Pulse

PULSE Inside:

"Super Blood Donors" are superheroes

Wearable tech and health care

Summer 2022

magazine

Paying it Forward Derrick Abell finds satisfaction in leadership and mentoring

TORRANCE MEMORIAL RANKED FIRST AMONG SOUTH BAY HOSPITALS BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, NEWSWEEK AND SOUTH BAY’S BEST 2022 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 -

Ranked in the Top 5 in L.A./ O.C. Region - U.S. News & World Report

Ranked #10 in California

- Newsweek

Top 3% Hospital in California

- U.S. News & World Report

Best Hospital in the South Bay

- South Bay’s Best 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards

PULSE 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 Dani Rodriguez-Brindicci, MS, RN Lisa Buffington John Ferrari Moe Gelbart, PhD Diane Krieger Callie Spooner Laura Roe Stevens Melissa Bean Sterzick Nancy Sokoler Steiner

PHOTOGRAPHERS Chuck Bennett Siri Berting Deidre Davidson Philicia Endelman Michael Neveux Vincent Rios

Letter from the President Dear Readers, We hope you have been enjoying a safe, healthy and relaxing summer.

As you are aware, our community has again been experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases with the rise in Omicron, BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants over the past several weeks. You can read more about what to expect from COVID-19 as we head into fall on page 12.

I am pleased to announce Torrance Memorial Medical Center has once again been recognized as a 2022–2023 Best Hospital for the 11th straight year by U.S. News & World Report, placing the hospital in the top 3% in the state. Torrance Memorial was also voted BEST hospital for the 12th year in the 2022 South Bay’s Best reader poll. As we remain dedicated to serving the health care needs of our community, these recognitions further solidify our position as one of the top hospitals in Southern California.

In this issue, we introduce you to a generous group of South Bay residents who have donated enough blood to be called “super donors.” Their individual stories will serve as inspiration to all, especially as we continue to experience a nationwide blood shortage. You can read more about how they gained “super” status and why they are so committed to giving blood on page 16.

Other highlights include outstanding residents making a difference like Derrick Abell, retired Manhattan Beach chief of police and dedicated freshman high school assistant football coach who demonstrates to our youth that character counts on and off the field. And there is professional AVP beach volleyball player Emily Day, currently playing on the AVP Pro Tour, who gives back in many ways and moonlights as a high school math tutor. A group of age 90+ men who have made a long tradition of bike rides and breakfast every Friday at Scotty’s in Hermosa Beach is featured in a motivational story of maintaining friendship and keeping active while aging.

Enjoy reading this issue of Pulse magazine.

Published by

Vincent Rios Creative, Inc. vrioscreative.com ©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

If you do not wish to receive future issues of this publication, please email publications@tmmc.com with your name and complete address as it appears on the mailing panel.

TorranceMemorial.org | 3

Contents

16 FEATURES 22

X-RAY SPECS High-tech imaging helps interventional radiologists fix lifethreatening conditions.

40

COMMUNITY BENEFITS: Local South Coast Botanic Garden offers beauty and services for the community.

26

WEARABLE DEVICES PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION Digital devices collect reliable data for patients with heart conditions and diabetes.

42

HELPING STUDENTS & FAMILIES: Warrior Closet and Warrior Pantry El Camino Community College programs help those in need.

32

EARLY DIAGNOSIS SAVES LIVES Routine screenings lead to successful cancer treatment for three South Bay women.

44

OUR COMMUNITY VIPS A longtime South Bay swim coach who gets results; an AVP pro beach volleyball player with a passion for math; a retired Manhattan Beach chief of police who finds satisfaction in mentoring.

36

ZEST FOR LIFE: Freewheeling This is no ordinary biker gang.

4 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

ON THE COVER

Derrick Abell, retired Manhattan Beach chief of police, has a passion for mentoring.

Photographed by Michael Neveux

ON PACE

8

HEALTHY BITES Recipes for two Cuban dishes—great on a warm summer day.

10

CARDIO-ONCOLOGY Building a new program for heart care.

12

FALL COVID-19 OUTLOOK Cases are increasing, but you can protect yourself and your family.

14

SPECIAL DELIVERY Minimally invasive surgery saves lives of new mom and daughter.

16

SAVING LIVES Torrance Memorial's "super blood donors" are superheroes.

18

MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT It's on its way; do you need changes?

19

FAMILY FOCUS College Planning: 6 questions every family should ask.

20

IN DOGGED PURSUIT OF ART Artist Sean O'Malley has painted more dog portraits than you can shake a stick at for Torrance Memorial.

20

8

32

IN EVERY ISSUE 3 6 30 31

44

50 52 54 58

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT/CEO AWARDS & ACCOLADES MENTAL HEALTH CORNER ASK THE DOCTOR: Got a headache?

Treat head pain with a healthy lifestyle.

CALENDAR MD LOCAL: Khalid Eltawil, MD FLASH EVENTS A LOOK BACK: The Polak Breast Diagnostic Center

TorranceMemorial.org | 5

Awards and Accolades

U.S. News & World Report Torrance Memorial Medical Center has again been recognized as a Best Hospital for 2022– 2023 for the 11th year by U.S. News & World Report, placing the hospital in the top 3% in the state! Torrance Memorial remained the 11th highest ranking hospital for overall hospital quality in California and held the ranking of 5th in the Los Angeles/Orange County region. This year Torrance Memorial is nationally ranked in diabetes and endocrinology and high-performing in six specialties and 17 of 20 procedures and conditions areas.

Ranking in the top 3% says we are delivering on our vision to provide patient-centered care with the highest level of quality and service to the community. It means we are honoring our promise to deliver our core values of Service, Excellence, Knowledge, Stability and Community.

Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Safety Excellence and Patient Experience Awards (2022) Healthgrades, a nationwide hospital evaluation organization, has once again recognized Torrance Memorial as a top-in-the-nation hospital for providing patient safety excellence by preventing infections, medical errors and other avoidable complications. Torrance Memorial was also recognized by Healthgrades for outstanding patient experience based on nine measures related to doctor and nurse communication, hospital cleanliness and noise levels, as well as medication and post-discharge care instructions.

6 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

2022 Mission: Lifeline ®

GOLD PLUS STEMI RECEIVING

Torrance Memorial Voted South Bay’s BEST HOSPITAL for 13th Time!

We are honored our community has once again voted Torrance Memorial Medical Center as the BEST hospital in the South Bay! Readers also voted us BEST cancer treatment center (Hunt Cancer Center), BEST urgent care, BEST medical and hospital groups (Torrance Memorial Physician Network and Torrance Memorial IPA) and for the first time, BEST workplace!

We were also voted FAVORITE knee and physical therapy centers along with FAVORITE local outpatient pharmacy, novelty gift/boutique shop, medical supply store and nutritionists.

American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines Awards 2022 Torrance Memorial recently received five American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke—ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

Our physicians, nurses and staff have worked to close the gaps separating patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Our commitment to quality patient care is our #1 priority. We are proud to be recognized for Gold Plus performance in heart failure, stroke and STEMI receiving, Gold in resuscitation and this year Silver in NSTEMI.

The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval Torrance Memorial has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for the Laboratory Accreditation Program for Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Laboratory and Pointof-Care Testing 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.

TorranceMemorial.org | 7

On Pace Cuban Mojo Marinated Chicken • • • • • • • • • • • •

zest of 1 orange zest of 1 lime ½ cup orange juice, freshly squeezed ¼ cup olive oil 8 cloves garlic, finely chopped ¼ cup chopped cilantro (lightly packed) 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon ground cumin ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon salsa 1¼ pounds boneless skinless chicken (cut into 1½-inch pieces) oil for cooking

Combine all ingredients except chicken in a bowl; stir to blend. Add chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate for at least 1 hour in refrigerator, or up to 4 hours or overnight for optimal flavor.

Healthy Bites

Havana Mojo Chicken Bowl Written by Dani Rodriguez-Brindicci, MS, RDN & Callie Spooner, Dietetic Intern

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. When skillet is hot, add 1 tablespoon oil. Drain chicken from marinade and add 1/3 of the chicken to skillet. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until chicken is caramelized on the outside and cooked all the way through (internal temp of 165ºF). Remove to a plate. Repeat with remaining chicken.

Mango Salsa • • • • •

2 mangoes, diced 1 habanero or fresh chili, finely chopped ¼ cup red onions, finely chopped 2 Tablespoons lime juice 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro

Mojo (pronounced mo-ho) is a Cuban marinade that typically includes oil, garlic, sometimes cilantro and salt. The hallmark of the sauce is the heavy emphasis on citrus—specifically sour orange. The result? Juicy, flavorful and oh-so-citrusy marinade that can be used for beef, fish or chicken and also makes an excellent sauce on vegetables, commonly used over cassava in Cuban cuisine. This recipe for mojo chicken showcases the wonderful, tangy, citrusy flavor you expect, and the chicken comes out tender, juicy and moist. Perfect to serve with black beans and brown rice on a warm summer day. Don't forget to add baked plantains to make it the ultimate Cuban meal.

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir.

If the mangos are not sweet, drizzle a little honey in to amp up the flavor. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Prep Time: 25 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes Makes 5 servings

Preheat oven to 400ºF. In a large bowl combine all ingredients, toss to coat vegetables evenly and place on a sheet pan. Roast for 25 minutes or until tender.

8 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

Cuban Roasted Vegetables • • • • • •

1 sweet potato/yam, diced 1 cassava, diced ¼ cup olive oil ½ Tablespoon paprika ½ Tablespoon cumin salt and pepper to taste

Cuban Baked Plantains • •

2 very ripe plantains 2 Tablespoons vegetable or coconut oil

Cut plantains on the diagonal into slices about ½-inch thick. Place into a bowl, add oil and toss gently to coat. Arrange plantain slices on a baking sheet and cook 15 minutes in the preheated oven (400º F) while cooking Cuban Roasted Vegetables. *For super delicious plantains, turn on the broiler when the plantains have about 5 minutes of baking left.

Remove them from the oven when the tops are looking caramelized, even if the 5 minutes isn’t quite complete!

For serving • • • •

Brown rice, prepared to preference Black beans, prepared to preference Lime juice Chopped cilantro

Cuban Citrus Corn & Black Bean Salad Written by Callie Spooner, Dietetic Intern

To assemble, place brown rice in bowls. Top with desired amount of black beans, cooked chicken, roasted vegetables, baked plantains and mango salsa. Drizzle with lime juice and top with chopped cilantro if desired. Serve immediately.

Prep Time: 20 min Total Time: 20 min Makes 10-12 Servings

Nutrition Facts per serving (for chicken and mango salsa only): Calories: 250, Carbs: 22.5g, Protein: 26.9g, Fat: 6.3g, Sat. Fat: 1.2g, Cholesterol: 82mg, Sodium: 286.6mg, Fiber: 2.5g

This Cuban-style dish is great to bring to a summer BBQ or store in your fridge for a quick lunch or dinner side dish. It is the perfect combination of sweet and salty, and it's topped with a tangy mojo dressing that’s made with three citrus fruits! This salad is filled with many colorful, fresh, healthy ingredients.

Dani Rodriguez-Brindicci is the director of clinical nutrition at Torrance Memorial, responsible for planning, directing, coordinating and evaluating clinical and nutrition education programs. She also develops and approves the patient menus at the hospital, oversees the patient kitchen, and ensures compliance with all federal, state and local regulations. In her free time, she enjoys reading, dancing, playing tennis and spending time with her family.

TorranceMemorial.com/nutrition

The beans provide the main protein source and are full of fiber to help regulate digestion and lower cholesterol. Bell peppers provide a great source of antioxidants, vitamin C and carotenoids, which have been shown to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases. The citrusy mojo dressing provides many vitamins, has anti-inflammatory effects and contains many nutrients that support heart health.

Feel free to make this dish your own by adding any additional ingredients such as avocado, which is a delicious source of healthy fat. And if you enjoy spicier dishes, add more jalapeños to the dressing for an extra kick!

For the full recipe, including required ingredients and step-by-step instructions, please visit our website at TorranceMemorial.org/cuban_salad.

TorranceMemorial.org | 9

On Pace

Cardio-Oncology Building A New Program For Heart Care Written by John Ferrari | Photographed by Vincent Rios

T

he body is a system. More than that, it’s a system of systems: respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and more. These systems interact and work together, so it’s no surprise an illness or treatment of one system can affect other systems. With increasing awareness of the complex interplay between the body’s systems, physicians have adopted a multidisciplinary approach to treatment.

At Torrance Memorial Medical Center, physicians, surgeons and other medical specialists work in teams to care for the whole patient. That’s why the hospital is investing in a cardio-oncology Brenton Bauer, MD, is a cardio-oncologist program. A relatively new spewith Torrance cialty, cardio-oncology provides Memorial's Lundquist specialized heart care for patients Lurie Cardiovascular Institute. undergoing cancer treatments.

Pulse spoke with cardio-oncologist Brenton Bauer, MD, about this field and how it can improve outcomes for fighting cancer.

Briefly, what is a cardio-oncologist?

What I like to tell people is we are cardiologists with a special interest in patients fighting cancer. We help prevent heart conditions or treat heart conditions that developed as a result of a patient’s cancer treatments. The ultimate goal is to partner with oncologists to ensure we provide the most optimal treatments for cancer patients.

How did this specialty develop?

Back in the 1960s cancer treatments were very toxic, and we can track the birth of cardio-oncology to the ’60s and ’70s. The specialty has only gotten broad recognition in the last five to seven years though. Over the past 20 years or so, there’s been an explosion in oncology research and treatment modalities. It’s not just chemotherapy anymore. There are so many different types of cancer treatments available—and more in development. We’re learning so much about them and their effects.

10 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

How do cancer treatments affect the heart?

There are a lot of different types of cancer treatment, and they can affect the heart in different ways. Using radiation can affect the body beyond the targeted area. Other treatments can, for example, raise the patient’s blood pressure, so there are interactions and concerns with patients who already have high blood pressure and may face an increased risk of cardiac arrest.

Are cardiology treatments different for cancer patients than for others with the same cardiac conditions?

Cardio-oncology is not a one-size-fits-all specialty. It’s tailored to each patient—to cancer type, treatment type, types of radiation, if the patient has radiation therapy—all of this is considered in a cardio-oncology plan for monitoring and treatment specific to the patient. We consider what may be useful to prevent cardiac conditions and monitor for the development of any cardiac condition.

There’s increased monitoring and surveying for heart toxicity. This extends beyond the course of cancer treatment.

Due to prolonged cancer treatment that can damage the heart, cancer survivors are at risk of developing heart disease as they get older, so we continue to check in after the cancer treatment is complete.

Can cardio-oncology treatments begin before the cancer treatment?

Yes, it’s called pre-hab. We work to get patients in the best shape possible through cardio-pulmonary conditioning and dietary changes, if appropriate. This can be preventive in and of itself—people do much better when they enter cancer treatment in good shape. Pre-hab emphasizes actions patients can take themselves without medication. Besides the physical benefits, pre-hab gives patients some control in a very uncontrolled environment.

Having some pieces they can control, through dietary or exercise changes, can help them stay healthy physically and psychologically. It promotes a positive mental outlook, and that really helps. Mood disorders have a direct correlation to cardiac conditions—what’s called the mindheart connection.

Cardiologist Brenton Bauer, MD, and Echo technician II Zachary Leazer collaborate on patient care.

How are oncologists working to identify and minimize the side effects of cancer treatments?

Oncologists and oncology researchers have been doing this all along. Some types of cancer are very rare, which can make it difficult to identify all the possible side effects of treatment for a particular cancer. In cardiology, when we have trials for a new treatment, we have 5,000 or 10,000 people in the study. Cancer research doesn’t have the luxury of the numbers and time to get that kind of data, so we build knowledge from post-approval surveillance and monitoring. Some toxicities may be picked up in the years coming after approval, when tens of thousands of patients are on the treatment. We’re always trying to prevent a cardio toxicity or vascular toxicity in the very early stages of the development of a new

treatment. It’s a very dynamic and changing landscape, so there are advantages to receiving care from a hospital like Torrance Memorial, which offers a multidisciplinary approach to treatment.

Your own specialties include preventive cardiology and advanced imaging techniques, as well as cardio-oncology.

How much time do you spend on cardio-oncology?

Cardio-oncology is a growing focus and a new program. You have to build the program, and that’s what I’ve come here to do.

It’s difficult to give numbers—the different areas of practice overlap— but certainly I spend more time on cardio-oncology now than five years ago, about half my time now.

I wear a lot of hats, but cardio-oncology is my main passion. It’s very satisfying because I’m still coor-

dinating patient care with other specialists, but I also have my own specialty and expertise. It gives me the chance to intervene early and guide care.

How are you building the cardio-oncology program at Torrance Memorial?

It’s an extremely multidisciplinary specialty, and I’ve been working with oncologists and other specialists to increase awareness of what cardio-oncology can offer. It’s becoming a very robust program at Torrance Memorial's Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute— and the only cardio-oncology program in the South Bay. Building the program requires personal interaction. At the end of the day, medicine is still the practice of treating human beings. That’s the art of medicine: human beings treating other human beings. • TorranceMemorial.org | 11

On Pace

Fall COVID-19 Outlook Cases are increasing, but so are ways you can protect yourself.

Written by John Ferrari

C

OVID-19 has been with us for almost three years; living with the pandemic is almost the new normal. But it isn’t. COVID-19 remains a potentially serious disease for many: the elderly, individuals with underlying medical conditions and those who have not yet gotten vaccinated against the disease.

The pandemic remains a source of stress and uncertainty. As we enter the fall and winter seasons, which could bring a renewed COVID-19 surge (or not), knowledge can help you keep your cool—and stay healthy.

“From the beginning of April to now, we’ve seen an increase in community cases,” says Torrance Memorial infectious disease specialist David Rand, MD. “But we’re not seeing very sick patients. We are seeing a little stress on hospitals, mainly because as we’re testing patients who come in to the hospital, we’re finding asymptomatic COVID-19 cases.”

He predicts the community spread of COVID-19 will continue at significant levels through the fall and with the emergence of new Omicron subvariants. He adds, however, that those new variants are likely to spread more rapidly but cause less serious illness.

To counter COVID-19 there are now four safe and effective vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech (also known as Comirnaty), Moderna, Novavax and Johnson & Johnson-Janssen. The CDC now recommends the Johnson & Johnson-Janssen vaccine be administered only to certain individuals, including those who have had a severe reaction after an mRNA vaccine dose.

Consult with your primary care physician or other health care professional.

Dr. Rand notes that Novavax, the most recently approved COVID-19 vaccine, uses the same decades-old technology used to produce the hepatitis B vaccine, which may encourage unvaccinated individuals wary of the newer (but proven safe) techniques used in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to get vaccinated themselves.

Since June, children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years old have been cleared to receive the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines—the last age group to get the vaccination go-ahead. That’s important, Dr. Rand says, because “although kids of that age are exceedingly unlikely to become seriously ill from COVID-19, they can spread it to others.”

David Rand, MD, is an infectious disease specialist and comedical director of infection control at Torrance Memorial.

12 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

“Masking really does help prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you don’t want to get COVID-19, masking is the way to go.”

The vaccination schedule for children in that age group is three Pfizer shots over 11 weeks or two Moderna shots over four weeks.

For older individuals, meanwhile, booster shots have become normal. Those 50 and older or who are immuno-compromised should get a booster shot three months after their last booster. For most people, that second booster will be their fourth COVID-19 vaccination shot.

Additionally, both Pfizer and Moderna may release a new COVID-19 vaccine this fall, targeting the Omicron variant specifically. That’s good news, Dr. Rand says, because an Omicron-specific vaccine would reduce breakthrough cases of the disease among those who have already been vaccinated.

The bottom line for vaccines? “Come the fall, you’re going to have to get a booster, whether a new or existing formulation,” Dr. Rand says. “My best guidance is to stick with the vaccine you’ve already gotten.”

There’s good news on the treatment front too. In studies of unvaccinated individuals who caught COVID-19, Paxlovid—an antiviral therapy and currently the first-line treatment for the disease— reduced hospitalization and mortality by 89%. Remdesivir—a broad-spectrum antiviral medication also known as Veklury—also reduces the likelihood of developing a serious case of COVID-19 among individuals who contract the illness.

Immuno-compromised individuals have a different option: AstraZeneca’s Evusheld. A monoclonal antibody administered as two shots, Evusheld can be given to patients whose immune system isn’t robust enough to respond adequately to a COVID-19 infection even after vaccination, and to those who can’t be vaccinated due to an adverse reaction. Evusheld is given before exposure to the disease and may provide up to six months of protection.

For most people, vaccination remains the best defense against COVID-19. Not only does it lower the risk of catching the disease, vaccinated individuals who do contract a breakthrough case are much less likely to suffer serious illness than those who are unvaccinated. And there is, Dr. Rand reminds us, another effective measure against COVID-19 and other illnesses such as the flu: masking.

“Masking really does help prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you don’t want to get COVID-19, masking is the way to go.” •

Need to See a Doctor?

Call Our Physician Referral Coordinator to Schedule An Appointment.

310-891-6717 Mona Madani, MD

Family Medicine 2110 E. El Segundo Bl., Suite 200 El Segundo 310-517-7030

Nima Moghadam, MD

Internal Medicine 3701 Skypark Dr., Suite 100 Torrance 310-378-2234

Jennifer Park, MD

Family Medicine 3701 Skypark Dr., Suite 100 Torrance 310-378-2234

Sadia Khan, MD

Internal Medicine 3333 Skypark Dr., Suite 160 Torrance 310-517-9006

Lorena Layrisse Landaeta, MD

Internal Medicine, Geriatrics 602 Deep Valley Dr., Suite 300 Rolling Hills Estates 310-517-4692

Alya Torna, MD

Family Medicine 29409 S. Western Ave. Rancho Palos Verdes 310-891-6684

Offices located in: Torrance, Carson, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes and El Segundo

Appointments scheduled M-F , 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TMPhysicianNetwork.org TorranceMemorial.org | 13

On Pace

Britney Mula's medical team (from left): Brian Sherman, MD, George So, MD, Timothy Webb, Britney Mula, baby Savannah and Cheryl Sanders, MD.

Special Delivery A Torrance Memorial team performs minimally invasive surgery, saving the lives of a new mom and daughter.

Written by John Ferrari | Photographed by Vincent Rios

P

regnancy can be an emotional time, and that’s normal. Scary isn’t normal, but sometimes pregnancy can be scary. Scary is what happened to Britney Mula and her fiancé, Tim, as they awaited the arrival of their baby girl, Savannah. Thanks to quick thinking and a hightech intervention though, this scary situation has a happy ending.

As Britney recalls, the first 35 weeks of her pregnancy “were super easy—it was great.” But in early April, five weeks away from a full-term pregnancy,

14 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

her left leg felt sore. She had exercised that day and chalked it up to a good workout.

Over the next three days, however, the pain became steadily worse, and Britney went to see her OB-GYN, Cheryl Sanders, MD, of Torrance Memorial Physician Network. In less than five minutes, an ultrasound revealed an extensive blood clot.

Dr. Sanders called in Torrance Memorial’s interventional radiology (IR) team, and Britney was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

That’s a serious condition for anyone, but espe-

cially for Britney, says interventional radiologist George So, MD. First, the blockage was large, extending from Britney’s calf to below her abdomen. Second, there’s always the potential for a blood clot to dislodge and travel to the lung’s pulmonary artery, becoming a pulmonary embolism. The pressures associated with childbirth increase the potential for this life-threatening condition. At the same time, placing Britney on anticoagulants to manage the blockage and pain medication to manage her symptoms was potentially dangerous for a pregnant woman.

Although a pregnancy of 39 to 40 weeks is ideal, Dr. Sanders says delivery at 37 weeks is considered early full-term. Could Britney’s delivery be delayed for at least two weeks, even with a serious embolism?

With Britney’s agreement, Dr. Sanders and Dr. So decided to admit her to the labor and delivery department for two weeks while administering medication for the DVT. At 37 weeks, they would induce labor and, immediately following delivery, operate to remove the clot. Correctly timing when to stop and restart the medications would be crucial.

At 37 weeks, after an induced labor was unsuccessful, Savannah was safely delivered via C-section. Just hours later, Britney was wheeled into Torrance Memorial’s IR suite to remove the 30-inch blood clot using minimally invasive surgery made possible by the Inari ClotTriever—a specialized device designed specifically to remove DVT embolisms.

The device and the Inari FlowTriever, designed to remove pulmonary embolisms, are at the leading edge of treatment for blood clots, Dr. So says. “Most hospitals do not have an interventional radiologist, and only a small number of hospitals have these Inari devices. With them, thrombectomies can be performed as outpatient surgeries without the need for the patient to stay in the ICU. The procedure is very quick, and there’s much lower risk.”

In Britney’s case, “The plan worked out beautifully,” he says. Her pain disappeared as soon as the procedure was complete. “Honestly it was a really easy procedure,” Britney recalls.

The Inari ClotTriever and FlowTriever are game changers in the treatment of blood clots, says Brian Sherman, MD, a Torrance Memorial-Cedars Sinai medical/surgical intensivist and chair

of the critical care department. Treated with these devices, patients “immediately feel better on the table, and you’ve instantaneously saved their lives,” he explains.

The devices are part of Torrance Memorial’s campaign to better serve the South Bay by being a regional center of excellence for cardiogenic shock and pulmonary embolism, a multidisciplinary program including IR, pulmonary and cardiac critical care, and the emergency room.

“The program allows us to diagnose patients with cardiac shock or large pulmonary embolisms causing shock and direct them to immediate lifesaving procedures,” Dr. Sherman says. “We have an array of tools here, from anticoagulant medicines to catheter-directed thrombolysis and the Inari device, assisted if needed by the Impella device and the ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) support system. So for patients like Britney, we can remove clots without anticoagulation or the risk of bleeding from clot-busting drugs.”

Beyond the latest technology though, what Torrance Memorial patients see is the compassionate care they’re getting from dedicated physicians, nurses and specialty support teams. “The team is absolutely amazing,” Britney says. “I don’t think I could’ve gotten better care anywhere in the world.” •

Britney Mula with fiancé Timothy Webb, who is proudly holding baby Savannah, pictured here at 3 months old.

TorranceMemorial.org | 15

On Pace

John Linder, A positive Not even a pandemic could keep John Linder from donating blood. “They had to be a little more careful. They just had one donor at a time. There were more checks, and we wore masks. But it didn’t stop me,” he says.

Linder has not only donated more than 23 gallons of blood, he’s also worked 14,000 volunteer hours at Torrance Memorial. Like all of Torrance Memorial’s super donors, Linder enjoys the free T-shirts and the high-donor dinners. He says the staff at the hospital’s blood donation center is like a family. “They take care of you,” he says.

Dave Nair, O positive Dave Nair has been a regular blood donor since the 1970s. “One of the things that really struck me is blood only comes from us. You can’t manufacture blood—you can’t make it,” he says. “The blood I donate at Torrance Memorial means they don’t have to buy it from the Red Cross, because it’s very expensive.”

Nair sold promotional advertising materials before he retired. He was at a meeting at City of Hope when a representative from their donor department invited him to make a donation.

“I’ve got a vein you could throw a needle at from across the room and make it. Of course, I was trying to make a sale too. Then I started making a routine out of it,” he says.

Before he donates, Nair drinks a big glass of water. He says the process takes 45 minutes for him and he gets cookies and coffee when he’s finished. He is always telling people to donate blood. “I enjoy it,” he shares.

16 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

Torrance Memorial's "Super Blood Donors" (from left): Albro Lundy, Nancy Scott, John Linder, Sharon Woloszyk, Tony Mullikin and Dave Nair

Sharon Woloszyk, O positive Sharon Woloszyk started donating blood as a college student in memory of her grandma.

“It was my freshman year, and the dorm had a blood drive. I thought, ‘What a great way to give back,’” she says.

These days, Woloszyk gives blood every eight weeks or five times a year. “I’m a person of routine. And they’re always so lovely at the donation center. We chat about their kids and where we’ve gone on vacation. I don’t like needles, so I say, ‘Please cover it up and get it out as fast as possible,’” she says.

Woloszyk says she always tries to bring someone with her when she gives blood.

Tony Mullikin, A positive When Tony Mullikin was 18, the Moose Lodge in Gardena offered a free pancake breakfast for anyone who donated blood. He had a big appetite and thought it was a great deal.

Mullikin just retired, and that means gardening, fishing, biking and spending time with his wife, Tracy. But he has no intention of retiring from donating blood. “It’s enjoyable—I know that is a weird term for donating blood. It’s something I can do for free that helps somebody else,” he says.

Mullikin puts a high value on the relationships he and his family have formed with the doctors and nurses at the donation center. He tries to spread the word about donating blood in every way he can.

“Anybody can do what I have done. If they can stand the prick of a needle, they can do it. It takes maybe 35 to 45 minutes every 60 days,” he says.

Saving Lives Torrance Memorial’s “super blood donors” are superheroes.

Written by Melissa Bean Sterzick | Photographed by Siri Berting

B

lood donations save lives. Donated blood helps patients survive serious illnesses, surgeries, cancer treatments and accidents. All blood types are needed, and they are needed every day. Donations made at Torrance Memorial are used within the hospital for patients from the surrounding community. It’s estimated that only 3% of eligible blood donors give blood once a year, but a group of generous South Bay residents has given enough to be called “super donors.”

Nancy Scott, A positive Tim Scott, O positive Nancy and Tim Scott have turned their commitment to donating blood into a bit of healthy competition. “I have beaten him. I have more gallons than he does,” Nancy says. “Yes, it’s a competition. We even compete about our iron levels.”

“I can give blood faster than she can, and my iron is always higher than hers. But she beats me on cholesterol and blood pressure,” says Tim. Nancy gave blood occasionally during her college years. She did it because her father always donated and she felt impressed to follow his example.

Tim’s grandfather influenced him to donate blood regularly. “He was born in 1902,” Tim shares. “He used to tell the story about how he might get a call in the middle of the night to come down to the hospital and lay down on a gurney next to the patient. They did direct transfusions in those days. They literally pumped the blood into the other guy directly,” he says.

The Scotts might be competing for “best iron levels” and “most pints given,” but they are loyal teammates when it comes to promoting the importance of donating blood.

Albro Lundy, A positive A high school teacher inspired Albro Lundy to give blood for the first time when he was 16 years old. Since he moved to Palos Verdes in the mid-1990s, Lundy has given blood at Torrance Memorial every two to three months. For his birthday, he asks his family to donate blood instead of buying him gifts.

Besides the joy that comes with knowing his donations save lives, giving blood also led Lundy to his wife, Cathi.

They met at a blood drive he organized when they were students at UCLA. It’s also a way he connects to his father, a fighter pilot who lost his life saving others in the Vietnam War. “I’m an evangelist for blood donations. I don’t have any T-shirts that are not ‘donate blood’ T-shirts, and I wear them all the time. I bring them up as a talking point and invitation,” he says. “You do the things you can do to help, and it just cements in your heart that it’s the right thing.” •

TorranceMemorial.org | 17

On Pace

Medicare Open Enrollment Medicare is the same, but have your coverage needs changed?

Written by John Ferrari

I

n this ever-changing world, it’s nice that some traditions remain the same year after year—like Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment Period. Each year, the Open Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7.

During this period, you can join, switch or drop a Medicare health plan or Medicare Advantage plan. You can change from Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), or switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare. You can also join, switch or drop Medicare drug coverage plans (Part D). Any changes you make take effect January 1, 2023.

There is a separate enrollment period just for Medicare Advantage, from January 1 through March 31. During this period, you can switch between Advantage plans or end your Advantage coverage and return to Original Medicare.

However, during this period you cannot switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan. Additionally, some life changes trigger Special Enrollment Periods, for example, when you lose your current coverage or become eligible for Medi-Cal, move to a new coverage area, or move into or out of a skilled nursing facility, long-term care hospital or similar facility.

If you are already enrolled in Medicare, you should receive the 2023 Medicare and You handbook in late September or early October. It’s also available online at medicare. gov/medicare-and-you. Additionally, in late September you

Open enrollment is coming, the more you understand about your needs ahead of time, the better prepared you will be when making decisions.

18 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

should receive a separate notice detailing how your plans will change in the upcoming year.

So should you gather up your colored pens and highlighters to review your coverage and the changes for the upcoming year? Not necessarily, says licensed health insurance agent Vince Kelly. “A lot can change in five years, but year to year? Not so much. You should go over your Medicare options every few years, or when your medical or financial circumstances change.”

Open enrollment is a good time to consider switching from a Medicare supplement plan, or Medigap, to an HMO, especially as you age, Kelly says, because Medigap premiums increase each year. “At age 65,” he explains, “a really good supplement plan may cost $130 per month, but by the time you reach 75, that premium has risen to $250 each month.”

One way to help lower Medicare costs is to consider insurance companies that offer a Medicare Part B premium reduction. “These are incentives companies offer to entice people to sign up with them,” Kelly says. “A Part B reduction gives consumers, say, a $125 monthly credit toward the $170 monthly cost of Part B. That reduction may be offset by higher deductibles or fees on some items, but they’re often a good deal if the higher deductibles or fees apply only to medications you don’t need, or procedures you won’t have.”

And there are a few things you should check every year, like your Medicare insurance card. “You should ensure that your insurance ID card has your name—with no misspellings—and lists both your primary care physician and correct medical group name, for example, Torrance Memorial IPA,” Kelly says. “Primary care physicians can move or retire. If that happens, listing your medical group on your insurance card will make it easier for you to continue receiving care from the same group.” • For more information, go to medicare.gov; call the Torrance Memorial IPA Resource Center at 310-517-7239; call licensed health insurance agent Vince Kelly at 310-625-1837 or call Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy (HICAP) expert Doris Herzog 310-517-4666; or attend Torrance Memorial IPA’s complimentary Medicare 101 lectures (TorranceMemorialIPA.org/medicare101).

Family Focus

College Planning 6 questions every family should ask Written by Jill Biggins Gerbracht

A

lthough the college application process begins in earnest during a student’s senior year, there are things to consider along the way to ensure a successful outcome. College and career planning can be an exciting time for high school students and their parents—but it can also be intimidating, time-consuming and costly.

Pulse magazine shares six questions college planning advisors recommend families explore.

1. Do You Have a Big-Picture Plan?

Determine what your child is interested in to help them narrow down their options. Do they want an urban downtown campus, suburban or rural environment? What aspects of student life are most important to them? Do they have an area of interest/major?

Research has found those without a plan (who maybe pick a school at the best price) will spend up to 3.5 times more on college. Those who start with a big-picture approach will be able to visualize many key areas and can save a lot of time and money just on the planning process alone.

2. Are You Focused on the Right Goal?

Students often feel pressured to focus on getting into their dream school. Families can avoid pitfalls and unnecessary costs by ensuring their student’s first goal is determining their field of study and future career, and then using that goal to drive the college selection process.

Visit schools that will give you a sense of the “type” of school your child is interested in. Then compare the different schools and discuss the pros and cons and key things your teen likes or dislikes about each school to help finalize your decision. Focusing on the wrong goal can lead to difficulty in finding a job after college or taking up to six years to graduate. Resources such as onetonline.org and payscale.com can be helpful to explore.

3. Is College the Right Path to Success?

Many jobs today do not require a college degree. In fact, some of the largest employers are tossing out their requirements for college degrees and are focusing on upskilling

It's never too early to start the college planning process with your high schooler. Since there is much to consider, planning ahead can save you time, money and help keep the process more manageable.

certification programs that build the latest skills. Get creative in your big-picture planning at sites such as profitableventure.com.

4. How Much Debt Is Too Much?

There are several ways to get a quality education without breaking the bank, including community college. Schools are required to have a real-price calculator on their websites, which will give you a sense of what you might have to pay to attend an institution. A big-picture, creative approach helps families in the planning process evaluate “what if ” scenarios before incurring debt. The site studentaid.gov/loan-simulator can help you avoid this trap and do your own forecasting.

5. How Can We Cut Costs?

• Consider out-of-state schools at in-state prices • Apply for scholarships, which are plentily available for just about any interest or specialization • Consider opportunities for free college programs from employers • Explore new alternatives to the traditional college path • Attend community college for the first two years 6. What’s Negotiable?

While the cost of a college can be a deciding factor, a lot of other expenses go into the final amount you will actually pay, and it’s rarely the price listed.

The offer price listed in your child’s acceptance letter is just a start. You can compare and negotiate tuition, room and board, fees, terms and more. It’s easy to compare offers to other students from the same school with similar test scores and financial means using resources such as tuitionfit. org for increased bargaining power. • TorranceMemorial.org | 19

On Pace

In Dogged Pursuit of Art Sean O’Malley has painted more dog portraits than you can shake a stick at.

Written by Diane Krieger | Photographed by Philicia Endelman

T

hink of Sean O’Malley as a homegrown Cassius Marcellus Coolidge. His pooches aren’t playing poker while chomping on cigars—but they’ll surely make you smile. Each of O’Malley's paintings celebrates the generous spirit of the Torrance Memorial visitation dogs who greet patients with wet noses, melting eyes and lolling tongues.

Earlier this year, O’Malley completed the third installment of his visitation dog portraits series with 15 new works—on display at Torrance Memorial’s west entrance. Under commission from the hospital’s construction department, the artist paints on plywood boards, working from pet photos taken

by Peter Croke—the longtime project manager of Torrance Memorial building improvements.

20 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

A Family Affair O’Malley has close family ties to Torrance Memorial. His wife, Melissa, has worked there since 1984, starting as a high school candy striper. Over the intervening 38 years, she rose to her current job as facilities operations supervisor in the facilities department.

O’Malley’s mother-in-law, Beth Marshall, smashes Melissa’s impressive record. A nurse in her 51st year of continuous employment at Torrance Memorial, she’s currently the professional development coordinator in the clinical education department.

Melissa’s daughter, Cassidy Griego, 27, is following in her grandmother’s footsteps. She’s an RN in the hospital’s burn unit. Meanwhile

Over the years, artist Sean O'Malley has painted 64 portraits of Torrance Memorial's pet visitation dogs.

His ties with the hospital run deep within his own family as well.

17-year-old Nita is taking her mother’s lead as a Torrance Memorial student volunteer.

The couple’s other children are Liam, 23, who studies computer science at El Camino College, and Breanna Abram, 28, who recently finished her PhD in clinical psychology and practices in Arkansas.

Rounding out the O’Malley family is Jax, the mini pinscher mix, who is “a total lap dog” but unfortunately lacks the decorum of a hospital visitation pet. “He’s a rescue from the streets, and he still acts a bit skittish. He’s also very territorial,” Sean adds, “but we love him.”

Bands on the Run The hospital is an epicenter of family life for the multitalented, super-active O’Malleys. But Sean and Melissa—he calls his wife Mel—are also both professional musicians. They met in 1996 when Mel was forming a new band. She’s a vocalist-percussionist who fills in on keyboards and guitar. He plays bass and guitar. They’ve recorded a dozen albums together. You can also hear them perform around town with Skypark Ghetto, their cover band specializing in 1960s to contemporary hits.

Before the pandemic, Sean and Mel were active in four bands, playing four-hour gigs every Friday and Saturday. On the brink of creative burnout, in 2018 the couple started an experimental video project that O’Malley calls “a real joy.”

“We’d wake up Sunday morning,” he says, “and Mel would turn on her camera phone. We would play a song—just for ourselves.” Bleary-eyed with fatigue, hair a mess, still in their pajamas, they were simply The Pajammers. The videos, which Mel lovingly edits, have evolved into elaborate green screen productions using multiple musical tracks. The project has taken on a life of its own with more than 70 videos on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

and geocaching around Palos Verdes or near their mountain cabin in Big Bear. Family members also regularly meet up in The Forest, a popular survival horror video game where they band together to fight off mutant cannibals. On weekends, they’ll grab some popcorn and watch Liam, a top-ranked professional gamer, play Heroes of the Storm for prize money.

Meanwhile back at Torrance Memorial, O’Malley is busy painting six new 6-by-6-foot wooden panel murals for the patio outside Jared's Patient Kitchen.

He’s always on the lookout for new projects.

The dog portraits are such a hit with hospital-goers that O’Malley has received more than 50 private commissions on top of the 64 he painted for the hospital. Once the current exhibition ends, the original artworks will be gifted to each visitation dog’s owner-handler.

Up next, O’Malley says he’d love to get into painting horse portraits. Now if only Torrance Memorial had a hospital visitation equestrian program.

Don’t laugh. That’s actually a thing. •

Left: Sean O'Malley stands in front of the gallery for his latest works of art for Torrance Memorial (left).

Below: Sean works on a commission piece in his Lomita studio.

All in the Family O’Malley received his formal training in studio art and art history at El Camino College and Humboldt State University. While he’s a prolific painter and muralist, he always saw his main role as being a stay-at-home dad. With Melissa as the primary breadwinner, Sean took the lead homeschooling and chauffeuring the kids to extracurriculars—at one point, all four simultaneously played club soccer, with Sean coaching his son’s AYSO team.

In their spare time, Mel and Sean enjoy hiking TorranceMemorial.org | 21

X-RAY SPEcS Advanced imaging changes the world of medicine by creating a "road map" for treating the precise location of the disease.

High-tech imaging helps interventional radiologists find and fix life-threatening conditions.

Written by John Ferrari

F

rom head to toe. From arteries to brain and spine. From slow-growing cancers to emergency blood clots.

Torrance Memorial’s interventional radiology (IR) specialists focus on everything— literally.

Diagnostic and interventional radiologist Richard Krauthamer, MD, explains: “We do minimally invasive procedures to diagnose, treat and cure many types of illness.” The hos-

22 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

pital’s IR room combines diagnostic imaging capabilities and an operating room in a single location, giving interventional radiologists the ability to look inside a patient’s body, make a diagnosis and then treat the issue immediately if needed. “This reduces costs and recovery time, and pain and risk to patients who would otherwise need traditional open surgery,” Dr. Krauthamer says.

Torrance Memorial’s IR suite allows physicians to use multiple imaging techniques—from fluoroscopy with low-dose X-rays to ultrasound and CT-equivalent scans—and to generate 3D images. This biplane capability, called that because images are generated in two planes at once, cuts in half the time it takes to create a complete, digital representation of a patient’s limb, torso or head.

“For example,” Dr. Krauthamer explains, “if someone is having a major stroke, we can inject a contrast dye fluid to pinpoint where the blockage is in the brain, image it, and get simultaneous head-on and profile views. This cuts our diagnosis time in half because we don’t have to move the X-ray tube.

There aren’t many hospitals outside a university setting with that kind of high-end capability.”

As a medical specialty, IR is used to diagnose and treat illnesses ranging from strokes to cancers. The common Torrance Memorial's new $5.1 million Interventional Radiology (IR) suite, which will complement the hospital's existing IR suite, will be completed in early 2023.

factor is conditions that need to be identified within the body. With such versatile capabilities, the IR suite is in use “from early in the morning until nighttime,” Dr. Krauthamer says. “The room is constantly being used.”

In fact, he adds, “We’ve outgrown the one room, and we’ve really needed to have a second room.” Now, thanks to a generous gift from the Turpanjian family, Torrance Memorial is constructing a second IR suite. The IR technology, combined with the construction and IT infrastructure costs needed to support it, isn’t cheap. The total cost will be approximately $5.1 million.

But, says Dr. Krauthamer, it’ll be worth it. “That room is going to be used from early in the morning until after dark. Physically, the rooms are side by side, so we can share our nursing staff and technologists. And we’re using similar equipment in both rooms. The control rooms are right next to each other. It makes for a lot of efficiencies.”

The IR room is expected to be complete and ready to use in early 2023.

“It’s a big endeavor that we are embarking on,” says interventional radiologist George So, MD. “The new IR suite will be one of the most advanced interventional biplane suites in existence, allowing us to treat many conditions— including strokes, cancers and pain— with increased efficiency, improved patient outcomes and, ultimately, lives saved. It will incorporate new technology, and it will be ready for the future technology we know is coming.

“That’s only possible through the support of donors and our local community,” Dr. So adds. “This would not happen if the hospital didn’t have funding. We are so fortunate to have donors like the Turpanjian family.”

Embolisms, or blood clots, are a prime example of the life-threatening TorranceMemorial.org | 23

conditions IR technology can diagnose and treat. “The IR suite allows us to perform minimally invasive angioplasties to unblock vessels,” Dr. Krauthamer says. “We can also shut down vessels in people who have bleeding ulcers, for example. We can use different devices to remove clots in the heart, lung or brain, or the upper thigh, pelvis or inferior vena cava vein, which runs to the heart. We can also direct medication to clots.”

IR also allows for more options in the treatment of various cancers, explains vascular and interventional radiologist Donny Baek, MD. “It adds to our repertoire and toolbox for treating cancers.”

Chemoembolization, for example, involves inserting a small catheter into an artery to deliver a cytotoxic agent directly to a malignant tumor, starving it of its blood supply. Another treatment option, tumor ablation, either heats or freezes the tumor.

IR imaging technology also gives physicians the precision to surgically block pain in cancer patients and other patients. “We can put in 24 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

nerve blocks and treat that chronic, severe pain,” Dr. Baek says. “The advanced imaging tools we have allow us to target nerve plexus areas deep within the body. For example, advanced pancreatic cancer can cause pain that requires round-the-clock narcotic medication.

We can use a variety of techniques to help us localize the celiac plexus, which is usually invisible or shows as a very thin line on CT, and neutralize it.”

Combining an IR imaging suite and an operating room benefits interventional radiologists as they complete operations, as well as before and during procedures. “After treating, right on the table we can perform almost a CT, which allows us to see how well we did and ID any remaining tumor,” Dr. Baek explains. “This allows us to make a lot of decisions we weren’t able to make at the time of the procedure before. It’s more effective, and from a patient care standpoint there’s a huge benefit.”

He adds: “Our existing IR suite is highly utilized. We definitely need another room. We’re really lucky to be getting it.” •

Interventional Radiology (IR) technology has enabled Torrance Memorial Medical Center to intervene and save the lives of countless patients.

THE LUNDQUIST NEUROSCIENCES INSTITUTE OFFERS M O R E E X P E R T C A R E A N D I N N O VAT I O N . O u r t e a m of multidisciplinary neurology experts ensures our patients have access to the most advanced neurological care in the area. Our investment in technology, clinical trials, and the expansion of our affiliation with Cedars-Sinai means there is no need to leave the South Bay. Learn more at TorranceMemorial.org/Neuro

Expert Neuro Care with More Brain Power

LUNDQUIST NEUROSCIENCES INSTITUTE Featured: Jeffrey Kim, MD, Neurologist

Wearable technology is becoming a valuable tool in helping physicians diagnose and monitor conditions such as abnormal heart rhythms and for patients to monitor diabetes.

26 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

Popular Wearables Support Cardiac Health Digital devices can collect reliable data physicians use to evaluate abnormal heart rhythms.

Written by Lisa Buffington

D

uring the past five years, wearable devices such as the Fitbit, Kardia, Garmin smartwatches, WHOOP, Apple Watch and others have changed the way people monitor their health, fitness and well-being. While these devices can count the number of steps you walk, track your location using GPS or monitor your sleep, Torrance Memorial Lundquist Luire Cardiovascular Institute cardiologists say they can also provide reliable data that can diagnose and monitor abnormal heart rhythms.

“Wearables are everywhere now, and although the data was sketchy years ago when they first came out, it is now fairly reliable,” says Erol Kosar, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Torrance Memorial who treats patients with atrial fibrillation and other abnormal heart rhythms.

TorranceMemorial.org | 27

Everyday Technology with Life-Saving Benefits Abnormal heart rhythms increase the risk of stroke and cardiac arrest, so it’s critical to get an accurate diagnosis and start treatment as soon as possible. But arrythmias can be challenging to diagnose if symptoms come and go. And some patients don’t experience symptoms at all.

Some medical-grade wearable monitoring devices—including implantable loop recorders, pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators—are suitable for long-term heart rhythm monitoring. However, these devices need to be implanted during an invasive procedure performed after the patient is diagnosed or experiences noticeable symptoms.

“Sometimes arrythmias can be ‘silent,’ meaning they don’t cause symptoms a patient can feel,” says Dr. Kosar. “In that case, there is really no way to detect the condition without using a wearable device on a daily basis.”

Consumer wearable devices are stylish, compact and affordable, making them accessible and con28 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

venient for everyday use. Patients can wear these devices nearly constantly, making the device more likely to detect heart rhythm problems—even when the patient isn’t at the doctor’s office or using another external monitoring device, such as a Holter or event monitor.

“For patients who have abnormal heart rhythm symptoms once a year that go away on the way to the emergency room, these devices can be very helpful in determining the cause,” says Matthew Ostrom, MD, Torrance Memorial Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute cardiac electrophysiologist.

“Even if they wear an external Holter or event monitor for a few weeks, we might not be able to detect these symptoms because they occur so infrequently.”

Reliable Data Available for Expert Review Hundreds of wearable wellness devices with a range of capabilities are on the market. For example, the FDA-cleared Kardia device allows patients to initiate an EKG recording when they feel symptoms. Other devices, such as the Apple Watch, are equipped with notifications that alert patients

Devices such as the Apple Watch are stylish, affordable and can contribute to one's overall health and wellbeing.

when their heart rhythm goes above or below a set number of beats per minute.

With most wearable devices, patients can print or download reports of heart rhythm activity to share with their physician. “Patients show me these reports daily,” says Dr. Ostrom.

“Although follow-up testing may be necessary, these devices help us make diagnoses that illude medical monitoring capabilities so we can initiate life-saving treatment.”

Whether you are looking for a way to monitor your health or you have already been diagnosed with an arrythmia, a wearable device can provide you with peace of mind—and valuable information to share with your health care providers. “In addition to monitoring heart rhythm, wearables help people understand their overall wellness,” says Dr. Ostrom. “It’s an exciting field with benefits for patients and physicians.” •

WEARABLE TECH MAKES DIABETES EASIER TO MANAGE Perhaps considered one of the earliest wearable devices, insulin pumps have been around for decades. Insulin pumps are electronic devices that provide life-sustaining insulin for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes—without the need for insulin injections.

Insulin pumps, such as the Medtronic and Tandem models, are worn outside the body and include a display screen, a place for an insulin container and thin tubing that connects the pump to the body. Omnipod is a Bluetooth-enabled, tubeless insulin pump that sticks to the skin.

“Insulin pumps deliver a continuous supply of insulin to replace the insulin normally produced by the pancreas,” says Andrea MacMillan, program coordinator of the Diabetes Education Program at Torrance Memorial. “At mealtime, the pump does the math to help calculate and deliver accurate dosing.”

Unlike earlier models, today’s insulin pumps offer enhanced features, including the ability to communicate with a wearable continuous glucose monitor (CGM) device that provides blood sugar readings. “CGMs are devices worn on the outside of the body to provide constant, real-time feedback to help people with diabetes understand the impact of food, medication, activity and stress on blood sugar patterns,” says MacMillan. “With CGMs, people need far fewer finger pricks to track blood sugar. They also receive alerts when blood sugars go above or below a set range.”

Insulin pumps can use the CGM readings to adjust insulin automatically, which can help reduce the frequency of severe hypoglycemia—or low blood sugar—events and help people spend more time in their target blood glucose range. Even if a person doesn’t wear an insulin pump, they can still use a CGM, such as the FreeStyle Libre and Dexcom devices, with FreeStyle Libre being popular among people with type 2 diabetes.

“Physicians prescribe insulin pumps and CGMs, and diabetes educators help people learn how to use the devices and fit them into their everyday lives,” says MacMillan. “Wearable devices can reduce the burden of managing diabetes and offer peace of mind—a game changer for people living with diabetes.”

TorranceMemorial.org | 29

Mental Health Corner

Moe Gelbart, PhD, director of behavioral health, Torrance Memorial

How should I approach my children about the news surrounding gun violence? Should I talk to them?

It is important you discuss this with your children.

Although you may be concerned about bringing it up, rest assured they will be hearing about it on social media, from friends, at school, etc., and better they discuss it with you so you can control the information they are receiving, rather than getting it from friends or social media. Some suggestions include asking them about what they already know; asking them how they feel; validating their feelings while at the same time assuring them you will do everything to take care of them.

My husband has a drinking problem but is in denial and refuses to get help. What should I do?

One of the key elements of someone with a drinking problem is denial of the problem, so your husband’s stance is not unusual. You need to understand alcohol dependence and recognize it is not merely a choice or issue of willpower, but an illness requiring help. Avoid arguing about or judging his actions, and instead point out specific behaviors, let him know how you feel and how others in the family feel.

Ask him to seek a qualified professional with expertise in substance abuse and get an evaluation. Let him know you will accept those findings if the doctor feels there is no issue or problem. You can get support for yourself and learn how to deal with the problem by attending Al-Anon meetings. If the situation persists, you can consult with a professional for a formal intervention.

A Foundation of Happiness: What If vs. What Is One of the factors that causes people unease and distress is thinking negative thoughts and catastrophizing about them. Our feelings and our thoughts are intimately connected. Our feelings are always correct and result from our thinking. Our thinking can be inaccurate, distorted or based on old information.

Negative thinking leads to catastrophizing, which means looking into the future and thinking negative thought upon negative thought. For example, if one loses their job, they may think: What if I will never find another good job? What if I can’t afford my mortgage? What if my spouse leaves me as a result? What if I am alone forever? … and so on. This spiraling, negative, catastrophizing thought cycle leads to severe anxious and depressed feelings.

When I encounter this thinking pattern with patients, I ask them to identify the process internally and loudly tell themselves to stop, and change “what if ” to “what is.”

“What is” is happening in the present and allows you to focus on things that are in front of you and that you have control over. Avoiding the “what ifs” and transforming them to “what is” bring a sense of peace, control and empowerment—which contributes to a foundation of happiness. •

It's always best to discuss sensitive topics directly with your kids so you can control the information they are hearing.

30 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

If you have a mental health question for Dr. Gelbart, please submit it in an email to publications@tmmc.com.

Ask The Doctor

Got a Headache?

Treat head pain with a healthy lifestyle and help from your primary care physician.

Written by Melissa Bean Sterzick

H

eadaches are a frequent health concern for many individuals, but most head pain is easily treated. Minor lifestyle changes, self-care and overthe-counter medications are usually the easiest and best remedies. If those don’t help, see your primary care doctor.

Torrance Memorial Physician Network primary care physicians Betty Lo, MD, and Jennifer Park, MD, share tips for managing—and preventing—various types of headaches.

What are the most common types of headaches?

Dr. Lo: Tension headaches account for 40% of all headaches and can be triggered by stress, sleep deprivation, dehydration and hunger. Some people experience migraines, cluster headaches, sinus headaches, hormonal headaches and cervicogenic headaches, which are caused by pain that develops in the neck and is felt in the head. Due to the broad differential of headaches, a detailed history would help your provider make the correct diagnosis.

What headache remedies are most helpful?

Dr. Park: Applying heat or ice to relieve tense neck or shoulder muscles, stretching, massage and stress management techniques can help alleviate tension headaches. Overthe-counter medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can also provide relief. It is important to address the specific triggers that may be contributing to your headache.

What lifestyle changes can help with headaches?

Dr. Lo: Drink plenty of water, maintain a healthy diet and regular sleep patterns (limit sleep deprivation), and exercise regularly. You should limit known food triggers and find ways to reduce stress. Make sure you have the correct prescription for your glasses or readers. It is important to maintain good posture and limit prolonged screen time. It can also help to take magnesium and vitamin B complex supplements.

What should a patient tell their doctor about headaches?

Dr. Park: Tell your doctor about onset, how frequently you experience the pain and where you feel the pain. In addition, it is helpful to know if the pain is associated with any other

Before you can relieve a headache, it's important to ask, “What kind of headache do I have?” Learn more about triggers and symptoms for each type of headache and when to see a doctor.

symptoms like nausea, vomiting or visual disturbances.

Describe the severity or pain level. Sometimes keeping a headache journal can help patients determine what triggers their headaches so they can share that information with their physician.

When is it time to see your doctor about headaches?

Dr. Park: Migraines can be more severe and can be associated with nausea, vomiting and light sensitivity. You should see a doctor for migraine treatment. Also, when headache symptoms are changing in pattern or severity and increasing in frequency, or over-the-counter medications are not working, it is time to see your doctor.

When is it time to see a specialist?

Dr. Lo: It’s time to see a specialist when frequent headaches are unresponsive to typical therapy and there is a need for more intensive management that can only be provided by a multidisciplinary headache program. Additionally, when there is a secondary headache requiring a specialist, we can make referrals.

When is a headache an emergency?

Dr. Park: A headache is an emergency if it comes on suddenly and is severe. If it is accompanied by high fever, confusion, slurred speech, prolonged vomiting, or numbness or weakness particularly on one side of the body, immediately seek emergency care. • Betty Lo, MD, and Jennifer Park, MD, are primary care physicians at Torrance Memorial Physician Network in Torrance at 3701 Skypark Dr., Suite 100. They can be reached at 310-378-2234.

TorranceMemorial.org | 31

"Early Diagnosis Saved My Life"

c

Speaking up about concerning symptoms or having routine cancer screenings led to successful cancer treatment for three South Bay women.

Written by Lisa Buffington | Photographed by Vincent Rios

R

eceiving a cancer diagnosis is an overwhelming experience that will impact nearly 40% of people in their lifetime, according to statistics from the National Cancer Institute. But despite cancer’s tremendous impact on society—and its effect on individuals and their loved ones—cancer experts agree that an early diagnosis increases the chances of successful treatment and a favorable long-term outcome.

Prioritizing and scheduling routine cancer screenings is one of the best ways for individuals to take charge of their health. Understanding your cancer risk factors, keeping an eye out for concerning symptoms and alerting your doctor if you notice something unusual all contribute to proactive cancer care.

32 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

Sarandon Bracero was too young for a colonoscopy when she was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at age 42, but she listened to her body when something didn't feel right.

Concerning Symptoms and an Unexpected Diagnosis

J

ust ask Sarandon Bracero, who was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 42. “I wasn’t old enough to qualify for screening,” says Bracero, who was a pescatarian at the time, worked out six days a week and had been a dance major in college.

She said she knew something wasn’t right when her digestion hadn’t returned to normal a few days after doing a juice cleanse during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I was having cramping and running to the restroom, which wasn’t normal for me.”

She asked her physician for a referral to Torrance Memorial Medical Center gastroenterologist David Chung, MD, who ordered blood and stool tests, as well as a colonoscopy. The blood and stool tests came back clear.

“After my colonoscopy, I remember waking up groggy and hearing they found a tumor,” says Bracero. “A few days later, biopsy results confirmed it was cancerous.”

Within a week of Bracero’s diagnosis, nurse navigator Anne Milliken helped her schedule an imaging test called a CT colonography and an appointment with Torrance Memorial colorectal surgeon Megan Linnebur, MD. Milliken also helped Bracero schedule genetic testing, which found no mutations that would increase her risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Bracero then underwent surgery to remove part of her colon and nearby lymph nodes. Because the cancer had spread to two of her lymph nodes, she was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. She also had four rounds of chemotherapy under the supervision of medical oncologist Syed Jilani, MD, before being declared cancer-free. Through Torrance Memorial’s partnership with Cedars-Sinai, Bracero was eligible to enroll in a clinical trial that looks for signs of cancer recurrence in the blood samples of patients who were treated for stage 2 or stage 3 colon cancer.

So far, there has been no sign of a recurrence, which has provided Bracero with peace of mind—and the motivation to follow an even healthier lifestyle as a vegan for the last two years. She advocates for others to make diet and lifestyle changes now that could prevent a cancer diagnosis altogether. She created a blog about her experience healing from cancer that launched in September on the two-year anniversary of the surgery that saved her life.

“You need to listen to your body,” says Bracero. “If something is off, don’t assume it will correct itself. In my case, I was too young for a colon screening, so you really have to pay attention to changes and be your own advocate until you get the answers you need.”

TorranceMemorial.org | 33

A finess and exercise enthusiast, Rhonda Gil scheduled an ultrasound when she felt a lump in her breast during a selfexam after feeling some discomfort.

Speaking Up Could Save Your Life

R

honda Gil says she is grateful she paid attention when, in 2018 at 45 years old, a burning sensation in her breast led her to perform a self-exam that revealed a lump. She scheduled a doctor’s appointment and had a mammogram and ultrasound at Torrance Memorial within a week.

34 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

“My mammogram didn’t pick up the tumor because I had dense breasts,” says Gil, whose mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. “It was the ultrasound that found it.”

Gil was diagnosed with breast cancer in August and had what she describes as “the works”: a bilateral mastectomy performed

by breast surgical oncologist Rashaan Ali-Jones, MD, in November followed by a lymph node dissection in December, four rounds of chemotherapy under the supervision of David Chan, MD, in January and radiation under the supervision of Thyra Endicott, MD. A year later, she had reconstructive surgery performed by plastic surgeon Michael K. Newman, MD. Throughout her treatment and recovery, Gil, a fitness and exercise enthusiast, kept exercising, maintained a positive attitude and looked to others— including her nurse navigator, Evelyn Calip—for support. “You need an army behind you to get through something like this, and I had so much support and prayer,” says Gil. On the three-year anniversary of completing her last chemotherapy treatment, she ran a marathon to celebrate her survivorship. Today, four years after her diagnosis, Gil remains cancer-free. “If you are concerned, don’t be afraid to speak up,” she says. “And don’t be afraid to ask questions.”

Clinical Trial Leads to Early Diagnosis

F

Participation in a five-year clinical trial for early lung cancer detection saved Karen Roa's life—twice.

or Karen Roa, 75, a proactive approach to her health led to an early lung cancer diagnosis and successful treatment. “I spent my career in health care, and I was a long-term smoker,” says Roa, who is an avid golfer and plays several times a week. “Twenty-five years ago, when an opportunity came up to volunteer for a NIH [National Institutes of Health] five-year clinical trial studying whether CT scans or x-rays were the best approach for early lung cancer detection, I decided to get involved—for my health and for the benefit of others.”

Roa’s participation in the clinical trial proved to have life-changing benefits for her, leading to the discovery of a small nodule in the right middle lobe of her lung. Under the care of her pulmonologist, Khalid M. Eltawil, MD, FAASM, she continued to receive annual CT scans for the next 20 years to monitor the nodule.

In January 2021, when Roa was 73, her annual scan revealed the nodule had doubled in size compared to the previous year—“a significant change,” according to her physicians. Her case was presented at the Torrance Memorial Thoracic Tumor Board, a multidisciplinary meeting of health care providers who work as a team to care for patients with lung cancer. The team recommended a biopsy, which revealed the nodule was cancerous.

Clark B. Fuller, MD, a Cedars-Sinai and Torrance Memorial thoracic surgeon, performed a minimally invasive lobectomy at Torrance Memorial to remove the cancerous portion of Roa’s lung. Because the cancer was contained to the lung and had not spread to her lymph nodes, she didn’t need chemotherapy or radiation. Although she was feeling well enough to get back to the golf course just a month after surgery, Roa heeded the advice of Dr. Fuller to give her body a chance to completely heal, and she was able to play again shortly thereafter.

“I can’t sing the praises of Torrance Memorial enough,” she says. “Even during the throes of COVID-19—from the time of the results of the concerning CT scan, the further investigative studies needed and the surgery—I was cancer-free in under six months.”

Roa says she hopes her experience encourages others to take advantage of lung cancer screening.

“I am the best example of the benefits of early detection and how participating in clinical trials can benefit everyone,” she says. “It’s my privilege to share my story with the hope that it will encourage others to access the technology that is there to help them today. Even if you are a smoker, the medical professionals at Torrance Memorial are there to help you and not to shame you. You need to get screened and take care of your health before it’s too late.” •

TorranceMemorial.org | 35

Zest for Life

Freewheeling This is no ordinary biker gang.

Written by Diane Krieger | Photographed by Michael Neveux

Top (from left): George Schuler, Don Tuffli, Dal Corsaro, Jerry Biggins and Warren Cutting Not pictured: Fred Christie.

U

nder their sleek racing helmets, these six silver-haired cyclists have a combined life experience of 550 years. The youngest, Jerry Biggins, turns 90 in October.

Early every Friday morning for the past dozen years these biking friends have met at Torrance Beach, straddled 10-speeds and pedaled the 4 miles to Hermosa Pier. Rolling up to Scotty’s on the Strand around 8 a.m., they park themselves at their regular table.

“We like sitting by the window, watching everybody go by,” says Jerry, who’s been doing this for nearly 40 years. When he and USC fraternity brother Sim Hixson started the Friday morning cycle group in 1985, they would ride all the way from Palos Verdes. Other friends joined over the years.

36 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

Sim passed away in 2019, and Jerry now rides alongside George Schuler, 91, Don Tuffli, 91, Warren Cutting, 93, Dal Corsaro, 91, and Fred Christie, 90. Three of them still work, which is why the group meets so early. After breakfast at Scotty’s, they’ll turn around, go home and get down to business.

Jerry is president of G.E Biggins & Associates, the Palos Verdes-based paper manufacturing business he founded in 1983. George heads up Schuler Investment Corporation, also based in Palos Verdes. Don is an executive with Tuffli Company, a Torrance-based real estate investment business, and its Long Beach subsidiary, Tell Steel.

The other bikers are retired. Dal was an executive in the food services industry. Warren was a Redon-

do Beach dentist. Fred was president of Southern California Edison.

Whether retired or employed, these six nonagenarians work hard at staying young at heart. The weekly ride to Scotty’s is just one link in the well-greased chain that binds them. In addition to cycling, most of the men regularly play golf together at Palos Verdes Golf Club.

Jerry and Don go back a long, long way. They were fraternity brothers in the USC chapter of Delta Tau Delta in 1951. Don and Warren also share a special bond: Their youngest kids have been married about 40 years. They have three grandchildren in common.

All the bikers have been married at least 60 years. Between them, they have more than 70 grandkids and great-grandkids.

Once every summer, the cyclists get together with their wives for dinner at Scotty’s. (George recommends the spaghetti: “For $6.95, it’s all you can eat, though the price has been going up. It’s now $12.95.”)

The ladies independently see each other through

their volunteer work for the Peninsula Committee Children’s Hospital and other activities. In another group activity, the friends gather once a month at The Original Red Onion in Palos Verdes for lunch and a friendly game of gin rummy. When the plates are cleared, the cards come out. The rummy club is whimsically called the “Bored of Education.” They play for $20 stakes.

“We used to play volleyball 40 or 50 years ago,” Don explains. “Then the gals got tired of breaking their fingernails, so we started playing gin rummy.”

It’s 7:30 a.m. on a Friday in late June. Dal sips coffee and reads his paper, seated at their regular table in Scotty’s. Normally he arrives with the gang on his three-wheeler, but “I’m taking a little vacation from riding,” Dal says. He’s recovering from a temporary health setback but expects to be back in the saddle in two weeks.

As the other bikers roll in, there are smiles and back slaps. Fred is conspicuously absent. He’s home sick with COVID-19. That doesn’t faze these fearless men. Throughout the pandemic, they never stopped cycling.

The bike group arrives early on Friday mornings for breakfast and conversation at Scotty's in Hermosa Beach.

TorranceMemorial.org | 37

“We just kept coming down here. We’d get takeout and eat on the patio,” says Jerry, a four-time cancer survivor. “I never got that worried about COVID,” he adds with a shrug.

Waitress Jasmine Calderon has been taking their orders every Friday for the last two years. “They’re really nice,” she says. “They always order the same thing.” Dal and George content themselves with a bowl of plain oatmeal. Don enjoys two slices of bacon and half an English muffin. Warren and Jerry like two eggs with their bacon.

Manager Luis Monroy has worked at Scotty’s for 20 years. “They’re my friends,” he says of the Friday morning senior biker gang. “It’s so cute. They’re like young guys, always making jokes.”

All six cyclists are Southland natives, but Dal is hyperlocal. He grew up in Redondo Beach and remembers when it was a sleepy village. “From our house to Palos Verdes, there was nothing but oil derricks, Japanese flower gardens and bean fields,” he recalls.

Weekenders came from across town on the Red Car. Dal himself would ride the streetcar to his grandparents’ home in San Bernardino.

As breakfast winds down, Don and George strap on their helmets for the 4-mile ride back to the big ramp near Miramar Park. Jerry stays behind to accompany Warren on the 1-mile ride to Bluewater Grill, where his car is parked. “I do a ‘sissy’ ride,” Warren explains,

“because I’m so slow.”

In his prime, Warren swam on the men’s relay team at Stanford. Jerry used to bike 50 miles a week.

A knee-replacement surgery in 2021 has pared back his cycling distances. In the ninth decade of life, both men accept their physical limitations, but they pride themselves on the things they can do. On the links, Warren defiantly carries his own golf bag. “I hate golf carts,” he grumbles.

After helping load his friend’s bike at Bluewater Grill, Jerry rides on to Torrance Beach, where his own car waits.

They know the joyride can’t last forever. Dave Diestel, the group’s erstwhile “cutup,” left for Arizona to be closer to his daughter. “He’s in the warehouse now,” Don cracks, meaning a senior living facility. Dick Dunbar, who used to show up for breakfast when he could no longer pedal to Scotty’s, has stopped coming. Dal’s wife, Joyce, passed away in November.

But week after week, these seniors cycle on, keeping their legs, lungs and long friendships strong. “It's good exercise,” Jerry notes, “and you‘ve got to do something—as you get older especially. You’ve got to do something.”

Perhaps Frank Sinatra said it best when he crooned: “And if you should survive to 105, look at all you'll derive out of being alive.” For these young-at-heart cyclists, that’s another 15 years down the bike path. •

Seated at their regular Scotty's table, it's just another Friday morning with the guys for Warren, Jerry, Don, George and Dal. 38 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

THE HUNT CANCER INSTITUTE AT TORRANCE MEMORIAL DELIVERS 360° EXPERT CARE. We are here for you from screenings to leading edge treatments and survivorship.

Through our affiliation with Cedars-Sinai Cancer, patients have access to more clinical trials and groundbreaking research.

Our team of 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

Community Benefits

Not-So-Secret Garden Local garden offers beauty and services for the community.

Written by Laura Roe Stevens | Photographed by Chuck Bennett

S

outh Coast Botanic Garden (SCBG) is no longer a well-kept secret in the South Bay. This 87-acre botanic garden—with expansive spaces to roam, exquisite gardens to uplift and programs for every age—has become a respite for all.

Adrienne Lao Nakashima has been CEO of SCBG for 12 years and is proud of how the garden has become a place of comfort and joy for so many—especially in the last 2½ years.

“I’ve been with South Coast Botanic Garden since 2010 and have witnessed the transformation and how our members and Community—with a capital C—use our garden,” she says. “Needs are changing, and our mission is 40 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

to meet those changing needs.”

When schools were shut down due to the pandemic, for instance, parents began taking children, who were at home alone on Zoom, to the garden after “school” just to get outside.

“Every Tuesday it was my greatest joy to get those kids outside to feel the freedom of space, air and color,” says Emily Caldwell, a Hermosa Beach mother of three. “I am forever indebted to their cautious business sense and what it gave to us when locked down. For two years they also hosted all of Isla’s dance recitals (School of Dance & Music) and holiday performances in a safe outdoor space.”

The garden has many uses beyond being

Located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula at 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., South Coast Botanic Garden offers something for everyone.

an expansive space for cooped-up children. It has, and will continue to be, a place that provides upliftment for all ages. People recovering from illness or injury or struggling with grief or anxiety find the garden a lovely place for rehabilitation, or to get their steps in, explains Adrienne.

A Wonderful Place to Be With more than 200,000 plants and 2,000 species from around the world, SCBG is a wonderful place “to be.” It was created from humble beginnings in 1959 on top of a sanitary landfill by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors at the request of a citizens group.

Since then, it has changed exponentially.

Specialty gardens include the Japanese Garden, Fuchsia Garden, Children’s Garden and the 2-acre Dorothy and John Bohannon Rose Garden.

Rabbits are often found at dusk in its fields, and birdwatchers love all the seasons at the garden— as it is now an oasis for 200+ species of birds.

As if natural splendor wasn’t enough, SCBG delivers educational events and programs offering “layered experiences of surprise, adventure, beauty and serenity through color, texture, sound and light.” Unique special events continue to expand in popularity. The weekly Sunset Series of musical performances in July is fun for dates or the whole family.

There are also dog-walking hours, a SOAR butterfly exhibit and a GLOW light display throughout the year. “The butterfly pavilion is amazing and one of our most popular exhibits,” Adrienne says. “School groups and families love getting to see tropical butterflies up close.”

Garden visits are free for Electric Benefit Transfer (EBT) card holders, as are the monthly Free Tuesday events. “Our mission is to connect all to the wonders of nature and to create experiences that inspire stewardship and responsibility,” shares Adrienne. “Our doors are open to all as we serve a larger community beyond the few miles around us and welcome you wherever you come from.”

Whether you live next door or an hour away, South Coast Botanic Garden offers something for all tastes and strives to be an oasis for everyone. •

South Coast Botanic Garden offers a variety of special events throughout the year.

Children like to explore the SOAR exhibit for an up close and personal look at butterflies.

The gardens are a perfect spot for an afternoon visit among friends.

All ages enjoy fun botanical displays like this flamingo garden.

TorranceMemorial.org | 41

Sharonda Barksdale, a financial aid officer and homeless and foster youth liaison at El Camino College, oversees the college's Warrior Closet, which provides clothes and necessities to students and families in need.

Helping Hands

Helping Students & Families El Camino Warrior Closet and Warrior Pantry Written by Laura Roe Stevens | Photographed by Philicia Endelman

S

ky-high gas prices, soaring rents and rising food costs are just a few of the obstacles facing California’s community college students and their families today. In fact, nearly 20% of community college students in California are homeless, and a staggering 60% experienced some sort of housing insecurity in the past year, according to a recent statewide poll. It’s no wonder student enrollment numbers continue to drop as well.

The El Camino Warrior Closet and Warrior Pantry, created in 2018, has been vastly expanded to ensure El Camino Community College students have the support they need to stay in school.

“If students are worried about their families’ needs, or are hungry, they find it hard to focus on their studies,” says Sharonda Barksdale, who works as a financial aid officer and homeless and foster youth liaison at the college. “This service provides 42 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

support. It takes some of the burden away from our students so they can concentrate on their career path and on building a brighter future.”

The Warrior Closet and Warrior Pantry started in 2018 to meet the needs of homeless students.

But at that time, it was a pop-up shop twice a month in a parking lot, explains Sharonda. Due to increasing needs for all students and their families, these services now have dedicated locations on campus and are open twice a week: Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to assist students currently enrolled with a minimum of one credit hour.

The Warrior Food Pantry is a drive-through service offering canned items, perishables, fresh fruits and vegetables, and toiletries. Leah Braly, a 38-year-old mom of three from Torrance who is earning a degree in automotive technology, says

she would not be able to stay in school without help.

“I use both. I’m very low-income and have two teenagers and a 20-year-old. I can’t afford to get them new back-to-school clothes, so it was so nice to be able to bring them home nice things, including Vans shoes,” Leah shares. “The pantry has fresh veggies, which is rare [for a food pantry] and some frozen items. Last semester they even gave students gift cards to a few local restaurants, including Torrance Bakery. I nearly cried because I couldn’t remember the last time I was able to take my boys out to eat. I’m so grateful to El Camino.”

Younger students are feeling an economic strain too. “One student told me her dad had a job interview but nothing to wear. I told her to take a shirt for him,” says Sharonda. “She was so excited and relieved when she returned and told me her dad got the job. We’re here for students, and we welcome any donations from the community.” •

WARRIOR CLOSET AND WARRIOR PANTRY DETAILS: •

•

• • • •

•

Top: Sharonda helps Leah Braly, a mom of three from Torrance, find items for her family.

Bottom: While there is no charge for items, a checkout counter is in place to take record of all transactions.

Serving: Students enrolled with a minimum of one credit hour at El Camino Community College Warrior Closet: Gently used and new clothing and shoes for boys and girls of all ages, as well as home goods such as sheets, blankets, towels and toiletries Warrior Pantry: Canned items, perishables, fruit and vegetables Days Open: Tuesdays & Thursdays Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: Warrior Closet is located at MBBM 130 (Manhattan Beach Boulevard side of campus near parking lot) of El Camino Community College campus; Warrior Pantry is a drive-through service across from the Warrior Closet, follow campus signs Donations: Drop off gently used and clean donations during business hours. Current needs include plus and big and tall sizes of casual wear, sweatshirts, shoes and home goods.

Corporate donations of food, new clothing, shoes and home goods are welcome! Please email Sharonda Barksdale at sbarksdale@elcamino. edu for information or to schedule a drop-off date/time.

TorranceMemorial.org | 43

44 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

Community VIP

Different Strokes Longtime swim instructor Ken Taylor knows how to get results.

Written by Nancy Sokoler Steiner | Photographed by Micheal Neveux

S

tanding in the pool guiding his student, 72-year-old Ken Taylor directs the 9-year-old to float on his back, then rotate onto his stomach and swim six strokes toward his instructor. The boy’s mother, Jayme Schoch, smiles and shakes her head.

“He used to be so afraid of the water,” she says of her son. “Now he looks forward to lessons.”

“I encourage, never discourage,” says Taylor, a fixture of the South Bay swimming community since he started teaching in 1973. He swam in high school and, after a four-year stint in the Navy, enrolled in classes to learn how to teach the sport. A friend’s mother, also a swim trainer, encouraged him to start teaching babies to swim. There were no male teachers at the time, and Taylor built a reputation as a patient and effective baby instructor.

In the years since, he has trained students of all ages, predominantly children and adolescents. His experiences include coaching the swim teams at Hawthorne, Leuzinger and Narbonne high schools. He worked at South Bay Swim School and with the swim team at South End Racquet and Health Club, where he grew the group from 10 to about 50 members. He has also coached Special Olympians, including one who earned a gold medal in the national competition. Today, Taylor is on staff at the Palos Verdes Beach and Athletic Club (PVBAC), where he also gives private lessons.

Taylor has prepared hundreds of children to pass the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Junior Lifeguard test. Open to youth ages 9 to 17, the

test involves swimming 100 yards within a certain time frame. He’s been the Junior Guard prep instructor at PVBAC since he started there in 1996.

“It’s not a picnic,” he warns participants who take the prep class. “It’s always challenging.” Taylor emphasizes stroke and form, starting students at one pool length and working them up beyond the required distance. He teaches them to pace themselves so they don’t run out of steam before they can finish.

Nikki Zamora knew where to turn when her daughter expressed interest in becoming a Junior Lifeguard. “He’s the one to go to,” she says, referring to Taylor. “Everybody knows him.”

She signed her daughter up for private lessons with Taylor to learn the basics. The child could tread water but couldn’t swim freestyle when she started. “He worked on her form, and in the last two or three months, I’ve really seen progress,” says Zamora.

To develop proper positioning of her arms, Taylor has his student hold a hollow tube straight in front of her nose in alternating hands as she completes each stroke. “You gotta reach,” he tells her.

The 9-year-old loves her lessons, reports Zamora, who says her daughter was one of the few to continue taking them through the winter. “I’ve heard he’s tough, but I haven’t seen it. He’s very kind and has a lot of patience.”

In addition to his teaching abilities, Taylor is known for some idiosyncrasies. He used to ride his unicycle the length of the pool and back, paralleling his students, until the practice was discontinued for safety reasons. He

wrestled professionally for 10 years on the independent circuit. And when the South End swim team dared him to shave his head and grow a beard if they made California Interscholastic Federation, he complied.

But when it comes to his philosophy of teaching, he grows serious: “I teach from the heart. I think of my students as a piece of clay, and I’m trying to create something that’s going to last them a long time.” •

Left: Ken Taylor with swim students (left to right) Jack Prindle, Colin Hopper, Jack Hopper, Jordan Fujita, Hudson Nuccio and Noah Freeman

TorranceMemorial.org | 45

Community VIP

Winning Combination Athletics and academics add up for professional beach volleyball player Emily Day. Written by Nancy Sokoler Steiner | Photographed by Vincent Rios

A

t the Hermosa Beach Trader Joe’s, a scoreboard keeps track of how many times professional beach volleyball player Emily Day scores an ace (serves a ball that isn’t returned and thus results in a point). For each ace she makes, Trader Joe’s donates $100 to a food charity.

As of early July, she’d made 27 aces.

But that number was sure to grow: Day was heading to Portugal the following week for the Beach Pro Tour Challenge and had numerous competitions remaining in the season. Last season, she scored an impressive 55 aces, resulting in a $5,500 donation to New Challenge Ministries’ Fresh Rescue Food Bank in Torrance.

Growing up in Torrance, Day played team volleyball at West High School as well as at Loyola Marymount University. After her team was asked by their LMU coach to play some beach volleyball tournaments, Day fell in love with the sport. She qualified for her first Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) tournament—the largest professional volleyball tour in the U.S.—while still in college.

“You can’t beat the lifestyle,” says Day, age 32, while she takes a quick break two days before competing in the Hermosa Beach Open. “We’re playing outside at the beach, there’s the healthy, active lifestyle and our involvement with the community. The South Bay community really follows beach volleyball.”

Since graduating from LMU in 2009, Day has racked up a host of accomplishments. They include earning a gold medal in the FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) 46 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

competition in Haiyang, China, and taking home nine AVP tournament titles, including twice for the Manhattan Beach Open and twice for the Hermosa Beach Open.

She’s played in competitions around the globe, traveling to countries including Australia, China, Germany, Rwanda and Switzerland. “When you’re touring, it’s the same group of people playing each other around the world,” she explains. “On the court, we’re competitors, but then we’ll all go out to dinner together. One of my best friends is a Brazilian player.”

As a student, Day never imagined beach volleyball could become a profession. Her parents stressed the importance of academics, and Day majored in math in college. To supplement her income, she began tutoring local high school students. She contacted her old high school teachers, who sent her more referrals. The business grew thanks to word of mouth, and Day opened Mathlete Tutoring, a

professional tutoring company.

“We want to be more than tutors; we want to be mentors,” she says. “You can be a great athlete and a great student.

You don’t have to be one or the other.”

Day embodies the sentiment as both an elite beach volleyball athlete and a student earning her master’s degree in applied math at Cal State Long Beach.

“The habits that make you a good student are similar to those that make a good athlete: working hard, being prepared and being responsible,” she points out.

On occasion, her worlds of sports and tutoring overlap. One student called her asking for help with a math problem when Day was in China for a competition. “She responded promptly and did a FaceTime session with my daughter while she was on the bus!” reported the parent. “Amazing!”

“I want to break the stereotypes that a jock or a blond female doesn't belong in the STEM world," says Day. For that endeavor, she gets an A+. •

Professional AVP beach volleyball player Emily Day makes her mark on the sand and in the classroom. She balances her time traveling the world for volleyball tournaments with running Mathlete Tutoring, her company that helps high school students excel in math.

TorranceMemorial.org | 47

Community VIP

Paying It Forward Retired Manhattan Beach police chief Derrick Abell finds satisfaction in mentoring.

Written by Nancy Sokoler Steiner | Photographed by Micheal Neveux

A

law enforcement officer’s creed is to protect and serve.

Derrick Abell adds another precept: to mentor. Chief of the Manhattan Beach Police Department (MBPD) since 2018, Abell retired in 2021 but continued to fulfill that role as interim chief until this month when his replacement was found.

As a leader, he says, “I really embrace the opportunity to share my experience, teach and be a role model to the people coming through the ranks, the people I’m responsible for and the community I serve.”

In his more than 30 years on the MBPD, Abell has held a variety of roles. They include D.A.R.E. officer, SWAT team member and commander, police lieutenant and field operations division commander. He became chief in 2018—the first African American to fulfill that role.

Abell found fulfillment in establishing relationships with the community, initially with students, teachers and administrators in his role as a D.A.R.E. officer. “I like being out in the field and dealing with people and problem solving,” he says.

Those relationships inform his desire to pay it forward. “If you’re a leader who truly appreciates your role and the responsibility you have, you try to share with people the insights you’ve gained over time to help them through their challenges,” he says.

Abell credits role models who contributed to his success. His mother raised him and his sister as a single parent “who expected the most out of us,” he says. “She never accepted 48 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

mediocrity.” In addition, Abell played football in high school and college, where his coaches served as father figures. “They kept me on the straight and narrow. I’m still in contact with them today.”

He aims to fill that role not only for members of the police force but for youth as well. Abell volunteers as a coach for the freshman football team at Mira Costa High School. “It’s not about winning and losing; it’s about the life skills we can impart to those kids.” He tells parents to judge him on whether, by the end of the season, their child has matured as evidenced by such signs as having better time management, doing chores without prompting or raising a hand in the classroom thanks to confidence gained on the team.

Abell has also taught civics classes at Mira Costa and hopes to teach life skills in Manhattan Beach and Inglewood schools now that he’s truly retired. Meanwhile, he managed to escape for two weeks in June—he’d never taken more than a week’s vacation before—on a motorcycle trip with two friends to visit his former stomping grounds in Montana. The 4,300-mile trip included stops in national parks and enjoying the scenery in South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico.

Abell found his purpose in law enforcement but admits he initially had no intention of serving. He hoped to go into broadcasting after graduating from Montana State University with a degree in communications and public relations. He saw a recruiting ad for the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Depart-

ment promising a $34,000 annual salary with benefits and decided to give it a shot.

He was soon hired and was working in the county men’s jail. Not long after, a friend from the Sheriff ’s Academy now working in the Manhattan Beach Police District encouraged Abell to join him. “I had never been to Manhattan Beach,” says Abell, who grew up in Inglewood. He liked what he saw, applied and was hired in 1991. “It’s been a great ride ever since,” he says. • Coach Abell talks with incoming Mira Costa freshman players (from left) Barrett Ryan, Charlie Rogoff and Christian Hackley.

“Me and my friends still talk about Coach Abell.

Out of all the coaching experiences we’ve had, we all remember what he taught us, the things he said. His message was: If you want something you have to go after it, never give up and never accept mediocrity. The energy and intensity he brought every day taught me so much. He taught me not only to be the best football player I can be, but the best person I can be outside the field. He was one of my favorite coaches I’ve ever had.

During freshman football, I wanted to be better for him just because I had so much respect for him.”

—Jackson Fischer, 2020 graduate, Mira Costa, and corner, Princeton University

TorranceMemorial.org | 49

Calendar

SEPTEMBER 12 – OCTOBER 31 SEPTEMBER 15 – NOVEMBER 3 NOVEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 5 NOVEMBER 17 – DECEMBER 15

SEPTEMBER 12 – OCTOBER 31 SEPTEMBER 15 – NOVEMBER 3 NOVEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 5 NOVEMBER 17 – DECEMBER 15

STRETCHING FOR BETTER BALANCE WITH RANDY Monday or Thursday, 10 to 10:45 a.m.

This fun workout done in a chair is designed to help increase flexibility and mobility to help prevent injuries.

MUSCLE STRENGTHENING WITH RANDY Monday or Thursday, 11 to 11:45 a.m.

Learn correct, safe techniques for strengthening your upper and lower body using a chair and flexible exercise bands.

SEPTEMBER 12 – OCTOBER 31 NOVEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 5

SEPTEMBER 12 – OCTOBER 31 AND NOVEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 5 (LAURA) SEPTEMBER 15 – NOVEMBER 3 AND NOVEMBER 17 – DECEMBER 15 (SHARMONE)

LYMPHATIC FLOW CHAIR YOGA WITH SHARMONE Monday, 2:15 to 3:15 p.m.

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.

YOGA BASICS Monday with Laura, 4 to 5 p.m.; Thursday with Sharmone, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Harmonize body, mind and spirit through gentle stretching exercises, traditional yoga poses, breathing techniques and guided relaxation.

SEPTEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 1 NOVEMBER 15 – DECEMBER 6 YOGA FOR OSTEOPOROSIS WITH DEBI Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

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.

SEPTEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 1 NOVEMBER 15 – DECEMBER 6 BEGINNING TAI CHI WITH RICHARD Tuesday, 2 to 3 p.m.

A sophisticated Chinese exercise that inspires physical and mental wellbeing. This class is an introduction to the form. It consists of slow, graceful, circular movements that improve balance and coordination.

SEPTEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 2 NOVEMBER 16 – DECEMBER 7 INTERMEDIATE TAI CHI WITH RICHARD Wednesday, 2 to 3 p.m.

As students become more familiar with the techniques of balancing and relaxation, they will learn more of the movements to complete the form.

SEPTEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 2 NOVEMBER 16 – DECEMBER 7 ADVANCED TAI CHI WITH RICHARD Wednesday, 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

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.

50 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

SEPTEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 2 NOVEMBER 16 – DECEMBER 7 LINE DANCING WITH SHARON Wednesday, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

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, it is also great for your brain too. No partner needed.

SEPTEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 2 NOVEMBER 16 – DECEMBER 7

SEPTEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 2 NOVEMBER 16 – DECEMBER 7

INTEGRATED YOGA WITH ROBIN Wednesday, 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.

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.

MAT/FLOOR PILATES WITH KAREN Wednesday, 12:30 to 1:20 p.m.

An all-levels class to strengthen your core muscles, improve your balance and provide support for your spine. Participants should have a moderate fitness and flexibility level. Mat Pilates or yoga experience recommended.

SEPTEMBER 14 – NOVEMBER 2 NOVEMBER 16 – DECEMBER 7 CHAIR YOGA FOR OSTEOPOROSIS WITH DEBI Wednesday, 11 a.m. to noon 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.

SEPTEMBER 15 – NOVEMBER 3 NOVEMBER 17 – DECEMBER 15 CHAIR YOGA FOR STRENGTH AND BALANCE WITH SHARMONE Thursday, 2 to 3 p.m.

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.

KEEP YOUR DOCTOR. CHOOSE YOUR MEDICARE PLAN. LIVE HEALTHY. Find a Medicare event near you at thipa.org/events.

To Learn more or for a No-Cost consultation with an insurance agent, call 310-257-7239.

All classes are online and conducted over Zoom. Please call 310-517-4711 to register. Pricing is $80 for 8 classes.

TorranceMemorial.org | 51

LLING

90274 H

ILL

52 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

S ES

T

MD LOCA L

RO

A Sleep Doc Who Serves Written by Diane Krieger | Photographed by Siri Berting

A

fter treating patients with sleep apnea, acute lung disease and COVID-19 all week, Khalid Eltawil, MD, enjoys nothing more than a weekend filled with sudden deaths. No, he’s not the Jekyll-Hyde of pulmonary care.

Eltawil is simply passionate about tennis.

“I try to play as much as possible—at least two to three times a week, mostly on the weekends,” says Dr. Eltawil, who is medical director of the Torrance Memorial Sleep Disorders Center and the hospital’s chief pulmonary physician.

All that exercise pays off in the bedroom.

“I sleep great,” he says. “My wife is jealous. I go to bed even before my kids do—usually between 9 or 10 pm. When it’s time for me to sleep, ‘Good night, I’m out of here.’”

Dr. Eltawil starts his workday by 6 a.m., so he sets his alarm for 4:30 a.m. The hospital is well situated to feed his tennis mania: for a quick lunchtime workout, he can dash over to South End Racquet Club on Skypark Drive, where he’s a longtime member.

Dr. Eltawil also belongs to Peninsula Racquet Club, which is closer to his Rolling Hills Estates home. But he mostly plays doubles on the backyard courts of friends on the hill.

When he can’t play, Dr. Eltawil binge-watches tennis matches on TV. “My kids say, ‘How can you spend hours looking at that yellow ball go back and forth?’ But I really can!” he says, speaking with a faint, hard-to-place accent.

The mystery accent is explained by an unusual childhood. Though he was born in Cairo, his family moved to Nigeria when he was a baby. His dad was an Egyptian accountant consulting for the Nigerian government. His mom was a journalist who later became an English teacher.

Dr. Eltawil and his two brothers grew up speaking English and Arabic. They attended a British school in the city of Kaduna, northern Nigeria’s industrial hub.

When the family returned to Egypt in

1984, the Eltawil boys completed high school and college through a Cairo-based satellite program of the University of London. Dr. Eltawil studied medicine at Cairo University and came to California for his residency and fellowship in pulmonary and critical care at USC. He's been at Torrance Memorial since 2003.

On weekends, when not playing or watching tennis, Dr. Eltawil makes himself useful around the house. A self-taught fixer who learns from YouTube videos, he’s always got some home improvement project underway. Two years ago, he sanded, primed and painted the large wooden back deck. “And I did a great job,” he says, preening.

One by one, he’s changed out all the outdoor electrical fixtures. His wife, Temara Elgammal, an avid gardener, relies on him to repair and reconfigure irrigation pipes and sprinklers.

Dr. Eltawil calls his wife “an amazing person.” They met in Michigan, where she was a medical student, and married soon after she graduated. But Temara never practiced medicine. “Instead she has dedicated her life to our kids,” Dr. Eltawil says proudly, noting that his wife is a former PTA president and Torrance Memorial Luminaries board member.

While Dr. Eltawil tinkers around the house, there’s usually hip-hop music thumping in the background. Michigan-reared Temara is a “big fan” and cranks up the volume as she prepares delicious family meals with her homegrown veggies.

“She’s an amazing cook, and so is my son,” says Dr. Eltawil, whose children are his pride and joy. Dina, 18, “is very smart,” he says. A 2022 class valedictorian at Peninsula High, she starts at UC Santa Barbara in the fall, majoring in political science.

Omar, 16, is a rising junior at Pen and a team leader in robotics.

“I spend as much time as I can with my kids because I realize they’ll soon be off on their way,” Dr. Eltawil says, wistfully. •

Vital Stats Born: Cairo, Egypt, grew up in Kaduna, Nigeria Age: 51 Wife: Temara Elgammal Kids: Dina and Omar Pet: Bast-et (aka Bast), a ginger tabby “pandemic cat” Home: Rolling Hills Estates, near Rancho Vista Elementary School Favorite tennis racquets: Wilson and Babolat. “My kids make fun of me for the number of racquets I own,” he says, sheepishly.

Latest count: 15 Other preferred tennis gear: Lotto and Yonex shoes; Nike apparel; Dunlop balls Favorite Middle Eastern dining: “If you want really good Middle Eastern food, my favorite is a tiny place called Cairo Cafe in Anaheim, right next to Disneyland. The food reminds me of what my mom used to make.” Locally, Dr. Eltawil favors Fanoos Grill, a Persian-style eatery in Rolling Hills Plaza. Another top pick: Desert Moon Grill in Anaheim, specializing in Lebanese fare.

TorranceMemorial.org | 53

Flash Events All Flash Events Photographed by Deidre Davidson

Ambassadors Women’s Luncheon May 10 Shade Hotel Redondo The women of Torrance Memorial’s Ambassadors came together to network, socialize and enjoy a special luncheon at Shade Redondo’s Sea Level Restaurant while guest speaker and cardiologist Nadia Jafar Curran, MD, informed guests about advancements in women’s heart health care. Ambassadors financially support Torrance Memorial’s Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute, Hunt Cancer Institute, Lundquist Orthopedic Institute and Lundquist Neurosciences Institute.

3

4

5

1 6

2 7 1.

2.

Front: Cynthia Williams, MD, Christy Abraham, Nadine Bobit, Kak McKinnie Back: Patricia Sacks, MD, Patricia Lucy, Kathleen Krauthamer, Angela Furkioti, Judith Gassner, Ann Zimmerman Front: Val Adlam, Tasneem Bholat, MD, Helaine Lopes, Laura Schenasi Back: Mary Richardson, Carolyn Snyder, Patti Herman, Donna LaMont

54 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Nadia Jafar-Curran, MD Elizabeth Joy, MD, Charlotte Lesser Francesca Deaver, Shannon Cochran Diana Brandt, Karen Odom, Cindy Hagelstein Barbara Bentley, Judith Gassner, Song Klein, Kay Sheth

El Segundo Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening June 2 and 4 Torrance Memorial El Segundo Medical Complex Torrance Memorial celebrated the opening of its new multispecialty medical complex in El Segundo at a ribboncutting ceremony on June 2 with city officials joining hospital administration and donors to tour the building. An open house for the public held Saturday, June 4 allowed more than 300 community members to enjoy physician-led tours and visit booths to learn more about services being offered. The medical complex is a joint effort with CedarsSinai and is located at the new Nash Street Exchange, 2110 E. El Segundo Boulevard.

2

1

3

4

5 OPEN HOUSE

RIBBON CUTTING

1.

3.

2.

Rumi Cader, MD, leads community members through the primary care office suite.

Open house visitors enjoyed building tours, complimentary carotid artery ultrasound and information about Torrance Memorial doctors and services.

4.

5.

6

6.

Keith Hobbs, Tom Prisolec, Zachary Gray, MD, Craig Leach, Mayor Drew Boyles, Heidi Assigal El Segundo City Council members Carol Pirsztuk, Carl Jacobson (former), Scot Nicols, Chris Pimentel Michelle Charfen, MD, David Buxton, Ann Buxton, Honorable Milan Smith, Katherine Crane Mona Madani, MD, Matthew Mejia, MD, Richard Brucker, MD TorranceMemorial.org | 55

Flash Events

36th Annual Golf Tournament June 6 Palos Verdes Golf Club Palos Verdes Golf Club was the setting for the 36th Annual Torrance Memorial Golf Tournament sponsored by City National Bank. Before the shotgun start for the scramble-format tournament, all 135 golfers competed in a stampede miracle putt with two balls successfully falling into the cup! After playing 18 holes, golfers returned to the Clubhouse for a silent auction, Rose Garden reception and awards ceremony.

In addition to the golfer awards given at the ceremony, special recognition and thanks was expressed to Don Douthwright who stepped down as Committee Chair after serving in that role for 34 years. The 2022 Golf Committee, now chaired by Rick Higgins, also deserves thanks for their diligence and participation in making the event successful. All proceeds support the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute.

1

3

4

2

6

5 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Front: Mary Wright, Steve Wright, Dan Dritschel; Back: Aman Wright, Brian Wright Rick Higgins, Mike Emenhiser, Craig Leach, Brandon Hovard Front: Mark Rouse, Scott Rouse; Back: Chris Profeta, Jarratt Rouse Sal Gonzalez, Mike Ninnis, Steve Lopes; Back: Dave Klein Jon Lund, Louis Graziadio Aaron McGinnis, Jim Scriba, Daniel Scriba, Jerry Soldner Tim Rogers, Twanna Rogers, John Rogers

56 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

7

YPPA Dinner April 12 Young Physicians and Professionals Alliance (YPPA) gathered at the home of Erin and Heidi Hoffman, MD, on April 12. YPPA founding members and guests enjoyed a five-course meal

by Torrance Memorial’s executive chef Samuel Sellona. Daneivys Rodriguez-Brindicci, director of clinical nutrition, spoke about the impact on patient care and breadth of work performed by the Nutrition Services team. YPPA began as the brainchild of the late Richard Hoffman, MD, a dedicated and pioneering radiologist at Torrance Memorial. Heidi Hoffman, MD, who followed in her father’s footsteps as a radiologist at Torrance Memorial, has also made YPPA a personal priority—serving as a member of YPPA’s volunteer committee and inspiring others to join YPPA and support Torrance Memorial.

1

2

3 4

5

7

9

6

1.

2.

3.

8

10

Chef Sam Sellona Chef Sam Sellona, Sophia Neveu Meg Walker, Jamie Kagihara, MD, Tasneem Bholat, MD, Sam Alherech, Alex Shen, MD, Allyson Shen, Heidi Hoffman, MD 4. Stanley Chang, MD, Joanne Chang, Cody Charnell, Jamie McKinnell, MD, Lynell Davis, Esq. 5. Sarah Wohn, PsyD, Katy Morris, Colleen McKinnell 6. Tasneem Bholat, MD, Roy Fu, MD, Sam Alherech, Anthony Walker, Meg Walker 7.

Colleen and Jamie McKinnell, MD 8. Joanne and Stanley Chang, MD 9. Sam Morris, Katy Morris, Heidi Hoffman, MD 10. Johanna Johnson-Gilman, Ricc Brindicci, Chef Sam, Daneivys Rodriguez-Brindicci TorranceMemorial.org | 57

A Look Back

Former Torrance Memorial staff members are shown breaking ground on the Vasek Polak Breast Diagnostic Center. From left: Patricia Sacks, MD, George Graham, Sally Eberhard and Robert Huber, MD

The Polak Breast Diagnostic Center at Torrance Memorial

T

Written by Jill Biggins Gerbracht

orrance Memorial’s Breast Diagnostic Center was formed in 1986 thanks to the generosity of Vasek and Anna Maria Polak—local leaders in business and philanthropy who provided the funds to launch and grow the hospital’s program. The first of several large donations was made in 1994 by the late South Bay auto dealer Vasek Polak and included $1.2 million to Torrance Memorial’s Breast Diagnostic Center. Torrance Memorial recognized the generosity of the donation by dedicating its Breast Diagnostic Center to Polak and his late wife, Anna Maria.

Including a new pledge dedicated in 2000, donations made in the names of Vasek and Anna Maria Polak total $3.7 million. The Breast Diagnostic Center has been the leader in the community offering the best technology in breast imaging. The center was the first to offer digital mammography, also referred to as 2D mammograms, in 2004.

Then in 2014, the center was the first facility in the South 58 | Pulse Magazine Summer 2022

Bay to offer 3D mammograms. Patricia Sacks, MD, now retired radiology specialist at Torrance Memorial, started the Polak Breast Diagnostic Center in 1992—well before mammograms used digital technology. The Breast Diagnostic Center screens more than 2,000 patients a month with the 3D machines. This technology is especially valuable for younger patients who are getting their first mammogram and patients with dense breasts.

Hologic machines—costing $300,000 to $400,000 each— are used at the Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Breast Diagnostic Centers in Torrance, Carson, Manhattan Beach and Rolling Hills. Together, the offices screen more than 30,000 women annually.

As Breast Cancer Awareness month approaches, it is an important reminder of the importance of maintaining breast health with regular mammograms for women age 40 and older. •

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

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