Cedars-Sinai Fall 2019

CEDARS-SINAI NEWS | LIFE | HEALTH | L.A.

HUMAN INTEREST A doctor’s love for writing helps him relate to patients.

VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 3 | FALL 2019

THE GIFT OF ORDINARY LIFE In her fight against skin cancer, a wife and mother focuses on what matters most—her family.

GUT CHECK A gastroenterologist helps demystify common GI conditions.

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Laura Grunberger SENIOR EDITOR

Sarah Spivack LaRosa ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Cassie Tomlin

MANAGING EDITOR

Susan L. Wampler DESIGN

DISTINC_ CONTRIBUTORS

Sherry Angel Katie Sweeney

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL NETWORK

John E. Jenrette, MD

VICE PRESIDENT, PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT AND NETWORK DEVELOPMENT, CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL NETWORK

Julie Reback Spencer

VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC INTEGRATION, CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL NETWORK

Mary Clare Lingel

VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Pattie Cuen

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BRAND STRATEGY AND CREATIVE SERVICES

Jennifer Fagen

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CEDARS-SINAI NEWS | LIFE | HEALTH | L.A.

VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 3 | FALL 2019

HERE & NOW

12 HUMAN INTEREST

A doctor translates his love for writing into creating a welcoming space for patients to tell their stories.

2

NEWS FEED

PREPARE & PREVENT

Stories from the Cedars-Sinai landscape

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GUT CHECK

A gastroenterologist helps define and demystify common GI conditions.

LIFE & HEALTH

6

THE GIFT OF ORDINARY LIFE

In her fight against skin cancer, a wife and mother focuses on what matters most—her family.

14

AT-A-GLANCE

Why vaccines matter, generic vs. brand-name drugs and more CEDARS-SINAI.ORG

1

NEWS FEED

STORIES FROM THE CEDARS-SINAI LANDSCAPE KOREATOWN

Inspired by a Cedars-Sinai cancer education workshop at their church, Myong Shim Lee and Ki Tae Lee became health advocates in their community.

VENICE

Venice Family Clinic physician assistants Carrie Kowalski, MPAP, La Chune F. Price, MPAS, and Ebony Funches, DNP, are among 30 local community clinic healthcare professionals training in a psychiatry fellowship for primary care providers. Cedars-Sinai funds the program, which trains providers to recognize and counsel patients suffering from substance-use disorders and addiction.

SANTA MONICA

Randy Sherman, MD, director of the Division of Plastic Surgery, moonlights as a flight instructor on the weekends, in between piloting his own World War II–era planes.

WEST HOLLYWOOD

Cedars-Sinai co-sponsored the Health and Wellness Village at the Pride on the Boulevard festival.

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MARINA DEL REY

Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital celebrated its 50th anniversary.

WEST HOLLYWOOD

Teen interns from high schools across Los Angeles ­studied stem cells with top scientists during Research Week.

ANAHEIM HILLS

David Tietje underwent three procedures to treat ulcerative colitis, a painful and debilitating condition. After a ­difficult recovery, he’s now able to enjoy hikes with his wife, Michelle, and their son Ryan, 13.

SOUTH BAY Photo by Josh LaVelle, Los Angeles Rams

Donna Jo “DJ” O’Brien, a pediatric physical therapist at Torrance Memorial Medical Center, a CedarsSinai affiliate, values the healing power of activity.

In her off time, she competes in prone paddleboard races.

WEST HOLLYWOOD

Los Angeles Rams rookies visited families in the Cedars-Sinai NICU. FOLLOW US @CEDARSSINAI cedars-sinai.org/csmagazine

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PREPARE & PREVENT

GUT CHECK

by Cassie Tomlin illustration by Jennifer Bahng

D

uring the holidays, it’s typical to overindulge and pay the price of an occasional stomachache. But more frequent gut troubles—seasonal feast-induced distress aside—can be life-disrupting and awkward to discuss. Symptoms like nausea, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea are linked to many common ­gastrointestinal (GI) conditions that can be diagnosed and treated by a healthcare professional.

But often patients try to identify and cure their “embarrassing” digestive issues before they consult a physician, which can complicate a diagnosis, says Deena Midani, MD, a Cedars-Sinai gastroenterologist.

“The GI office should be the last place you feel ­embarrassed about discussing your symptoms,” Midani says. “Self-consciousness shouldn’t hold somebody back from getting the medical care they need.”

Here, Midani helps define and demystify common GI conditions.

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CELIAC DISEASE is a serious immune reaction to

gluten (a protein in wheat, barley and rye) that causes inflammation in the small intestine.

Test: A physician performs a blood test and an upper endoscopy—a visual examination using an instrument that can also take tissue samples from the small intestine.

Treatment: Eliminate foods with gluten, like bread, pasta and beer.

“When you develop these symptoms, it can take a toll on your daily life,” she says. “Suddenly your world revolves around getting through the day, finding bathrooms or scheduling meals. A supportive physician can guide you through your day-to-day routine, help you troubleshoot when things get worse and reassure you when things improve.”

NON-CELIAC GLUTEN SENSITIVITY causes gastrointestinal symptoms when you eat foods with gluten, but the condition is not detectable by immune response or intestinal damage.

Test: Under medical supervision, avoid gluten for a few weeks. If your symptoms get better, reintroduce it to your diet and monitor whether symptoms return.

Treatment: Avoid gluten.

“Determining if you’re sensitive to gluten is complicated, and you shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Be honest with yourself about your tolerance. If you can comfortably eat bread or a bowl of pasta, you likely don’t need to follow a strict gluten-free diet.”

“ The GI office should be the last place you feel embarrassed about discussing your symptoms.”

Deena Midani, MD

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS) is a disorder of the large intestine that affects mostly women.

Test: While there is still no definitive way to diagnose IBS, a pioneering blood test developed at Cedars-Sinai can detect certain types of the condition thought to be related to a previous GI infection. Otherwise, after excluding other possible conditions, a doctor can confirm a diagnosis if you’ve had symptoms that include abdominal pain at least one day a week for three months.

Treatment: Dietary changes and stress reduction as well as treating symptoms such as diarrhea or abdominal pain with certain medications can help.

“A lot of my patients are very healthy—they exercise regularly and are doing all the things they’re supposed to do, yet they still have abdominal pain, bloating and changes in their bowels, and it frequently correlates with stress,” Midani says. “These are symptoms affecting patients’ quality of life.”

LACTOSE INTOLERANCE is the inability to digest lactose, the sugar in dairy products. Even if you’ve never been sensitive to dairy, you can develop lactose intolerance at any time in your life.

Test: After you’ve tried an elimination diet, blood or breath tests can confirm whether your body is unable to digest lactose.

Treatment: Limit or avoid dairy.

“It’s easy to take a break from dairy and see if that causes improvement or resolution of your symptoms.

It doesn’t make anything worse.”

Tummy Trouble Tips If you’re concerned about new digestive symptoms, Midani says it’s important to remember that you don’t have to endure them alone.

“When you’re going through something and you’re nervous it could be serious, it can feel scary,” she says. “You don’t have to do all the guesswork and sort through the wealth of information online without guidance.”

Midani suggests these tips to help you and your ­doctor pinpoint and treat what is bothering you:

›› ›› ›› ››

Avoid taking multiple herbal supplements or extra fiber until you discuss them with a healthcare provider, since they may make symptoms worse.

Share with your doctor all the medications you’re taking—some prescriptions can increase bloating, nausea, diarrhea or constipation.

Be well-informed. It’s hard to filter what is relevant and it’s easy to get overwhelmed, so discuss your concerns with your physician.

Do not ignore your symptoms. Let your doctor know as soon as you have unintentional weight loss, blood in your stool, changes in your bowel habits, persistent nausea or vomiting.

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LIFE & HEALTH

THE GIFT OF

ORDINARY

LIFE article by Sherry Angel photos by Diana Feil

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CEDARS-SINAI—VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 3 | FALL 2019

Minerva Quezada’s doctor calls her a “trailblazer” in her fight against skin cancer. For her, it’s all about being there for her family.

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E

very Sunday morning, Minerva Quezada makes a giant breakfast for her family: pancakes, hash browns, eggs, toast—the works.

“The more food the better,” she says. “The kids love a big breakfast.”

One of Quezada’s greatest joys in a life filled with tough days is watching her children, Ava, 15, and David, 10, as well as her husband, Frank, enjoy the feast she’s prepared, with David acting as sous-chef (he likes to stir the pancake mix).

Quezada immerses herself in the busyness of family life. She’s up early to make breakfast, pack lunches, and get Ava and David off to school. Twice a week, she helps out in her son’s classroom. Both children compete in team sports like softball and basketball year-round, and their mom is nearly always there to cheer them on. If she’s not in the stands, it’s usually because she is at a medical appointment that can’t be missed.

For the past 10 years, Quezada has faced down cancer.

She has a two-page list of all the surgeries and medications that have kept her going. Time after time, she has recovered and resumed her busy life—often with remarkable speed and tenacity. Still, on some days the effects of treatment overwhelm her powerful drive to maintain normalcy.

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Those down days make family rituals like a huge Sunday breakfast even more precious. Quezada has come to see ordinary life as an extraordinary gift.

STRONG AND RESILIENT

Quezada has a warm smile and serene presence, despite the inner battle she’s waging to keep her spirits up through one health challenge after another. She grew up speaking both Spanish and English in a quiet suburban neighborhood in La Habra, the northern Orange County city where she still lives. Her parents left Chihuahua, Mexico, and settled here in the early 1970s when she was 3 years old.

Her resilience doesn’t surprise her husband. “She believes in herself,” he says. “She was as low as you can get in the first six months after her diagnosis. She had to dig deep, but she bounced back strong.”

Their big extended family is a source of strength that never wanes. Frank grew up in La Habra, too, and their large families get together once a month. The traditional dishes Quezada prepares—including Mexican barbacoa (barbecue), menudo (soup) and tamales—are the stars at these gatherings. She savors the good times because she’ll never forget what it felt like to learn she was facing the deadliest of skin cancers. Continued on page 10

“ She is such a fighter. It’s always uplifting for me to see her.”

Omid Hamid, MD MOVING THE DIAL ON CANCER SURVIVAL The idea of empowering the immune s­ ystem to fight cancer was “on the fringe” when Omid Hamid, MD, director of the Melanoma Program at Cedars-Sinai, began a career dedicated to improving the odds of surviving melanoma.

The team’s immunotherapy breakthroughs in ­melanoma treatment are also improving survival rates and quality of life for patients with lung, ­kidney, bladder, breast, ovarian, gastrointestinal, head and neck cancers, and more.

He has played a leading role in the immunooncology revolution that, in recent years, has given new hope to cancer patients.

“Through clinical trials, we’re able to offer an array of novel therapy options for patients who don’t respond to traditional therapy. And we have a large group of patients who are doing really well,” Hamid says.

Along with Mark B. Faries, MD, Hamid is codirector of the Melanoma Center at The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute, a Cedars-Sinai affiliate, which is recognized internationally for advancing treatment for all stages of melanoma.

Read more about the expanding power of immune therapy at ceda.rs/power-immune-therapy

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She was five months pregnant with David when she was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. The cancer had already spread to her lymph nodes.

“I didn’t believe it at first,” she says. “Then it began to sink in. I thought, ‘OK, this is real.’ Luckily, I was referred to a great team at The Angeles Clinic. They gave us hope when we really needed it.”

Over the past decade, Omid Hamid, MD, director of the Melanoma Program at Cedars-Sinai, has guided her through multiple surgeries and treatments. As chief of Translational Research and Immunotherapy at The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute, a Cedars-Sinai affiliate, Hamid pursues pioneering research on how to boost the immune response to advanced melanoma and other cancers (see sidebar on page 9). He has enrolled Quezada in a number of clinical trials that have given her access to promising new immunotherapy drugs.

Before Quezada began treatment, in 2009, she gave birth to a beautiful boy. David was delivered two months early, but after nearly two weeks in the NICU, he began to thrive.

A month after giving birth, Quezada returned to the hospital for her first round of chemotherapy. It was grueling. She remembers a night when she had chills and a high fever. At one point, she was covered with 14 blankets and was still shivering. But she responded 10

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well to the treatment, and she and Frank realized they needed to stop looking at grim statistics and stay positive.

They gently told well-meaning friends not to show up if they were going to cry. “We decided to see what we could make happen each day going forward,” her husband says.

The next big step for Quezada was enrolling in her first immunotherapy clinical trial with Hamid, which launched her on a treatment path that has kept the disease at bay.

A TRAILBLAZING PATIENT

The commute to Hamid’s office in West Los Angeles can take as long as two hours each way. Quezada considers this time well spent.

“I’m getting the latest, greatest, most innovative treatment. I count on it,” she says.

Hamid and Quezada have formed a close bond over the years. Hamid’s daughter was born about the same time as Quezada’s son, so they always catch up on family news during her checkups. She and her husband are both grateful for the sensitivity and determination Hamid brings to her care. “Once when I came in fatigued and I’d lost weight, Dr. Hamid could see Frank was really worried and he told him, ‘Let’s see what’s going on and get her back in shape.’ He helps us both stay positive,” Quezada says.

Hamid is equally impressed with Quezada. “She’s a trailblazer. She is such a fighter,” he says. “It’s always uplifting for me to see her.”

One of her lowest points was learning the cancer had spread to her brain. “I broke down in Dr. Hamid’s office.

It spiraled me back to the way I felt when I was first told I had cancer,” she recalls.

Hamid reassured her. She remembers him saying, “We’re going to work through this together.” And they did. She had brain surgery twice to remove tumors.

Each time, she recovered the strength she would need to get back to enjoying life with her family.

“No one would ever know what she is going through unless she told them,” Frank says.

But Quezada would rather talk about other things.

Through all of the treatments and emotional ups and downs over the years, she has never let cancer define her life.

“I don’t think about it unless I have to. I don’t give it that energy,” she says. Instead, she keeps herself busy with her children. And she keeps them active so they don’t focus on her medical condition—and because, she says, “If I don’t, God knows what trouble they’ll get into. I do what I have to do to stay well, and then focus on being a mom and wife.”

CANCER CARE CLOSE TO HOME With Cedars-Sinai’s recent expansion to 1919 Santa Monica Blvd. and expanding services at 11800 Wilshire Blvd., more people in the area now have access to the most advanced treatments for many types of cancer.

“We’ve designed a sophisticated space and inviting atmosphere where patients can receive world-class care, but still feel at ease being near home,” says Lawrence Piro, MD, CEO of The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute, a CedarsSinai affiliate whose leading experts provide personalized cancer care in multiple specialties—including breast, lung, urology, gastroenterology and melanoma.

Expansion of services also includes CedarsSinai’s first primary care practice in Santa Monica as well as specialty practices, on-site lab and X-ray services.

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HERE & NOW

HUMAN INTEREST

by Katie Sweeney photo by Ted Catanzaro

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N

itin Kapur, MD, MPH, leans forward in his living room chair—one leg casually folded up, half-lotus style, against his indigo blue jeans. His brown eyes are intent.

“I want to know my patients,” he says. “I want to know who they are. I want to understand them. That’s one of the most important things to me.”

Kapur is relaxing at his home in Pacific Palisades on a cool, overcast June morning. The sparsely furnished living room—one white chair, a spacious tan leather sofa and a square glass coffee table—is serene. It’s the kind of open, slow-down-the-world space he tries to create with his patients as a Cedars-Sinai internist in Santa Monica.

“I want patients to feel comfortable, to trust me,” he says. “When I meet a new patient, I’ll always start with, ‘Tell me something about you—something that has nothing to do with why you’re here.’”

The question can lead to a revealing dialogue. Patients have shared everything from a love of music to estrangement from their family to former careers. One elderly patient told him she used to be a model; she later brought Kapur a photo of her younger self.

Others are surprised by his inquiry. “People look at me and don’t know what to say,” he adds. “But I wait. I wait for the story.”

Kapur’s own story begins in India, where he was born, the eldest son of an Indian army captain and a stay-athome mom. The family immigrated to the U.S. when he was 4, settling first in Louisiana and later in South Texas.

An early teacher declared he’d never do well in English, but she was wrong—it became his favorite subject. In college, he majored in English, acted in theater productions and planned to pursue a PhD in 20th century American literature.

Then came the plot twist. Toward the end of his undergraduate studies, Kapur traveled to India with his dad and spent a semester in Nepal. Seeing the overwhelming poverty in both countries, he knew he wanted to help people in a concrete way. Soon, he was on his way to medical school.

“I wanted to practice medicine with an eye toward social justice,” Kapur says. “Primary care was a way to do that, to treat the whole person.”

Meanwhile, his love for writing continued to flourish.

During his medical residency at Yale, he participated in a physician writer’s workshop, crafting two deeply personal essays later published in medical journals. One explored his feelings about a dying patient who made racist remarks to him—and his eventual realization that he missed an opportunity to know the man better. Another dealt with counseling a patient to lose weight—even as Kapur waged his own battle with the scale.

Recently, he penned a piece about his 18-month stint as a stay-at-home dad. When he first came to Los Angeles in 2016, Kapur cared full time for his two daughters— Aarya, now 4, and Asha, now 3—so his wife, Alpna, could begin her psychiatry residency at UCLA. The essay describes his angst as a new father and his conflict about putting his career on hold.

“I write because it helps me understand how I feel about something. It’s like therapy,” he explains.

Just as importantly, writing about his own experiences gives him a window into the struggles other people face. That’s one more way he can better understand his patients—and know who they are.

Kapur’s Recommended Reading Kapur reads because it helps him feel connected to others. “It reminds me that I am not alone in my insecurities, fears and aspirations,” he says. “In its best form, reading is rejuvenating and fills my emotional cup when I feel depleted.” Here, he shares a few of his favorite books: ON HIS NIGHTSTAND NOW Hawaii James Michener

OLD-SCHOOL SCI-FI The Martian Chronicles Ray Bradbury

GUILTY PLEASURE Any Jack Reacher novel Lee Child

20TH CENTURY CLASSICS Song of Solomon Toni Morrison

1984 George Orwell

To read Kapur’s published essays, visit

Tender Is the Night F. Scott Fitzgerald WORDS TO LIVE BY Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead Brené Brown

A DYSTOPIAN VIEW The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood

this magazine online at cedars-sinai.org/csmagazine

FAVORITE POEM (IT WOOED HIS NOW-WIFE) “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” T.S. Eliot

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AT-A-GLANCE

“ Cedars-Sinai provides a positive environment for people who are in halfway houses and other rehab facilities, giving them the opportunity to be surrounded by 200 of their peers, be entertained by speakers, and get accustomed to the joy and power and energy of recovery.”

— Argus Hamilton, hospital liaison and 35-year attendee of the Sundowners Alcoholics Anonymous meeting hosted by Cedars-Sinai

Groups to Lean On Healing from a life-changing event isn’t easy, ­especially on your own. Cedars-Sinai provides ­support groups for patients and their families through all stages of care, from diagnosis with an illness to recovery from procedures. The m ­ edical center also hosts several community-based ­support groups, including 12-step programs, which are open to the public.

Support groups cover areas such as: › › Alcohol and drug dependency and addiction › › Advance care planning › › Aphasia › › Brain disorders › › Cancer › › Diabetes › › Maternal mental health › › Social and mental health support and education › › Stroke › › Transplant › › Weight numbers

By the numbers In fiscal year 2018, Cedars-Sinai’s interdepartmental and community-based support groups reported:

6,700

patients and community members served Nearly

900

meetings held Over

7,400

staff hours involved in supporting these efforts For more information about meeting dates and ­contacts, visit ceda.rs/supportgroups

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Brand Vs. Generic: What’s in a Name?

How do the differences between generic and brand-name drugs impact your health—and your pocketbook? Here’s a short primer.

GENERICS WORK. Generic drugs go through a rigorous approval process, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continually m ­ onitors their safety, effectiveness and quality—particularly those manufactured domestically. The FDA also investigates any problems and, when needed, issues recalls.

GENERICS SAVE MONEY. You may save money by asking for a generic alternative. Several manufacturers may apply to produce generic versions of the same brandname medication, creating competition that lowers prices.

SOMETIMES A BRAND-NAME DRUG IS BETTER. In some cases, your doctor may recommend you stay on a brand-name drug—such as for ­critical-dose medications in which even the smallest difference in dosage could have a major impact on effectiveness and/or side effects.

MOST DISPENSED DRUGS ARE GENERIC. In the U.S., generics account for 89% of prescriptions dispensed—but only 26% of drug costs. Generics have saved the healthcare system $1.67 trillion in the last decade, with Medicare and Medicaid s­ avings of $77 billion and $37.9 billion, respectively.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? Visit ceda.rs/genericmeds or ask your doctor for guidance.

Research Roundup DIAGNOSTIC ODYSSEY Nearly 18% of patients initially diagnosed with the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS) turned out to be suffering from something else, a new Cedars-Sinai study found.

Misdiagnoses include everything from migraines and menopause to diabetes, cerebral palsy and even anxiety. Numerous other conditions mimic MS symptoms—which can include intermittent numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, fatigue and speech problems. For accurate diagnoses, it’s important to see a specialist trained in identifying the disease, which looks remarkably like migraines in brain MRIs.

YOUNG BLOOD Memory decline during the aging process could be linked to the age of one’s blood cells, according to a recent study at Cedars-Sinai. The findings might provide a pathway for designing therapies to slow progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s. Transplanting the bone marrow of young laboratory mice into older ones prevented cognitive decline in the older mice and preserved their memory and learning abilities, according to the research. For future studies on people, the scientists are working on creating “personalized” young blood stem cells that could possibly be used to help replace an individual’s own aging blood stem cells.

STEP IT UP Clinicians monitor heart rate, blood pressure and other vital statistics to track a patient’s postoperative progress. CedarsSinai scientists recently demonstrated the benefits of measuring a patient’s steps as well. In a new study, the investigators found that, the day after surgery, each 100 steps taken toward 1,000 could reduce the length of a patient’s hospital stay by 4%. Participants wore Fitbit activity trackers to tally their movements and were given an app of guided tours through the Cedars-Sinai art collection to make their strolls more enjoyable.

GUILTY GENES Cedars-Sinai investigators recently pinpointed 34 genes related to increased risk of ovarian cancer. Their efforts could make a vital difference in early detection. This is key, since ovarian cancer has a survival rate of more than 90%— but only if caught early. Currently, most cases are diagnosed only after the cancer has grown or spread, when the chances of survival drop precipitously. The findings could help identify women who are at highest risk and pave the way for new therapies that target the specific genes involved.

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AT-A-GLANCE

Vax Facts Immunizations prevent disease and save lives.

Vaccines save 2–3 million lives each year, according to the World Health Organization. But misinformation abounds. Cedars-Sinai pediatrician Kyle Monk, MD, offers some fast facts to help keep you, your family and your community protected.

1

VACCINES ARE SAFE. Vaccines are rigorously tested for safety and continuously reevaluated and monitored for side effects. “The biggest fear comes from false ­information from internet ‘sources’ that correlate vaccines with autism,” Monk says. “The doctor who wrote the original article making this claim lost his license, and others who backed him have retracted their support.”

2

VACCINES PREVENT DEADLY DISEASE. “Vaccines are one of the most important ­inventions of modern medicine,” Monk says.

“I’ve seen parents watch their child die and realize they could have prevented it.”

3

VACCINES TRAIN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. Children’s immune systems are not as strong as adults’ immune systems. “Vaccines are a killed portion of the bacteria or virus that we introduce to the immune system,” Monk says. “It’s how the immune system learns to fight that infection later in life.”

4

VACCINATION IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. Without immunizations, long-vanquished infectious diseases will quickly reappear in the U.S. “No matter where you live, the reality is that you’re going to come into contact with people from all over the world, and you will be exposed to a virus,” Monk notes.

5

MEASLES IS ON THE RISE IN THE U.S. By the end of August 2019, 1,234 cases of ­measles were reported in 31 states—the largest U.S. outbreak of this highly infectious disease since 1992, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Vaccines are the most important safety recommendation I give to my patients—and that certainly includes vaccination for measles,” Monk says.

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Visit Our Doctors YALDA AZARMEHR, MD INTERNAL MEDICINE

MICHELLE NEELY, MD INTERNAL MEDICINE

5525 Etiwanda Ave., Suite 320 Tarzana, CA 91356 310-423-4689

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Culver City, CA 90232 424-315-2458

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15211 Vanowen St., Suite 315 Van Nuys, CA 91405 818-787-2410

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4676 Admiralty Way, 4th Floor Marina del Rey, CA 90292 310-306-6966

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ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS OMID HAMID, MD p. 6 ONCOLOGY

DEENA MIDANI, MD p. 4 GASTROENTEROLOGY

11800 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90025 310-582-7900

8536 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 202 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 310-248-8200

NITIN KAPUR, MD p. 12 INTERNAL MEDICINE

KYLE MONK, MD p. 16 PEDIATRICS

1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 210 Santa Monica, CA 90404 310-423-8828

8501 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 201 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 310-385-3345

Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 to schedule an appointment.

TOP HOSPITAL Cedars-Sinai has again been honored by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s best hospitals. The medical center ranked No. 8 nationally and No. 2 in Southern California among the “Best Hospitals 2019– 20.” Additionally, 12 Cedars-Sinai medical specialties ranked nationally for clinical excellence, including c ­ ardiology, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, and orthopaedics. The rankings are based on patient outcomes, patient experience, technology and reputation, among other measurements.

CEDARS-SINAI.ORG

17

8700 Beverly Blvd., Suite 2416 Los Angeles, CA 90048 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID LOS ANGELES, CA PERMIT NO. 22328

1-800-CEDARS-1

THE EXPERTS YOU TRUST, NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. L.A.’s best doctors are closer than ever, with locations in more than 20 communities in the greater Los Angeles area. So whether you’re in need of a simple checkup or more specialized care, Cedars-Sinai is close by for you and your family.

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Most insurance plans accepted.

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