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Dr. Jonathan Lucas, LAC Medical Examiner-Coroner, WIM Luncheon

Dr. Lucas at the head of the table; his assistant, Isisdora Centeno, on his left. (click images for larger versions)
On Monday, July 30, 2018, USC WIM hosted Dr. Jonathan Lucas, LAC Medical Examiner-Coroner, and his assistant, Isidora Centro, at a WIM Luncheon at HSC. It was a fascinating discussion on where and how the DMEC (department of the medical examiner-coroner) fits into the vast and mysterious (to me) LA County system.

As Cynthia Henderson points out:

“Dr. Jonathan Lucas spoke to the living about the dead!

“The most surprising thing for me about Dr. Lucas was how absolutely down to earth (no pun intended), engaging, knowledgeable, and funny he was. And he brought his assistant. (We always invite the assistant, but Dr. Lucas is the first guest to bring the assistant to the luncheon. GM)

“I thoroughly enjoyed his luncheon conversation today and I learned a lot about the Los Angeles county coroner’s office DMEC (department of the medical examiner-coroner).

“I never thought about how bodies get identified but looking at a picture or asking a relative to do a quick look for identification are not the top ways of doing so. Fingerprints, Dental records, Body X-rays, even DNA are preferred.

“Around 10,000 autopsies a year are performed by a staff of approximately 250. They are especially sensitive to the needs of the family, religious practices, and the dignity and respect of those who no longer can speak for themselves.

“The DMEC’s work can provide a concrete look at what we die from the most, when, where and possibly ways to prevent accidents from happening not yet thought of.”

And Kathleen Warner was glad she was at the luncheon:

“USC’s Women in Management organized a luncheon meeting with Dr. Jonathan Lucas, L.A. County’s Medical Examiner-Coroner, on July 30, 2018 at Norris Medical Library on the Health Science Campus. Dr. Lucas is a board certified forensic pathologist and was appointed to his position by the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors in June 2017.

“Dr. Lucas shared with the group the myriad tasks performed by the Medical Examiner’s office from determining cause and manner of death to analyzing DNA samples to help identify who has died. Dr. Lucas stressed the importance of serving the residents of the County of Los Angeles, especially a decedent’s loved ones, in the processing of the cases the office handles. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office is the busiest medical examiner’s office in the country.

“Dr. Lucas assumed management of the County’s Medical Examiner office at a time of concern over case backlog and inadequate staffing. Dr. Lucas described the strides the office has made in addressing these issues and the plans he has for further strengthening office procedures. As busy as the DMEC’s office is, WIM is most appreciative of Dr. Lucas generously sharing his time to speak at its luncheon.”

This was a very relaxed and relaxing luncheon. The conversation, and it really was a conversation, was so congenial and flowing, I even dispensed with the written question demand I usually make. Dr. Lucas even did his own introduction, mentioning that he’s a native Californian, worked for the New York City Medical Examiner until October 1, 2001 (yes, he worked on 911 in the NYC morgue). He moved back to California to be the Assistant ME for San Diego County. Then, as he told us, 1 year and 20 days prior to our luncheon, Dr. Lucas took over as the LA County Chief Medical Examiner. The hour and a half flew by as Dr. Lucas talked about how the addition to our morgue of an in-house DNA lab returns results in 2 weeks, as opposed to the 3 months when they used to send it to another lab. He listed the ways Jane/John Doe bodies are identified, and that a recently purchased CAT scanner has been a valuable tool for this task. He graciously answered questions about how bodies of various religious faiths receive the most sensitive and respectful treatment possible in each case. There was also some discussion on the ages of children who pass through the morgue, and how his department works with Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the LAPD in certain cases. And it was all thoughtful and practical information on things I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about. (Okay, full disclosure, since I’ve reached the age where I will not live as long as I have already lived, DEATH does cross my mind a little more often, but rarely do I think about the dead.) Yes, rarely do I think about the dead, but I am greatly relieved that if I die in LA County, the DMEC will be there for my remains. And I feel proud that Dr. Lucas is leading that department because he said: “We care for the dead in service of the living.” He went on to explain that his department provides answers on why and how that person died to their family, friends, and community — all the people who will grieve for and remember the deceased. And this is why I hope Dr. Lucas will be LAC Chief Medical Examiner for many years to come, and I’m very glad he made time to talk with us on Monday, July 30, 2018.

Also, I was delighted to meet his assistant, Isidora Centro. She told me she’s been with the County for 30 years, but she’s not going to retire until Dr. Lucas retires, so he must be a great boss.

Many thanks to Cynthia Henderson and Kathleen Warner for sharing their thoughts on the luncheon with me and refreshing my memory. Thank you to Janet Schmidt for the photos.

Also, if you were at the luncheon, and want to share your thoughts, I’ll be happy to post them here if you email them to me. I thought we had comments on WIM blog posts, but it seems not to be. You all know where to find me. GM

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Creating Images That Resonate: PowerPoint and Beyond

Friday, August 3, 2018
8:30 to 10am
Norris Medical Library West Conference Room
WIM members no charge; non-members $10
https://uscwim.org/product/creating-images-that-resonate-powerpoint-and-beyond/

Create powerful, evocative images that communicate ideas effectively. Explore slide design, with an emphasis on mobilizing the power of photographs, graphics and typography. Transcend the normal boundaries by exploring production techniques and design fundamentals. Whether you have given up on presentations or build decks regularly (in PowerPoint, Prezy, PDFs or other format), you are a novice, there is something in this workshop for you. This session will be at Norris Medical Library West Conference Room, from 8:30 to 10am, Friday, August 3, 2018.

Continue reading Creating Images That Resonate: PowerPoint and Beyond

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Dr. Jonathan Lucas – LA County Medical Examiner

Dr. Jonathan Lucas Luncheon
July 30, 2018
USC Health Sciences Campus
Norris Medical Library West Conference Room
Noon to 1:30pm
WIM Members $18; non-members $20
https://uscwim.org/product/dr-jonathan-lucas-la-county-coroner/

What is the role of the Department of the Medicial Examiner-Coroner in LA County?

“The citizens of Los Angeles County expect that their dead will be treated with dignity and respect. The Department of the Medical Examiner-Coroner (DMEC) and the Office of Decedent Affairs (ODA) in the Department of Health Services (DHS) provide services to transport, examine, and cremate or bury the county’s dead, depending on the circumstances surrounding a particular death.”

This is from the Grand Jury report “How do we Care for the Dead when the Dead don’t Vote” last year prior to Dr. Jonathan Lucas’ appointment as LA County Coroner. Dr. Lucas became Medical Examiner a year ago when he assumed leadership of an organization that was the subject of a Grand Jury investigation (see below for a link to the report). Join us for lunch on July 30, to learn how his department runs and operates in LA County, LA City and the state of California.
Continue reading Dr. Jonathan Lucas – LA County Medical Examiner

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Stop Apologizing: Letting Go of Communication Habits That Get in The Way

Thursday, July 26, 2018
8:30 to 10am
Norris Medical Library West Conference Room
WIM members no charge; non-members $10
https://uscwim.org/product/stop-apologizing-letting-go-of-communication-habits-that-get-in-the-way/

Why Do We Apologize So Much? Have we fallen into the over-apologizing trap? Have you ever said “I’m sorry” for things that don’t merit an apology in the first place? It’s a habit that can morph into a reflex reaction. Over-apologizing can not only be exhausting to you, but also to everyone around you. Join us for a WIM Professional Development session on communication. This session will be at Norris Medical Library West Conference Room, from 8:30 to 10am, Thursday, July 26, 2018. If you can’t attend in person, please contact Ginger Mayerson (mayerson@usc.edu) about attending remotely.

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S.W.O.T. Analysis: Leveraging Your Personal and Professional Best Through Reflection

Tuesday, July 24, 2018
8:30 to 10am
Norris Medical Library West Conference Room
WIM members no charge; non-members $10
https://uscwim.org/product/s-w-o-t-analysis-leveraging-your-personal-and-professional-best-through-reflection/

As leaders we lead from all levels of the organization. We are self-reflective and forward thinking. In this workshop, we will use the foundation of the SWOT analysis tool to explore our own experiences in a creative and aspirational way. In turn, we will examine how we may best use our expertise and understanding to inspire others, our departments, and our organization. This session will be at Norris Medical Library West Conference Room, from 8:30 to 10am, Tuesday, July 24, 2018.
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The woman behind Health Equity in LA County

Dr. Barbara Ferrer Luncheon
July 19, 2018
USC Health Sciences Campus
Norris Medical Library West Conference Room
Noon to 1:30pm
$18 WIM Members; $20 non-members
https://uscwim.org/product/dr-barbara-ferrer-director-of-la-county-public-health/

Ever wondered what those billboards and bus ads were about? On July 19, 2018, you can have lunch with the woman at the top of the department powering Health Equity in LA County. Dr. Barbara Ferrer will be speaking at HSC Norris Medical Library West Conference room at noon on July 19. To register for this event, please click here https://uscwim.org/product/dr-barbara-ferrer-director-of-la-county-public-health/ as soon as possible. Registration closes at 6pm on July 16, so please don’t delay.

“The Department of Public Health (DPH) is facilitating Health Agency efforts to establish a Center for Health Equity. The Center’s mission is to ensure all individuals have access to the opportunities and resources needed for optimal health and well-being by advancing racial, social and environmental justice in partnership with committed organizations and residents.

“The guiding principles for the Center include a belief in dismantling a system that assigns human value based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or religious affiliation; using data to drive action amplifying community voices through engagement in planning, implementation, analysis, and reporting; and building multi-sector partnerships that advance health equity.”
Promoting Health Equity in Los Angeles

Also, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health Strategic Plan 2018-2023

And Dr. Ferrer’s “Building Health Equity” presentation for the “From Data to Action: Building Health Equity for Women in Los Angeles” conference on January 31, 2018.

Some highlights from her keynote presentation:

We hope you can join us for a fascinating luncheon with Dr. Ferrer.

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“Amazing!” “Inspiring!” “A revealing perspective” is what people said about Dr. Barbara Ferrer last summer

Summer 2017, Dr. Ferrer was new on the job as Director of LA County Public Health, and lit up the NML West Conference room with her vision of what LA County healthcare could, can, and will be on her watch.

So we are delighted that she returns this year to share her progress over the past year with us.

Here’s what she said in an interview in May:

“Our 35,000-member workforce across the Health Agency are deeply committed and skilled professionals, with a passion for caring for our most vulnerable residents. As we acknowledge our need to focus on preventing disease (and not only healing), we will all need to embark on a learning journey to acquire or strengthen the skills to do health equity work. For example, we all need to build our skills around respecting and honoring diversity, including cultural humility and linguistic competency. We need to know how to confidently speak about racism and its generational impact on health, while simultaneously elevating the voices and experiences of the people we serve. We need to figure out how to defer to and embrace community leadership. People have the inherent capacity to understand themselves, their circumstances, and the solutions to address their challenges and we must be prepared to create spaces for meaningful ongoing interaction and problem solving.

“As our academic and workforce training partners help prepare the next generation of healthcare workers, our hope is that increased opportunities will be available for under-represented youth and residents to participate in health career training and academic programming, so that the health care workforce represents the diversity of the residents we serve. We would ask that an emphasis is placed on creating career paths that honor lived experience and reflect team learning through a culture of continuous improvement.”
Q & A WITH COMMISSIONER FERRER, California Future Health Workforce Commission, May 15, 2018

Places at the luncheon are dwindling, so please don’t delay registering for the July 19, 2018 event at HSC. Registration closes at noon on July 16.

Dr. Barbar Ferrer
Thursday, July 19, 2018, Noon to 1:30, Norris Library West Conference Room.
Click here to Register

Continue reading “Amazing!” “Inspiring!” “A revealing perspective” is what people said about Dr. Barbara Ferrer last summer