NOTES AND NOTABLES
Gunther Dennert, Ph.D., who for 13 years has been a leader of USC's community of microbiologists and immunologists, has been named chair of the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology.
Dennert's research interests are in the area of cell mediated immunity. He was the first to show that there exist distinct classes of T cells which are responsible for specific functions in the immune system and the first to report the successful establishment of permanent T cell lines in vitro. Dennert was part of a team that discovered the perforin molecule, which enables killer cells to kill tumor cells. Dennert recently become interested in the role of killer cells in the development of hepatitis and has begun a collaboration with USC virologist Michael Lai and the USC Liver Center.
Dennert came to USC in 1984 from the Salk Institute in La Jolla, where he had been a research professor for 10 years. He was born and educated in Germany, receiving his doctorate in 1967 from the University of Koln.
Jeffry Huffman, M.D., CEO and medical director of the USC Care Medical Group, Inc., Alexander Capron, Ph.D., USC professor of law and medicine, and Bill Noce, CEO of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, were profiled in "Who's Who: California's 100 Most
Interesting and Influential Healthcare Leaders" in the Jan. issue of California Medicine.
The list was compiled from nominations submitted by readers of California Medicine, MedFAX and a network of editors and journalists.
Jeannie Chen, Ph.D., USC assistant professor of ophthalmology and cell and neurobiology, recently received a Ruth and Milton Steinbach Fund award for her research in age-related macular degeneration. The award is for $300,000 over three years.
Paul King was appointed vice president of ambulatory care services at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), serving both the hospital and Pediatric Medical Group, a multi-specialty practice that includes all of the hospital-based physicians at CHLA.
Lee Domanico, chief executive officer of the USC University Hospital, has been promoted to vice president of operations, East Los Angeles, where he will be responsible for the Tenet Healthcare Corporation region of eight hospitals that includes the USC University Hospital.
James Paget Henry, M.D., Ph.D., emeritus professor of physiology at the USC School of Medicine whose research contributed to some of the first U.S. space missions and who held the patent on the first partial pressure suit used by Air Force and Navy pilots, died of cancer on Nov. 20. He was 82.
Henry began his career at USC in 1943 as an assistant professor of aviation medicine. It was at the university during the mid 1940's that Henry designed a partial pressure suit for emergency extreme altitude protection that later became standard issue for military pilots. Henry also worked on acceleration physiology with the USC Human Centrifuge.
After serving in the Air Force as an environmental physiologist, he returned to USC in 1965 as a professor of physiology. Henry became an emeritus professor in 1982, and continued his research on the relationship between hypertension and stress.
Amy Lee, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, has been named associate director for basic research at the USC/Norris Cancer Center. Lee is coordinator of the Gene Regulation Program at Norris, and is a leading researcher in the field of stress proteins.
Four ophthalmologists at the Doheny Eye Institute were recipients of Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. (RPB) awards. Since its founding in 1960, RPB has granted more than $136 million for research into the causes, treatment and prevention of blindness.
Alfredo A Sadun M.D., Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology and neurological surgery, received the Senior Scientific Investigator Award for $55,000. Melvin Trousdale, Ph.D., professor of research ophthalmology and microbiology, received the Research Sabbatical Grant for $50,000. EunDuck Kay, D.D.S., Ph.D., associate professor of research ophthalmology, received the Lew R. Wasserman Merit Award for $50,000. These three awards provide support for one year. Rohit Varma, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of ophthalmology, received a $160,000 Career Development Award that provides support over a four-year period.
George Jaresko, assistant professor of clinical pharmacy has been elected as an at-large member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists. He will serve a one year term.
USC alumni received a large portion of major awards presented by the California Pharmacists Association.
David Fong, a 1982 graduate, was named Pharmacist of the Year. Robert Holbrook, a 1965 graduate, assistant professor of clinical pharmacy and director of Pharmaceutical Services, won the Bowl of Hygeia Award which recognizes outstanding and continuing activity in the community. Jacqueline Krause, a 1992 graduate, won the Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award. Edward. S. Brady, pharmacy alumnus and professor emeritus, was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Michael L. J. Apuzzo, M.D., the Edwin M. Todd-Trent H. Wells, Jr. Professor of Neurological Surgery, recently traveled to Morocco to evaluate and advise Moroccan officials regarding health care in that country. Apuzzo was invited under the auspices of King Hassan II and served as visiting professor at the King Mohammed V School of Medicine in Rabat, where he held conferences on surgical technique and molecular biology in neurosurgery.
Vladimir Zelman, M.D., co-chair of USC Department of Anesthesiology, accompanied Apuzzo and also served as a visiting professor. Zelman lectured on topics related to advanced neuroanesthesia and evaluated the Rabat hospital's anesthesia services.
Michael E. Siegel, M.D., professor of radiology and chief of the division of nuclear medicine, has been elected vice president of the American College of Nuclear Medicine, an organization that fosters excellence in education and practice of diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine. In addition, Siegel received the College's first "President's Award" for his contributions, which include more than 240 peer-reviewed publications and 21 medical textbooks.
L. Julian Haywood, M.D., professor of medicine and cardiology in the USC School of Medicine, received the Laureate Award from the Southern California, Region 1, Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP). The award is given to those who have demonstrated by their example and conduct an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education, research, and service to their community, their region and the ACP.
