EncountersEncountersSpring 2012The Semiannual Newsletter of

Staff pediatrician Basia Tcheng, MD, examines Jocelyn Martinez, 5,and her brother Jose, 2. Photo: Margaret Molloy

The Whole Person,The Whole Family

With more sites and more services than ever,

Venice Family Clinic has transcended its role

as a health clinic and now functions more like

a health system for its patients.

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VENICE FAMILY CLINICBOARD OF DIRECTORSBrian D. Kan, MD, ChairAshley Johnson, SecretaryJeffrey E. Sinaiko, TreasurerSusan AdelmanMayer B. Davidson, MDPaula DavisRichard DeArmond, MSWAime EspinosaWilliam FlumenbaumLuis GalvezRev. Lynda D. GrayCrispin JimenezNeil H. Parker, MDBill Resnick, MDPaul SabenFlora SantacruzStewart SeradskyLourdes ServinMarsha Temple, Esq.Carmen Thomas-Paris

VENICE FAMILY CLINICFOUNDATIONBOARD OF TRUSTEESSusan AdelmanCarol L. Archie, MDNeal Baer, MDRick BradleyLowell C. Brown, Esq.Mayer B. Davidson, MDSusan Fleischman, MDWilliam FlumenbaumChester F. Griffiths, MD, FACSJimmy H. Hara, MDJoan HermanAshley JohnsonJoanne Jubelier, PhDBrian D. Kan, MDDeborah LaubConstance LawtonLou LazatinHarley Liker, MD, MBATracey LoebGail Margolis, Esq.Melissa R. MartinezFrank Matricardi, Dr PHViren MehtaWendy Smith Meyer, PhD, LCSWWilliam D. ParenteHutch ParkerNeil H. Parker, MDBill Resnick, MDPaul SabenFern SeizerAlan SierotyJeffrey E. SinaikoMarsha Temple, Esq.Russel Tyner, AIAMichael S. Wilkes, MD, PhDLeisa Wu

Providing free, quality health careto people in need

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2012 Limited-Edition T-Shirt $22

2012 Limited-Edition Poster $20

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On a weekday evening in a Mid City neighborhood, thesound emanating from Irasema Vasquez’s home after dinneris not a television laugh track but rather the shouts of fiveboys playing in the yard.

“This was the easiest change,” Vasquez says. “We spend moretime playing outside, and less time inside the house watchingTV. It was easier to make changes with the little kids thanwith the big kids. The older kids are more set in their ways.”

The changes she refers to are the ones she learned in agroundbreaking research program, Pediatric OverweightPrevention through Parent Training, led by Venice FamilyClinic staff pediatrician Wendy Slusser, MD, MS, from 2006 to 2009. The study sought to measure whether parenttraining, based on social learning theory, combined withevidence-based interventions could reduce the risk ofoverweight in Latino children 2-4 years old living in low-income homes.

Over the past 40 years, obesity rates among children havetripled in the United States, and Latinos have an evenhigher prevalence of overweight early in life compared toother ethnic groups. In addition, overweight children are atincreased risk of weight and other health problems later inlife—overweight 3-5 year olds, for example, have triple therisk of their healthy-weight counterparts of becoming obeseadults—so early interventions are essential.

“This is the first pilot intervention study that reversed the weight gain seen in preschool Latino children living in low-income families,” Dr. Slusser explains. “Theintervention was unique because it blended nutrition,physical activity, and parenting topics. Mothers learnedfrom each other and practiced the skills at home.”

Vasquez and her children were among more than 120families who participated in the randomized, controlledstudy, which assessed the effectiveness of a seven-weekintervention consisting of weekly one-and-a-half-hourclasses by contrasting changes in body-mass index (BMI)percentiles of children whose parents received the trainingwith wait-listed subjects.

Results of the study were published in the February 2012issue of Childhood Obesity, guest-edited by MichelleObama. Researchers found that after one year, there was

a 9-percent reduction in overweight and obese children in theparent-training intervention group, while a control grouphad a 16-percent increase in overweight and obese children.

While only three of her then-five children participated inthe program, Vasquez saw the change in all of them. Butshe notes that the biggest change took place in herself, in how she parents.

“In terms of food, we pay more attention to portion sizeand eat more vegetables,” she says, noting that there aresome foods, like celery, that the kids eat now that theywouldn’t eat before. “Before they didn’t like it at all. Now,they eat it as a snack. I serve it with peanut butter andraisins and they love it.”

The study was funded by the Joseph Drown Foundation, the Simms/MannFamily Foundation, and Venice Family Clinic. It was conducted at VeniceFamily Clinic’s Simms/Mann Health and Wellness Center, Los AngelesUnified School District preschools, the Santa Monica Head Start Program,the Mar Vista Family Center, PHFE WIC, and the Children’s Bureau.Additional authors include Fred Frankel, PhD, Kristel Robison, MSW, HeidiFischer, MPH, William G. Cumberland, PhD, and Charlotte Neumann, MD,MPH. Access the full article from Childhood Obesity on Venice FamilyClinic’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/venicefamilyclinic.

Clinic Physician Authors GroundbreakingChildhood-Weight-Management Study

Wendy Slusser, MD, MS, is a staff pediatrician at Venice Family Clinic’sSimms/Mann Health and Wellness Center. Photo: Margaret Molloy

“This is the first pilot intervention study that reversed the weight gain seen in preschool Latino children living in low-income families.”

- Wendy Slusser, MD, MS, Staff Pediatrician

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Humanitarian Award recipient Ed Goren (right)with the evening’s emcee, FOX Sports’ Pat O’Brien,and Clinic CEO Liz Forer

Irma Colen Leadership Award recipients Dr. Chester Griffiths (center) and Christine Griffithswith presenter Jon Turteltaub

Silver Circle 2012’s Co-Chairs, Foundation Boardmember Dr. Harley Liker, Advisory Board member Julie Liker, and Foundation Board member Hutch Parker

Silver Circle Shines in Its 30th YearVenice Family Clinic’s Silver Circle Gala celebrated an important milestone on Tuesday, March 6, at the Beverly Hilton, in BeverlyHills. Thanks to three very special honorees—Vice Chairman of FOX Sports Media Group Ed Goren, who received the 2012Humanitarian Award, and the husband-and-wife team of Christine and Dr. Chester Griffiths, who received the 2012 Irma ColenLeadership Award—the event raised more than $1 million for the sixth consecutive year. Silver Circle is Venice Family Clinic’s premier annual support group. For more information, please contact Liza Alon at 310.664.7912 or lalon@mednet.ucla.edu.

Maria Bello Headlines the Sack Lunch Series

On Tuesday, April 24, Venice Family Clinic welcomed actress and activist Maria Bello to thefourth gathering of the Sack Lunch Series. A two-time Golden Globe nominee with acting creditsspanning television and film, Bello is also an accomplished humanitarian. Following the 2010earthquake in Haiti, she cofounded WE ADVANCE, a movement to advance the health, safety,and well being of women throughout Haiti. More than 80 people enjoyed her life story over apicnic lunch at a private estate in Malibu. Sack Lunches are salon-style, ticketed luncheonsfeaturing notable women speakers, with all proceeds benefiting Venice Family Clinic. For moreinformation, please visit www.venicefamilyclinic.org and click on the Events tab.

Special thanks to the Sack Lunch Series Founders: Chris Griffiths, Audrey Ruth, Deidre Gordon,Rebecca Pollack Parker, Penny Rhodes, Amy Swift Crosby, and Liane Weintraub.

Bel Ostrow and Philanthropy and Advisory Boardmember Lou Colen

The evening’s entertainment, Grammy winner,producer, composer, arranger, and pianist SergioMendes

Philanthropy Board member Glorya Kaufman andEric Small

Audra and Jeff Nathanson Philanthropy and Advisory Board member Susan Adelman and Philanthropy Board memberClaudio Llanos

David and Judy Shore

Photo: Jessica Valentine

Photos: John Salangsang

October 13, 2011, to April 25, 2012

$100,000 +California Community Foundation

Varian S & Gwendolyn L Green Fund

Gumpert FoundationGeorge Hoag Family FoundationKaiser Permanente of SouthernCalifornia*L.A. Care Health Plan*The Skirball FoundationAnonymous

$50,000 to $99,999Baxter International FoundationThe California Wellness Foundation*Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLou ColenThe Dharma Grace Foundation

Chuck LorreThe Fineshriber Family FoundationThe Norman and Sadie LeeFoundationThe Simms/Mann Family Foundation*

Dr. Victoria & Ronald SimmsSisters of Charity of LeavenworthHealth System Mission Fund

Saint John's Health CenterWitherbee Foundation

$25,000 to $49,999Joseph Drown FoundationRuth Flinkman-Marandy*Patricia & William Flumenbaum*Fox Sports Media GroupThe William H. Hannon Foundation*Susanne & Paul KesterThe Harold McAlister CharitableFoundationEstate of Dr. William MolleThe PIMCO FoundationThe Specialty Family FoundationState of California Attorney GeneralUnited HealthCare Services, IncFrederick R. Weisman Philanthropic &Art Foundation

Billie Milam WeismanThe Vollmer Family Foundation

Eva VollmerAnonymous

$10,000 to $24,999The Angeles Clinic FoundationGerrie Smith & Dr. Neal Baer*The Cecile & Fred BartmanFoundationThe David Bohnett FoundationJudy & Bernard BriskinThe Capital Group CompaniesCenter for Oral Health*Charities Aid Foundation

Lisbet Rausing & Peter BaldwinThe Carol and James CollinsFoundation*Roy E. Crummer FoundationThe Edelstein Family CharitableFoundationEli Lilly & Company FoundationElla Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation*Liz & Dan ForerDavid Geffen School of Medicine at UCLADavid HockneyDr. Louise HorvitzTatiana & Todd JamesSatish Kadaba, MDMaria Hernandez & Henry KambergW.M. Keck FoundationWilliam M. Keck, Jr. FoundationSusan G. Komen for the CureConstance Lawton & James Yoder*Melinda Lerner & John PowellDiana & Derek Lidow

Los Angeles County Board ofSupervisorsMajor League BaseballMaxicare Research and EducationalFoundation*Medtronic FoundationThe Barry and Wendy MeyerFoundation*Milken Family FoundationAudra & Jeff NathansonNBC Universal

In memory of Coach Tom MartinezNew England Patriots

Robert Kraft/The Kraft GroupRebecca Pollack Parker & Hutch ParkerQuickSilver/Roxy/DCThe Resnick Family Foundation

Lynda & Stewart ResnickWido SchaeferDavid & Judy Shore FoundationLon V. Smith FoundationSony Pictures Entertainment Inc.Harriet & Richard Squire J.B. and Emily Van Nuys CharitiesRebecca & Michael E. VestWarner Bros. Entertainment IncGail & Irving WeintraubMarilyn Ziering*Anonymous

* Towards a multi-year commitment

Permanent EndowmentsJudy & Bernard Briskin Women’sHealth EndowmentIrma and Lou Colen Physician EndowmentMose and Sylvia Firestone SocialWork EndowmentKarsten Family Domestic ViolenceEndowmentSadie and Norman Lee Teen ClinicPhysician EndowmentMilken Family Physician EndowmentResnick Family Mental HealthProgram EndowmentJack H. Skirball Medical DirectorEndowmentGail and Irv Weintraub EndowmentFrederick R. Weisman PsychosocialServices Endowment

Legacy SocietyRobert C. AronoffKatherine BardIrma & Louis ColenMayer B. Davidson, MD, & Roseann Herman, Esq.Sylvia & Mose Firestone, PhDPatricia & William FlumenbaumElizabeth & Daniel ForerElaine HoffmanJoanne Jubelier, PhDSatish Kadaba, MDMarilyn H. KarstenAmita & Viren MehtaCarol MortierCharlotte Neumann, MD, & Alfred Neumann, MDJanet PapkinMaida RichardsStanley RichardsFern & Robert SeizerJeffrey SinaikoLeonard StoneIna TillmanBeatrice ZeigerAnonymous

If your name is not listed, it is listedimproperly, or you have already namedthe Clinic as a beneficiary in your estateplan, please call 310.664.7932 so thecorrection can be made.

Major Gifts

Help ever, hurt never. It’s a philosophy orthopedist Satish Kadaba,MD, has lived by his entire life. It inspired him to become adoctor, to spend more than a decade undertaking medicalmissions around the world with the Sathya Sai Baba Organization,and, since 2007, to volunteer at Venice Family Clinic.

“I chose to study orthopedicsbecause I liked the almost-instant results,” Dr. Kadabasays. “Today, I see mostlymanual laborers—people whowork hard and do difficult,dangerous tasks—and I find it very rewarding that I’m ableto treat them for all of theirinjuries.”

The “help ever” side of hisphilosophy also recentlycompelled him to offer hissupport in another way—bynaming Venice Family Clinic in his will.

“The opportunity to treat people like we do at Venice FamilyClinic—one on one, without a third party dictating the care—isideal. It’s something we don’t find in our everyday practices,” heexplains. “I’m also aware that the future is uncertain, so I choseto make Venice Family Clinic one of the beneficiaries of my estate.I think I’m blessed to be able to do this.”

Venice Family Clinic’s Legacy Society recognizes donors like Dr. Kadaba who have named the Clinic in their estate plans orother planned giving arrangements. Planned gifts can providenumerous financial benefits to donors—from reduced taxableincome to providing for their children’s futures—while ensuringVenice Family Clinic’s long-term sustainability, and can includegifts of any size.

Now 61, and dealing with a few of his own medical issues, Dr. Kadaba has no plans to stop volunteering on the secondSaturday and third Thursday of every month.

“All of us are here because we choose to be here. The team spiritis so vital. I plan to volunteer even more as I wind down mypractice,” he says. “God willing, I’ll work for another 30 years.”

For more information about planned giving opportunities at VeniceFamily Clinic, please contact Laney Kapgan, Chief DevelopmentOfficer, at 310.664.7932 or lkapgan@mednet.ucla.edu.

He’s a Doctor with a Donor’s Legacy

After volunteering for the last five years,Dr. Satish Kadaba recently elected toinclude Venice Family Clinic in his will.Photo: Margaret Molloy

“The future is uncertain, so I chose to make Venice Family Clinic one of the

beneficiaries of my estate.”- Satish Kadaba, MD, Volunteer Orthopedist

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Nothing could have prepared Carmen Dahlstrom for thelife change she faced in the summer of 2007. She hadalways been healthy, vibrant, and on the go, but suddenlyshe wasn’t feeling herself. She couldn’t eat without gettingnauseous. She was fatigued. Her feet and legs started toswell. And repeated trips to her primary care doctor andthe emergency room failed to turn up a diagnosis.

“Finally, on October 4th, I was so weak I thought I was going to die,” Dahlstrom says. “So I knocked on my neighbor’s door and asked her to take me to theemergency room. That’s the last thing I remember untilearly January.”

When she came to, she found a pacemaker implanted in her chest and learned she had survived heart failure,kidney failure, and lung failure. She remained in thehospital for the next six months. But the panic really setin after she was discharged, when she realized she couldno longer afford her health insurance premiums, whichjumped from around $200 per month to more than $600.She had depleted her savings making numerous co-pays,some of $1,000 or more, and she had even stopped takingsome of her 12 medications because she couldn’t affordto pay for them out of pocket.

“Way in the back of my mind, I remembered VeniceFamily Clinic,” she explains, recalling a visit she made in the late Nineties when she was unemployed anduninsured.

Over the next several months, Dahlstrom would visit the Clinic for a staggering array of services, spanningprimary care, cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology,reconstructive surgery, psychiatry, pulmonology,rheumatology, and social work. In addition, she wasreferred to local hospitals for free x-rays, ultrasounds,blood work, and echocardiograms; she received all of

her medications for free through the Clinic’s dispensaries;and she got help from the Clinic’s health insuranceprogram in applying for disability. Plus, she finally got her diagnosis: scleroderma.

“I got better care at the Clinic than when I hadinsurance,” she says, noting that she even met with asocial worker and a psychiatrist to help her deal with the realization that she would never be the same again.

“We learned early on that if our patients weren’t gettingcare from us, they probably weren’t getting it at all,”explains Liz Forer, Venice Family Clinic’s CEO since 1994. “So we’ve always looked for opportunities to addservices, and today we provide everything from pediatricsto parenting classes, dental care to vision care, mentalhealth services to medications.”

Almost three years after she rediscovered Venice Family Clinic, Dahlstrom, now 62, is on half as manymedications and is again enjoying the simple pleasures in life, from television medical dramas to her belovedChicago Cubs.

“As a kid, I never thought that the Cubs wouldn’t win a World Series in my lifetime. They better hurry up,” she says. “Although thanks to the wonderful health careI’ve received, I may last quite a bit longer.”

Dahlstrom’s lead primary care physican at Venice Family Clinic, Coley King, DO,has overseen her care since 2009. Photo: Margaret Molloy

Since losing her private health insurance, Carmen Dahlstrom has visitedVenice Family Clinic for dozens of different services, from primary andspecialty care to diagnostics and medications. Photo: Margaret Molloy

Treating the Whole Person

“I got better care at the Clinic than when I had insurance.”

- Carmen Dahlstrom, Patient

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Rosemary and Michael Johnson are like any otheryoung couple. They hope for steady work, a safeplace to live, and opportunities for their kids. Butlast summer, after moving to Los Angeles from New York, all of that was in jeopardy.

“We came out here for a job for Michael but heended up not getting it,” Rosemary, 29, explains.“We depleted our resources and ended uphomeless, living in a motel.”

To complicate matters, Rosemary was pregnant withtheir third child. She knew she needed help to carryher baby safely to term, so she picked up the phoneand dialed 211, L.A. County’s social service hotline.She quickly learned that a Venice Family Clinic site was just minutes from the motel.

At her first prenatal visit, Rosemary realized thatVenice Family Clinic could help her whole family,including three-year-old Kara and two-year-old Mario.Within weeks, both children were caught up on all of their well-child exams and immunizations, andMario, who had already developed a cavity, enjoyedhis first visit with a dentist, at Venice Family Clinic’snew Ruth Ziegler and Jack Skirball Dental Clinic.

In addition, Mario, who spoke only a few words andseemed not to be hitting some of his developmentalmilestones, was enrolled in the Clinic’s Children FirstEarly Head Start program. A Children First homevisitor, Erin Urbina, began meeting with the family on a weekly basis, reading to Mario and helping himfeel comfortable being separated from his mother.

“He fooled us,” Rosemary says. “It wasn’t hisspeech. It was just that he was uncomfortablewhere we were. By the time we left [the program],he was forming complete sentences.”

Baby Selena was delivered March 2. And within afew weeks, the family had moved into an apartmentin Hollywood.

“I have to say that [Erin] was really there for thefamily. She was really helpful and efficient andloving,” Collado says. “She even got me a brandnew car seat for my baby.”

Helping the Whole Family

“She was really there for the family.She even got me a brand new car

seat for my baby.”- Rosemary Johnson, Patient

A Constellation of CareFollowing is a sampling of the services Venice Family Clinic provides to more than 25,000 people per year, through more than 400 appointments per day, at eight sites in L.A. County.

• Primary care• Pediatric care• Child development services (Early Head Start)• Teen health care• Reproductive health care• Homeless health care• Chronic disease management• Specialty care in 20 areas• HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment• Integrative medicine• Health insurance enrollment assistance• Health education• Lab tests• Radiology• Medications• Mental health services• Domestic violence screening and intervention• Vision care• Dental care

Download a fact sheet with a complete list of services by visitingwww.venicefamilyclinic.org and clicking the Overview link in the About tab.

Photos: Margaret Molloy