by USC Student Health Staff
The American Heart Association presented the USC Trojan Family with the Heartsaver Hero Award in recognition of its lifesaving actions in emergency situations and its commitment to help build a community of lifesavers in Los Angeles County.
Presented during USC’s Conquest spirit event on November 16, 2023, ahead of the school’s rivalry football game against UCLA, the award was accepted by Dr. Sarah Van Orman, vice president and chief campus health officer of USC, with director of operations for Athletic Medicine, Russ Romano. USC Student Health, and the Athletic Medicine department within its oversight, is a health care unit of Keck Medicine of USC.
“Their professionalism and skilled responses in emergency situations have saved lives.” said Dr. Van Orman, “We are especially proud of our athletic trainers, who have demonstrated the commitment to excellence in health care that Keck Medicine of USC is recognized for throughout Southern California.”
Dr. Carolyn Kaloostian, a member of the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association (AHA) of Los Angeles who is a physician with Keck Medicine of USC, presented the award on behalf of the AHA.
“On behalf of the American Heart Association, we would like to recognize the life-saving care and training that USC provides, from the professional health care teams at Keck Medicine of USC, who take care of so many Angelenos, to the dedicated providers and staff of USC Student Health in Keck Medicine of USC, who take care of every single student at USC, and the ‘Trojan Heart Heroes’ program training their classmates, work colleagues, neighbors and friends in Hands-Only CPR.”
Dr. Carolyn Kaloostian, board member of the American Heart Association
“On behalf of the American Heart Association, we would like to recognize the life-saving care and training that USC provides, from the professional health care teams at Keck Medicine of USC, who take care of so many Angelenos, to the dedicated providers and staff of USC Student Health in Keck Medicine of USC, who take care of every single student at USC, and the ‘Trojan Heart Heroes’ program training their classmates, work colleagues, neighbors and friends in Hands-Only CPR.”
Dr. Kaloostian told the crowd the story of a family member whose life was saved with CPR, and encouraged attendees to get their training at the booths run by the Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health (LADPH) at the event.
“You can learn this method in two minutes—and learn the steps right here tonight, on how to save a life.” said Dr. Kaloostian.
“It’s so great to see so many students who are here with the glowing light gear, all of whom have completed the training tonight.” said Stella Fogleman, director of the emergency preparedness and response division, “We are at 87% completion of reaching our goal of 500,000 Angelenos trained in this life-saving method, and it’s so wonderful to have the Trojans working with us to meet this goal.”
In addition to the award presentation, since the start of the “Trojan Heart Heroes” program, 1,920 people have completed the training through USC, including more than 900 students who participated in Hands-Only CPR training led by the LA County Department of Public Health throughout the night; an additional 537 people were trained the following Saturday, Nov. 18 during tailgates at the crosstown rivalry football game.
