Comments from the Chair
I am pleased to present to you the Department of Medicine (DOM). This year has been exciting and challenging to the Department, the Keck School of Medicine and the University of Southern California (USC), encompassing a great deal of innovative growth and transformation.
The clinical arena this year past has seen especially exciting developments. USC purchased USC Norris Cancer Hospital and USC University Hospital from Tenet Healthcare Corporation, ushering in a new era at the Keck School of Medicine with the creation of a fully integrated academic medical center. Another significant change was the opening of the LAC+USC Medical Center in late 2008 where DOM accounts for more than 50% of total inpatient care. To garner steady growth, as we have been experiencing, USC will further invest in facilities upgrades and expansions and in the recruitment of outstanding clinical, research and tenure track faculty.
As a research-intensive Department, we maintain our commitment to an aggressive basic science, translational and clinical research mission. DOM faculty members’ annual research grant expenditures represent almost one-third of total NIH funded research grant activities at the Keck School of Medicine. Strategically, we strive to enhance our national and international prominence through sustained growth in research by increasing the number of federally funded investigators and research space.
Intensive investment in advancing educational programs at both the graduate and undergraduate levels continue as our faculty extensively contributes to medical student education in both the basic science and clinical clerkship years. We review the curricula of medical students and residents each year and strive to provide each group with a comprehensive and rich educational milieu. Testimony to these efforts is seen in our graduates’ 90% American Board of Internal Medicine examination passing rates and a 100% match rate through the National Resident Matching Program since 1995.
We are grateful for the dedication, positive work ethic and productivity of DOM faculty trainees and staff. We look to the future with great excitement, ready to meet upcoming challenges and to continue to fulfill and expand our tripartite mission of excellence in research, education and patient care.
Edward D. Crandall, Ph.D., M.D.
Hastings Professor & Norris Chair
Department of Medicine