Month: July 2025

LuskinOIC recently sent a letter to leading immigrant-serving nonprofits in Los Angeles to reaffirm its commitment to providing safe, welcoming, and inclusive pediatric orthopaedic care for all. This outreach aims to enhance partnerships and expand access to high-quality medical services for children in need.

The letter was shared with the following groups including:

• Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
• Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)
• Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project
• International Institute of Los Angeles (IILA)
• Catholic Charities of Los Angeles
• Immigrant Defenders Law Center
• International Rescue Committee (Los Angeles)
• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)
• El Rescate
• California Immigrant Policy Center

This initiative underscores LuskinOIC’s dedication to serving diverse populations with compassion and excellence. It is vitally important to us that every patient and their family feels secure and supported on our campus, knowing they can access care without fear or hesitation. We understand the vulnerabilities many face, and we stand firmly in creating a space of trust where healing can begin. We encourage all families in need—regardless of their background—to seek the specialized orthopaedic care we provide, as our doors are open to ensure every child thrives.

For inquiries or suggestions regarding further outreach, please contact Eunha Choi at eunhachoi@mednet.ucla.edu

The power of compassionate care knows no borders. This month, Dr. Bowen, our International Children’s Program (ICP) team, and a dedicated group of volunteers traveled to Calexico to provide specialized orthopaedic care to children and families in need.

The mission was about more than medical procedures and clinic visits. While the team provided essential care to young patients, they also understood that healing encompasses the whole child. Simple acts of kindness—like sharing toys with patients and their families—created moments of joy that transcended language and cultural differences. The smiles they received in return were priceless reminders that true healing reaches far beyond the exam room.

LuskinOIC’s International Children’s Program continues to embody our commitment to global health equity, ensuring that geography never determines a child’s access to quality orthopaedic care.

LuskinOIC will host Christmas in July on July 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., in the Luck Family Conference Center and outside on the blacktop driveway. This exciting event is sponsored by retired LAPD Officer Robert Deamer and organizations including the SUPO Foundation, the Red Sled Santa Foundation, Seasoned Tees by MCB, and the Newton Street Lucky Thirteen. The celebration will feature toys, music, arts and crafts, back-to-school supplies, food—and plenty of fun!

We’ve also heard that Santa will be taking some time out of his summer break to pay us a visit! This event is open to patients, families, staff, and the broader community. We hope to see many smiling faces as we celebrate the season early!

From July 4–10, more than 2,500 individuals with dwarfism and their families attended the 2025 Little People of America National Conference in San Diego—a one-of-a-kind blend of medical education, family reunion, and summer celebration. LuskinOIC proudly sponsored the opening welcome reception, sending 20 volunteers from Los Angeles. Our team hosted the District 12 ice cream social, serving nearly 300 local Southern California attendees. We were present all week through booth activations, nightly talent and fashion shows, community dances, and a comedy spotlight featuring Nic Novicki and Brad Williams.

Led by Dr. Deborah Krakow, LuskinOIC CEO Dr. Tony Scaduto, and Dr. Julie Bernthal, our team joined specialists from Johns Hopkins, Denver Children’s Hospital, and other skeletal dysplasia leaders to provide free clinical visits. Dr. Krakow, an internationally recognized expert in genetic skeletal disorders, shared insights in both individual consultations and group workshops.

LuskinOIC’s participation reinforced our commitment to combining clinical excellence with community-based outreach. Supporting both the medical and social dimensions of this national gathering reflects our belief in empowering little people through expert care, authentic engagement, and shared celebration.

LuskinOIC was proud to sponsor the 2025 Angel City Games, one of the nation’s premier adaptive sports festivals, held this year at the fully accessible El Camino College campus. The three-day event welcomed more than 400 athletes with disabilities who participated in more than 20 adaptive sports, from wheelchair basketball to blind soccer. Families, fans, and clinicians came together for a weekend of competition, inclusion, and celebration—including a special screening of Row of Life, honoring the remarkable legacy of veteran, disability advocate, and ocean rower Angela Madsen.

In collaboration with the UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Thrive Adaptive, LuskinOIC supported more than 40 resident physicians and clinical students who volunteered to provide first aid and event support. Under the leadership of Dr. Sharon Hame and Dr. David Kruse, our team gained valuable experience in adaptive sports medicine and the unique care needs of athletes with disabilities. Special thanks to our partners at Angel City Sports for making this unforgettable weekend possible.

LuskinOIC was honored to sponsor the world premiere of Adaptive: Paris, a three-part docuseries held at UTA Theatre in Beverly Hills. The film follows three Team USA Paralympians—swimmer Jamal Hill, who placed fifth in the 50 m freestyle S9; Courtney Ryan, who helped lead the U.S. Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team to a silver medal; and track and field athlete Ezra Frech, a former LuskinOIC patient who captured two gold medals in Paris, winning both the 100 m T63 and the high jump T63 with a record-breaking performance.

The screening offered an outstanding depiction of peak athleticism in adaptive sports and emphasized the importance of authentic disability representation in media. We were proud to attend alongside members of our Board of Directors, including Jason Silletti, as well as LuskinOIC faculty and staff including CEO Dr. Tony Scaduto, Dr. Mauricio Silva, COO Jamie Wells, and VP Michael Sullivan. Adaptive: Paris premieres July 28 on Peacock and is a powerful reminder of the resilience, excellence, and visibility that define the Paralympic movement.

The LuskinOIC Marketing Department successfully launched a paid media campaign with “L.A. Parent Magazine,” publishing an educational article titled “3 Essential Tips to Prevent Injuries in Youth Athletes” to connect with families across Los Angeles. The strategic placement allowed our sports medicine expertise to reach parents preparing their children for the fall sports season.

The comprehensive article, written by our very own Dr. Goldman, showcased LuskinOIC’s evidence-based approach to youth sports injury prevention, covering crucial topics like gradual training progression, proper sleep and nutrition, and foundational strength building. By sharing practical, research-backed advice from our sports medicine team, the piece positioned LuskinOIC as a trusted resource for athletic families while highlighting our comprehensive sports medicine services.

This targeted outreach effort demonstrates our commitment to proactive community education and prevention-focused care. The “L.A. Parent Magazine” partnership enables us to reach families before injuries occur, while simultaneously introducing our outstanding sports medicine team and service line to new audiences throughout the Los Angeles area. The campaign reflects our broader mission of accessible care, extending our expertise beyond our clinic walls to support healthy, active childhoods across our community.

[Top Image: Dr. Goldman with Sports Medicine patient]

Read the full article here: 3 Essential Tips to Prevent Injuries in Youth Athletes

On July 25, LuskinOIC welcomed 116 incoming freshmen, teachers, and upperclassmen mentors from Orthopaedic Magnet High School as part of their Summer Bridge program. The visit kicked off with a warm welcome and presentation from LuskinOIC staff and two of our high school interns, Kaylin Vargas and Jocelin Epigmenio, rising seniors from Orthopaedic Magnet, who shared their experiences and advice with the incoming class.

During their visit, students had the opportunity to explore LuskinOIC through guided tours led by Courtney Rojas, Community Engagement Manager, and Mary Beth Perrine, Foundation AVP. These tours offered students a firsthand look at our state-of-the-art facilities and introduced them to a wide array of health care roles—from orthopaedic specialists and physical therapists to research and community health professionals. For many of these students, it was their first time inside a clinical setting, giving them a tangible, up-close understanding of potential future careers in health care.

These immersive tours do more than spark curiosity—they help demystify the medical field and make health care careers feel both accessible and achieveable. By showing students where their education can lead, LuskinOIC supports Ortho Magnet’s mission to empower the next generation of health care professionals, many of whom come from underserved communities. 

In addition to tours, students engaged in creative and interactive activities, including crafts, lanyard making, and games—mirroring the same joyful experiences our pediatric patients enjoy. The visit concluded with closing remarks and a pizza lunch, wrapping up a meaningful and inspiring day for these future health care leaders.

The Roopal and Bharati Shah family will once again serve as the Presenting Sponsor for the LuskinOIC Swing for Kids Golf Tournament at Virginia Country Club on Monday, September 29. This marks an impressive eight-year streak as the event’s leading sponsor, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to supporting children’s health care through this charitable golf classic. It promises to be a day packed with fun, flavor, and philanthropy at a location that can’t be matched. The stunning Virginia Country Club in Long Beach is a historical gem, nestled in a breathtakingly beautiful setting, offering a truly special golfing experience. From the tree-lined entrance to the immaculately maintained fairways and greens, every scene is a delight for the senses.

By attending or sponsoring this event, you are helping to drive LuskinOIC FORE-ward, ensuring that children receive excellent care, regardless of their family’s ability to pay. This year’s event will benefit the LuskinOIC Care for Kids Fund, which supports excellent pediatric care provided at LuskinOIC. There will be a surprise around every corner—from an incredible tee gift experience to Bristol Farms’ “the cookie,” Calwise Spirits, and so much more! For more information, contact Mary Beth Perrine at 213-742-1500 or MPerrine@mednet.ucla.edu.

Learn more at Swing for Kids – Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children

[Top Image: Actor, advisory council member and talented emcee, Chris Gorham with (l-r) Chris Henze, Matt Barr, and Sebastian Roche]

Earlier this month, LuskinOIC received a generous final distribution of $100,000 from the Loretta M. Frye Trust. Loretta was a single mother of five who came to us in the 1970s seeking care for her son Bill, who had suffered a serious knee injury. With no means to pay, she turned to us in desperation. Our doctors treated Bill at no cost to the family. Loretta herself lived with untreated scoliosis and knew how important it was to get her son timely medical care. Deeply moved by the compassion she received, Loretta spent the rest of her life paying it forward—volunteering with Meals on Wheels, preparing taxes pro bono through AARP, and ultimately including LuskinOIC as a beneficiary in her estate. Her gift will be put toward the purchase of an MRI for our Advanced Imaging Center so that children like Bill Frye will not have to wait to receive the expert specialty care they need. If you would like to learn more about estate planning, please contact Mary Beth Perrine at mperrine@mednet.ucla.edu.

[Top image: Dr. Duffaut with Sports Medicine patient]

Patients at LuskinOIC will celebrate Christmas a little early this year! On Wednesday, July 30, Santa will deliver toys to hundreds of kids in the Luck Family Conference Center, while patients enjoy games, crafts, and other fun activities. We are looking forward to seeing every child leave for home smiling with all the toys they will receive! LuskinOIC is excited to bring extra special cheer to our kids to help make a magical Christmas in July.

[Top photo: Santa at Toys & Joy]

LuskinOIC’s marketing team recently launched comprehensive awareness campaigns for Clubfoot Awareness Month and Scoliosis Awareness Month, utilizing multi-channel strategies to educate families and health care providers about these common pediatric orthopaedic conditions.

The campaigns featured targeted email marketing to parents and stakeholders, providing essential information about early detection, treatment options, and success stories from LuskinOIC patients. Social media platforms showcased educational content and patient testimonials to reach broader audiences and encourage early intervention. The team also published in-depth educational blog posts on the LuskinOIC website, offering detailed insights into symptoms, treatment approaches, and long-term outcomes for both conditions.

These awareness initiatives not only educated the community about important pediatric orthopaedic conditions but also reinforced LuskinOIC’s position as a trusted resource for specialized care. The campaigns generated increased engagement across digital platforms and drove traffic to educational resources, helping more families recognize symptoms early and seek appropriate treatment for their children.

[Top photo: Dr. Bowen with scoliosis patient]

The return of the LuskinOIC Cerebral Palsy Summer Camp is just around the corner, taking place August 5–7 on our vibrant downtown campus! Now in its third year, this high-energy, high-impact camp is one of our most joyful and meaningful events of the summer—blending fun, community, and education in a uniquely LuskinOIC way.

Designed specifically for children with cerebral palsy of all ability levels, this three-day experience offers everything from adaptive sports and arts & crafts to inclusive water play—all made possible by the leadership of our outstanding Orthopaedic Rehabilitation team, with special thanks to Sera Cho, who has brought her clinical expertise and heart to every detail of this event.

We’re proud to once again partner with Angel City Sports, who will deliver dynamic adaptive sports clinics, and to welcome a special visit from Canine Companions, whose service dogs-in-training bring both comfort and excitement to the day.

This year’s camp will also double as a hands-on educational opportunity for clinical student volunteers, offering aspiring physical therapists, occupational therapists, and future physicians a chance to learn directly from kids with disabilities and from our interdisciplinary care team. This immersive, joyful environment fosters empathy, clinical understanding, and a stronger future for disability-competent care.

Another full house is expected, so special thanks are in order for everyone on our board for helping us make events like this possible—your support helps us shape inclusive care, one summer memory at a time.

We are thrilled to announce that LuskinOIC has advanced to the next round of the Everychild Foundation’s highly selective grant process. We are one proposal and presentation away from a potential $1 million award—the lead gift for our new MRI project.Currently, many of our patients wait more than two months for a scan to best determine their clinical and surgical plans. With this grant, we expect to eliminate more than 3 million days of waiting for our deserving children. 

Everychild Foundation will vote up to a week after our final presentation on October 28, and we will be notified in early November. Our Foundation team is focused on the preparations for our final proposal and presentation in the fall. Stay tuned as we work toward transforming diagnostics for our young patients.

[Top photo: Everychild Foundation visits LuskinOIC]

Congratulations to the LuskinOIC Class of 2025! More than 40 seniors from schools including Orthopaedic Medical Magnet High School, USC Hybrid, St. Mary’s Academy, Gala, Santee Education Complex, Palos Verdes High School, and more, graduated this June after completing more than 6,500 volunteer hours. They assisted in clinics, at our welcome desks, patient recreation programs, and at special events. This past month, LuskinOIC continued its mission to help train the next generation by providing more than $50,000 in scholarships through the Bonter Scholarship program, as well as $15,000 from Board Chair Craig Ehrlich. Since 2006, LuskinOIC has provided more than $1 million in college scholarships to its patients and Ortho High graduates. Expressing their enthusiastic support for the students, Claudia Prestine and Craig Ehrlich attended Ortho High’s Scholarship Night to present each student with their scholarship awards. Students have been accepted to universities such as UCLA, Stanford University, University of Notre Dame, USC, California Baptist University, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and more.

To conclude the school year for Ortho High School, LuskinOIC’s Assistant Vice President Mary-Beth Perrine delivered an inspirational commencement speech to salute the Class of 2025, along with a speech from valedictorian Oliver Nunez, who has supported our volunteer program for the last few years and has been selected as Bonter Scholarship recipient. 

LuskinOIC is so proud of the graduating class and all of their accomplishments!

[Top photo: AVP,  Mary Beth Perrine gives commencement speech at Ortho High graduation ceremony]

LuskinOIC Sports Medicine is hosting a 2025 Sports Medicine Fall Kickoff Webinar on July 29 and 31, featuring six 30-minute sessions led by UCLA Health physicians and certified athletic trainers. The two-day virtual event covers crucial topics including athlete mental health, advances in knee surgery for adolescents, heat and cold therapy applications, inclusive athletic training practices, and ankle rehabilitation protocols.

The webinar offers 2-4 CEUs for certified athletic trainers. Sessions include live Q&A sessions with clinicians that allow participants to engage directly with expert presenters. Featured speakers include UCLA Health sports medicine specialists Dr. Emily Miller, Dr. Soroush Baghdadi, Dr. Joshua Goldman, and UCLA Men’s Basketball athletic trainer Tyler Lesher. For more information about LuskinOIC’s Sports Medicine Fall Kickoff Webinar—or to register—click here.

The latest issue of Southbay Magazine features our own Dr. Soroush Baghdadi, highlighting his decade of outstanding work in adolescent sports medicine at LuskinOIC.

In the profile, Dr. Baghdadi shares insights about his patient-centered approach, emphasizing the importance of personalized care that supports children’s long-term growth and mobility rather than simply treating immediate injuries. He discusses how LuskinOIC delivers specialized pediatric orthopaedic care through our strategic alliance with UCLA Health, ensuring treatments reflect cutting-edge research while being specifically designed for children—not merely adapted from adult protocols.

He also shares his passion for community outreach and the International Children’s Program, which has delivered orthopaedic care globally for more than a century. When asked about recent advances in the field, Dr. Baghdadi details how LuskinOIC integrates innovative approaches including AI diagnostics, minimally invasive techniques, regenerative medicine, and 3D-printed surgical tools.

We’re proud to see Dr. Baghdadi representing LuskinOIC’s commitment to excellence and accessibility in pediatric orthopaedic care in this prestigious South Bay publication.

[Top photo: Dr. Baghdadi for Southbay Magazine]