Dr. Steven Shapiro (center) takes a tour with Dr. Narsing Rao (left) and Rod Hanners of the Health Science Campus. (Photo/Keck Medicine of USC)
By Amanda Busick
Steven D. Shapiro, MD, who has been named to the newly created position of senior vice president for health affairs at USC, visited the Health Sciences Campus recently, accompanied by Keck Medicine of USC interim CEO Rod Hanners and Keck School of Medicine Interim Dean Narsing A. Rao, MD.
Shapiro, who will directly oversee Keck Medicine and the Keck School of Medicine of USC along with oversight of associated research programs, joined Hanners on March 30 for a tour that included the medical school, Keck Hospital of USC, Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center and other HSC locations.
“We have a unique opportunity here to further align the clinical health system with the medical school, the research centers and other affiliated schools,” Shapiro said. “Through our coordinated group efforts, we can bring out the best in each other and make the absolute most of what an academic medical center can be — for our students, our patients and the future of medicine.”
While showing Shapiro around the campus, Hanners said he was excited at the prospect of working more closely with the university.
“This is the beginning of a new stage in our growth,” he said, “where all parts of our health system, the university and the medical school can work in tandem to expand our reach and reputation. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.”
Upon reaching the Harry and Celesta Pappas Quad, the pair met up with Rao, who was equally enthusiastic about the prospect of more unity among the educational and clinical programs at USC.
“As leaders in the field of medicine, we are obligated to leverage all of the resources that we have to advance health care for the whole world,” Rao said. “I am excited to work with Dr. Shapiro to lead our Keck School of Medicine and clinical enterprise to the forefront of science and medicine.”
The tour concluded at Keck Hospital, after a car tour of outlying HSC buildings, with Shapiro meeting several of the hospital, USC Care and ambulatory leadership.
“In the people that I have met today,” Shapiro said, “I see the talent and expertise that have brought Keck Medicine and the Keck School such recognition and am eager to help elevate the health enterprise as a whole.”
Shapiro officially assumes his role on May 15.