Month: June 2024

On April 24, LuskinOIC hosted an educational conference featuring UCLA residents and visiting professor Dr. Vish Talwalkar. Dr. Talwalkar, an expert in pediatric orthopaedics from Shriners Hospitals for Children and the University of Kentucky, delivered a lecture on “The Quest for Value in Pediatric Spine Surgery.”

Residents Dr. Eric Chang, Dr. Daniel Chiou, and Dr. Paul Walker also presented their innovative research aimed at improving surgical outcomes and patient care. This annual conference is crucial for advancing LuskinOIC’s mission of providing equitable, patient-centered care, fostering knowledge, collaboration, and new ideas to enhance treatment for children with musculoskeletal disorders.

Dr. Mike Russell, an orthopaedic surgeon and ortho-oncology fellow at UCLA, is passionate about improving global health through his work, and is currently training and serving patients at LuskinOIC. With six years of orthopaedic training, including a residency at the University of Iowa, Dr. Russell is committed to addressing healthcare disparities. His motivation stems from a transformative visit to Haiti post-earthquake where he witnessed the severe lack of orthopaedic care available to those in need. This experience highlighted the urgent need for high-quality surgical care in remote and under-resourced regions, solidifying his dedication to the field.

Dr. Russell’s next venture involves moving to Malawi, Africa, to join Cure International, a faith-based organization dedicated to rectifying healthcare injustices in the developing world, particularly in orthopaedics. In Malawi, he will focus on neglected trauma and congenital deformities, working primarily with children who lack access to surgical care. Dr. Russell plans to eventually establish a pediatric ortho-oncology practice and aims to move beyond the current standard of amputation due to the lack of prosthetic devices, and instead, build a limb-salvage practice to significantly improve patients’ quality of life.

Throughout his career, Dr. Russell has been influenced by the mentorship of Dr. Bernthal at LuskinOIC, where the commitment to providing high-quality care to under-resourced populations in Los Angeles has inspired him. His experiences with patients suffering from severe conditions without access to proper care have driven his mission. As he prepares for this new chapter, Dr. Russell emphasizes the importance of embracing one’s passions, despite challenges, and he is eager to contribute to lasting change in global healthcare through his work with Cure International and continued partnerships with institutions like LuskinOIC and UCLA.

The Luskins’ Visionary Philanthropy Will Secure Excellent Orthopaedic Care For Countless Children In Need.

Our gratitude for your incredible support and participation in our gala, which celebrated our patients and providers. The gala’s theme for 2024, “Heal Champions, Fuel Athletes,” infused every moment of the occasion, gathering nearly 1,000 guests at SoFi Stadium to advance a shared cause with your generosity.

On June 8, 2024, LuskinOIC hosted the Stand for Kids Gala at SoFi Stadium. With Mario Lopez as our host, we celebrated the achievements of our young patients and honored the Los Angeles Chargers and Students Run LA for their community contributions. Funds raised from the gala will help us continue providing expert orthopaedic care to children, regardless of their ability to pay.

We Thank Our Generous Sponsors

Lead Sponsors: The Chadha Jonovic Family, Las Amigas De Las Lomas, La Cañada Flintridge Orthopaedic Guild, The Han Family, Charitable Children’s Guild, Las Madrecitas, Clear Channel, The Zytko Family, The Ehrlich Family, The Burcham Family, and UCLA Health.

See the full list of sponsors here.