PULSE Inside:
How nurses keep patients and themselves safe during the pandemic
8 family-friendly podcasts to enjoy
Spring 2022
magazine
BRINGING
THE HEAT Local pitcher Xavier Navarro helped lead his team to the Little League World Series
TORRANCE MEMORIAL RANKED FIRST AMONG SOUTH BAY HOSPITALS BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, NEWSWEEK AND SOUTH BAY’S BEST 2021 AWARDS. AWARDS . When it comes to local expert care, it is important to know the facts. Torrance Memorial is leading the way in the South Bay for expert care, ranking among the best hospitals in California and the nation. TMGetTheFacts.org
#1 Ranked Hospital in the South Bay
Trust Your Health to World-Class Results -
Top 1% Hospital in the Nation - Newsweek
Ranked #5 in L.A. Region - U.S. News & World Report
Ranked #11 in California
- U.S. News & World Report
Best Hospital in the South Bay
- South Bay’s Best 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards
PULSE
President's Letter
magazine
A Publication of the Torrance Memorial Health System 3330 Lomita Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505 310-325-9110 EDITOR Jill Biggins Gerbracht DIRECTOR, MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS Erin Fiorito PUBLISHER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Vincent Rios DESIGN ASSISTANT Alexandria Smith COPY EDITOR Laura Watts CONTRIBUTORS Lisa Buffington Christina Elston John Ferrari Moe Gelbart, PhD Noel Le Diane Krieger Laura Roe Stevens Melissa Bean Sterzick Nancy Sokoler Steiner Megan Young PHOTOGRAPHERS Siri Berting Steph Fowler Photography Mykel Helene Leddel Michael Neveux Vincent Rios Monica Venegas
Published by
Vincent Rios Creative, Inc. vrioscreative.com
Dear Readers, A historic affiliation between Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai was officially launched on February 1, 2018. In this issue we reflect on this now four-year relationship with stories from patients and physicians. We share how this partnership is leading the way in exceptional world-class care and offering more expertise and treatment options for our South Bay community. While we continue to manage the ongoing issues presented by COVID-19, we understand how challenging these past two years have been for us all. We reflect in this issue on the pandemic since its beginning and how Torrance Memorial has been taking care of patients and staff. We are proud of our team and how courageous they have been through this unprecedented time in history. Young pitcher Xavier Navarro, a superstar of the Torrance Little League team that impressively made it to the 2021 Little League World Series, is featured on our cover. You can read more about his inspirational story on page 50. Also inside are features on other amazing South Bay residents who are making a difference. We have much to look forward to in 2022. The long-anticipated opening of our new state-of-the-art medical complex in El Segundo this spring is something we are very excited about. A few highlights on the hospital side include advances in our women’s heart health program, the 30th anniversary of our Clowns on Rounds program, and a new Mental Health Corner where Moe Gelbart, PhD, our director of behavioral services, answers your questions. Please enjoy reading this issue of Pulse magazine.
©2022 Torrance Memorial Medical Center. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. This publication is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. It has not been designed to replace a physician's medical assessment and medical judgment. Always consult first with your physician regarding anything related to your personal health.
Craig Leach, President, Chief Executive Officer Torrance Memorial Medical Center
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Contents
FEATURES RISING TO THE CHALLENGE Torrance Memorial nurses keep patients and themselves safe during the pandemic.
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CANCER SCREENINGS Postponed screenings due to COVID-19 are causing an increase in late-stage diagnoses and preventable deaths.
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TORRANCE MEMORIAL & CEDARS-SINAI UPDATE Torrance Memorial and CedarsSinai mark four years of affiliation with patient and physician stories.
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ZEST FOR LIFE Addicted to Animal Rescue Some people are addicted to video games. Shaland Leach gets her endorphin rush rescuing animals.
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OUR COMMUNITY VIPS A South Bay woman promotes sustainability locally and abroad; the head of the L.A. Lakers Youth Foundation finds reward in giving back; and a young Torrance pitcher finds his way to the Little League World Series.
COVER PHOTO: MICHAEL NEVEUX
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ON THE COVER
13-year-old pitcher Xavier Navarro brought the heat to his Torrance Little League team last season throughout their run in the 2021 Little League World Series.
ON PACE
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HEALTHY BITES Benefits of at-home gardening recipes.
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EL SEGUNDO MEDICAL COMPLEX OPENING THIS SPRING Primary, urgent and specialty care will be available in one accessible location.
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BRIDGING THE GAP Community health worker Jessica Verdugo helps Carson residents navigate the health care system.
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CLOWNING AROUND FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS Torrance Memorial's Clowns on Rounds has been delivering laughs for over three decades.
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BURN SURVIVOR GIVES BACK Dustin Varela supports patients and staff by volunteering at Torrance Memorial.
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HEART HEALTH FOR WOMEN New Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute Women’s Heart Health Clinic focuses on specialized care for women in the South Bay.
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PERSONALIZED BIRTHS & CARE Torrance Memorial provides custom care for mom and baby.
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DON'T LIVE WITH SHOULDER PAIN Advanced treatment options can help patients shrug off shoulder pain.
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT/CEO AWARDS AND ACCOLADES ASK THE DOCTOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS HELPING HANDS MENTAL HEALTH CORNER FAMILY FOCUS CALENDAR MD LOCAL: DR. DAVID RAND A LOOK BACK TorranceMemorial.org | 5
Awards & Accolades
Torrance Memorial Awards & Recognitions Torrance Memorial Medical Center has been recognized by Newsweek as part of its list of World’s Best Hospitals 2022. This year, Torrance Memorial moved up a point to rank as the 39th best hospital in the nation, 10th best in California and places Torrance Memorial in the top elite 150-250 hospitals in the world. Torrance Memorial is one of five hospitals in Los Angeles and the only hospital in the South Bay to achieve top elite in the world. “This is a tremendous honor and testament that our entire organization is committed to providing our community the highest quality care available without having to leave the South Bay,” said Craig Leach, president and CEO of Torrance Memorial Medical Center.
Torrance Memorial Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute has been recognized as part of Newsweek’s list of the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2022 in cardiology. This is the second year for this award, where more than 40,000 medical experts—including doctors, hospital managers, and health care professionals—participated in online surveys allowing them to recommend and assess various hospitals within their respective specializations. The results of the survey were then validated by a global board of renowned medical experts.
The Torrance Memorial Wound and Amputation Prevention Center was recently recognized for achieving the RestorixHealth Distinction Award. Recipients of this award have demonstrated success by meeting or exceeding patient safety goals along with a 90% healing rate.
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Torrance Memorial Medical Center received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade a national distinction recognizing Torrance Memorial’s achievements protecting patients from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
Torrance Memorial has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for hospital/home care/hospice accreditation and its Gold Seal of Approval® for advanced total hip and knee replacement certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality reflecting a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
Torrance Memorial was recently recognized by the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program for our commitment to quality patient care. Our physicians, nurses and staff have worked to close the gaps separating patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. The care our patients receive is our number one priority, and we are proud to be recognized for Gold Plus performance in heart failure, stroke and receiving and Gold in resuscitation.
Torrance Memorial has been named a 2021 Guardian of Excellence® winner by Press Ganey, a national leader in patient engagement. The Guardian of Excellence award recognizes top-performing health care organizations that have achieved the 95th percentile or above for performance in patient experience. This award is based on achieving the 95th percentile in Pediatrics Child Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) scores.
Torrance Memorial Medical Center has received the Best of the Southland award from the Los Angeles Times. This new program from the L.A. Times was created to celebrate readers’ favorite businesses across 65 categories in five regional zones. In the first round of survey results, Torrance Memorial earned the most votes for the best hospital in the South Bay, Long Beach and South Los Angeles regional zones.
On behalf of the American College of Surgeons' Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), in partnership with the American Society for Metabolic Bariatric Surgery, Torrance Memorial’s bariatric program has received Comprehensive Center accreditation. A MBSAQIP accreditation recognizes the bariatric surgery team’s commitment to providing and supporting quality improvement and patient safety for metabolic and bariatric surgery patients. As an accredited program they have demonstrated our center meets the needs of our patients by providing multidisciplinary, high-quality, patient-centered care. This accreditation is valid through 2024.
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On Pace PASTA WITH BUTTER, SAGE & PARMESAN Total Time: 20 minutes Serves: 4 Native to the Mediterranean region, sage is an aromatic herb traditionally used in medicine for the treatment of seizures, ulcers, gout, inflammation, paralysis, diarrhea, hyperglycemia and more. With its savory, slightly peppery flavor, it can be used for seasoning foods from sausages to stuffing and even pasta.
Ingredients: • • • • •
salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 pound cut pasta, such as ziti 2 tablespoons butter 30 fresh sage leaves 1 cup (or more) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Preparation: 1. 2.
HEALING THROUGH HERBS
Benefits of At-Home Gardening Written by Megan Young, MS, RDN, and Noel Le, RDN
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he hobby of at-home gardening has become increasingly popular as people are discovering the gratification of growing their own produce. If a balanced, nutritious meal is a goal for your family, starting an herb garden can be a great way to add extra flavor to your cooking and kick up the health benefits of your home-cooked meals. Read on to learn about gardening at home, and then try one of these delicious recipes.
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3.
4.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Cook pasta until tender to the touch but not quite done. While pasta is cooking, place butter in a skillet or saucepan large enough to hold the cooked pasta; turn heat to medium and add sage. Cook until butter turns dark brown and sage shrivels, then turn heat to very low. When the pasta is just about done, save 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain pasta and immediately add it to butter-sage mixture. Raise heat to medium. Add 3/4 cup pasta cooking water and stir; the mixture will be loose and a little soupy. Cook for about 30 seconds or until some of the water is absorbed and the pasta is perfectly done. Stir in cheese; the sauce will become creamy. If desired, thin it with a small amount of water. Season liberally with pepper and salt to taste and serve immediately. Top with more grated cheese to taste.
Nutritional analysis per serving: 607 calories; 16 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 90 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams dietary fiber; 26 grams protein; 397 milligrams sodium. Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Health Benefits of Gardening at Home Gardening not only offers the benefits of conventional exercise, such as aerobic gains and strength, but it also helps improve dexterity. It helps you expend the same number of calories as squatting or weight lifting at the gym! Recent studies have also suggested daily contact with nature has a long-lasting and positive impact on physical health issues including but not limited to diabetes, obesity, circulatory and heart disease, and longevity. Mental health benefits also occur because it increases an individual’s life satisfaction, vigor, psychological well-being and cognitive function while decreasing depression, stress, anger, fatigue and anxiety symptoms. Sustainability Impact of Gardening at Home Our actions and choices contribute to Earth’s ecological decline, and even minor changes can help decrease our carbon footprint. Gardening at home reduces the carbon and pollution emissions from transportation and greenhouse gas emissions, omits the necessity for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and prevents leaching losses—consequences of large-scale commercial farming. On the flip side, plants can trap pollutants and prevent passing them to soil microorganisms. The more plants present (including the ones from your garden), the less pollution. Growing Herbs at Home Not only do herbs play an important role as flavoring agents, they also help protect against cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative conditions, inflammation, cancer and acute/chronic diseases as well as combating obesity and type 2 diabetes with their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumorigenic, anticarcinogenic, and glucose- and cholesterol-lowering properties. Four herbs that can be grown year-round include rosemary, basil, peppermint and sage. Plant them in your garden and try these recipes to maximize their benefits both mentally and physically. • Megan Young and Noel Le are Torrance Memorial registered dietitians. If you are interested in learning more techniques to help build a healthy and nutritious lifestyle, contact one of our registered dietitian nutritionists at the Outpatient Medical Nutrition Therapy office or our Diabetes Self-Management Program to schedule a consultation. Located in the Torrance Memorial Specialty Center, 2841 Lomita Blvd., Suite 335, Torrance, 310-8916707. Visit our nutrition blog for our monthly recipes and posts: TorranceMemorial.org/nutrition
FRESH PEPPERMINT ICE CREAM Prep Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 4 hours, 25 minutes Makes: 1½ quarts—10 (½ cup) servings A cross between water mint and spearmint, peppermint is indigenous to Europe and the Middle East. High in menthol—responsible for its cooling sensation— peppermint is known for its benefits in the treatment of menstrual pains, depression-related anxiety, muscle and nerve pain, and gastrointestinal disorders such as nausea and irritable bowel syndrome. The spicy, minty-cool, sweet, slightly pungent properties of peppermint make it a great addition to herbal teas, desserts, confectionery, gum and even ice cream.
Ingredients: • • • • •
1 cup milk 2 cups whipping cream 2/3 cup fresh peppermint leaves 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
Preparation: 1.
In a saucepan, heat milk, whipping cream and sugar together over medium-high heat until mixture just starts to bubble. Turn off heat, add peppermint and steep, covered, for about 2 hours. 2. Strain and discard peppermint leaves, firmly pressing out any extra liquid. 3. Stir in vanilla. 4. Chill mixture in fridge about 2 hours until completely cold. 5. Pour mixture into ice cream maker and churn about 25 to 30 minutes or according to manufacturer’s instructions. • If you don’t have an ice cream maker, pour mixture into a wide metal bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Then place in freezer for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes in the freezer, beat ice cream mixture with an electric mixer until smooth. Put the mixture back into the freezer for 40 minutes, then beat with an electric mixer again until smooth. Repeat this step 3 times (for a total of 2.5 hours freezing time). • Take ice cream out of freezer and let thaw for several minutes before serving. 6. Serve by itself or with curls of shaved chocolate and a fresh sprig of peppermint.
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On Pace
El Segundo Medical Complex to Offer State-of-the-Art, Family-Focused Care Opening this spring, the complex will include urgent, primary and specialty care, and related health care services in one accessible location. Written by Lisa Buffington
health care needs of every member of the family, providing adult and pediatric primary and specialty care services, urgent care, outpatient imaging and laboratory services, endoscopy care and more. “By bringing a range of services together in one location, we are hoping to make the health care experience as pleasant, efficient and easily accessible as possible,” says Heidi Assigal, vice president of business and operations for Torrance Memorial Physician Network (TMPN). “Every detail of the complex—from outside access to physician suites to waiting areas to the layout, colors and art—has been designed with patient comfort and convenience in mind.” Features of the complex include: Primary Care Patients can receive comprehensive preventive, acute and chronic condition treatment in our spacious primary care suite, which can include up to six providers and 14 exam rooms. “Featuring multiple intake areas and easy-access pathways, this efficient, well-designed space will minimize wait time and maximize quality time with your health care provider,” says Assigal. All office suites and staff workspaces are also designed to promote efficiency, allowing team members to deliver a smoother patient care experience.
Members of the experienced physician team at the new El Segundo Medical Complex will include (from left): Jamie Kagihara, MD, Houman Solomon, MD, Rumi Cader, MD, and Nidhi Agarwal, MD.
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his spring, Torrance Memorial will open a new, multispecialty, familycentered medical complex in El Segundo. Located at 2110 E. El Segundo Boulevard, the 42,000-squarefoot complex will expand access to
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Torrance Memorial’s award-winning care beyond the South Bay and into the growing communities of El Segundo, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale and Gardena. The state-of-the-art medical complex is designed to meet the comprehensive
Urgent Care Patients who are experiencing an injury, acute illness or another condition that requires prompt, nonemergency care can receive efficient diagnosis and treatment at Torrance Memorial Physician Network Urgent Care. The 6,000-square-foot urgent care suite features: • Three providers • Seven exam rooms • Two procedure rooms • Integrated X-ray access
• Blood draw station “Our Urgent Care Center can also assist people in getting established with a primary physician if they don’t already have one,” says Assigal. Digestive Clinic and Endoscopy Center The Digestive Clinic and Endoscopy Center provides a full range of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic care for conditions of the digestive tract. Patients can schedule office visits in the Digestive Care Clinic, while procedures such as colonoscopies and upper endoscopies are performed in the 6,000-squarefoot onsite Endoscopy Center. Specialty Physician Clinics Torrance Memorial’s El Segundo Medical Complex will include specialty physician practices affiliated with Torrance Memorial, including: • Pediatrics, for two providers and six exam rooms • Obstetrics-gynecology for three providers and eight exam rooms • Endocrinology, pulmonology, oncology and other specialties, with space for five providers and 12 exam rooms
Additional specialty offices include: COR Cardiology Association of South Bay Surgeons Digestive Care Consultants Beach Cities ENTS South Bay Gastroenterology GYN LA “We have a talented group of experienced adult and pediatric primary care and specialty physicians who bring a wealth of knowledge and are enthusiastic about being part of a project to expand Torrance Memorial’s services to El Segundo and the surrounding communities,” says Assigal. • • • • • •
Ease of Access Conveniently located off the 405, the El Segundo complex is easy to find and easy to access. “Free adjacent parking will make it easy for patients to pull up, park and get into their physician’s office,” says Assigal. “The points of entry and exit to the facility are convenient and navigating GPS directions is simple.” Well-Planned Design The El Segundo Medical Complex features office suites that allow safe distancing in waiting rooms, common areas, staff spaces and patient care areas—meaning there
is no reason for patients to delay care over concerns about physical safety and social distancing. “The pandemic validated the need to have well-planned spaces and reinforced the strength of the facility’s design,” says Assigal. “If necessary, these spaces will allow us to modify operations so people can feel physically safe while receiving critical health care services.” Advanced Imaging In addition to X-ray imaging services, the El Segundo Medical Complex will also feature on-site, state-of-the-art CT and ultrasound technology (opening early fall). Welcome to the Community The physicians and team members at the El Segundo Medical Complex are looking forward to welcoming members of the community to their new facility. “As we learn more about El Segundo and the surrounding community, we will be looking at new opportunities to address health care and health education needs,” says Assigal. “This is the community’s health care center, and we want to make sure it is meeting the community’s evolving and expanding needs.” •
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On Pace
"Growing up, I saw how hard it was to navigate the healthcare system. Having a Spanish speaker who is familiar with resources would have been so helpful," says Jessica. "I want to offer that kind of help to my community. That's why I'm here."
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Bridging the Gap Community health worker Jessica Verdugo helps Carson residents obtain health and social services. Written by Nancy Sokoler Steiner | Photographed by Vincent Rios
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any services are available through government, community and nonprofit sources. But surmounting hurdles such as filling out applications, determining eligibility and navigating automated phone menus can flummox even the most sophisticated health care consumer. The problem is exacerbated when language, poverty, educational or cultural barriers come into play. Jessica Verdugo, Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s first community health worker, bridges that gap by serving as an intermediary between available resources and underserved individuals in her community of Carson. She helps these residents with healthcare navigation or establishing a “medical home” for ongoing primary care, as well as access to services ranging from food pantries to support groups, transportation assistance and in-home support services. “The role of the community health worker is to advocate for health and wellness as a fellow community member who understands the obstacles her clients face,” says Claire Coignard, director of health education and HealthLinks at Torrance Memorial. “Jessica provides understanding and care for the whole person. She is incredibly caring and a go-getter who knows how to find resources.” One client, for example, was stressed and overwhelmed about caring for her ex-husband. He was suffering from early dementia and had no one else to help him. Jessica assisted the client in obtaining Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services and transferring his care from a distant medical provider to a closer, less expensive, county-run clinic. When the client mentioned that her grand-
daughter needed an iPad, Jessica referred her to a free L.A. County iPad program. Her job, says Jessica, “is about taking time to build relationships. I do a lot of follow-up with clients. Even after I’ve helped them resolve their issue, I will call later to see if there’s anything else I can help with.” Jessica works at Torrance Memorial Physician Network’s Women’s Center in Carson. She assists patients at that practice as well as those referred by the network’s primary care physicians Jason Alvarado, MD, and Carmen Gossette, MD. “Having Jessica to guide them makes a big difference in the health of her clients,” says Dr. Alvarado. “They are more likely to receive services and follow through on health recommendations when they have a caring person to assist them.” •
Jason Alvarado, MD, a primary care physician and sports medicine specialist with Torrance Memorial Physician Network in Carson, finds the community health worker service provided by Jessica to be invaluable to many of his patients.
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On Pace
30 Years of Clowning Around
Torrance Memorial’s Clowns on Rounds delivers laughs for over three decades. Written by Melissa Bean Sterzick
The hospital's six-week clown school began operations in 1992 and is open to anyone age 18 and older. All aspiring clowns are welcome!
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orrance Memorial is a nonprofit medical center recently recognized as a Best Hospital for the 10th straight year by U.S. News & World Report. Members of the surrounding community have come to expect world-class health care and physician expertise. What they might not expect are clowns and a clown school. For 30+ years, Torrance Memorial’s Clowns on Rounds program has brought trained clowns to the hospital to cheer patients with smiles and a bit of laughter. The program inspired the creation of the
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Torrance Memorial Clown School, in operation since 1992. Joyce Payne is the principal of the clown school and a Clowns on Rounds volunteer. Her clown name is Joy. “The art of hospital clowning involves being empathetic with a patient,” she says. “You acknowledge their condition by meeting them where they are, then taking them to a happier place.” The Torrance Memorial clown school is open to anyone age 18 and older. The hospital offers this service to the community once a year for a nominal fee for supplies. During
Clowning around and delivering laughs is all part of the process for these clown graduates.
the six-week course, aspiring clowns learn basic clowning, including movement, makeup, costuming and improvisational techniques. Retired pediatrician Bobbie Adler, also known as Polka Doc, is a Torrance Memorial clown school graduate and a longtime Clowns on Rounds volunteer. “It’s amazing what putting on a red nose does. It’s instantaneous,” she says. “Once you make that transition, you are in a place where you just do what works to make another person smile and laugh.” Hospital clowning is different from basic clowning. “Caring clowning” is a style of clowning used in nursing homes, disaster zones, refugee camps and homeless shelters, as well as hospitals. After completing clown school, graduates may volunteer at the hospital by signing up to receive additional training and joining the Clowns on Rounds program. “Torrance Memorial is very progressive in these kinds of modalities,” Bobbie says. “They were way ahead of their time, especially for a community hospital. Back in the ’90s, pet visits and clowns were new. It was very brave. And the programs are still around.” One emphasis of caring clowning is being sensitive to the wants and needs of the patients.
“We always inquire when we first present and ask if they would be interested in a visit from a clown,” Bobbie says. “They have the option to say no. And for children, that’s especially important. I really stress their need for empowerment in that situation.” The longevity of the clown school and the Clowns on Rounds program is a testament to its value and impact. Bobbie says knowing the hospital and physicians value her presence as a clown is very gratifying. “There’s an inner child in everyone that never goes away. Clowns tap into that,” she says. “You never really know how much of an impression you’ve made on someone during a clown visit and how they may carry positive memories of that visit with them for a long time.” COVID-19 temporarily closed the clown school and grounded the program. But members of the group made an appearance at the 2021 Torrance Memorial Holiday Festival and recently began hospital visits again. “My hope is we can resume the Torrance Memorial clown school in the fall,” Joy says. “People are hungry for distraction or diversion, and you don’t have to want to perform as a clown. The course is just a fun thing to do.” •
Torrance Memorial's volunteer Clowns on Rounds program has been bringing smiles to patients and staff for more than 30 years!
To learn more about the clown school and the Clowns on Rounds program, contact the hospital’s Volunteer Services office at 310-517-4752 or adultvolunteerprogram@tmmc.com.
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On Pace
Burn Survivor Who Received Lifesaving Care at Torrance Memorial Gives Back Through Volunteering Dustin Varela achieves certification to support fellow burn survivors through the Phoenix SOAR program and stays connected with his "Torrance Memorial family" through weekly volunteer service. Written by Lisa Buffington
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n September 3, 2015, Dustin Varela of San Pedro was severely burned in a building fire in Harbor City. With burns covering 70% of his body, Varela was taken to Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s Burn
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Center, where burn surgeon Vimal Murthy, MD, burn and reconstructive plastic surgeon Matthew Reiss, MD, and plastic surgeon John K. McKissock, MD, provided lifesaving—and later, life-enhancing—treatment.
Burn survivor Dustin Varela is flanked by Naiwei Hsu-Chang, RN, and Matthew Reiss, MD.
“I don’t remember the worst parts of what happened to me during my hospital stay because I was in a coma for six weeks, during which time my lungs collapsed and I was almost lost as a result. But unfortunately for everyone else in my family, they remember,” says Varela. “However, I actually remember almost everything from my hospital stay after my time in the coma. I had to re-learn how to walk, talk, swallow and eat.” Dr. Murthy, who managed most of Varela’s acute inpatient care, says Varela, then age 30, was fortunate to survive. “Dustin was young and healthy at the time of the accident. If he had been older or had other health problems, his injuries may have killed him.” Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary and Supportive Burn Care As one of only three American Burn Associationverified centers in the region and under the leadership of Dr. Murthy and Dr. Reiss, the Burn Center at Torrance Memorial provides comprehensive burn and wound care for children and adults. The Torrance Memorial Burn Center team includes board-certified general and plastic surgeons with fellowship training in burn treatment, as well as physical, occupational and speech therapists, social workers/counselors, respiratory therapists, and psychiatrists who specialize in helping patients recover physically and emotionally. As Varela began his recovery journey, the focus of his treatment changed from lifesaving to lifeoptimizing. Varela received most of his burn and reconstructive care from Dr. Reiss, while the Burn Center nurses attended to his everyday needs, as well as the needs of his loved ones. “The support I received from the nurses was unreal,” says Varela. “My mom was practically living at the hospital while I was there, and the nurses took care of her just as well as they were taking care of me.” All told, Varela’s inpatient stay at the Torrance Memorial Burn Center lasted six months. Since Varela’s discharge from the hospital, Dr. Reiss has performed surgeries every three to six months for the past six years to enhance Varela’s mobility and improve his quality of life. Learning to SOAR During Varela’s hospital stay, he met with a volunteer from Phoenix SOAR (Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery), a program run by the Phoenix Society for
Burn Survivors to connect survivors and their families with others who have experienced a similar trauma. “I didn’t know what to expect when I was discharged from the hospital,” says Varela. “The SOAR volunteer answered my questions about medical care, life and everything in between.” When Varela returned to the Burn Center’s annual holiday party to visit with the physicians and nurses who saved his life, several nurses told him he should think about becoming a SOAR volunteer. “I thought, ‘Even if I am only able to help one person through SOAR, then I am able to help pay it forward and hope it snowballs from there’,” says Varela. “Despite his injuries and adversities, Dustin is an affable, charismatic, loving and generous human being,” says Dr. Reiss. “For Dustin, SOAR is a gateway to help other people.” “Dustin’s strong family support system and resiliency is reflected in his interest in giving back to others,” says Dr. Murthy. Finding a New Path for Giving Back After several days of training provided by Phoenix SOAR, Varela was ready to help. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his plans. Pandemicrelated restrictions have prevented Varela from connecting with his first burn survivor. But staying true to his upbeat, “never-give-up” attitude, Varela has found another way to give back. “Even though SOAR remains on hold, Dustin still wanted to serve,” says Mary Matson, director of service excellence at Torrance Memorial. “He volunteers every week as part of our escort services program, which assists with discharging patients and other errands around the hospital—and he is a great member of our team.” Varela, now age 37, enjoys spending time with his family—especially his parents and his 10-year-old niece, whom he credits with providing unwavering support and encouragement. And through his volunteering at Torrance Memorial, Varela is able to stay in contact with what he refers to as his “Torrance Memorial family.” “I spent so much time at the hospital, it became like my second home. Volunteering allows me to keep in touch with people and give back to the hospital that saved my life,” says Varela. “And since my accident, I’ve adopted a motto I like to tell myself and others when life is being unfair: ‘It’s life; we’ve just got to go with it’.” •
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On Pace
Heart Health for Women New Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute Women’s Heart Health Clinic focuses on specialized care for women in the South Bay. Written by Laura Roe Stevens
The newly opened Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute Women's Heart Health Clinic provides up-to-date, comprehensive care for women in the South Bay.
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eart disease is the leading cause of death for women in America— striking 1 in 5 females each year. While cardiovascular disease (CVD) was thought to predominately afflict men, we now know women are equally at risk. However, women have different risk factors than men and unique CVD symptoms that are often not taken into consideration. Understanding these differences is critical because gender inequities still exist in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. For some conditions, women may be undertreated when compared to their male counterparts. Focused, specialized care is necessary to address this disparity and the unique concerns of our female population. Committed to providing the most upto-date, comprehensive care for women in the South Bay, Torrance Memorial’s new Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute Women’s Heart Health Clinic is working to correct these gender inequalities and educate women on how to recognize female-pattern
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heart disease symptoms. The clinic provides convenient access to all of the hospital’s diagnostic and treatment resources for heart disease and is designed to help women reduce their chances of heart disease through a preventive approach, including state-of-theart screening and testing. The clinic also provides thorough cardiovascular risk assessment and preventive care, as well as management of coronary artery disease, microvascular dysfunction, vasospasm, stress cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome), heart failure, spontaneous coronary artery dissection, pregnancyrelated heart health and other conditions known to affect women. The clinic provides complete cardiovascular care uniquely tailored for women. “Ideally, the best way to treat cardiovascular disease is to prevent it,” says Nadia Jafar Curran, MD, a Torrance Memorial cardiologist and director of the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute Women’s Heart Health Clinic. “By raising awareness of
Nadia Jafar Curran, MD, weighs in on issues related to cardiovascular disease risks, symptoms and preventive tips for women.
female-specific conditions that can increase CVD risk and by treating modifiable risk factors, there is hope to reduce the death rates for women.” Women who come to the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute Women’s Heart Health Clinic are screened by professionals trained in female-specific heart disease—risk factors, symptoms and treatments that differ from those commonly seen and needed for men. For instance, women who have had hormone imbalances, pregnancy complications, inflammatory diseases or are in menopause have a higher risk for the development of heart disease. The clinic assessment addresses all these risks and provides comprehensive heart services such as cardiac stress test, cardiac imaging, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, electrophysiology study and Holter monitoring. Dr. Curran outlines the top CVD risks, symptoms and preventive tips for women:
If these symptoms are recurrent or persist, women should seek medical care immediately.
What are the main risk factors for the development of CVD in women? The classic risk factors include hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, etc. However, diagnoses like polycystic ovary syndrome and adverse pregnancy outcomes can increase the risk for women and are not addressed within traditional assessments. Even after a woman has been diagnosed with a risk factor for heart disease, there's a chance she may not receive the appropriate treatment either. For example, fewer women are treated with statin medications for high cholesterol than men.
What is the most important thing women should do to improve heart health? Get some exercise! My approach to exercise is to do at least one activity every day, whether it's a quick run or a 30-minute at-home workout. Doing some sort of activity daily is not only good for physical well-being but also to help reduce mental stress.
What are the warning signs/symptoms of CVD in women? In terms of overt warning signs, chest pain/ discomfort or shortness of breath should always be a concern. Women can also present with less “classic” signs including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, jaw pain or back pain.
How big is the role that nutrition, exercise and stress play for women and heart health? All these factors play a large role in overall heart health. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, while the Mediterranean or DASH diets are proven to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, women are less likely to get this amount of activity and are more likely to be obese. Perceived stress is also a recognized psychological risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease that significantly affects women. It's easier said than done, but increasing activity, watching your diet and decreasing stress are key to preventing cardiometabolic risk.
Do you have a favorite heart-healthy, easy meal to make? I'm a big fan of the Mediterranean diet. Lately my favorite recipe is couscous with tomatoes and feta. It takes less than 30 minutes, which is why I like it. You heat olive oil in a saucepan and sauté onions, then add whole-grain couscous with Aleppo pepper. Add stock and tomatoes and simmer for 10 minutes, then remove from heat. Stir in feta, add a little black pepper and parsley, and you're done! •
Nadia Jafar Curran, MD, is a cardiologist and director of the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute Women’s Heart Health Clinic located in Torrance at 2841 Lomita Blvd., Suite 100. She can be reached at 310-257-0508.
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On Pace
Torrance Memorial provides many new, personalized offerings to make the birthing experience more comfortable for mom, partner and baby.
Personalized Births & Care Torrance Memorial provides custom care for mom and baby. Written by Laura Roe Stevens
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here has never been a better time to deliver a baby at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. Moms can breathe a little easier as they plan their unique birthing experience. The wide variety of personalized innovations available today provides a safe and comfortable labor and delivery for mom, partner and baby. “Our birth navigator program is growing so much we can individualize the experience for everyone who comes in,” explains Natalie Thorpe, RN, director of maternal child services at Torrance Memorial. “We have sound machines, Spotify playlists, aromatherapy, peanut balls and doula-trained nurses. These really help couples relax, feel supported and feel empowered at the same time.” What’s So Special About Doula Training? Torrance Memorial’s labor and delivery nurses have undergone doula training to better assist both the laboring mom and her partner, who may need support and/or advocacy. The training covers a variety of topics including massage, relaxation, breathing and movement techniques, as well as how best to apply heat and cold during labor and supportive communication assistance.
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Laura Vombaur, RN, has been a labor and delivery nurse at Torrance Memorial for 32 years. She says her recent doula training has had a positive impact, as she can now help partners communicate and support each other better during delivery and assist in their communications with physicians. “The doula training reinforced what I teach in prepared childbirth classes and how I work with moms in labor. We help couples make their own decisions. And we learn to not project our own values onto the laboring woman. We must focus on what the family and mom is looking for, so the patient has more control over their delivery,” Vombaur says. One way to do this is by offering coaching support to the partner who may get exhausted or flustered during labor. Another is by taking time to answer questions from the couple, which always arise afer the physician has left, so the couple can discuss options and feelings together. Tender Care Through a Variety of Offerings Torrance Memorial now has many personalized offerings for mom, partner and baby. Birthing and parenting classes help couples create a birth plan and plan for life with baby. Sleep-safe cribs and comfortable rooms allow the entire family to rest in ease after birth. During labor and delivery, many comforting options are available such as sound machines, Spotify playlists and aromatherapy. Thorpe notes these help reduce stress and anxiety, which lowers the amount of stress hormones flowing through mom’s body. Another offering Thorpe likes is the peanut ball—a peanut-shaped ball placed between mom’s legs as she lies on her side. It is known to promote labor progression by opening the pelvic outlet as she rests. This is especially helpful if a woman has had an epidural or needs to rest during labor due to complications. Comfortable, Upright, Birth (CUB) support devices are also available to help women get in different laboring positions. “I’m so excited for all the offerings we now have,” says Thorpe. “Women and their partners are comforted with these personalized items. I’m convinced the more relaxed mom is, the better the outcome for her birthing experience.” •
Movement Disorder Clinic Meets Community’s Needs Cedars-Sinai movement disorder specialist offers expert consultation for patients in the South Bay who are living with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorder conditions.
be programmed to control the amount of stimulation the brain receives. “Patients who are candidates for DBS can have their presurgical evaluation and workup performed at Torrance Memorial, go to Cedars-Sinai for the procedure and receive follow-up care back at Torrance Memorial," says Dr. Hogg.
Written by Lisa Buffington
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n January 2021 the Torrance Memorial Lundquist Neurosciences Institute opened a Movement Disorders Clinic for patients living with neurological conditions that cause abnormal, increased body movements. Led by Elliott Hogg, MD, a movement disorder specialist in the department of neurology at Cedars-Sinai, the clinic offers expert consultation for a full range of movement disorders, including: • • • • • • • •
Ataxia Chorea Dystonia Essential tremor Hemifacial spasm Parkinson’s disease Tics Tremor
Dr. Hogg collaborates with each patient’s referring neurologist to develop a treatment plan that includes the latest therapies. With the addition of the Movement Disorder Clinic, Dr. Hogg and the Torrance Memorial neurosciences team hope to help as many people as possible in the South Bay. “The Movement Disorder Clinic is definitely meeting a need in our community,” says Heidi Assigal, vice
president of business and operations for Torrance Memorial Physician Network. “For patients who are living with a movement disorder, traveling to an academic medical center for care may be challenging. That’s why we wanted to bring convenient, coordinated care from academic medical center experts closer to home.” Advanced Treatments and Clinical Trials Torrance Memorial’s affiliation with Cedars-Sinai gives patients access to all Cedars-Sinai treatments and clinical trials, which currently include six clinical trials for all stages of Parkinson’s disease. “We can recruit patients from Torrance Memorial for clinical trials run by Cedars-Sinai, offering the latest, most promising treatment options to patients in the South Bay,” says Dr. Hogg. Additionally, Torrance Memorial patients can access a surgical movement disorder treatment called deep brain stimulation (DBS) at Cedars-Sinai. During DBS, a neurosurgeon implants electrodes into specific areas of the brain to control abnormal brain activity. A pacemaker-like device in the upper chest is connected to the electrodes in the brain by a wire and can
Patients living with a challenging movement disorder can now receive convenient, coordinated care closer to home.
The Movement Disorder Clinic has been so well received in the community, they are already hoping to expand the clinic’s hours. According to Assigal, that success is an indication the clinic is achieving its goal: allowing patients to receive the advanced care they deserve locally without the stress of travel, traffic, second opinions and multiple health care providers. “When patients come to the Movement Disorders Clinic, all treatment options are available,” he says. “Our patients can feel confident every treatment option that can be considered is being considered, and if they need additional care, it can be coordinated.” •
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On Pace
Don’t Live with Shoulder Pain Advanced treatment options can help patients shrug off shoulder pain. Written by John Ferrari
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E
very joint in your body plays a role in your daily life. When we think of joint conditions, knees get the most attention. But they aren’t the only joints that experience daily wear and tear; we use our shoulders just as much. We put strain on our shoulders almost every time we use our arms. And as with knees, shoulders suffer from overuse, injury and degeneration. Fortunately, like knees, treatments for shoulder conditions have advanced with the widespread adoption of minimally invasive surgeries, as well as nonsurgical options. Pulse spoke with orthopedic surgeon Stephen Nuccion, MD, to catch up on the latest options for shoulder treatment. The first step in any treatment is a diagnosis based on the individual’s medical history, a physical examination and X-rays or MRI scans. Many shoulder complaints are diagnosed as overuse injuries that can be treated through a combination of rest and activity modification. Sports and exercise are common sources of overuse injuries. “Playing different sports in different seasons allows certain muscles to rest and recover,” Dr. Nuccion says. Young athletes who play a single sport all year long, and recreational athletes who take advantage of Southern California’s weather to the play the same sport year-round, don’t give those muscles a rest. The preventive measure is simple: varying sports and exercise routines. High-intensity activity isn’t the only cause of overuse injuries though. Something as basic as office ergonomics or poor sitting posture can have an impact. “Coming in for evaluation and treatment can be as simple as recommending a new pillow or ergonomic adjustments,” Dr. Nuccion says. If the pain persists and the shoulder isn’t healing, physical therapy is the next treatment option. “This can definitively fix many issues,” Dr. Nuccion says. “Physical therapists have added a lot of tools in the last 10 to 20 years.” Other options include the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections**, using the body’s own regenerative processes to stimulate healing in a specific area. In this procedure, platelets that have been filtered out of whole blood
Shoulder conditions have advanced with the widespread adoption of minimally invasive surgeries, as well as nonsurgical options. If you do feel shoulder pain, don't put off a visit to your physician. Treatment begins with a good diagnosis.
Stephen Nuccion, MD, specializes in shoulder-related conditions in his role as an orthopedic surgeon with Torrance Memorial Physician Network.
are injected into the shoulder, where they release signals that stimulate the body’s healing response. “Today, PRP is the first-line treatment for nonoperative arthritic treatment,” Dr. Nuccion notes. Some shoulder conditions just don’t respond to nonsurgical treatment. Fortunately, most shoulder repairs are minimally invasive outpatient surgeries, including torn rotator cuff repair. The tendons and muscles comprising the rotator cuff can weaken with age, and sometimes they aren’t strong enough to heal on their own. In the past, this limited recovery. Today patients can benefit from allograft augmentation, a procedure in which donated tissue is added to the rotator cuff, where it stimulates healing and acts as a scaffold for the growth of new tissue. Degeneration, usually arthritis, is the third major source of shoulder pain and can lead to the need for a shoulder replacement. “Today shoulder replacement can be thought of as resurfacing the joint as opposed to actual replacement,” Dr. Nuccion says. “We resur-
face the cap of the humerus,” that is, the arm bone and ball part of the shoulder’s balland-socket joint. Patients who are not good candidates for this procedure—with osteoporosis or weak rotator cuffs, for example—have another option: reverse shoulder replacement. In this procedure, the parts of the shoulder joint are swapped. A ball is added to the shoulder bone, and a socket is created at the cap of the humerus. This changes the mechanics of the arm’s movement, allowing the body to use muscles that are still healthy. Even with these advanced treatments, the best way to handle shoulder pain is to avoid it in the first place. Dr. Nuccion’s advice? Watch your ergonomics and vary your exercise and sports routines to avoid overuse. If you do feel shoulder pain, he says, don’t put off a visit to your physician. Treatment begins with a good diagnosis. • ** Check with your insurance provider for coverage eligibility and to see if this treatment right for you.
Stephen Nuccion, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at Torrance Memorial Physician Network in Torrance and is located at 23550 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 120. He can be reached at 310-517-1216.
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Torrance Memorial relied on its entire nursing staff to treat patients and combat the pandemic. Everyone stepped up in a major way.
RISING TO THE
CHALLENGE Torrance Memorial nurses keep patients and themselves safe during the pandemic. Written by John Ferrari | Photographed by Monica Venegas
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rom supplies in the warehouse to procedures in the ER, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Torrance Memorial, everything had to change. No one knows that better than the frontline nurses who provide care for patients throughout the hospital and have continued to do so—safely— throughout the pandemic. Even before the pandemic reached the West Coast, Torrance Memorial’s nursing staff was preparing for it. “We were very much watching what was going on in the East Coast,” recalls Mary Wright, Torrance Memorial’s chief nursing officer and senior vice president of patient services. “We had a lot of planning to do.” That planning had to encompass providing care not only for Torrance Memorial patients, but also for the hospital’s own nursing staff. “We developed safe ways to check in patients, and then we also had to think about waiting and treatment areas and transporting patients,” says vice president of nursing services Shanna Hall. “Information was changing fast in the beginning. We were getting information from different sources—some of it contradictory.” Torrance Memorial made the decision to rely on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, but having a single, trusted source of information was only the first step. The info also had to spread throughout the hospital. “Behind the scenes, clinicians were creating protocols based on evidence coming in,” Hall says. “We educated staff on all the protocols. Infectious disease nurses went to each department to educate. There were changes almost weekly, so our educators were busy! That lasted for about the first four months, after which it stabilized.” Torrance Memorial needed its entire nursing staff to treat COVID-19 patients and combat the pandemic. “Even when elective surgery was turned off,
we never laid off anyone,” Wright says. Instead, the hospital cross-trained surgery nurses and technicians to fill critical pandemic roles. “We had a role we created: spotters,” Hall explains. Spotters were trained to ensure clinicians entering a room with a COVID-19 patient had the correct equipment, and they had removed their personal protective equipment (PPE) properly when they left the room. They also trained to support ICU nurses. Torrance Memorial’s support for nurses and other employees went beyond medical protocols and procedures. “The trajectory was, after making sure staff were personally protected with PPE, we focused on supporting them and then on how to support them at home,” says Hall. Nurses in contact with COVID-19 patients worried about the possibility, however unlikely, of bringing the disease home to their families, so Torrance Memorial partnered with hotels to provide rooms for concerned healthcare workers working in highrisk areas. “Everyone was fearful about going out,” Wright adds, “so we used part of our cafeteria as a little grocery store. Because everyone was working so hard, eventually we had a way for staff to order prepared food to take home too, and we partnered with the YMCA to offer free childcare through the end of the school year.” Torrance Memorial’s nurses have weathered five “surges” since the pandemic began. With each, the hospital’s practitioners have more familiarity with the disease, but each is different too. After the initial surge in early 2020, the second surge during the summer brought more staff illness—the result of greater community exposure. The third, hitting last winter, was in some ways the worst. By that time nurses were dealing with COVID-19 in →
SUPPORTING THE MENTAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF Staff As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, many of us were affected physically, mentally and emotionally. Torrance Memorial staff worked to provide 360-degree support for every employee under difficult circumstances. That effort started with a website critical to linking employees to valuable resources during the pandemic when we couldn’t be together and expanded from there, recalls Elaine McRae, director of Torrance Memorial University (TMU) and member of the hospital’s Leadership, Education and Wellness Council. TMU, a source for employee personal and professional development, became a key channel for the hospital’s efforts. “We continued our curriculum of managing emotions, practicing inclusion, leadership communication and other topics,” McRae says. “But we had to reinvent the university because everything we did before was live, and suddenly employees needed information remotely. So we converted our training to Zoom to reach our employees.” The newly formed Building Resilience Steering Committee, chaired by Nursing Services VP Shanna Hall, guided the hospital’s expanded efforts with help from psychologist Moe Gelbart, PhD, filling the new mental health director position. Working together, with input from managers on what their teams needed, McRae and TMU facilitated the rollout of support groups, a series of speakers discussing aspects of mental health, and activities from music lessons and meditation sessions to gratitude journaling. While many of these were virtual, once it was safe to do so TMU also began offering in-person activities, including surf therapy through a partnership with the Jimmy Miller Foundation. Torrance Memorial also continued Support Our Staff (SOS), a program designed to help employees bounce back from—or simply process—mental and emotional issues. The program includes a health supervisor on the campus 24/7, peer supporters and other resources. As the hospital looks ahead from the pandemic, McRae says TMU is ramping up an important initiative to educate employees on unconscious bias. “Torrance Memorial is committed to doing better at eliminating bias in the workplace. Already more than 3,000 staff have completed the online training,” she says, and the discussion sessions have been “warm and honest. Everybody wants to do the right thing. We pride ourselves on having a very kind and caring culture here.”
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COVID-19 Vaccinations Written by John Ferrari
their own families. The fourth surge, which started in July 2021, largely affected unvaccinated individuals. While mortality rates were lower, nurses also found themselves treating more young patients. “That was difficult for nurses because there was a solution for this that people weren’t taking,” Wright says. Thanks to the widespread availability of effective vaccines, by early November the COVID-19 caseload was decreasing, Wright adds. However, this didn’t last long as the fifth and widespread Omicron surge came into play just after Thanksgiving and was with us deep into January. Torrance Memorial’s nurses continue to maintain the protocols implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among patients and staff. “We’re a pretty safe lot,” Wright says. “We do keep our masks on. If we gather for any reason, we keep the groups small. We’re leading the way. We want to make people comfortable in the level of protection they want. By now, everyone has been impacted by this disease to some degree.” Hall agrees. “There’s not a person I talk to today who hasn’t been affected directly or had a friend or family member affected by COVID-19.” •
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Vaccinations have largely eradicated multiple diseases in the United States, including polio, tuberculosis, measles, mumps and chicken pox. Outbreaks can still occur, but high rates of vaccination effectively limit their spread. We can do the same thing with COVID-19—if enough people get vaccinated. Nowhere is disease eradication more important than in a medical setting; that’s why Torrance Memorial started planning to ensure all employees could receive the COVID-19 vaccine ASAP even before it was released. “We started planning in December 2020,” recalls director of occupational health and safety Chris Bacon. “We knew we wanted to vaccinate everyone—every single employee. On December 20 we started our first big clinic, and after that things grew exponentially. A lot of employees wanted the vaccine immediately. Fortunately we had a lot of people volunteer to help us out.” To overcome the vaccine hesitancy some employees felt, Bacon created a team comprising pharmacists, physicians and others to staff a helpline, ensuring employees could get answers to their questions and accurate information about the vaccine. As a result, the larger majority of the hospital’s employees are fully vaccinated. Torrance Memorial’s efforts to vaccinate people against the potentially deadly disease didn’t end with employees though. Hospital leaders made the decision to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to community members too. “Overall, we vaccinated more than 34,000 people,” Bacon says. “Torrance Memorial has a little less than 5,000 employees, so the rest were community members—some 29,000 people. At one point, we were vaccinating 800 people each time the hospital held a vaccination clinic." By last summer, the COVID-19 vaccine was widely available so the community clinics were curtailed. The focus has now shifted to booster shots, where again the majority of all hospital employees have received their third dose. Bacon is proud of the vaccination effort and proud that everyone came together as a team. “We’re like a family here,” he explains. “If there’s something that needs to be done, everyone gets together and gets it done. This was a historic thing, and everybody wanted to be a part of it. We truly did everything as a team.”
T O R R A N C E M E M O R I A L’ S L U N D Q U I S T ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE IS THE LEADER IN THE SOUTH BAY. Our team of multi-disciplinary
experts offers one of the most advanced, comprehensive, and minimally invasive orthopedic care programs in S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a , i n c l u d i n g M a k o ® ro b o t i c a r m assisted technology. We have the expertise and the experience with three times the number of orthopedic cases than any other hospital in the South Bay.* We'll help you get back to doing what you love faster and healthier. Lear n more TorranceMemorial.org/Ortho
Do More of What Moves You
LUNDQUIST ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE
*Reflects inpatient cases reported to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) 2019 data.
"I was in a lot of pain leading up to the surgery. I feel like I have my life back." - Jill Lynch, Yoga Instructor & Bilateral Hip Replacement Patient
Getting Back on Track with Cancer Screenings Could Save Your Life Postponed screenings due to COVID-19 are causing an increase in late-stage diagnoses and preventable deaths. Written by Lisa Buffington
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hen it comes to cancer, prevention and early detection through routine screenings are key to saving lives—and Torrance Memorial Medical Center offers the full range of available cancer screenings. One in three Americans will be diagnosed
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with cancer in their lifetime, and finding cancer early means it may be easier to treat. Although cancer death rates have declined in recent decades, canceled or delayed cancer screenings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are now causing an increase in late-stage cancer diagnoses and preventable
Women should have the choice to begin breast cancer screenings with a mammogram starting at age 40. Discuss the risks, benefits and frequency of screening with your health care provider.
deaths. A survey released by the Prevent Cancer Foundation reported 35% of Americans missed a scheduled routine cancer screening during the pandemic. During March, April and May 2020, the volume of cancer screening procedures dropped dramatically. A report by the American Cancer Society cited research showing by mid-June 2020, the volume of breast cancer screenings was 29% lower than pre-COVID-19 levels. The study showed the volume of colon cancer and cervical cancer screenings were 36% and 35% lower than historical levels, respectively. In many cases, patients who were not experiencing cancer symptoms decided to postpone routine screenings because they were reluctant to visit a health care facility during the height of the pandemic. In other cases, health care facilities may have had to cancel or delay screening due to operational concerns. Economic factors, such as cost or a lack of insurance, may have also factored into a patient’s decision to postpone—particularly if they experienced job loss or financial instability as a result of COVID-19. Two years after the start of the pandemic— and despite the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine and enhanced safety measures implemented at health care facilities—cancer screening rates continue to remain well below pre-pandemic levels. If your preventive care has gotten off track because of the pandemic, now is the time to resume routine cancer screenings at Torrance Memorial. Following are recommended cancer screenings: Breast Cancer Women should have the choice to begin breast cancer screenings with a mammogram starting at age 40 and should discuss the risks, benefits and frequency of screening with their health care provider. Women with a family history of breast cancer or personal risk factors should talk to their health care provider about when they should begin receiving mammograms.
Cervical Cancer Women should be screened for cervical cancer with a Pap smear every three years. Women may also choose to receive a screening test for human papillomavirus (HPV) and should discuss the recommended screening frequency with their health care provider. Colorectal Cancer Men and women should have a colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer starting at age 45. Adults who are at high risk for colorectal cancer should talk to their health care provider about when to begin and how often to receive screening.
The American Cancer Society does not have guidelines for the early detection of skin cancer screenings, but many doctors recommend checking your own skin regularly. Talk to your doctor about how often you should examine your skin—especially for people who are at higher risk of skin cancer, such as people with reduced immunity, people who have had skin cancer before and people with a strong family history of skin cancer.
LEARN HOW TO DO A SELF-EXAM: cancer.org/ healthy/be-safe-in-sun/ skin-exams.html
Lung Cancer Adults between 50 and 80 years old who are current or former smokers and have no lung cancer symptoms should talk to their health care provider about whether they qualify for lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan. Prostate Cancer Men should discuss the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening through PSA testing with their primary care providers starting at age 50, or at age 45 if there is a family history or other risk factors. Torrance Memorial continues to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in all facilities, so there is no reason to put your health on hold. To learn more about COVID-19 safety measures, visit TorranceMemorial.org/COVIDsafety. Discuss cancer screening with your primary care provider, who can perform or order tests and provide additional information about how to obtain the necessary screenings. • To schedule an imaging test or procedure at Torrance Memorial, visit TorranceMemorial. org/getscreened.
Source: Christopher Mast, MD, Alejandro Munoz del Rio, PhD. "Delayed Cancer Screenings – A Second Look." Epic Health Research Network. 2020. ehrn.org/articles/delayed-cancer-screenings-a-second-look. TorranceMemorial.org | 29
Expert cardiac care
TORRANCE MEMORIAL AND CEDARS-SINAI’S AFFILIATION BRINGS MORE EXPERT CARDIOLOGY CARE TO THE SOUTH BAY. More access to cardiac specialists and programs located within Torrance Memorial. More patient benefits from innovative cardiology research and the latest advancements in cardiac treatments. More expert care for our patients and the South Bay. Learn more at MoreCardiacExperts.org Left to right: Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute: Aziz Ghaly, MD, Joanna Chikwe, MD; Torrance Memorial Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute: Ankush Chhabra, MD, Mark Lurie, MD.
just got more experts.
Ask the Doctor
Expert Care for Everyone Sports medicine primary care physicians treat all ages at all fitness levels. Written by Melissa Bean Sterzick
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rimary care sports medicine physicians help patients improve performance, enhance overall health, prevent injury and maintain their physical activity throughout their lives. Shintau Lin, MD, Matthew Mejia, MD, and Jason Alvarado, MD, are Torrance Memorial Physician Network primary care physicians who specialize in sports medicine.
specialist. I practice with two beliefs: All patients are athletes, and exercise is medicine. Besides treating and preventing injuries, we help our patients lead the healthiest and most active lives possible. If a patient is experiencing a problem that is limiting their mobility, ability to exercise or daily performance in any activity, it’s a good time to visit a sports medicine specialist.
What is the focus of sports medicine? Dr. Lin: Sports medicine focuses on the treatment and prevention of injuries and activity-related illnesses. We treat athletes and nonathletes, from young kids to the elderly. Whether you’re a competitive athlete or a patient suffering from arthritis, we can help tailor a treatment program individualized to your specific needs. Our goal is to have you return to your personal activity level as quickly and as safely as possible. Dr. Mejia: We treat patients with physical issues by offering specialized treatment and training. Primary sports medicine deals with acute and chronic injuries. We focus on helping patients improve athletic performance, recover from injury and prevent future injuries. The field focuses on musculoskeletal injuries and other aspects of sports medicine such as concussions, nutrition, exercise prescriptions and healthy lifestyle promotion.
When a patient sees a sports medicine specialist, what does treatment look like? Dr. Lin: Your treatment program will be individualized based on the type of injury and your personal goals. Treatment can include rest, bracing, physical therapy, home exercise program, medication, injections, surgical referral and more.
How do you know when you need to see a sports medicine specialist? Dr. Mejia: If you have a nagging injury or pain that’s not getting better, it's time. Our goal is to get each individual back to where they want to be, whether it’s walking 30 minutes a day, swimming or running a marathon. Dr. Alvarado: While sports medicine practitioners dedicate a large amount of time to work with athletes and various sports teams, everyone can benefit from seeing a sports medicine
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When an injury strikes that is limiting your mobility, ability to exercise or daily activity, it's a good time to see a sports medicine specialist to help you get back on track.
Dr. Alvarado: In primary care sports medicine specifically, we concentrate on nonoperative treatment options, attempting to care for the injury while also taking into consideration all aspects of the patient’s health. The treatment course usually entails a thorough evaluation to accurately diagnose the injury followed by a plan for long-term rehabilitation, including an exercise program and physical therapy. How do patients get the most from their treatment? Dr. Lin: Come see us as soon as possible after your injury. The sooner we get started, the better. Some treatment programs will require significant work and dedication on the patient’s part. For example, physical therapy may involve sessions multiple days per week, and you will need to do exercises at home as well. Dr. Mejia: The biggest factor is the patient’s commitment to the plan. This can be a long process, but staying true to the treatment plan will help each individual overcome the injury, recover faster and get back to doing the things he or she loves. What do patients need to know about sports medicine? Dr. Lin: We are primary care physicians who completed an additional fellowship in sports medicine to gain specialized training in the treatment and prevention of injuries. We treat patients of all ages and all activity levels, whether you’re a competitive athlete, a weekend warrior or someone interested in taking their first steps toward a healthier lifestyle. Dr. Alvarado: Especially when attempting to return to sports or physical activity following an injury, it is important for patients to realize it is a process requiring commitment and determination. Every patient is different, and it is our job to find the most effective treatment course in each patient’s specific case. Most important of all, proper treatment is a combined effort between the patient and physician. We have the ability and resources to provide the patient with a well-rounded plan, but their input and efforts are required for maximum success. •
NOTE:
If you already have a primary care physician, you should continue in their care and discuss with them the benefit and/or need for a sports medicine consultation. Torrance Memorial Physician Network contact information: Jason Alvarado, MD 824 E. Carson St., Suite 101 Carson 310-233-3203 Shintau Lin, MD 3640 Lomita Blvd., Suite 200 Torrance 310-944-9344 Matthew Mejia, MD 855 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Suite 102 Manhattan Beach 310-939-7858 (Coming soon to the new El Segundo Medical Complex)
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Torrance Memorial and Cedars-Sinai Mark Four Years of Affiliation
Heart, stroke and cancer patients discuss how the unique collaboration fostered healing. Written by Christina Elston
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ebruary 1 marked the four-year anniversary of a strategic alliance between Torrance Memorial and Cedars-Sinai, a partnership forged to provide coordination of leading-edge healthcare and services throughout greater Los Angeles. The two organizations joined forces in 2018 with very big goals to create new opportunities to enhance medical care in the South Bay. “Our strategic partnership has been instrumental in bringing the resources and expertise of CedarsSinai to Torrance Memorial,” says Torrance Memorial CEO and president Craig Leach. “The collective effort from both institutions has absolutely enhanced healthcare in the South Bay and continues to expand on clinical talent and expertise, built on a foundation that was already strong.” Here, patients and physicians comment on how this partnership is leading the way in exceptional care. Jessie Savolt Jessie Savolt will celebrate her seventh year with a new heart because the partnership between the Torrance Memorial Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute and the Smidt Heart Institute at CedarsSinai, which was in place before the affiliation, made a transplant possible. “I've been very fortunate between the two hospitals, with the different doctors who took care of me,” says Savolt. “I'm here because of all of them—all their hard work.” Savolt spent decades battling debilitating fatigue and shortness of breath. She was on the transplant waiting list at another institution for two years. Then in 2015, Torrance Memorial cardiologist Mark Lurie, MD, director of the Lundquist Lurie 34 | Pulse Magazine Spring 2022
Cardiovascular Institute, contacted Jon Kobashigawa, MD, director of the Heart Transplant Program at Cedars-Sinai. He was willing to take her on right away in conjunction with colleagues at Torrance Memorial. Within three weeks, Savolt had a heart. “The teamwork of our integrated heart failure programs, employing ever-evolving medical advances, managed her condition,” says Dr. Lurie. “While heart failure patients are living longer, the time had come to find another option for Jessie.” Danny Ramzy, MD, vice chair of innovation and director of robotic and minimally invasive cardiac surgery in the Smidt Heart Institute and assistant professor of surgery at Cedars Sinai, performed Terry Savolt, Jessie Savolt, Mark Lurie, MD, and heart failure clinical nurse Roxanna Balter show their medals after the 2017 Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10K race.
Torrance Memorial Medical Center is proud to recognize its four-year anniversary and strategic alliance with Cedars-Sinai.
Savolt’s transplant. He says her case was too highrisk for many other medical centers. “She had two previous heart operations and other issues,” Dr. Ramzy says. “At Cedars-Sinai, we have some of the best cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and ICU doctors in the world, and we have an intensive care unit specifically trained for post-transplant management. This allows us to take on these higher-risk patients.” The affiliation with Torrance Memorial brings these capabilities to patients in and around the South Bay area, he says. Kristen Enomoto Kristen Enomoto is celebrating her defeat of stage 3 breast cancer with the help of a CedarsSinai cancer clinical trial combined with treatment at the Torrance Memorial Hunt Cancer Institute. A year ago, an ultrasound follow-up to a routine mammogram detected two noncancerous cysts in Enomoto’s left breast. Fortunately, Enomoto had been experiencing discomfort under her left arm and asked the technician to check that area as well. The ultrasound and a biopsy confirmed Enomoto had HER2-positive breast cancer that had spread to multiple lymph nodes. HER2, or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, is a protein that promotes the growth of cancer cells. Enomoto was facing 5½ months of chemotherapy, but Torrance Memorial breast cancer specialist
David Chan, MD, suggested Enomoto enroll in a Cedars-Sinai clinical trial that let her complete chemotherapy in just three months. In the study, Reva Basho, MD, co-director of the Women’s Cancer Program and assistant professor of medicine at Cedars-Sinai, is testing a treatment plan that increases the body's immune response against HER2-positive breast cancer with the addition of a checkpoint inhibitor. “The goal is to engage the immune system to allow us to de-escalate the amount of chemotherapy that needs to be given to patients with curable cancers while improving their long-term outcomes,” Dr. Basho said. After 12 weeks of treatment, Enomoto had a mastectomy, and test results showed no active cancer remaining. “We couldn’t prescribe this therapy outside of a clinical trial,” says Dr. Chan. “But our partnership with Cedars-Sinai gives our patients the opportunity to participate in studies for potential new treatments-they wouldn’t be able to access otherwise.” Without Torrance Memorial’s physicians alerting her to Basho’s study, Enomoto says she wouldn’t have known about the opportunity. Being able to have her treatment take place close to home in Torrance was a big convenience at a difficult time. “My result was excellent,” she says. “The treatment essentially killed all the cancer, and without this partnership, I might not have received it.” TorranceMemorial.org | 35
Torrance Memorial affiliate Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is located on Beverly Boulevard and serves Greater Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Cedars-Sinai.
Susan Sestich Today Susan Sestich is happily planning her daughter’s August wedding. But nearly two years ago, she suffered a massive stroke that almost ended her life. When Sestich collapsed at home and couldn’t move, her husband called 911 and insisted paramedics transport her to Torrance Memorial, a Comprehensive Stroke Center that partners with a telestroke team at Cedars-Sinai. “If a clinician at Torrance Memorial believes one of their patients might be having an acute stroke, they activate their emergency stroke system,” says Konrad Schlick, MD, assistant professor of neurology and director of the Vascular Neurology Fellowship Program at Cedars-Sinai. “We jump on camera to see the patient and rapidly make an assessment.” Dr. Schlick, who was on call when Sestich was brought in, saw that there was no blood flow on one side of her brain and that she needed immediate treatment. He contacted George So, MD, an interventional radiologist at Torrance Memorial. “Her kind of stroke is the worst type that we treat,” Dr. So says, “but our team is prepared for this kind of patient.” Sestich was given medication to dissolve the blood clots in her brain, and Dr. So used
a tiny catheter guided through an artery in Sestich’s groin to remove those that remained. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital with very few after-effects. “I can drive. I can ride a roller coaster. I was in Hawaii with my daughter and my son-in-law-to-be when he proposed,” says Sestich. “I get to live my life fully, and I’m so lucky to do it.” •
Learn more on the Cedars-Sinai blog: "Video Allows Neurologists to See Stroke Patients ASAP" cedars-sinai.org/blog/telestroke.html 36 | Pulse Magazine Spring 2022
Susan Sestich and her husband, Mike, enjoy a walk with their dog, Rosie. Walking is high on Susan's list for keeping healthy post-stroke.
RECOVERY FOR YOUR MIND BODY & SOUL WE ARE HERE TO HELP EVERY STEP OF THE WAY ON YOUR JOURNEY OF RECOVERY The Thelma McMillen Recovery Center for alcohol and drug treatment at Torrance Memorial is making lasting changes in the lives of South Bay adults and adolescents as well as their families. Providing outpatient treatment services to help clients find sobriety within the framework of their daily lives is at the core of what we do. TAKE THE FIRST STEP • CALL US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AT 310.784.4879 VISIT US AT T helmaMcMillenRecoveryCenter.com
Zest for Life
Addicted to Animal Rescue Written by Diane Krieger | Photographed by Mykel Helene Leddel
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ome people are hooked on video games. Shaland Leach gets her endorphin rush rescuing animals. By day, she’s the sales manager at Pacific Alloy Casting, her family’s metal casting business. But outside work, this 29-year-old South Bay native devotes nearly every waking hour to Rescue Bae, her one-woman animal adoption agency. Since 2016, Leach has rehomed more than 200 surrendered dogs and 1,000 unwanted cats and kittens. Wounded waifs and sad-eyed seniors especially pull at her heartstrings. “I like to take on medical cases,” she says. “I’ve had cats and dogs with leg amputations and eye removals. I really love seniors. They’re the ones everybody looks past, yet they’re so loving.” Her “barn program” relocates captured feral cats to live in Palos Verdes stables. A six-week, crate-based regimen devised by Leach gives these scrappy street dwellers a new life as working members of the equestrian community, treated humanely and appreciated for their rat-catching skills. Since Rescue Bae has no physical facility, Leach taps into a network of animal foster families and kindhearted vets who provide temporary shelter and discounted medical services ahead of each adoption. She takes care of chipping, vaccinations, neutering and any other health needs. What the adoption fees don’t cover, Leach unstintingly pays out of pocket.
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Her happiest adoption case was Harley, a Great Dane she rescued in 2019. Three days after arriving, the 120-pound giant fell gravely ill with pneumonia. She languished on death’s door for five days at the emergency animal hospital. As expenses mounted, the vets delicately broached the E-word. “I told them: ‘There’s no way I’m euthanizing a dog because of lack of funds!’” Leach recalls. She started a GoFundMe page to raise the necessary $15,000. On day seven, Harley turned the corner. Today she lives on a ranch in Texas. “She’s the happiest dog ever,” Leach says, “and I truly saved her life. Knowing that just feels so amazing.”
Animal lover Shaland Leach is the founder of Rescue Bae, a pet adoption agency that has rehomed more than 200 surrendered dogs and 1,000 unwanted cats and kittens.
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PHOTOS: STEPH FOWLER PHOTOGRAPHY
A Peninsula High graduate studying psychology at USC, Leach turned on to rescue work in her senior year of college after finding a litter of abandoned kittens near her dad’s South Gate business. That night she got on Nextdoor and started matchmaking. “It was the coolest, most rewarding thing. Since then, I’ve been addicted to rescuing animals,” she says. Leach started hanging out in animal shelter parking lots, approaching people arriving with boxes of kittens. Once she took in 11 cats in a single day. She’d get on Craigslist, too, looking for unwanted cats and dogs. Leach initially partnered with her sister, Shelby, 27, who also works at Pacific Alloy Casting and lives in Lomita. But in 2020, the sisters wanted to take their rescue work in different directions, and Shelby now runs a separate rescue called Paws of Redemption. Leach kept one of her first rescue kittens. She named him Ocean. Next came Sandy, Sharky, Fisher and Sushi. In the backyard of her home near Sur La Brea Park, she built a coyote-proof “cat-io” where the five felines can safely enjoy outdoor climbing and sun-basking. They get along well with Leach’s four dogs: Tucker and Stanley, both poodle mixes; Maxine, a terrier mix; and a schnauzer named Floyd. At the moment, Leach is also fostering Felix, a border collie-terrier mix originally from Tijuana. After putting in a full day at the foundry, Leach comes home to her fur babies and clocks in four or five more hours attending to Rescue Bae matters. On weekends, she scours Nextdoor and drives around Southern California picking up unwanted dogs. She regularly visits shelters on the lookout for animals in dire need. “I don’t really have much of a social life,” Leach admits, with a chuckle. “All my friends call me Animal Planet.” With so many whiskered mouths to feed, she rarely leaves town. “I’m pretty much always at home, and that's OK with me. It doesn’t feel like a burden. It’s just second nature.” Leach hopes someday to devote herself full-time to Rescue Bae. She dreams of running her own boarding facility, complete with a laid-back cat café. She’s filed for 501(c) 3 status so she can start applying for grants. Her family and friends are mystified but generally supportive. They understand that for Leach, animal rescue isn’t a hobby. It’s a noble addiction. •
Shaland enjoys some downtime in the backyard with her own rescue pups Tucker, Stanley, Maxine and Floyd.
Patient Pet Visitation Program Research shows a visit from a therapy dog can reduce patient stress, pain, anxiety and anger, so hospitals across the country have taken canine action. Torrance Memorial’s Pet Visitation Program started in 1999, building on an earlier program for patients in the hospital’s psychiatric unit. The first eight dogs and handlers were chosen from 40 candidate pairs. Pat Carlson and her briard bearded collie mix, Chloe, were among them. Carlson is a retired dental tech and former Gail Jewelers salesperson. She spent her entire life around dogs and in 2005 stepped up as the Pet Visitation Program chair. Chloe became her training partner. Together they helped prepare the next generation of volunteers. “Chloe gave 13 years to the hospital,” says the Malaga Cove resident. Since Chloe passed away in 2013, Quincy, Carlson’s Tibetan terrier, and Kylie, her briard herding dog, have taken up the baton. Normally the program runs seven days a week, with morning and afternoon sessions distributing dogs across nearly every ward (except the ICU and the burn unit). If requested, visitation dogs would go into private rooms and even lie in patient beds. During the pandemic, however, safety rules grew strict, and patient rooms became off-limits to animals. So the Pet Visitation Program temporarily shifted focus to promote wellness among the hospital staff, including administrative
offices where dogs had never gone before. Stopping at nurses stations and public waiting areas, the pooches bring a few minutes of solace to stressedout health care providers and their aides. Patient pet visits were recently reinstated, and staff continue to benefit from their visits to the patient care units. “The nurses and doctors get on the floor with the dogs. They take selfies. It’s the cutest thing,” Carlson says. Most visitation dogs are golden retrievers, but many other breeds are welcome to audition. The best candidates are former canine companion trainees. “Those are the ones I’m happiest to meet,” says Carlson. “They’re bulletproof.” The program currently has 15 dogs, but Carlson says she could easily use 10 more. To qualify, candidates are screened for excellent temperament (no aversion to any person or other dog) and must prove they can abide by hospital rules (no licking, strict discipline in cleanliness and toilet behavior, and the ability to stay calm no matter what). Handlers must go through the hospital’s orientation program and demonstrate mastery of their dog as well as essential people skills. If you think you and your dog have what it takes to volunteer in the Pet Visitation Program, email adultvolunteerprogram@ tmmc.com or call 310-5174752. Participants must commit to at least one hospital visitation session (two to three hours) per month.
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TMPhysicianNetwork.org TorranceMemorial.org | 41
Community Benefits SOUTH BAY’S GRADES OF GREEN
Inspiring the Next Generation of Global Environmental Champions Written by Laura Roe Stevens
Grades of Green students at Magruder Middle School in Torrance understand the importance of reducing single-use waste in lunches.
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n 2006 Lisa Coppedge, a Manhattan Beach mother of two young children, quit her corporate high-tech job in search of balance. She began volunteering at Grand View Elementary School where her son was in prekindergarten. Coppedge was also taking a personal development course with Landmark Education and was asked a pivotal question: “What is your personal charter?” Inspired by the movie An Inconvenient Truth, Coppedge recalls stating: “My personal charter is the possibility of a clean and sustainable earth.” She laughs today when thinking back on that moment, as she quickly points out she had zero environmental experience. But baby steps often lead to powerful journeys, which was the case for Coppedge. After the Landmark course, she and friend Inga Middleton met with the Grand View PTA president Paki Wolfe, who asked them to chair a
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hands-on environmental education program for students. Coppedge met with other South Bay moms—Shaya Kirkpatrick, Suzanne Kretschmer and Kim Lewand Martin—who felt similarly and wanted to get involved. Kretschmer was motivated after an article in the Los Angeles Times revealed the “perilous state” of the world’s oceans. Lewand Martin was an environmental attorney, and Kirkpatrick was raised by a mom who instilled environmental stewardship. “We’d meet in a different kitchen each week to brainstorm for (school) programs and a business idea,” laughs Coppedge. “It all started rolling very quickly.” Within a couple years, these four moms had a nonprofit designation, a name (Grades of Green), a mission/vision, a website, a business plan and were operating more than 40
GRADE YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL SAVVY True or False:
To get involved or donate, go to gradesofgreen.org.
Grades of Green founders (left to right): Shaya Kirkpatrick,Lisa Coppedge, Suzanne Kretschmer and Kim Lewand Martin.
Answers:
passed 12 environmental resolutions. Some recent student-led environmental campaigns have included water conservation and waste reduction. And who better to convince adults to enact school rules or city ordinances to protect the environment than the next generation? “It’s powerful when a child stands before a city council or a PTA and explains how something damages [the environment]. Students have made plastic bag waste and idling car pollution presentations with proposed solutions,” says Kirkpatrick. “Adults truly listen to children more closely than they do their peers.” •
1. False; however, the plastic lid and paper sleeve generally are recyclable. 2. True 3. True 4. True 5. True 6. False 7. True, at your grocery store drop-off bin 8. Sometimes true, sometimes false. Only plastic trash bags marked “7” are biodegradable. 9. True
environmental activities in South Bay schools as well as a waste-reduction contest among all Los Angeles County schools and a kids board. Today Grades of Green has operated in schools in 47 states and 27 countries and has engaged 670,000+ students. All programs are free, yet the mission has shifted somewhat since it began, explains Kirkpatrick. The organization now creates programs to empower, educate and mentor students to lead environmental change in areas where they are passionate. In fact, since 2009 Grades of Green student leaders have made 300+ city presentations and successfully introduced and
1. Paper coffee cups, such as those at Starbucks or Peet’s, are recyclable. 2. Plastic bottle caps can be recycled. 3. Plastic sandwich bags must be cleaned before being recycled. 4. You must cut off the zipper of a ziplock bag to recycle it. 5. 84% of donated clothes end up in landfills. 6. Going meatless one day a week might lower your cholesterol and slim your waistline, but it has no impact on the environment. 7. Plastic grocery store bags can be recycled. 8. The most common gallon trash bags for your kitchen are biodegradable. 9. Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year, which require 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture.
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Helping Hands
A Kind Voice in Time of Need Community Helpline has been supporting people in crisis for 50 years. Written by Melissa Bean Sterzick | Photographed by Vincent Rios
The Community Helpline staff (from left): Savannah Leslie, Kathleen Pantucci, Katherine Stritzinger and Abhisha Shah
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veryone needs a listening ear sometimes. When life is difficult, a few kind words make an enormous difference. If a friend or loved one or therapist is not available, a telephone helpline is a great resource for anyone experiencing a crisis, a mental health issue, loneliness or grief. Community Helpline, based in the South Bay, celebrated its 50th year in 2021. Even though it’s called a “community” helpline, it takes calls from all over the country. The helpline has 70 volunteers who answer more than 1,000 calls a month. Community Helpline’s phones are staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Pacific time zone) every day. Savannah Leslie is Community Helpline’s organizational supervisor. She was inspired by her years of
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volunteering at the call center when she was in high school to take on this position. “We show callers we are here for them and they are not alone,” Leslie says. “They can hear in our voice and in our words that we actually care. And when you’re going through a crisis, we don’t give you a time limit. If you’re going through something, we’re not going to shut you down.” Community Helpline’s location is kept private for security reasons. Volunteers take three-hour shifts multiple times a month on a rotating basis. After 25 hours of training in mental health, substance and domestic abuse, interpersonal conflict, suicide and more, and 12 hours of mentored training on the phone lines, they begin to take calls on their own.
They are trained to listen without giving advice, to validate the caller’s feelings and show empathy. They are also taught to recognize various mental health conditions. They offer online resources and referrals for therapy and support programs. Calls are confidential and give the option of anonymity, except when volunteers perceive a life-threatening situation. Then they ask the caller for contact information and notify authorities. Moe Gelbart, PhD, is the founder and executive director of the Thelma McMillen Recovery Center and director of behavioral health at Torrance Memorial. He’s also a former Community Helpline volunteer. He says the center’s strengths are providing distressed callers with immediate relief and referrals for professional help. Making a phone call can be a good reset and is much better than giving up or acting out impulsively. Often, callers need a momentary shoulder to lean on and are relieved they can do so anonymously. “If you’re feeling out of control and have no one to turn to, you can call the number and someone is going to answer and provide you with enough
support to get through to the next day,” Gelbart says. “It’s enough for what you need in that moment—and to help you get to the right place.” Leslie says speaking with callers over the past five years has taught her to be kinder to herself, to find ways to relate to people she doesn’t agree with or understand and to see every person as an equal. “We are here to support you, accept you, affirm you and what you are going through,” she says. “And if you need resources, we can get you those as well. There’s no judgement. Our focus is to help you regardless of what you’re going through.” Fundraising is an ongoing priority so the organization can keep staff and hire a full-time executive director to help carry out plans for growth. The helpline is well staffed right now, but volunteers are always wanted. “If this is something you’re serious about, it’s not a typical volunteer job,” Leslie says. “You are here to talk to real human beings and make sure they know they are cared for. That takes remembering your training. That takes power. That takes heart.” •
After serving as a volunteer for many years, Savannah Leslie (lower left) now serves as Community Helpline's organizational supervisor.
To contact Community Helpline, call 310-793-1415. The hotline is 877-541-2525.
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Community VIP
Good Earth Kathy Kellogg Johnson promotes sustainability at her company and in her volunteer activities. Written by Nancy Sokoler Steiner | Photographed by Michael Neveux
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athy Kellogg Johnson internalized the idea “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” long before the concept gained traction. It started with her grandfather, H. Clay Kellogg, who founded Kellogg Garden Products in 1925. In the 1950s her father, H. Clay Kellogg Jr., conceived of recovering and repurposing organic materials—then considered worthless—to enrich soil. For example, he created a soil enhancer using discarded rice hulls that would otherwise have been burned. Today Kathy Kellogg Johnson continues her family’s legacy of sustainability (or as she prefers to call it, “regeneration”) and healthy farming practices as the company’s co-owner and chair of the board. Under her earlier direction as sustainability director, Kellogg Garden Products began recycling everything from cardboard boxes to plastic bags (the latter are made into shoes). In 2007 Kellogg Garden Products of Carson was among the first to request a review of its carbon footprint and received a Zero Waste designation from the California Department of Recycling (now CALRECYCLE) and the California Resource Recovery Association. The company’s carbon footprint was found to be negative, preventing more than 400,000 tons of CO2e from being released annually. Kellogg Johnson gets satisfaction knowing the company’s customers help keep the cycle going. “Carbon belongs in the soil, and plants are the mechanism by which carbon gets there,” she says. “Creating enriched soil with the use of organic matter sequesters carbon, makes plants more
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nutrient-dense and leads to a healthier population.” She champions the cause of helping impoverished rural farmers adopt these practices and better their lives through her support of Plant with Purpose. The organization equips farming families around the world to increase farm yields, heal damaged ecosystems, improve nutrition, and increase household savings and opportunities. “They truly help people help themselves,” says Kellogg Johnson, who has traveled to countries including Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda to work with participants. “It doesn’t give money. It encourages learning.” Profits from her company’s Eden Valley Blend products support Plant with Purpose. Closer to home, Kellogg Johnson participates in school gardening programs in the South Bay and local underserved communities. She remembers her shock upon watching a show where Chef Jamie Oliver interacted with children. The children couldn’t identify common vegetables and didn’t know that potatoes came from the ground, not the supermarket. She believes gardening gives children enjoyment from being outdoors and working with their hands. They are also more enthusiastic about eating something they grew themselves. “In our era of instant everything, children learn real-time nature. They plant the seed, a blade appears, 90 days later a tomato appears, and 14 days later they can pick it and eat it.” In October 2021, Kellogg Johnson received the inaugural Mother Earth award from Grades of Green (see pages 42–43) for her environmental work around the globe. The nonprofit, founded by four Southern California mothers, provides resources to students to engage in projects addressing environmental issues. Kellogg Johnson encourages beginning gardeners to visit their local nursery, where staff can suggest edible crops that work with specific sun, watering and soil conditions. She even started with a window box growing lettuce, green onions and rosemary. “Recovering organics and using them in gardens is a very hope-filled activity,” she says. “In doing so, you are eating more nutritious food, reducing waste and removing carbon from our atmosphere.” •
The South Coast Botanical Garden, a champion of Regenerative Practices, in many ways. Kathy serves on the Board of Directors and applauds the Garden’s recovery of a former landfill, the commitment to organic practices and recycling. When talking about Regeneration, the Garden welcomes South Bay residents recovering from surgery or going through Physical Therapy. Patients who are prescribed a walk outside with their therapist are granted free admission! Talk about a commitment to ‘Regeneration’ of all kinds!
Kiesha Nix calls her work with the L.A. Lakers Youth Foundation “rewarding” and “life-changing.”
Community VIP
Slam Dunk Kiesha Nix lives her passions with a job combining giving, mentorship and the Lakers. Written by Nancy Sokoler Steiner
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eing of service is in Kiesha Nix’s family DNA. Her grandparents volunteered at their church, neighborhood watch, voting polls and local food distributions. Her son Kyler, a financial professional, has a ministry that supports those in need. And Nix has a significant platform to do good: She serves as VP of charitable affairs and executive director of the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation, the organization’s official team charity. Nix didn’t expect to hold such a position as a wealth manager at Merrill Lynch. She always volunteered to help with community relations though, as a way of giving back. When the company merged with Bank of America, Nix jumped at the opportunity to take a full-time job in community relations. “It was a huge pay cut, but it was my passion,” she says. Her first assignment involved supervising the company’s sponsorship with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Three years later, the Lakers approached her to manage their youth foundation. Its mission is to help underserved youth develop their potential by providing positive experiences and resources in three core areas: education, health and wellness, and sports. It also provides grants to other charities supporting youth. A fan since childhood, Nix grew up attending the Laker victory parades of the ’80s. She attended high school in Inglewood, where the Laker Girls practiced. “It was like a dream come true,” she says of joining the organization. Today she oversees the foundation’s activities from the Lakers’ training center in El Segundo. Signature programs include the Junior Lakers, a youth basketball program focused on developing fundamental skills, teamwork, sportsmanship and positive community involvement among participants. Building Bridges with Basketball brings older youths from the inner city to play or watch basketball with LAPD officers. Basketball and health and fitness clinics, held with Boys & Girls Clubs at schools and parks, teach basketball fundamentals along with wellness strategies. The Lakers Youth Foundation has funded the creation of four STEM labs including equipment and curriculum. The newest lab, which also received funding from the NBA, debuted in November 2021 at the Challengers Clubhouse, the Boys & Girls Club location in South Central L.A.
During COVID-19, Nix has worked with schools lacking the technology needed for their students to learn online. She arranged for the purchase of hotspots, laptops and iPads for several LAUSD schools and after-school programs. “We delivered an iPad to a 10-year-old in Watts who had never had a technology device in his life and was already falling behind in school,” she says. “His mom cried because not only was he able to do his homework now, but he was also able to watch the Laker game via Zoom.” “This work is so rewarding,” adds Nix, who also mentors youth independently and sits on the boards of several organizations. “It’s literally life-changing. We’re giving them hope and an opportunity when they can see themselves in some of us. Because not everyone is going to be the next Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, but I often tell them, ‘You can be the next Kiesha Nix. That’s achievable.’” •
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Community VIP
Play Ball! Xavier Navarro helped lead his team to the Little League World Series. Written by Nancy Sokoler Steiner | Photographed by Micheal Neveux
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or the entire 2020 season, Xavier Navarro and his Torrance Little League teammates endured sitting out their favorite sport due to COVID-19 precautions. So it would have been understandable had the team performed at less than capacity when Little League resumed in 2021. But the Cardiac Kids had other plans. Nicknamed for their ability to come back from behind, the team’s dramatic season capped off with a spot at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. At the heart of those Cardiac Kids was Navarro, then 12 years old, with both the heart and drive to rally his teammates. “He’s our leadoff hitter, which shows who he is personality-wise,” says third-base coach Ollie Turner. “In the game that qualified us for Williamsport, Xavier stole home when the ball was between the catcher and the pitcher. He’s a ball of energy and makes everything fun for his teammates.” Navarro “had an addiction to any kind of ball” since he was a toddler, says his grandmother, Evelyn Schultz. “Any time we went to the toy store, he went straight to the ball aisle.” His grandparents, Evelyn and Jerrold Schultz, obtained legal guardianship of Navarro and his two older brothers when Navarro was 4 years old. When they asked him whether he wanted to learn baseball or soccer first, Navarro chose the former. He never looked back. Today the 13-year-old plays all infield positions, including pitcher. (Having aged out of Little League, he now plays travel ball with the San Pedro Pirates.) “It’s fun,” he says. “You can play in every inning. You can run and steal bases.” Torrance Little League’s trip to the World Series involved battling through district, sectional, state and regional playoffs. They played four World Series games before being eliminated. “The team would lose and then come back and try harder. They didn’t give up,” says Jerrold. “That’s why they got so far.” As for playing in front of a national audience, says Navarro, “It was a little nerve-wracking. But once you play one game, you get the hang of it and don’t get too worried.” Navarro didn’t just shine on the field. He took on responsibilities such as checking the locker room for any
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items left behind and helping shepherd his teammates to and from the bus and their various locations. The Shultzes say the experience has been both a family and community affair. His two older brothers rooted for the team and assisted the coaches. The team itself became a family. Most had played together since T-ball days. “They grew as they kept on playing and got stronger as a team. They supported each other, and the community supported them too,” says Jerrold. The city of Torrance took great pride in the team’s success, holding watch parties and a parade afterward attended by local and state dignitaries and former Major Leaguer Nomar Garciaparra. As for Navarro, he enjoyed watching the 2021 World Series between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros. Pointing to the players on the field, he told his grandmother, “That’s going to be me some day.” •
Torrance Little League pitcher Xavier Navarro was a driving force and instrumental in his team’s run to the 2021 Little League World Series.
Mental Health Corner
Mental Health Corner
Moe Gelbart, PhD, director of behavioral health, Torrance Memorial A young lady who is living with me has experienced serious occasional mood swings, which I believe are related to premenstrual stress. It can be frightening because you don’t always see it coming. Do you have any suggestions? —Nicole P. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and mood swings are an important topic of discussion. The psychological symptoms of PMS you describe are not uncommon, and there is assistance available. Data indicates that clinically significant PMS occurs in 20% to 30% of women. All OB-GYN physicians are well-versed in the treatment of PMS and can provide various options for dealing with symptoms. In addition to medical recommendations, maintaining a healthy lifestyle including exercise and good nutrition, limiting alcohol and caffeine, smoking cessation and receiving emotional support during the PMS time is helpful. How does one overcome a severe bout of depression? My 62-year-old daughter follows her doctor’s advice regarding medication and sees her therapist four times each week yet can’t escape the state of depression she’s been in for several months. What else can she do? —Ken C. I am assuming she is under the care of a psychiatrist, and if not, she should consult with one regarding medication options. You state she is seeing a therapist four times per week, which is quite significant. If the therapist is seeing her that frequently, the therapist
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sees her issues as very problematic. Hopefully the therapist is providing her with options, especially since she is not improving. Please keep in mind three months is not a very long time, and treatment/medication will take some time. I obviously do not know her history, but there are options for depressions resistant to treatment, and they can be discussed with a qualified psychiatrist who can evaluate your daughter and make those suggestions based on the specifics of her situation. I also recommend she be assessed medically, as there are physical conditions which cause depression. The Ted Lasso Effect Many of you have heard of the popular Ted Lasso on Apple TV+, an iconic show about an American football coach who is hired to be the head coach of a Premier League (soccer) club in England. While the premise seems to be about the absurdity of an American football coach leading an English soccer team, the show has become a meaningful and reflective touchpoint to its viewers by bringing to light mental health issues, the benefits of positivity and the collective upside of kindness. Ted Lasso dives into the business of life and illustrates the qualities that make a good human and leader. In a time of social conflict, unrest, division, fear and anger, it is clear we need some caring, kindness, gratitude and positivity. This is exactly what the characters on this show bring us, led by Ted Lasso (played by Jason Sudeikis)—a kindhearted character
who often appears insecure, troubled, overcome with anxiety and challenges. But underneath it all, he and the rest of the cast demonstrate real caring for one other and acceptance of differences. They continually send the message we are better together. Coach Lasso frames his positive messages through folksy sayings like: “I promise you there is something worse out there than being sad, and that’s being alone and sad. Ain’t no one in this room alone.” Ted Lasso reminds us we can be kind, caring, accepting and come out on top. Leo Durocher, a famous baseball manager, once said, “Nice guys finish last.” Ted Lasso has pointed out to us that is not true! •
If you have a mental health question for Dr. Gelbart, please submit it in an email to publications@tmmc.com for a response.
Family Focus
8 ENTERTAINING & INFORMATIVE PODCASTS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO ENJOY Brains On! This award-winning podcast for kids and families features a different young co-host each week to find answers to fascinating questions about the world. The podcast’s mission is to encourage kids’ natural curiosity and wonder using science and history, but there’s no age limit on curiosity—episodes of Brains On! can be enjoyed by anyone.
For the perfect solution to the “no more screen time” blues, look no further than the multitude of family-friendly podcasts available at your fingertips! With exciting stories, fascinating facts and lively sound effects, all you need for an entertaining family listening experience are some headphones or a set of speakers. Check out these awesome podcasts for family enjoyment:
Ear Snacks A podcast centered around kids’ voices and ideas where hosts Andrew and Polly and their friends consider music, science, art and culture in a fun-filled, familyfriendly podcast that parents enjoy and younger kids eat right up.
The Past & the Curious This history podcast is loved by parents, teachers and, most importantly, kids of all ages! Here you will find stories of spies, funny foods, George Washington's foibles, early advancements in cartooning and ballooning, and much more. A professional music score and important songs accompany nearly every themed episode.
Million Bazillion This is a podcast about money for kids and their families with answers to the awkward, uncomfortable and sometimes surprising questions kids have about money.
Smash Boom Best Dream Big This family-friendly podcast inspires kids (and adults!) to pursue their passions in life and take action to make their dreams a reality. Hosts Eva Karpman (currently 10 years old and in fifth grade) and her mom, Olga Karpman, interview world-class performers who do what they love and live their dreams every day.
This debate-show format takes two cool things, smashes them together and lets you decide which is best. The podcast debaters use facts and passion to make their case—teaching listeners how to defend their own opinions along the way.
Story Pirates This award-winning podcast takes stories written by kids and turns them into sketch comedy and songs. With a cast of talented comedians, songwriters and celebrity guests, Story Pirates inspires creativity, bringing laughter to kids and grownups with its hilarious sketches, catchy original songs and interviews with the creative young geniuses behind the stories.
Wow in the World NPR’s first show for kids is an engaging journey away from your screens, inside your brain, out into space, and deep into the coolest new stories in science, technology and innovation. Stories are meant to inspire families to use their imagination and follow their curiosity, to lean in and say “Wow!”
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Calendar
MAY 2 - JUNE 27 MAY 12 - JUNE 30 STRETCHING FOR BETTER BALANCE WITH RANDY
This fun workout done in a chair is designed to help increase flexibility and mobility to help prevent injuries. Monday or Thursday, 10 to 10:45 a.m.
MAY 2 - JUNE 27 LYMPHATIC FLOW CHAIR YOGA WITH SHARMONE
A yoga class adapted to a seated chair position with the goal of gently stimulating lymphatic flow, which is especially helpful for those with compromised immune systems. It can reduce swelling and aid the body’s ability to ward off colds and flu. Monday, 2:15 to 3:15 p.m.
MAY 2 – JUNE 27 MAY 12 – JUNE 30 MUSCLE STRENGTHENING WITH RANDY
Learn correct, safe techniques for strengthening your upper and lower body using a chair and flexible exercise bands. Monday or Thursday, 11 to 11:45 a.m.
MAY 2 – JUNE 27 (LAURA) MAY 10 – JUNE 28 (VALYN) MAY 12 – JUNE 30 (SHARMONE) YOGA BASICS
Harmonize body, mind and spirit through gentle stretching exercises, traditional yoga poses, breathing techniques and guided relaxation. Monday with Laura, 4 to 5 p.m.; Tuesday with Valyn, 5 to 6 p.m.; Thursday with Sharmone, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
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MAY 2 - JUNE 27
MAY 10 – JUNE 28
DUMP THE SLUMP WITH LORRIE
BEGINNER STRETCH, STRENGTH & BALANCE WITH PAM
Forward leaning shoulders and a sunken chest are becoming almost universal in today’s society. Forward head posture known as “text neck” is plaguing many of us, causing neck and shoulder pain. This gentle Yoga class focuses on strengthening weak postural muscles and improving postural alignment which can help improve overall health and wellbeing. Floor, chair and standing poses. Must be able to get up and down from the floor. Yoga mat, strap, chair, and yoga block required. Monday, 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.
Exercise with a tube or band to promote strength and stamina while standing, seated or on the floor. Wear comfortable clothes. Need a tube or band, a mat and a towel. Tuesday, 10 to 11 a.m.
MAY 10 – JUNE 28 BEGINNING TAI CHI WITH RICHARD
A sophisticated Chinese exercise that inspires physical and mental well-being. This class is an introduction to the form. It consists of slow, graceful, circular movements that improve balance and coordination. Tuesday, 2 to 3 p.m.
MAY 10 – JUNE 28 SOMATIC YOGA THERAPY WITH FARZANEH
Based on neurophysiology science designed to increase range of motion, flexibility, balance and strength. Perfect for those seeking freedom within range of motion and a desire to do yoga with comfort. Tuesday, 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.
MAY 10 – JUNE 28 ZUMBA GOLD WITH TANYA
A Latin-inspired dance exercise designed for the active aging or beginner to Zumba. No experience is needed. Athletic shoes are required. Wear comfortable clothing and take water breaks when needed. Have fun! Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
MAY 10 – JUNE 28 YOGA FOR OSTEOPOROSIS WITH DEBI
Class focus is on poses, breath work and body awareness to stimulate bone growth, and range of motion in joints. Floor, chairs and standing poses. Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
MAY 11 – JUNE 29 INTERMEDIATE TAI CHI WITH RICHARD
As students become more familiar with the techniques of balancing and relaxation, they will learn more of the movements to complete the form. Wednesday, 2 to 3 p.m.
MAY 11 – JUNE 29 ADVANCED TAI CHI WITH RICHARD
Once the form is learned, students will go deeper into the fine points, refining the movements and their connections that lead to improved health and mental focus. Wednesday, 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
MAY 11 – JUNE 29
MAY 11 – JUNE 29
INTEGRATED YOGA WITH ROBIN
BE KIND TO YOUR JOINTS WITH PAM
A yoga class integrating pranayama (breath work), asana (postures) and deeply relaxing meditation, such as yoga nidra, which can be the equivalent of four hours of sleep. Wednesday, 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.
A slow and gentle class using long stretches to promote joint movement. Wear comfortable clothes to move in. Need a towel and mat. Wednesday, 10 to 11 a.m.
MAY 11 – JUNE 29
MAY 12 – JUNE 30
CHAIR YOGA FOR OSTEOPOROSIS WITH DEBI
CHAIR YOGA FOR STRENGTH AND BALANCE WITH SHARMONE
Designed for those with osteopenia or osteoporosis who can't get up and down from the floor. The focus will be on strengthening your muscles, bones, posture, balance and fall prevention. Breath work for improved immune function and energy production. All levels welcome and modifications will be offered. Wednesday, 11 a.m. to noon
This class uses a chair in seated and standing poses. Perfect for those with injuries or who need to get stronger overall. The focus is on strengthening muscles for balance, posture and core. Thursday, 2 to 3 p.m.
MAY 11 – JUNE 29 LINE DANCING WITH SHARON
Jump on line and join the fun! In this beginner’s line dance class, you will learn country and western classics such as Electric Slide, Tush Push and Cowboy Hustle, plus many more. Not only is line dancing great exercise, but it is also great for your brain too. No partner needed. Wednesday, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
MAY 11 – JUNE 29 MAT/FLOOR PILATES WITH KAREN
An all-levels class that focuses on strengthening your core muscles to help improve your balance and provide support for your spine. Participants should have a moderate fitness and flexibility level. Mat Pilates or yoga experience recommended. Wednesday, 11 to 11:50 a.m.
MAY 12 – JUNE 30 QI GONG: REVITALIZE YOUR LIFE FORCE & INCREASE YOUR INNATE HEALING POWERS WITH GAYLA
A powerful but gentle practice of movement and meditation, this rejuvenates the body by reducing stress and strengthening the immune function. As your body connects to the qi energy life force it helps the body to detoxify and release stored negative emotions. Qi gong will leave you feeling stronger physically, emotionally and spiritually. You can participate even if you are sitting down. Thursday, 9 to 10:15 a.m.
MAY 12 – JUNE 30
MAY 13 – JULY 1 RESTORATIVE/YOGA NIDRA WITH VALYN
This class includes relaxing, supported, held postures and yoga nidra or yogic sleep, a guided meditation with conscious relaxation practice intended to maximize the benefit of the practice. Recommended for those experiencing stress, wanting to gently unwind, relax and renew. Friday, 4 to 5 p.m.
MAY 13 – JULY 1 PILATES STRETCH AND FIRM WITH VALYN
Learn to move with grace, fluidity and control while enhancing postural alignment and core strength. Friday, 10 to 11 a.m.
All classes are online and conducted over Zoom.
TAI CHI FOR ARTHRITIS WITH VALYN
Call 310-517-4711 to register for all
Tai chi is a Chinese exercise system that uses slow, smooth body movements to achieve a state of relaxation for both body and mind while also strengthening cardiovascular and immune systems. Thursday, noon to 12:45 p.m.
paid classes. Each 8-week session is $80 ($72 for ADVANTAGE members).
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Driving Force Against COVID-19 Written by Diane Krieger | Photographed by Siri Berting
I
n one of life’s ironies, David Rand, MD, chose infectious disease as his specialty in part because a department chief told him the hours were regular and patients seldom died. Both turned out to be myths—especially in a pandemic. At the peak of the spring 2020 hospital crisis, Dr. Rand was working 16-hour shifts, seven days a week. The worst stretch saw him and fellow Torrance Memorial infectious disease specialist Eric Milefchik, MD, caring for 250 coronavirus patients. That’s almost half the hospital’s capacity. In October 2020, COVID-19 took a personal turn as Dr. Rand helplessly watched his father-in-law die of the disease in Torrance Memorial’s ICU. When asked to talk about his life outside the hospital, he initially draws a blank. “The man under this white coat is kind of boring,” he says, apologetically. “Basically, the last 30 years of my life have been all about medicine.” He has no regrets about choosing infectious disease as his specialty. “It’s very detective-worky,” he says. But it leaves little bandwidth for other interests. Before the pandemic, he found respite in golf. He’d play a round with some buddies a couple times a month. Once or twice a year they’d travel to a famous course on the PGA or U.S. Open circuit. Those trips resumed last spring. In the lull before the Delta-variant storm, the golf buddies headed to Oregon’s Bandon Dunes. Last September, just weeks ahead of the Ryder Cup, they walked the hallowed greens
of Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. As with his choice of medical specialty, there’s bittersweet irony in Dr. Rand’s affinity for golf. His father was an avid, lifelong golfer, and young David picked up his first club at age 6. But he drifted away from the sport in his teens, and it was only after his dad died in 2004 that a longing for connection brought Dr. Rand back to the links. “It crushes me that we never played together as adults,” he says. “A lot of the enjoyment I get out of golf is hoping Dad is somehow watching me play.” He recounts an “out-of-body experience” at the seventh hole of Pebble Beach: “I was on the tee, looking out at the ocean. And I just teared up, wishing so badly my dad was there.” Moments later, Dr. Rand birdied the par-3 hole. “I know Dad was watching me,” he says. “He was definitely involved. He had to be.” Dr. Rand’s other passion is the fight against cancer. He and his wife, Michelle, are both active in American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. She is the team leader for the 100-person Torrance Memorial Care Bears, and he’s their chief fundraiser. Together the team raised nearly $50,000 in the run-up to last October’s gala event. The Rands initially got involved with the charity in 2004, after both Michelle’s mother and David’s father died of cancer. Their commitment redoubled last May when Michelle was diagnosed with lung cancer. “Thank goodness, she had a surgical cure,” Dr. Rand says. That’s a piece of happy irony. •
Vital Stats Age: 60, born in Cincinnati, grew up in Tustin, California Education: UC Irvine, Hahnemann Medical School (now Drexel University), Keck School of Medicine of USC, residency and infectious disease fellowship at L.A. County+USC Medical Center Hometown: Southwood neighborhood of Torrance Kids: Brittany, 32, a veterinarian in Alabama, and David Jr., 27, a lab tech now earning his CLS license (“We used to work together at Torrance Memorial. I ordered the cultures, and he ran them.”) Wife: Michelle, a former administrator with Northrop Grumman, now “a professional volunteer.” Besides leading Torrance Memorial’s participation in the Relay for Life, she’s a tree designer with the hospital’s annual Holiday Festival. Nickname: The Imelda Marcos of golf shoes (“I have about four or five different pairs. I get grief from the other guys because I like to look nice on the golf course.”) Favorite Golf Brands: Ping putter, FootJoy shoes Best Local Links: Rolling Hills Country Club, Palos Verdes Golf Club, The Saticoy Club in Ventura Top Three Golf Destinations: Pebble Beach, California; Royal Port Rush, Ireland; TPC Sawgrass, Florida (“Pebble Beach and Sawgrass were Dad’s favorites, so playing there is a special experience.”) Good Reads: Anything by Stephen King or John Schettler Sports Fandom: “I love to watch Trojan football, the Dodgers, the Lakers, the Rams. L.A. teams are my thing.”
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A Look Back
A Look Back The History of Nursing at Torrance Memorial Written by Jill Biggins Gerbracht
M
odern nursing was founded by Florence Nightingale, who helped challenge social norms and justify the value of educated nurses. The evolution of the nursing profession accelerated during the American Civil War as volunteer nurses helped save many lives, shaping the public’s perception of nursing. Since formal training was introduced in the late 19th century, the vocation has led nurses from households to hospitals, schools and outpatient clinics. Over the years nurses have faced and inspired an array of changes—improving the profession, patient outcomes and the overall state of health care. In the 1920s nurses began to work with the government to provide care for women and children, such as nutrition, social support and medical care. In 1951 the nursing occupation became more inclusive, as male nurses were allowed to join the official register. In the 1960s nurses were given more responsibility with the appearance of nurse practitioners. In the 1970s it was suggested they should be educated with degrees, and in 1973 Jean McFarlane became the first professor of nursing in England. At Torrance Memorial, the history of nursing began in 1925 when superintendent Esther Maxwell, decorated by the French government for her service as a Red Cross nurse overseas during World War I, and six nurses made up the original team at the Jared Sidney Torrance Hospital (now Torrance Memorial Medical Center). In 2006 Torrance Memorial introduced its first Nurse Residency Program (NRP) to help new graduates transition into clinical practice. The six-month NRP serves as an opportunity for graduates to hone critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making skills. In the 15 years since it was first implemented, the program has graduated more than 750 resident nurses in 26 cohorts and is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The Quality Caring Model was adopted in 2009 by all professional disciplines at Torrance Memorial. At the center of the model are the relationships nurses
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share with the patient and family, the entire healtcare team and one another. The belief is that if the eight caring factors central to the model are consistently applied to the care being delivered, the patient will feel well cared for by nurses. One of the most significant highlights of the hospital’s nursing program came in 2011 when Torrance Memorial became the first Magnet®-designated health organization in the South Bay. Magnet designation is one of the highest and most prestigious credentials a healthcare organization can achieve for nursing excellence and quality patient care. Only 8.28% of all U.S. hospitals hold Magnet status. Renewable every four years, Torrance Memorial has since achieved this high honor in 2016 and 2021.
Nurses have been serving the Torrance Memorial patient community for nearly a century.
“Being a nurse to me means being here for patients at critical moments. I listen with my ears, not with my mouth. I say a prayer for them to ease their pain, to diminish worry. I hold their hands, smile and cry. I can teach them or shield them.” —Cindy Manson, a 35-year registered nurse at Torrance Memorial
Over the years, the Torrance Memorial nursing team has served as a beacon of excellence, consistently providing compassionate care through exemplary professional practice partnering with patients, families, physicians and the entire healthcare team to optimize outcomes and exceed expectations while supporting its community across the continuum of care. •
THE HUNT CANCER INSTITUTE AT TORRANCE MEMORIAL DELIVERS 360° EXPERT CARE. We are there for you from screening to treatment and survivorship with compassionate care, state-of-the-art technology, cutting-edge clinical trials, and our affiliation with Cedars-Sinai. Our team of multidisciplinary experts share one goal to offer you the most advanced and comprehensive cancer care in the South Bay. Learn more at MoreCancerExperts.org
Expert Cancer Care Every Step of the Way
THE HUNT CANCER INSTITUTE
Featured: Rashaan Ali-Jones, MD, Breast Surgeon; Evelyn Calip, RN, Nurse Navigator; Thomas Lowe, MD, Hematology and Oncology; Sarina B. Pai, DO, Radiologist; Bryan Chang, MD, Radiation Oncologist
A LEGACY OF CARE Our lives are defined in many ways, some which reflect the level of our accomplishments. But for those with a deeper interest, few qualities endure longer than the expression of our love—whether it’s aimed toward our family, our community or the thousands of lives we help transform along the way. Your support and contributions, of any amount, help expert community care thrive for years to come. Learn more about starting your own legacy at TMLegacy.org