Charting the future of health care at USC

A pioneer from the beginning

Ever since USC founded the region’s first medical school in 1885, the university has been a critical part of providing health care to the Los Angeles community, particularly its most vulnerable patients. Beyond training physicians in the newest, most advanced clinical interventions available, USC has pioneered new treatments for some of the most complex diseases.

Today, the USC Health Affairs office comprises the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and the USC health system — Keck Medicine of USC.

Faculty from other schools, including the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, USC Price School of Public Policy, and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, are intrinsically involved in research, education and programs that address the pressing health needs of our time.

The ‘school of schools’

While Trojans across schools have long collaborated, there was a limit to what researchers, scientists and clinicians could achieve within individual disciplines to spur discoveries that help patients live longer, healthier lives.

“The United States has been criticized for both the high cost of care and outcomes such as life expectancy, which have lagged behind our peer nations,” Shapiro says. In reality, he adds, only a small fraction of this cost is directly related to health care.

He points out that despite health issues such as homicide, suicide, drug addiction, and behaviors such as diet, exercise, sleep, smoking and significant health inequity, “There is no better place than the United States to care for the most complex acute health problems.”

Every school at USC, he says, is playing a role to improve health for all. “Never before have our physicians and scientists worked so closely together,” Shapiro says. “At USC, we are tackling the many factors to lead a life well-lived.”

In June 2023, for the first time, USC’s annual research expenditures surpassed $1 billion, including USC in an exclusive group of just 13 private universities in the country that can boast the same. A nationally recognized measure of a university’s innovation potential, the $1 billion included significant investments in Folt’s moonshots in computing, sustainability and health.

That huge number represents the breadth of research that Trojans are engaged in — from oncology to the onset of aging, to cardiac care, to AI in health care — all to tackle humanity’s biggest problems.

Ishwar K. Puri, senior vice president of the USC Office of Research and Innovation, calls USC’s interdisciplinary work in the health space the “backbone” of the entire university. “It allows us to leverage the strength of the university both within the health sciences schools and outside the health sciences schools,” Puri says.

For example, at the USC Institute for Addiction Science, faculty members across disciplines produce innovative and adaptable scientific evidence and educational programming to increase awareness, correct misperceptions, counteract stigma and inform policy on addiction. The institute is a partnership between the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Keck School of Medicine of USC, and USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Another exciting example of an interdisciplinary feat involves the USC Information Sciences Institute — led by University Professor Shri Narayanan of USC Viterbi and involving other researchers from USC Viterbi, USC Dornsife, the Keck School of Medicine and the University of California, Los Angeles — where researchers are attempting to predict psychological health risk factors to support clinical screenings for issues such as depression and suicidal ideation.

In line with Folt’s vision of the university as an international standard-bearer for collaborative learning and discovery, USC researchers such as Arthur Toga and Paul M. Thompson at the Keck School of Medicine and the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute are discovering new ways to use neuroscience, mathematics, computer science and software engineering for brain research.

Likewise, University Professor Peter Kuhn of USC Dornsife works with experts in machine learning and artificial intelligence from USC Viterbi to analyze thousands of blood sample images from “liquid biopsies” to work toward better outcomes in cancer therapies. The minimally invasive alternative to tissue biopsies aids physicians in detecting and managing early- and late-stage cancers.

Diversity spurs new models of care

At almost 10 million people, Los Angeles County’s population is larger than that of 40 states and extremely diverse. Residents include people from more than 140 countries who speak a combined total of more than 200 languages. There is no ethnic majority, and more than one-third of residents are born outside the United States.

It’s a microcosm of the world — and what ails it.

Serving the communities around USC drives innovation, says Rodney B. Hanners, CEO of Keck Medicine of USC and president and CEO of the USC Health System.

“L.A.’s diverse population provides a rich foundation for science and research in tailoring leading-edge treatment and care to individual needs, whether it’s based on race, gender or other demographics,” Hanners says.

For example, roughly 60% of cancer patients in clinical trials at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center are from historically underrepresented populations. The center works with community organizations to connect patients who want to participate in clinical trials, which contributes to a wealth of varied perspectives and to closing the gap on health equity.