Keck School of Medicine of USC

Keck School of Medicine of USC
Name	Keck School of Medicine of USC
Established	1885
Type	Private
Dean	Carolyn C. Meltzer
City	Los Angeles
State	California
Country	United States
Campus	University Park, Health Sciences Campus
Affiliations	University of Southern California

Keck School of Medicine of USC is the medical school of the University of Southern California, a private research university in Los Angeles. Founded in 1885 as the University of Southern California's medical department, it is the oldest medical school in Southern California. The school is named for the W. M. Keck Foundation, following a landmark gift in 1999. It is renowned for its research enterprise, clinical training, and affiliation with a major network of hospitals including the renowned LAC+USC Medical Center.

History

The institution was established in 1885, just five years after the founding of the University of Southern California itself. Its early development was closely tied to the opening of the Los Angeles County Hospital in 1878, which provided essential clinical training grounds. A pivotal moment came in 1925 with the opening of the Los Angeles General Medical Center, cementing a longstanding public partnership. The school moved to its current Health Sciences Campus in the early 1950s, adjacent to the Boyle Heights community. Transformational philanthropy arrived in 1999 with a $110 million gift from the W. M. Keck Foundation, leading to the school's renaming. Under the leadership of deans like Stephen J. Ryan and Laura Mosqueda, it has expanded its research footprint and community outreach programs significantly.

Organization and leadership

The school is led by Dean Carolyn C. Meltzer, who also serves as the CEO of Keck Medicine of USC. It is organized into numerous basic science and clinical departments, including the Department of Medicine and the Department of Neurology. Key administrative units include the Office of Research and the Office of Medical Education. The school's faculty practice plan operates under the umbrella of Keck Medicine of USC, the university's medical enterprise. This integrated structure oversees the Keck Hospital of USC and the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Governance involves close collaboration with the Provost of the University of Southern California and the board of the USC Health System.

Academics and programs

The school offers the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree, alongside a combined M.D./Ph.D. program conducted with the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. It also provides numerous Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy programs in biomedical sciences. Distinctive programs include the Primary Care Initiative and the Scholarly Concentration curriculum, which allows student research in fields like global health. Medical students complete core clinical rotations at major affiliated sites including LAC+USC Medical Center and Children's Hospital Los Angeles. The school also houses renowned residency and fellowship programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education across all major specialties.

Research

Research at the school is organized around multidisciplinary institutes, most notably the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. The Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute is a hub for research on Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The USC Institute for Global Health tackles worldwide health challenges. Major funding comes from the National Institutes of Health, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and private foundations like the W. M. Keck Foundation. Pioneering work has been conducted in areas such as gene therapy, stem cell research, and telemedicine. The school consistently ranks among the top nationally in NIH grant funding.

Affiliated hospitals and clinical facilities

The primary teaching hospital is the Keck Hospital of USC, a nationally ranked academic medical center on the Health Sciences Campus. The school's historic and essential partnership is with the LAC+USC Medical Center, one of the largest public hospitals in the United States. Other major affiliates include Children's Hospital Los Angeles, a top-ranked pediatric facility, and the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center for oncology care. The network also encompasses USC Verdugo Hills Hospital and the USC Care Medical Group clinics throughout Southern California. These facilities provide a vast and diverse clinical environment for patient care, medical education, and translational research.

Notable alumni and faculty

Distinguished alumni include pioneering cardiologist and former American Heart Association president Robert H. Jones, and former United States Surgeon General Richard Carmona. Notable faculty have included Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Arieh Warshel, and virologist Paula Cannon, known for her work on HIV resistance. Former dean Stephen J. Ryan was a renowned ophthalmologist and president of the Doheny Eye Institute. Other prominent figures are geneticist and National Medal of Science recipient Michael S. Waterman, and cardiologist Leslie Saxon, a leader in digital health. The school's faculty have held leadership roles in major organizations like the American College of Physicians and the National Academy of Medicine.

Category:Medical schools in California Category:University of Southern California Category:Educational institutions established in 1885 Category:1885 establishments in California