UCLA Pfleger Liver Institute & General Surgery Suite

When should you use antibiotics for infections? What’s the difference between viral and bacterial illnesses? Pediatric infectious disease specialist Paul Krogstad, MD, answers these questions and more. Read here. https://ucla.in/3pbfX6w

It doesn’t feel like Christmas without my father, says Priscilla Zubia, 20, the youngest of five siblings who lost their father, Jose Zubia, to COVID-19 in November. Intensive care physician Thanh Neville, MD, is the medical director for the 3 Wishes Program at UCLA Health, an initiative in which health care workers implement final wishes for dying patients. With the help of local philanthropists, Dr. Neville was able to help the Zubias feel "less alone" during their time of greatest need. Read the full story here. https://ucla.in/2KAc8ZN

Is it possible to eat your way to a healthier immune system? Actually, yes! But turning down the shortbreads, chocolates, and eggnog treats of the season can be tough. As we slide into the holiday season Dr. Vijaya Surampudi, an assistant professor of medicine at the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, explains how sticking to a healthy diet can make a difference for your immune system and overall health and well-being. Read her tips --> https://ucla.in/2YjUUEB

Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez sent their elves to spread some holiday cheer to our kids and their families at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. Their generosity saw to it that our kid’s holiday wish lists were granted and that the delivery came with surprise pizza and meal deliveries. Thank you, Ariana, Dalton and all of our supporters for your continued support this holiday season. If you’d like to join in on their kind gesture, visit here:... https://www.amazon.com//1QS8DSQL2DGA2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ws See more

California’s tiered approach to reopening is working, according to Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, an infectious disease expert at UCLA Health. Read more from The Sacramento Bee. https://bit.ly/3l2DiWp

A recent breakthrough in prostate cancer therapy is shown to provide an effective way to locate prostate cancer cells throughout the body. The potential? More men could be living cancer-free without any fear of lingering cancer cells. The new technology utilizes radioactive tracing to locate the cells so they can be treated. This advancement in care is called the prostate-specific membrane antigen, or P.S.M.A. PET scan, allowing for highly targeted treatment. UCLA Health studied this technology and it is now approved by the FDA for patient care, as covered by the The New York Times:

Are you looking for trusted info about the new COVID-19 vaccines? Learn about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, the vaccine distribution plan, and the protocols to follow after receiving the vaccine to keep the community safe and to help speed up a return to normalcy. https://ucla.in/3pkOKyc

We are proud to share that UCLA Health received the 2020 Excellence in Healthcare Award from the Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA) for the second year in a row! This award recognizes the work and dedication of our care providers and leadership team who deliver the highest quality care to our patients.

Like most everything else since this pandemic began, it was surreal. In early March, Dr. Natasha Wheaton, emergency room doctor at UCLA Health, contracted COVID-19. Read her story of recovery and return. https://ucla.in/3kEpxNi

Breast Cancer Social Media, or #BCSM, is proof of the power of a hashtag. Created by two breast cancer survivors, between 2011 and 2020, #BCSM generated over 4 billion impressions on Twitter internationally connecting the medical community like never before in support of patients, survivors, support people and health care practitioners. Learn what Deanna Attai, MD, a moderator of the Twitter convos for #BCSM, has discovered after 10 years of watching interactions with the hashtag on social media --> https://ucla.in/3kJof3S

Congratulations to Dr. Sherin Devaskar, physician-in-chief at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and assistant vice chancellor of Children’s Health at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, for being awarded the 2021 American Pediatric Society John Howland Award! Dr. Devaskar received the award for her contributions to child health and pediatrics. Read more. https://ucla.in/34Zge5n

#BCSM an initialism for "breast cancer social media" emerged on Twitter in 2011 as part of a weekly informational chat for #breastcancer patients. Since then, the hashtag has been used over 830,000 times, creating a global, online support system. The #BCSM online community has experienced tremendous growth since its inception because it has helped fulfill a need among patients who were searching for information and support on the platform," said Dr. Deanna Attai, UCLA Health cancer surgeon and lead author of the study Read more. https://ucla.in/3kJof3S

Are you on a quaranteam? In this edition of Ask the Doctors, Dr. Elizabeth Ko and Dr. Eve Glazier explain what it takes to keep a quarantine bubble safe and effective. From limiting contact to wearing masks, it comes down to what the least-careful person in your bubble is doing.... Learn more --> https://ucla.in/32fIgYu

Are plasma transfusions effective treatments for COVID-19? Dr. Judith Currier, chief of infectious diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, explains how a UCLA study is providing answers on Yahoo News. https://yhoo.it/3kA2Jyf

These days, between our jobs, our family members and the ever-changing world around us our energy is often stretched thin. And it’s really true what they say: you have to put your own oxygen mask on first before you can help others. For this week’s Wellness Wednesday, Diana Winston leads us in a guided meditation that encourages radical self-care. Take a moment to recharge: https://ucla.in/34XSP4j UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center

Human connection is not lost for patients undergoing cancer treatment during the pandemic. From the Chemo Chair, a program launched by the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, connects cancer survivors with new patients through anonymous letters of hope, wisdom, and comfort. Read more. https://ucla.in/3e40H70

Did you know that if you have undergone or are undergoing cancer treatments for head or neck cancer, healthy eating habits can significantly impact your overall health? Join Dr. Vijaya Surampudi, UCLA Health physician nutrition specialist and endocrinologist, for a free webinar at 3 pm PST to learn how to master healthy eating habits even through ongoing cancer treatments. Register here: https://bit.ly/3epfLfR

Each year, superheroes take a break from fighting crime to hang out with the children at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. But they aren’t the only heroes at UCLA Health. Some of the bravest people around are those inside the hospital: our patients. Thank you to Sunland Window Cleaning and our child life specialists for putting on this special day! Read more. https://ucla.in/32cdSOF

After they were diagnosed with an extremely rare white blood cell disorder, none of Alicia and Jon Langenhop’s three children were expected to live past age five. As a last resort to save their lives, the Canton, Ohio family began battling their way through the pandemic, chemotherapy, homeschooling, and job changes so that their children could undergo an experimental treatment at UCLA’s Broad Stem Cell Research Center. Read more about the family’s journey. https://bit.ly/34Ri34k

Being hospitalized shouldn’t interfere with a person’s right to vote. This election season, UCLA Health's volunteers and staff rounded our hospital floors to make sure registered patients could make their voices heard. Read more. https://ucla.in/2GlO3E9

After the 2016 election, hospitalizations for cardiovascular events (like heart attacks and strokes) almost doubled. If you’re feeling exceptionally stressed and overwhelmed by the election, UCLA Health cardiologist Dr. Megan Kamath shares some tips to manage election-related stress: https://ucla.in/3l2BBYQ