In the spring of 2012, the RTH Stroke Foundation joined forces with the renowned Keck Medical Center of USC to battle stroke by creating the Roxanna Todd Hodges Comprehensive Stroke Clinic and the Roxanna Todd Hodges Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Program. There are more than 2,600 stroke-related visits annually to the Keck Medical Center. The stroke clinic provides a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients experiencing stroke or acute neurological events and related conditions. The clinic’s activities will include outpatient care, inpatient care and research.
The Roxanna Todd Hodges TIA Program will focus on the development of enhanced diagnostic and treatment modalities for preventing stroke. Commonly known as a “mini-stroke,” a transient ischemic attack refers to the temporary disturbance of the blood supply to the brain, which often results in a sudden and brief reduction in brain function.
There are over 500,000 evaluations for TIA per year in the United States, although the true incidence is not known because most are never reported. TIA is an early warning of an impending stroke because it reflects an ongoing process such as an unstable artery plaque or heart rhythm.
“I am so proud and grateful to the Keck School of Medicine of USC for this opportunity,” Deborah Massaglia, president of the Roxanna Todd Hodges foundation said.