Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1508535
2 | Health Matters: Providence Little Company of Mary San Pedro and Torrance Garry Olney, Chief Executive Providence Little Company of Mary San Pedro and Torrance Letter to the Community W e are very proud of the collaborations we have with two world-class medical institutions to provide academic-level expertise and care to our communities. In this issue of Health Matters, you'll learn how Providence Little Company of Mary 's professionals team up with colleagues at Keck Medicine of USC and City of Hope | South Bay to provide state-of-the-art cardiac and cancer care to South Bay residents. On page 4 you'll find the story of a real-life patient who was saved by one of our Providence interventional cardiologists—Dr. Nazanin Azadi—and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Matthew Powers of Keck USC. Together they worked quickly to avert what could have been a fatal outcome for the Hermosa Beach resident, who didn't even know he had heart disease. This unique medical partnership has resulted in a win-win outcome: Patients with complex cardiac conditions get expert cardiovascular surgical procedures performed by Keck USC specialists while receiving care close to home through Providence Little Company of Mary 's outstanding critical care and inpatient and outpatient cardiac rehab units. Staying local, where friends and family can visit, can be very important in helping recovery. And on page 8 you'll get to know Dr. Lorena Gonzalez, a Providence– City of Hope | South Bay breast surgeon who faced the same cancer diagnosis as many of the women under her care. She shares her personal experience and knowledge as well as five must-know facts about the disease and what you can do to stay healthy. On page 6 you'll meet another inspiring woman, Diane Robinson, a pioneering police officer who was injured on the job but didn't find the compassionate care she was seeking until she met Dr. Remi Ajiboye, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spinal surgery, especially complex spinal reconstructions. Diane feared that her serious spinal injuries would eventually confine her to a wheelchair, but Dr. Ajiboye, in a meticulous and lengthy operation, was able to rebuild her entire thoracic and lumbar spine, enabling Diane to pursue her dream of competing in bodybuilding. We hope you enjoy this latest edition of Health Matters and learning about our innovative collaborations with Keck USC and City of Hope. It's just another aspect to our commitment to provide you with compassionate, individualized care. We are honored to serve our South Bay community. Take care and stay well,