Month: May 2026

LuskinOIC recently celebrated two special moments focused on uplifting and supporting patients and families through community partnership and engagement.

The hospital was honored to receive a generous donation of books from the Jester Assembly, which recognizes children who have read the most in their classes. Its continued support helps advance programs and experiences that benefit children receiving care. The award presentation highlighted the importance of community organizations and schools coming together to make a meaningful impact in the lives of pediatric patients and their families.

In addition, representatives from Starlight Children’s Foundation visited the hospital to spend time with patients and bring moments of joy and encouragement throughout the day. The visit included interactive activities, gifts, and opportunities for children and families to engage with the Starlight team, creating memorable experiences that helped brighten the hospital environment.

Mandalorian and Grogu also made a surprise guest appearance, spreading joy to patients and staff.

Both events reflected LuskinOIC’s ongoing commitment to fostering community partnerships that enhance the patient experience beyond clinical care. Through the generosity of organizations like the Jester Assembly and Starlight Children’s Foundation, patients and families continue to feel supported, celebrated, and encouraged throughout their healthcare journey.

LuskinOIC is proud to celebrate an exciting milestone for Isabel Marquez, volunteer coordinator, who has officially been accepted to the University of California, Los Angeles, where she plans to major in education.

Isabel’s journey is a true reflection of the impact of service, mentorship, and opportunity. More than a year ago, she joined LuskinOIC as a staff member, but her connection to the organization began much earlier as a student volunteer through Orthopaedic Hospital Medical Magnet High School. During her time as a volunteer, Isabel quickly stood out for her dedication, compassion, and natural leadership skills.

After transitioning from volunteer to employee, Isabel became an integral part of the Volunteer Services team, helping guide and mentor students who now follow a path similar to her own. As volunteer coordinator, she has worked closely with students, families, and hospital staff to ensure volunteers feel welcomed, supported, and inspired through their experience at LuskinOIC.

Her acceptance into UCLA marks another major achievement in a journey already defined by hard work and perseverance. Isabel hopes to pursue a career in education, where she can continue making a difference in the lives of young people and helping students discover opportunities that can shape their futures.

Isabel’s story embodies the mission and spirit of LuskinOIC, creating pathways for growth and empowering young people to become future leaders. She serves as a powerful example of how student volunteers can grow into professionals who continue giving back to the community that helped inspire them.

The entire LuskinOIC family is incredibly proud of Isabel and excited to see all she will accomplish in this next chapter.

On April 28, LuskinOIC proudly welcomed approximately 60 to 70 Linked Learning counselors from the Los Angeles Unified School District for GSPP Counselor Training on campus.

The visit allowed counselors to learn more about the hospital environment, healthcare career pathways, and the strong partnership between education and healthcare institutions.

The day began with a welcome address from Michael Sullivan, vice president of LuskinOIC, who greeted the group and spoke about the organization’s commitment to supporting students, families, and future healthcare professionals through meaningful educational partnerships and workforce development opportunities.

Following the welcome, counselors participated in a guided tour of the hospital, where they experienced the innovative care environment firsthand and gained insight into the many departments and career pathways available within healthcare. The tour highlighted the collaborative relationship between LuskinOIC and community education partners, particularly Orthopaedic Hospital Medical Magnet High School, emphasizing the importance of creating opportunities for students to explore careers in medicine, healthcare administration, patient care, and allied health fields.

The visit also allowed counselors to better understand how partnerships between healthcare organizations and educational programs can help prepare students for future success by connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences. Through programs like Linked Learning and GSPP, counselors play an essential role in helping students discover pathways that align with their interests and career goals.

LuskinOIC is grateful to the Linked Learning counselors and LAUSD leadership for spending the day on campus and looks forward to continuing to strengthen partnerships that support student growth, career exploration, and community impact.

LuskinOIC was honored to welcome Dr. Shyni Varghese to our campus this month. A nationally recognized leader, Dr. Varghese’s work continues to shape the future of orthopaedic research and regenerative medicine.

Dr. Varghese will serve as the incoming vice chair of the Orthopaedic Research Center, bringing with her a distinguished career dedicated to advancing innovation in musculoskeletal science and tissue engineering.

Her groundbreaking research focuses on biomaterials, biomechanics, mechanobiology, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine, fields that are transforming how clinicians approach healing and recovery. 

Her visit to LuskinOIC reflects our institution’s ongoing commitment to fostering collaboration, advancing research, and driving innovation in pediatric orthopaedics. Leaders like Dr. Varghese are helping redefine what is possible in musculoskeletal care and inspiring the next generation of discoveries that will improve the lives of children for years to come.

LuskinOIC continues to invest in leading-edge technology that advances the quality of care we provide to children and families. 

We are excited to announce that Dr. Scaduto has approved a groundbreaking upgrade to the new 3T Siemens MRI unit recently ordered for our hospital, positioning LuskinOIC among the first medical institutions in the region to introduce a new generation of hybrid imaging technology.

This innovative advancement integrates CT-level imaging capabilities directly into MRI technology, representing a major step forward in diagnostic imaging. By combining these capabilities into a single scan, physicians will be able to obtain faster, more detailed, and highly precise diagnostic information while eliminating radiation exposure for many patients. 

For children and families, this means shorter care journeys, increased comfort, and quicker access to answers and treatment plans. This investment reflects LuskinOIC’s ongoing commitment to innovation and delivering the most advanced pediatric orthopaedic care available.

In a recent feature published by UCLA Magazine, philanthropist Meyer Luskin reflects on a century of life, leadership, and giving back. 

The article, “UCLA for Life: Meyer Luskin,” highlights the extraordinary journey of the UCLA alumnus whose generosity, alongside his wife, Renee Luskin, has transformed countless programs and initiatives across the university and the broader Los Angeles community. 

Born in Boyle Heights to immigrant parents, Luskin attended UCLA at just 16, later served in World War II, then returned to complete his education and build a successful business career. Throughout the piece, he shares how his experiences shaped his belief that success should be measured not by wealth accumulated, but by impact created through philanthropy and service. 

At 100, Meyer Luskin remains deeply optimistic about the future and committed to advancing research and education that improve lives locally and globally. His story serves as a powerful reminder of how philanthropy, vision, and education can create lasting change.

Read the full article here. 

We are proud to announce the generous sponsorship of John & Jodi Spanos, and the LA Chargers, for the continued support of our mission. 

As president of football operations for the Los Angeles Chargers, John Spanos understands the importance of investing in young athletes and the communities that support them.

Their partnership helps LuskinOIC continue its mission of bringing care to every child through innovative health, education, and workforce development programs. Their support is especially meaningful as we expand our Sports Medicine Program, where we are committed to advancing care for young athletes through leading-edge rehabilitation and injury prevention.

We are proud to announce that Las Amigas and Los Amigos have stepped up as the $100,000 Presenting Sponsor for the Innovation Gala. 

Founded in 1957 as an auxiliary of the Charitable Children’s Guild of LuskinOIC, Las Amigas de Las Lomas—“Friends from the Hills”—has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to philanthropy for nearly seven decades. Guided by LuskinOIC’s mission to provide orthopaedic care to children regardless of their ability to pay, Las Amigas has remained a steadfast partner by raising funds and providing volunteer support. 

Composed of members from the South Bay area of Los Angeles, the organization has a rich equestrian heritage and has raised more than $1.2 million in support of LuskinOIC. While historically known for its annual horse show, Las Amigas has evolved its fundraising efforts and now hosts an annual member-selected event that continues to drive meaningful impact. 

In 2015, Las Amigas expanded its legacy by founding Los Amigos, a youth organization for members’ sons and daughters in grades 6–12, fostering the next generation of philanthropic leaders.

LuskinOIC is deeply grateful to this remarkable group for its generous contribution to both the Gala and the Innovation Campaign. In recognition of their gift, the Recovery Bay within the Everychild Foundation MRI Suite will be named in honor of Las Amigas and Los Amigos. 

The MRI Suite represents a vital component of the Innovation Campaign and will significantly enhance the quality of patient care at LuskinOIC. Through this meaningful recognition, the names of Las Amigas and Los Amigos will remain an enduring part of LuskinOIC’s legacy—one defined by compassion, excellence, and access to care for generations of families to come.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Philip Han and the Han family for their extraordinary generosity and continued commitment to our mission.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Han family will serve as a major sponsor of our annual gala, demonstrating unwavering support for advancing healthcare in our community. Since joining our Board of Trustees in 2021, Philip has consistently answered the call to serve with leadership, compassion, and dedication. 

This year, the Han family’s remarkable $50,000 sponsorship will play a crucial role in helping us enhance our MRI technology to also provide CT imaging. This upgrade will establish a new standard of care by enabling physicians to obtain faster, clearer, and more detailed diagnostic images, ultimately improving patient outcomes and expanding access to advanced medical services in a fraction of the time. 

We are deeply thankful for the Han family’s partnership and enduring generosity.

A few weeks ago, we were honored to receive a generous $13,000 from the family of Marie Marshall.

Mrs. Marshall and her loved ones have been dedicated supporters of our mission since the early 1980s, faithfully providing quarterly contributions that have helped advance care for countless patients and families over the years. Their longstanding commitment reflects a deep belief in ensuring children receive the highest quality orthopaedic care close to home.

This meaningful gift will support our Innovation Campaign and the development of our upcoming Advanced Imaging Center, a transformative investment in the future of pediatric healthcare. As part of this effort, the Everychild MRI will be upgraded with CT capabilities, allowing our physicians to make faster, more precise diagnostic and treatment decisions.

By expanding access to advanced imaging technology, we can improve patient outcomes, reduce wait times, and help children return more quickly to the activities and moments that define childhood.