The Division of Hematology is responsible for multiple clinical services at LAC+USC Medical Center, USC/Norris Cancer Hospital, and USC University Hospital. At LAC+USC Medical Center, the Division is responsible for the day-to-day care of severely ill patients with hematologic malignancy, housed on GNH 14-600. Additionally, the Division is responsible for two consultation services and four half-day clinics. At USC/Norris Cancer Hospital, the Division is responsible for the bone marrow/progenitor cell transplantation service, as well as the care of patients with hematologic malignancy. At USC University Hospital, the Division is responsible for an active consultation service.

At USC/Norris Cancer Hospital, the Division initiated an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) service and successfully performed allotransplantation of patients with acute leukemia and other hematologic malignancies. The Division successfully obtained accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Hematopoietic Cell Therapy (FAHCT) for our BMT service, and numerous contractual relationships were initiated, paving the way for the successful development of this exciting new program. Our patient accrual onto the BMT services has continued to show substantial growth over time.

The Division designed and implemented an entirely new curriculum in Hematology and Clinical Immunology for Year I-II medical students. The eight-week course emphasizes case based learning, and received outstanding evaluations from the students. Along with investigators at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, we have been awarded a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Training Grant, which provides resources for the education and training of post-doctoral fellows in translational research in the fields of hematology and oncology. Our faculty consistently publishes extensively in peer-reviewed literature. Our fellows are also provided instruction in the area of clinical or basic research, with all senior fellows having published at least one paper in the recent past.

Functions of the Division of Hematology within the Department of Medicine:

Clinical

• To provide hematologic consultation on inpatients and outpatients of all departments of the three USC hospitals serving adult patients.
• To provide continuing care for all adult outpatients with serious hematologic problems through the operation of the adult Hematology Clinics at LAC+USC.
• To operate an 18-bed hematology ward and a Day Hospital for patients with hematologic disorders at the LAC+USC Medical Center.
• To operate a clinical service coagulation laboratory for the work-up of inpatients and outpatients with suspected hemorrhagic or thrombatic disorders.
• To provide consultation and/or continuing care for patients with hematologic malignancies referred from community physicians to the USC/Norris Cancer Hospital and Research Institute.
• To provide consultation and/or continuing care for patients with hematology problems referred from community physicians to the USC University Hospital.

Teaching

• Undergraduate Teaching
  To teach the hematology course in the freshman year (three weeks) and sophmore year (two weeks) of Medical School. To provide a 6-week clinical elective period for junior and senior students, during which they work with residents and Fellows on the hematology consultation service, attend clinics and attend the conferences and rounds of the section.
• House staff, Fellows and other graduate Teaching.

Research

• The research interests of the Hematology Section are diverse. They include basic and clinical research in hemostatic mechanisms and their alterations in disease, sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinathies, malignant lymphomata and other hematologic neoplasms, and hematologic disorders associated with AIDS. Research programs are carried out in five laboratories.
• The hematology research laboratory that occupies an entire floor of the Raulston Research Building on the Medical School Campus.
• The clinical coagulation research laboratory that is located in the USC/Norris Cancer Hospital. This laboratory is used for training in clinical coagulation techniques.
• A Bone Marrow Transplanation/Hematopoiesis Laboratory at the Norris Cancer Hospital.
• A Retroviral Disease Laboratory at the Norris Cancer Hospital.