Amytis Towfighi, M.D.
Founding Director
Dr. Amy Towfighi is Professor of Neurology and Population and Public Health Sciences (Clinical Scholar) at Keck School of Medicine of USC; Director of Neurological Services for Los Angeles County Department of Health Services; and Associate Medical Director of Research and Chief of Neurology at Los Angeles General Medical Center. Her research focuses on team-based cardiovascular prevention interventions bridging healthcare systems with communities and addressing social determinants of health to tackle inequities.
She received her undergraduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She completed internship in Internal Medicine at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital, Neurology Residency at Mass General Brigham, and Neurovascular Fellowship at UCLA.
Dr. Towfighi has worked in the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services public healthcare system since 2007, previously serving as Chair of the Department of Neurology and Associate Chief Medical Officer at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. She developed Rancho’s Acute Neurology Unit, an effort which received the California Association of Public Hospitals/Kaiser Permanente Clinical Systems Development Award recognizing a program that integrated parts of the delivery system to provide better-quality service and more efficient care.
She has led several randomized controlled trials of team-based cardiovascular disease prevention interventions in the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, including SUSTAIN (Systematic Use of Stroke Averting Interventions), HEALS (Healthy Eating And Lifestyle after Stroke), and SUCCEED (Secondary stroke prevention by Uniting Community and Chronic care model teams Early to End Disparities). Current projects underway include BP REACH (Blood Pressure Disparities Reduction, Equity, and Access among safety net patients with Cardiovascular Health risk) and Race / Ethnicity And Control of Hypertension after Intracerebral Hemorrhage REACH-ICH).
She was awarded the Robert G. Siekert New Investigator in Stroke Award from the American Heart Association and Michael S. Pessin Stroke Leadership Prize from the American Academy of Neurology. She served as Chair of the American Stroke Association Quality and Outcomes Committee and served on numerous writing groups for American Heart Association Scientific Statements and Guidelines (including Chair of the Post-Stroke Depression Scientific Statement, Vice-Chair of the Secondary Stroke Prevention Guidelines, and Chair of the AHA Scientific Statement Strategies to Reduce Race/Ethnic Inequities in Stroke Preparedness, Care, Recovery, and Risk Factor Control). She recently led the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke Social Determinants of Health workgroup, providing recommendations for research priorities.
Allison Zumberge Orechwa, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Managing Director
Dr. Allison Orechwa launched the Southern California Healthcare Delivery Science Center with Dr. Towfighi. As a thought partner on the academic side, she co-designed the educational offerings, co-developed the funding opportunities, and co-led a national collaboration on public-academic partnerships for health. She continues to manage Center operations, with an emphasis on establishing new partnerships and supporting disruptive innovations in healthcare delivery.
Dr. Orechwa also serves as Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation for the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI), where she manages interdisciplinary projects to improve research. Past projects include launching programs in Clinical Research Support and Healthcare Delivery Science core groups, implementing USC’s clinical data warehouse for research, streamlining study activation processes, and securing two competitive NIH cooperative agreements for clinical and translational science infrastructure at USC and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Prior to these roles, Dr. Orechwa worked as an Education Research Analyst at the U.S. Department of Education.
Dr. Orechwa holds a PhD in cognitive neuroscience and an Executive MBA, both from USC.
Contact Information
allison.orechwa@usc.edu
Lisa Thai, M.P.H.
Program Administrator
Lisa Thai helps initiate, implement, pilot and assess new Center efforts focused on establishing an advisory committee, providing mentorship opportunities, grants management, peer reviewed allocation of pilot research funds, faculty research and career development programs, the building of interdisciplinary research teams, evaluation and tracking of research programs and pilot funding outcomes, marketing, fundraising, and developing a sustainability plan. In close collaboration with Center staff, USC researchers, and other stakeholders, Ms. Thai facilitates ongoing operations of the Southern California Healthcare Delivery Science Center. Ms. Thai also serves as Administrator for multiple Los Angeles General departments.
Nisa Lam, B.A.
Project Specialist
Nisa Lam performs administrative duties for the Healthcare Delivery Science Center. She also serves as Project Specialist for the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI) where she divides her time between Central Administration and Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design (BERD) core providing administrative support, project management, and grant administration. Nisa has many years of experience in academic administration, most recently at the Department of Emergency Medicine assisting with grant management and submissions.
Contact Information
Nisa.Lam@med.usc.edu
Monica Girgis, M.P.H.
Administrative Assistant
Monica Girgis supports various aspects of educational and research programs for the Healthcare Delivery Science Center. This includes promoting training programs, coordinating webinars and conferences, developing marketing materials, securing sponsorships, and managing social media. She also plays a key role in facilitating communication between researchers, patients, and external experts.
Contact Information
monica.girgis@med.usc.edu