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.”
During the evening’s activities, more than 900 students were trained in Hands Only CPR; an additional 537 people were trained the following Saturday, Nov. 18 during tailgates at the crosstown rivalry football game.