwork. My laryngectomy buddies are close friends. We have a supportive group that meets two times a month. They become real good friends. I can't imagine my life without them. But Dr. Sinha talked about his supportive care. It was really important to me. He's always preached about a hollistic response approach to health that includes traditional medicine, exercise, nutrition, physical therapy, mindfulness, and a bunch of other things, occupational therapy, speech therapy. To varying degrees, I embraced each of those modalities. But back to your original question, certainly, some friends fell off the map. I made new ones, the family and friends that I had, the relationships became really strong and a really important and critical part of my life.  Dr. Dave Johnson: That certainly resonates with my own experience as a cancer survivor as well. And you've mentioned your family more than a few times. I'm confident that they were a very important part of that support system. Could you speak to that a bit?  Mr. Bill Brummel: Well, they understood what I was going through. And if they didn't understand, they asked questions. They didn't ignore the elephant in the room. My wife, as a caregiver, I really don't know what I would have done without her after my laryngectomy. She was changing all my dressings, cleaning out the stoma, stuff that I assume if I was alone, I could have done it, but I didn't want to. I didn't want any part of it. So she got me the physical recovery. And then she started getting me the emotional recovery.  When I was feeling sorry for myself and sitting at home, she very politely kicked me out of the house. And she said, 'If you want a cup of coffee, you get it.' I would drive down to Starbucks. It took me three months to speak because the swelling wasn't going down. But she kicked me out of the house and said 'Go to Starbucks' And I would just write on my phone my order and show it to them. And that seems like a very easy thing to do, but it was a big step for me.  But it also started me thinking, well, maybe people are going to stare. But it seems like most people are understanding. And that's been my experience. I get stared at a lot all the time. And when I speak, people turn their heads. But most people are really understanding and want to help. In fact, they might even take the extra step for me that they wouldn't for some other person.  Dr. Uttam Sinha: We established a caregiver support group, Coffee with Caregivers, and Frances is the president.  Mr. Bill Brummel: Frances, my wife, yes, she facilitates the weekly meetings.  Dr. Dave Johnson: Well, there's so many rich aspects of your film. For those who have not seen it, you really do need to see this film. But there are a couple of areas that really resonated with me and reflected my experience, one of which we have a clip from this family. But I have a daughter, who was 10 at the time that I was diagnosed with lymphoma. And my wife and I did our best to shield her from the possibility that I might not survive that. In retrospect, I'm not sure we handled it quite the right way. But you have a clip from Pug and his wife, Kat, and their daughter, Lily. And I think it so reflects my own personal experience with my daughter and her reaction to me. So maybe you might want to just comment on that before we show the clip.  Mr. Bill Brummel: In the pre-interviews I did and selected a choir member for shooting, I developed an outline of what I thought the segment with life would look like. And you know when you do documentaries, you had to be able to change it at a moment's notice. So I had three interviews with Pug and Kat and came up with a sweet story that involves just them. When we recorded the interview, I was just blown away by Pug's daughter, 12-year-old Lily, and completely changed the focus of Pug's presence in the film to illustrate the impact that a cancer diagnosis and a laryngectomy has on families.  [Video Clip Playing]  Interviewer: When your dad got the laryngectomy, how did you deal with it?  Lily: I think I was probably more upset than dad seemed because I thought he was really going to die.  Pug Halliday: It's hard because we were always honest with Lily. But no matter how many times we said it was going to be all right, you know, you were worried, weren't you?  Kat: Basically after the operation, Pug had a lot of black, like Frankenstein stitching and drains and tubes. And Lily hadn't really seen that sort of thing before. Because she was younge,. I didn't want her to be frightened, so I waited and I spoke to Pug. 'When shall I bring her up?' And he said, 'Why don't you take a photo?'  Pug Halliday: The drain's around, so that would be five, seven days after my operation.  Mr. Bill Brummel: And Lily, so that didn't scare you, the photo?  Lily: No, because he was—well, I think that yeah, it scared me a little bit, but in that photo, he's like really happy, so-  Pug Halliday: By the time when we asked Lily, she said, 'You were smiling and had both thumbs up.' So, you were reassured a bit by that, weren't you?  Lily: Yeah.  Mr. Bill Brummel: Lily, what did you do to try and make your dad feel better during his recovery?  Lily: I made tea for him.  Pug Halliday: Yeah, you came and you read me stories instead the other way around.  Lily: I read you stories, and I made him lots of things as well. Like, I don't know, like little books where he was really amazing.  To you, my favorite person in the world.  You are the best.  You're my inspiration.  I love your facial hair and your mustache presentation.  When you were ill, feeling depressed,  I knew you'd make it because you're the best.  You're kind.  You're brave.  You're funny, too.  I'm so happy I have you.  I can't believe that you're my dad.  It turns out that you're not so bad.    [Giggles]  Pug Halliday: I keep these by my bed. And when she turns into a teenager and hates me, I shall read them regularly.  [Video clip stopped]  Dr. Dave Johnson: If that poem doesn't melt your heart, you have a heart of stone.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: What you can't appreciate on a podcast this incredible poem. It's just incredible.  Mr. Bill Brummel: He's a marvelous character. You know, you're mentioning your daughter, my daughter was eight years old. And my son was five-and-a-half in terms of when I had my original cancer diagnosis. In fact, we celebrated his sixth birthday in the hospital. On the last day of my radiation treatment I had to be hospitalized three times because I couldn't keep anything down. But my daughter commented, this was when she was graduated from high school, I think, that she really thought that I was going to die. And we said no such thing. In fact, like Pug, we tried to reassure her that my tonsil cancer diagnosis was not life-threatening. But in her mind, she remembers it as being a case that my dad might die.  Dr. Dave Johnson: Yeah, my daughter reacted the same way. And she kept a diary at the time. When we went back and read her diary, she actually wrote, 'My dad is going to die.' Yeah. The other clip that really stood out to me also involved a poem, and it comes from Sara. Sara is a real star in this. It's a poem to her husband, Nigel. It's a cancer survivor's reflection on how they dealt with their cancer and their spouse during the intensity of the treatment. I wonder maybe if you could make a few comments and maybe we could show that clip.  Mr. Bill Brummel: Well, definitely. The spouse or partner, the impact can be great. And in Sara's case, in her words, she took out her frustrations on Nigel. And Nigel was a great caregiver and just dealt with it and never stopped loving her. Interesting thing about this poem, it was not a poem for the choir. It was after we finished shooting one of the rehearsals. I was talking to Sara, and she casually mentioned that, “Oh, I've written a poem to Nigel, but I'm scared to show it to him. Like he hasn't seen it or heard it.” And being a film producer, I said, “Wait. Don't read it to him. Don't show it to him.” We were scheduled to go out and shoot the segment with her at her home in a week or two. So I said, 'If you would read it on camera, I would love you forever.' I would have loved her forever anyway. So what you see, it's almost one take of her reading the poem to Nigel. And none of us in the room, of the crew and me, Nigel, had ever read the poem. And Nigel had never heard of the poem.  Dr. Dave Johnson: This is very real and in many ways, raw. I think it really illustrates that relationship. Again, not to talk about my own illness, but I felt the same way Sara did.  [Video clip playing]  Sara Bowden-Evans: So I need to read you something.  Nigel: You need to read me something?  Sara Bowden-Evans: Yeah.  Nigel: Go on then.  Sara Bowden-Evans: I wrote another poem that is for you.  Nigel: For me?  Sara Bowden-Evans: Yeah. I'm going to try to read it very easily now.  Nigel: When did you write this? Kept that very secret.  Sara Bowden-Evans: Because I don't know how else to say what I needed to say.  Nigel: Okay.  Sara Bowden-Evans:  I'm sorry for the pain I caused.  I'm sorry for the hurt.  You were always in the firing line  To take the brunt of course  It's not that I'm actively directing it to you.  It's just you're the one that's always there.  And that's the truth.    They say we always hurt the ones we love.  And there's a reason.  And that's because the ones you love the most know all your feelings.  You've suffered with me.  All the pain, the sadness, and my darkest days.  You forgive whatever nastiness I throw.  But I don't know how to ever repay all the things you've done,  apart from writing down in words.  Nigel: That was so beautiful. Thank you. That's amazing.  [Video clip stopped]  Dr. Dave Johnson: I know that there are no words that can describe that.  Mr. Bill Brummel: Yes. Sara really is the emotional center of the film. And from a producer's standpoint, I don't mean to sound crass, but you always can get behind a person cry on camera.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: When I was watching the movie, though today, could you get behind me because I was crying.  Mr. Bill Brummel: Well, I usually, at any public screenings, and because of COVID, there hasn't been a lot of them, but I try and view the film from the back of the audience. And I'm scouring the audience to make sure they're laughing or crying at the appropriate places. And they usually are.  Dr. Dave Johnson: So Bill, what message would you like for oncologists to take away from your documentary?  Mr. Bill Brummel: Well, very simply. It's the message I would like oncologists to hear and implement, and a lot of them do, but it's to treat the patient and not just the disease. And that's it in a really simple form. The psychosocial consequences of any cancer diagnosis are challenging, and especially as Dr. Sinha said, in head and neck patients, where the treatments often leave a patient disfigured in a noticeable and visible way. Shame, anxiety, and depression are common enemies. Support the psychosocial health of your patients. And I'm convinced that if you do that, their physical condition will improve.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: Well said. We certainly can't let you out of here without showing a clip from the choir's performance at the concert that you filmed. In fact, there were several, several songs. I think we're going to show one of them there. But can you tell us a little bit about the film distribution plans, the business of this, how will the public be able to see this film? What's happening on that end?  Mr. Bill Brummel: Well, we have a commitment from PBS if I want to show it on the PBS network of stations. We're aiming for a 2023 broadcast, probably spring. Currently, I really want to maximize the impact the film will have with the general cancer community. And for the last six months or so, we've initiated impact and outreach campaigns. And by that I mean we're doing branded screenings and webinars and speaking and showing films at conferences. We're aiming at the cancer advocacy and support communities, universities, medical schools, clinician associations. We've done a bunch so far. We're doing more. We're also trying to partner with corporations or nonprofits to bring these screenings to cancer advocacy and organizations that might not be able to afford a screening. And we're looking for underwriters with the PBS podcast. But the film will get out there. I just really, for the time being, want to concentrate on the cancer community.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: That's terrific. So we're going to show a one of the performance clips. Do you want to set that up for us, there.  Mr. Bill Brummel: COVID shut down the choir. So every time I see a performance, it makes me long for more and more performances. But this clip is as rendition of Ain't Got No, which was popularized by Nina Simone in the ‘60s. It was originally written for the musical 'Hair', but one of the unique things about the choir is that they at times rewrite lyrics to songs to make them more illustrative or the lyric to explain the full impact of having a laryngectomy. So this is the song we're playing last, it's the finale of the concert and the film. The first half of the song speaks to all the things we've lost by not having a voice box. Second half, which we'll see, speaks to all the things we still have, can still do in life. Sara helped adapt the words. It was a group effort.  [Video clip playing]  Singer: [singing] What have I got? Why am I alive anyway? Yeah. What have I got? Nobody, nobody can take it away. I…  Choir: [singing] got my hair, got my head, got my brains, got my ears, got my eyes, got my nose, I got my mouth. I got my smile.  Got my health, got my tongue, got my teeth to make these sounds, in my head I change my breath, I got control. I got voice. I got poems, I got friends, got my songs, got my limbs, got my heart, got my soul, got my pride.  I got my voice.  Opera Singer: [singing] What have they got? Sing, what have they got?  Choir: We've found our voice.  [Applause]  [Video clip stopped]  Mr. Bill Brummel: Obviously, the woman that sang at the end did not have a laryngectomy. She's a professional opera singer.  Dr. Dave Johnson: I think I can safely say, for all of us here today, that we thank you for producing such an inspirational film, and one that really I think captures the emotions that go along with, one, being diagnosed with cancer, two, going through treatment, three, experiencing survivorship and the support. And Dr. Sinha, to you, thank you for inspiring Bill to doing that.  We have maybe just a couple of minutes if there any questions from the audience. We haven't received any via the text. So if there's any questions, there's a microphone here. And as an added incentive, if you ask a question, you get a free Oncology etc. t-shirt.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: Better yet, we may not give them. That might be a great incentive.  Dr. Dave Johnson: Don't trample one another running to the microphone. I see, there are people who want their t-shirt. So please.  Question 1: Thank you so much. That was a beautiful film. I'm a nurse, and it's a great inspiration. And I'm sure it's a great inspiration to the patients. Are there any similar organizations in the United States doing a choir?  Mr. Bill Brummel: Not that I know of to the extent that Shout at Cancer does. There's several laryngectomy support groups or laryngectomy clubs around the United States. And every once in a while, you'll see one that the patients get together and sing for fun or they do a Christmas performance at some event. But Shout at Cancer takes it really to an unheard of level. I've never heard of anybody doing this in the world as much as they do in terms of the original writing, the professional musicianship, the rehearsal. So I'm not aware of any that take it to that extent.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: I just want to say from my own behalf, we're in this world. The best thing you can do at the end of your life is to say that you made a difference. And this film, what you have done has made a difference. As long as I have the capacity to remember, I will remember you and I will remember this film. So thank you very much.  Mr. Bill Brummel: You're welcome. And thank you for saying that. I'm touched. And that exactly was the point. I think that was the point when Dr. Sinha said, 'You should do a documentary about the psychosocial effects of having a laryngectomy recovery and living with a laryngectomy.' I don't know that he thought I'd do it to this extent, but that is the message I want to inspire people who've had a laryngectomy, and I want the world to know and to relate better to people and understand people.  Dr. Uttam Sinha: That gives me a lot of joy in what it means to recognize leaders like you and the society of head and neck cancer patients. And Bill has been a driving force for me to stay in head and neck cancer surgical oncology care.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: The world's a better place because of both of you.  Dr. Dave Johnson: Yeah, for sure.  Dr. Pat Loehrer: For those that were here in the audience and those at home, don't forget, you can claim credit for this. Provide feedback. And if you could, I really would like to have a little bit about who's the best-looking podcaster, if you could.  Dr. Dave Johnson: I think that's critically important. And I appreciate Dr. Sinha's recommendation. It's made me rethink my take two aspirin and call me in the morning recommendations. So I'll have to be more productive in the future.  But this brings us to the end of this podcast. I don't know if any of you in the audience have listened to our previous Oncology, etc. podcasts. We hope that you did. And we hope that you will. As we've said at the end of each of our podcasts, we welcome ideas. We will literally talk about almost anything oncology related or not. That's why we have the 'etc.' on and it's been a great joy for Pat and me. Both of us enjoy doing this. We've been great friends for over 40 years. And it's a wonderful way of cementing the friendship.  So thank you for all of you who are here in the audience. It'll take about an hour to file out with this large crowd so please be careful as you move to the doors. Thank you.  Thank you for listening to the ASCO Education podcast. To stay up to date with the latest episodes, please click subscribe. Let us know what you think by leaving a review. For more information, visit the Comprehensive Education Center at education.asco.org.    The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions.  Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement.   

What happens when you face a once in a hundred year pandemic at one of the major academic medical centers in the second largest urban metropolis in the country? Felipe Osorno knows. He is the executive administrator for Continuum of Care Operations and Value Improvement at Keck Medicine of USC. This episode is a masterclass on how to be a transformational leader during a time of crisis. You'll get inside the war-room POV as critical decisions about space, staff, stuff ,and systems as the pandemic moved westward to lay siege to Los Angeles in the spring of 2020. He explains how rapid decision-making, teamwork, and more than a little personal heroism allowed the hospital to survive. He talks about the challenges of vaccine distribution, speaking truth to power, and helping to protect healthcare workers who are sacrificing themselves to serve patients. Get a play by play behind the headlines look at the operations of how a major medical system had to course correct in the middle of COVID-19, and what the future holds for major healthcare systems. Key Highlights: [00:01 - 07:55] Opening SegmentPublic health experts are concerned about the state of healthcare in the United StatesThe impact of the US government shutdown on people's livesThe lack of collaboration and communication within the health care system[07:20 - 19:01] Overcoming Challenges In The Early Days of The PandemicWhy healthcare professionals need to be agile to respond to changes in the virusSocial determinants of health that need to be addressed to improve healthcare outcomes for patientsHow the decision-making process worked during the early days of the pandemic [19:02 - 27:28] How to Address Mental Health CrisisFelipe's journey in implementing a new project management protocol and remote working policyThe way Keck shifted from a linear big-box structure to a more collaborative circle structureHow the team was able to adjust accordingly during the peak of the outbreak[27:29 - 37:03] In Crisis, Teamwork Drives Vaccine Roll OutWhy Covid-19 helps speed up decision making in healthcare and focus on patient safety rather than politicsHow tensions arose during the vaccine rollout in December 2020,It's hard to change systems and solve problems when everyone is not solving the same problem[37:04 - 47:10] Tackling Equity in Vaccination Decision-MakingKeck's vaccine strategyHospitals need to have values-based leadership and make decisions that are in the best interest of their patientsThe importance of being transparent and having good communication with the community partners[47:11 - 59:35] There Are Structural Issues Within Our Health Care SystemHow hospitals have been compliant with state mandates to provide health careHow testing has been effective in preventing outbreaks, and how the hospital is preparing for future changesThe potential for a disruptive event affecting health care, such as a virus or climate change[59:35 - 01:15:02] Hospitals Struggle to Keep Up with Rapid Changes in Health CareWhy it is vital to come to the table with clear intent, values, and fewer egos to solve a problemFelipe's outlook on if healthcare is a public right or a commodityCovid-19 shows that getting sick is not the same for everyone: the equity issue[1:08:57 - 1:15:02] Closing SegmentThe other big pandemic is going to be mental healthWant to connect with Felipe? Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.Key Quotes:  "I don't think it's a choice because the problems are going to be there. I'

Achoo! Nothing signals the dawn of allergy season quite like that sensation you feel right before letting out a sneeze. While we all have our own unique sneezing style and cadence, it's almost impossible to fight the involuntary expulsion of air out our noses. Why do we sneeze? Are common myths about sneezing true? And, where do allergies come from? Mike gets answers from Elisabeth Ference, MD at Keck Medicine of USC and Dr. Marc Meth at Century City Allergy in Los Angeles. Got questions? Email Mike at ivegotquestions@audacy.com 

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and Keck Medicine of USC are collaborating on a new joint venture to bring advanced healthcare services to the Santa Clarita Valley. Dr. May Lin Tao discusses this partnership and the new services that will be offered.

Syl and Smitha joined our first live All-Star event and ambulatory care, nursing, and the workforce shortage.

This episode features Krist Azizian, Chief Pharmacy Officer & Chief Regional Oncology Officer at Keck Medicine of USC. Here, he discusses the intersection of his two roles, how he always stays motivated, and more.

Note to Listeners - There are a few points on this podcast recording with tech difficulties. Thank you for listening for the valuable information about the functioning of the brain. K. G. Dr. Steven Siegel, Chair of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine and Chief Mental Health and Wellness Officer for Keck Medicine, at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, has spent years researching the brain. Beginning with an interest in scientific research especially on schizophrenia, he decided that becoming a medical doctor would allow him to make a more significant contribution to improving people's lives. In this podcast episode Dr. Siegel helps us understand some of the complex biology of the brain and emphasizes the impact of early childhood experiences and stresses on our brain cells. He explains that this early childhood life affects the outcomes of the rest of our lives. Finally, Dr. Siegel's plea is for societies, in response to the impact of the pandemic, greatly increase funding for mental illness and mental wellness services for better communities. To contact Dr. Siegel, email steven.siegel@med.usc.edu

Effectively managing sepsis is a challenge in every health care organization, and it has required an extensive and involving program at the medical center for Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles. Keeping clinicians, particularly physicians, engaged is crucial to improving clinical outcomes in sepsis patients. This podcast delves into real-world, essential details about how both the work of a physician champion and the use of supporting data have contributed to effective sepsis management.   Guest speakers: Lisa Johnson, DNP, MSN, RN, CENP Director Quality and Outcomes Management USC-Keck Medical Center   Tarina Lee Kang, MD Clinical Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine Medical Director, Quality Keck School of Medicine of USC   Tusdi Rodriguez, BSN, RN, OCN Clinical Quality Specialist USC-Keck Medical Center   Moderator: Marilyn Sherrill, MBA, RN PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [00:25] Start of the new sepsis initiative at USC-Keck Medical Center (Lisa Johnson) [01:51] Challenges in prior efforts and changes made (Tusdi Rodriguez) [03:07] Role of the physician champion (Tarina Kang) [03:53] Attitude to take when working with physicians on sepsis – the long game (Kang) [05:29] Value of physician champion in saying what others cannot (Johnson) [06:07] Preparing for the crucial conversation – know the patient (Kang, Rodriguez) [09:10] Rundown of a successful sepsis management framework (Johnson)   Links | Resources: Archived video of PI Collaborative on Sepsis Management Click here Slide presentation from Vizient PI Collaborative on Sepsis Management Click here   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

Pfizer's COVID vaccine earned full approval from the FDA. However, Felipe Osorno from Keck Medicine of USC says misinformation is still out there. He recalls a recent town hall meeting in Boyle Heights: “Folks were still wondering whether the vaccine would change their DNA, or whether they were going to get a chip inserted through it. I do hope that the full FDA approval will convince more folks and get us closer to more and more Angelenos getting vaccinated so we can beat this pandemic.” At the very least, the full FDA approval will make it easier for schools and employers to require vaccines, which Osorno says might be the only remaining way to get vaccines into the most hesitant Angelenos.

This episode features Rod Hanners, Interim CEO at Keck Medicine of USC. Here, he discusses how his strategies and thoughts on competition are evolving, what he's seeing currently in medical education, and his big priorities this year, and more

Managing patient capacity in a health care facility is a complex, crucial undertaking that involves teamwork across the care continuum. On this episode, leaders from Keck Medicine of USC discuss their areas of focus to get their capacity management program off the ground, how they pulled together the right individuals to improve their process and the steps other organizations can take to get their own program going.   Guest speakers: Dana Asato, MBA, RN, CENP, CSSMBB Manager Capacity Management and Staffing Solutions Keck Medicine of USC   Jason Willardson, MHA Process Architect Keck Medicine of USC   Moderator: Courtney Furrow-White, RN, MPA PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [00:30] Rationale for the program [02:32] Getting the right team in place and the role of the Vizient collaborative [03:41] Engaging the team [04:56] Reducing patient length of stay [07:53] The role of the Vizient Clinical Data Base (CDB) [08:55] Involving new areas in the program [10:43] How to get started   Links | Resources: Archived video of PI Collaborative on Capacity Management Click here Slide presentation from Vizient PI Collaborative on Capacity Management Click here   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed  

This episode features Krist Azizian, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Keck Medicine of USC. Here, he joined the podcast to discuss how healthcare leadership is changing amid the pandemic and important trends in pharmacy mergers and integrations for the future.

Neha Nanda, MD (Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Antimicrobial Stewardship, Keck Medicine of USC) is joined by Scott B. Laurie (President and Chief Executive Officer, The Olson Company) and Richard K. Green (Director, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to discuss the ongoing recovery efforts from COVID-19, how organizations might manage returning to the office, and when everyday life has a chance of achieving a new normal. Nanda also reviews rules of thumb for mask-wearing as well as what vaccine hesitancy may mean for California's herd immunity.   More: https://lusk.usc.edu/perspectives

Rod returns to the show but this time in a new role, or should I say roles, as he's now the acting/interim CEO of Keck Medicine of USC, while also serving in his ongoing COO role. Rod gives us an update since our last time having him on the show a few years ago, including how USC has responded during the pandemic, as well as why 2 of its 3 hospitals do not have emergeny rooms.

Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with Knee Arthritis? Are you wondering if you can keep running through it? This week we had the pleasure of having Dr. Frank Petrigliano educate us on how you can keep running with Arthritis. Dr. Petrigliano is an Associate Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery and Chief of the Epstein Family Center for Sports Medicine at Keck Medicine of USC. He also serves as the head team physician for the LA Kings hockey team and is the team physician for USC Athletics!  Dr. Petrigliano covers the following questions in this week's episode:  If I have arthritis, does running accelerate its progression? What are some strategies to reduce the knee pain associated arthritis, especially during running? Can a running analysis be useful? How does location of arthritis in the knee effect management? What type of injections are available to manage knee arthritis? If I need a knee replacement, can I run after knee replacement? As a runner, how do I prevent knee arthritis? Connect with Dr. Petrigliano :  Instagram - @frankiepmd Email - Frank.Petrigliano@med.usc.edu Website - www.drpetrigliano.com I hope you enjoy the episode and as always, thank you for listening! Helping You Stay Healthy Doing what YOU Love

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There's a lot of finger-pointing over the slow vaccine rollout. Luckily, Dr. Rebecca Wurtz from the University of Minnesota thinks things are "only going to get better."The coronavirus is not letting up in Southern California despite repeated warnings and pleas from health and public officials. Dr. Neha Nanda from Keck Medicine of USC says "modifying human behaviors" is no easy task. Dr. David Eisenman from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health believes a lack of federal leaderships is creating challenges for local officials to get their messaging stick. Now that the second COVID relief bill has passed, a new round of stimulus checks may soon show up on Americans' bank accounts. But Scott Deacle from Ursinus College says the federal government could have saved a lot of money on the $900 billion relief package if it gave stimulus checks only to those who lost their jobs in industries that are most impacted by the pandemic, such as retail and travel.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's a lot of finger-pointing over the slow vaccine rollout. Luckily, Dr. Rebecca Wurtz from the University of Minnesota thinks things are "only going to get better." The coronavirus is not letting up in Southern California despite repeated warnings and pleas from health and public officials. Dr. Neha Nanda from Keck Medicine of USC says "modifying human behaviors" is no easy task. Dr. David Eisenman from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health believes a lack of federal leaderships is creating challenges for local officials to get their messaging stick.  Now that the second COVID relief bill has passed, a new round of stimulus checks may soon show up on Americans' bank accounts. But Scott Deacle from Ursinus College says the federal government could have saved a lot of money on the $900 billion relief package if it gave stimulus checks only to those who lost their jobs in industries that are most impacted by the pandemic, such as retail and travel.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, HPI connects with Joseph Savoie Director of Imaging at Keck Medicine of USC. Joseph shares his experiences of being in a new role at the start of the COVID 19 pandemic and the lessons learned from leading through a crisis.

This episode features Rod Hanners, Interim CEO at Keck Medicine of USC. Here, he discusses when vaccines will start to impact the pandemic, how he keeps morale up during this difficult time, and more.

EP 2: How this Executive Soars Above Bias in the Workplace with Love and Intention In today's episode, we have a conversation with Kerri Yoder Hubbard.  Kerri is the Sr. Executive Director of Development, Keck Medicine of USC & President of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital Foundation. I TRIED IT: Kerri tried acting and she states that she's not quite finished in that arena. TOPIC: Women Navigating the Workplace Kerri shares her strategy for being heard in the workplace and how she intentionally puts love in the workplace.  Kerri talks about her concept of the “Afro Ego” which represents all the things women of color think, but do not say out loud. Angela shares how trying to fit in at work was holding her back and what happened when she committed to being her true self. Kerri shares her vision for The Feminine Goddess Movement she spearheads where she intentionally brings women together to celebrate the power of the feminine. BRAG ON YOU: Kerri brags on her amazing public speaking skills. WORD OVER EVERYTHING: Act 17:26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings. GUEST CONTACT: Kerri Yoder Hubbard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerri.yoderhubbard Kerri Yoder Hubbard on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerriyo/   PODCAST CONTACT: Hashtag:  #AOEPODCAST Authenticity Over Everything on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authenticity.over.everything Authenticity Over Everything on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authenticity.over.everything/ Angela Duckett on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaDuckBat Angela Duckett on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iam.angeladuckett/ Join the Authenticity Over Everything Email list:  https://slaymail.ck.page/9c2ede1dc1

This episode features Eric Strucko, CFO at Keck Medicine of USC. Here, he discusses his best advice for other leaders, his career journey, and more. Thank you to our sponsor, Coverys. Copyrighted. Insurance products issued by Medical Professional Mutual Insurance Company and its subsidiaries. Boston, MA. In CA, transacting business as Coverys Insurance Company (CA# 6122-6).

This episode features Rod Hanners, Interim CEO at KECK Medicine of USC. Here, he discusses what the pandemic recovery is looking like on his end, his top priorities surrounding technology moving into the future, and more.

BHB Ep. 16 : With Special Guests Jonathan Beltran from Keck Medicine and Nurse Claudia Beltran Jonathan and Claudia Beltran join Beast, Hot Sauce and Buckets to talk about Coronavirus  What is it? How can we protect ourselves? How is Keck Medicine of USC communicating with the community about it? Why inspiring others is so important.. and much much more! Be sure visit us on YouTube and Subscribe

Leonard Kim is a marketer who wins a lot of awards despite being a self-described expert at failing. But failing can’t be the only thing he is good at since book publishers like McGraw-Hill Business, companies like Cisco Systems, Keck Medicine of USC and Salesforce, universities like USC, UCI, Cal Poly Pomona and ArtCenter College of Design, large media publications like Forbes, CMO, Fast Company, Fortune, Adweek, Entrepreneur, and hundreds of others, and more than 500,000 followers think otherwise. Leonard’s story began in 2010. He stopped paying his electricity bill for six months, had to shower in the dark, then was served an eviction notice. He thought he would spend the rest of his days living under a bridge until he called his mother who then called his grandmother, about how Leonard was about to be homeless. Surprisingly his grandmother took him back in (even though she originally disowned him when he was 16). According to his TEDx Talk, Why You Should Let Your Fears Guide You (recognized as a top TED Talk by Inc., Forbes and Mashable), by the end of 2011, he was so fed up with constantly failing year after year, that he wanted to end it all. Luckily for us, that didn’t happen. One thing Leonard does extremely well is within the niches of marketing people and professional development, most commonly referred to as personal branding. He holds workshops at companies, speaks at conferences, works hands-on with executives and entrepreneurs who run 8 figure+ businesses, provides consulting and teaches his craft through online courses.  Leonard also coauthored a book with his business partner at InfluenceTree, Ryan Foland, called Ditch the Act: Reveal the Surprising Power of the Real You for Greater Success and runs a weekly radio show called Grow Your Influence Tree, where he does free personal brand consulting live on the air.

Stats from the show Keck Medicine of USC Quora views = 1.7 million views 48,509 website users in 2015 to 243,473 in 2019 148,806 pageviews in 2015 to 439,956 in 2019 Follow Leonard on Quora Follow Keck Medicine of USC His personal website Learn more about Keck Medicine of USC Get started on Quora for Business

Episode 18: USC Survivor Author Series Discussion Welcome to this week's Hidden Treasure Moment's episode where Arnedra and myself discuss being a survivor, an author and the issues the African American community faces when it comes to breast cancer diagnoses and survival rates. The USC Survivor Author Series, is a Norris Community Benefit and Keck Medicine of USC sponsored program. Arnedra Jordan is the Community Resource Advocate Consultant for Susan G. Komen, Los Angeles County. Thank you so much for watching. To find out more about me and what I'm up to you can visit www.KaraAdams.com or you can find me on social media at the links below.   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovehiddentr... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hdntreasure/

Stem cells have made what was once impossible possible – from cloning your pet dog to designing your own baby, stem cells have got a ton of people talking. Join Gage Crump, Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at USC Stem Cell at Keck Medicine of USC, and Alex Capron, University Professor at the USC Gould School of Law and Keck Medicine of USC, as they debate what can be done and what should be done in this growing field.

Don't sleep on this episode because it's all about Inception! Kim and Aliya are joined by Dr. Raj (Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Specialist at Keck Medicine of USC) to dive deep into your dreams! Check out more from Kim & Aliya: Twitter: @kimseltzer, @aliyakkamalova, @kimandaliya Instagram: @thebestfriendsshowla, @kimseltzer, @aliyakam And Dr. Raj: doctorrajd.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Jackiewicz has built an impressive reputation for himself following his leadership of academic medical centers across the US.  When he left UCSD to assume the role of Senior VP & CEO at Keck Medicine of USC, he knew he was in for a challenge but felt he was the right person to lead an organization with such incredible potential.  In the midst a turbulent year for USC’s medical school, Tom has led Keck Medicine to continued growth in size and reputation, while maintaining exciting ideas for what’s to come.  Join us as we discuss the hospital of the future and, since he’s known to use football metaphors, whether he views his role at Keck Medicine as Quarterback, Head Coach or General Manager!

Palmdale Regional Medical Center (PRMC) has formed an alliance with Keck Medicine of USC (University of Southern California) to develop specialty urological, colorectal and breast cancer services at the hospital.The affiliation will initially focus on developing specialty cancer services supported by USC’s clinical and physician expertise. These specialty cancer services include urology, breast and colorectal services.Sang W. Lee, MD is here better explain that by working together with Keck Medicine of USC, we’ve expanded the depth and variety of our medical care for the Antelope Valley community.