Keck School of Medicine News and Notes
For faculty and staff of the Keck School of Medicine of USC

May 22, 2013

Harlyne J. Norris receives Elaine Stevely Hoffman Award
For her and her family’s decades-long commitment to health care at USC, Harlyne J. Norris received the Elaine Stevely Hoffman Award during commencement ceremonies for the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Keck School Dean Carmen A. Puliafito thanked her for her “longstanding contribution and unwavering dedication to the Keck School of Medicine and its people.” A trustee and past chairman of the Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation, Harlyne Norris is a renowned medical benefactor. Through the Norris Foundation, the Norris family has donated nearly $200 million to USC, which helped lead to the creation of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and the USC Norris Cancer Hospital.

Robert K. Ross awarded inaugural Dean’s Humanitarian Award
Robert K. Ross, President and CEO of the California Endowment, received the inaugural Dean’s Humanitarian Award at commencement. The award honors Ross for his lifelong efforts promoting access to health care for all Americans.

American Thoracic Society honors Jonathan Samet
The American Thoracic Society awarded its highest recognition, the Edward Livingston Trudeau Medal, to Jonathan M. Samet, professor and Flora L. Thornton chair in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School, at its annual meeting May 19. The Trudeau Medal was established in 1926 in honor of the founder and the first president of the American Lung Association. The medal recognizes an individual's lifelong contributions to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung disease through leadership in research, education or clinical care.

Shou-Jiang Gao elected to Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology
Shou-Jiang Gao, professor of molecular microbiology and immunology, has been elected to Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology. The academy, the honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology, recognizes excellence, originality and creativity in the microbiological sciences. Gao received the honor May 21 at the group's annual meeting in Denver.

May 24—Surgical Grand Rounds
Grand rounds will focus on "Decellularized Matrices for Reconstructive and Regenerative Surgery: Friend or Overpriced Foe" at 8:30 a.m. at 1355 San Pablo St., 1st Floor Auditorium. For more information, call (323) 442-7920.

May 24—Southern California CTSI Workshop
The CTSI will host a REDCap Database Solutions Workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Seeley G. Mudd Building, Room 718, at the University Park campus. For more information, email bbr@sc-ctsi.org.

May 29—Research Seminar
Neal Paragas, instructor in the Medical Sciences Department at Columbia University, will present "The Alpha Intercalated Cell of the Kidney Defends the Urinary Tract from Infection" at noon at Saban Research Building, First Floor Auditorium, 4661 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 361-8626.

May 29—USC Orange County Distinguished Speakers Series
Andrew McMahon, director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, will present "The How, What and Why of Regenerative Medicine" from 7-9 p.m. at USC Orange County Center, 2300 Michelson Drive, Irvine. For more information, visit alumni.usc.edu/ocspeakers.

May 31—Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Grand Rounds
Pamela Ward, associate professor of medicine, will present "NexGen Pathology: Diagnostics and Theranostics" at 8 a.m. at Norris Topping Tower, Conference Room 7409. For more information, call (323) 442-1180.

May 31—Department of Medicine Medical Grand Rounds Chair’s Series
The seminar will be at noon at LAC+USC Inpatient Tower, Conference Room B. For more information, call (323) 226-7644.

June 1—Neurotrauma L.A. 2013: Outcome Optimization
The LAC+USC Medical Center will host Neurotrauma LA 2013 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2051 Marengo St., Los Angeles, Inpatient Tower Conference Rooms A & B. RSVP by email to Robin Young at royoung@dhs.lacounty.gov.

LOS ANGELES TIMES—USC made its offer to neuroscientists a no-brainer
A May 18 article featured the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, which will move to the Keck School of Medicine next fall. The lab includes professors Arthur Toga, Paul Thompson and more than 100 faculty, researchers and staff, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and others. Los Angeles Magazine also covered the story.

U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT—Alligators Can Grow New Teeth, So Why Not Humans?
A May 13 story featured research by Cheng-Ming Chuong, professor of pathology at the Keck School of Medicine, and colleagues studying how alligators can regenerate a lost tooth up to 50 times. Researchers are hoping doctors could one day stimulate the same ability in humans. “In humans, we have a similar structure when we're born, but we don't have any stem cells there under normal conditions,” Chuong said.

To schedule an appointment or for more information about the Keck Medical Center of USC, please call 1-800-USC-CARE or click here.

Keck School of Medicine News and Notes is produced weekly by the USC Health Sciences Public Relations and Marketing office. To contribute ideas for consideration or for more information, click here.