Los Angeles Jewish Health: Energizing Senior Life

Enhancing wellness and expanding impact are critical components of the work at Los Angeles Jewish Health. Through the highly acclaimed Annenberg School of Nursing (ASN), progress is occurring on both fronts, most recently with the opening of an additional location that is broadening the ability for ASN to prepare the next generation of nurses to serve seniors and others in need of quality healthcare.This new location, currently identified as ASN-LA, is part of a collaborative partnership between Los Angeles Jewish Health and AltaMed, one of the country’s largest community health networks. Based at AltaMed’s headquarters in City of Commerce, the new location will offer the Annenberg School of Nursing’s signature fast-paced, 12-month licensed vocational nursing (LVN) program. ASN-LA’s inaugural LVN class is scheduled to launch this August, with 24 students selected from among more than 200 applicants who applied for the chance to attend.“The demand for a nursing education—and for Annenberg-level training—is extremely high, and we’re thrilled to be increasing our capacity to reach more students than ever before,” says Amandeep Kaur (who has served as executive director of the Annenberg School of Nursing for more than seven years and logged nearly two decades of experience as a nursing instructor). “Combining our expertise and AltaMed’s footprint, ASN-LA will extend the pipeline of talented nurses even further across Southern California.”(Left to Right) LAJH CEO & President Dale Surowitz, ASN Executive Director Amandeep Kaur, ASN Board Member Armida Colmenares‐Stafford, and ASN Board Chair Sheldon Steier)The opening of ASN-LA is just one of many exciting developments underway at the Annenberg School of Nursing. Later this summer, the location of the school will be moving from its current location, on the corner of Sherman Way and Tampa, just across from LAJH’s Grancell Village Campus, to the Max Factor Building on the Eisenberg Village campus, located on the corner of Victory and Wilbur. The move marks a tremendous stride forward for the school, which will now occupy a much more clinically-aligned space, and paves the way for many future healthcare training initiatives to come.“This new space opens the door to so many opportunities for us, as we identify innovative ways to ensure nurses are ready for emerging challenges in healthcare,” Amandeep says. “It’s a new chapter full of possibility and progress!”That progress includes a simulation lab designed to bring clinical training to life. Equipped with four mid-to-high fidelity manikins, the lab replicates real-life patient scenarios, enabling students to practice critical thinking, clinical decision-making, and hands-on skills, all in a challenging yet quality-controlled immersive environment.“The lab is a dynamic space that mirrors a real-world healthcare setting and provides an engaging, interactive learning experience that prepares students for success in the field,” Amandeep says.LAJH CEO and President Dale Surowitz notes that these and other groundbreaking advances are helping the Annenberg School of Nursing continuously redefine excellence in nursing education.“We’re incredibly proud of the role we play in preparing the next generation of nurses to meet the growing demand for healthcare professionals,” he says. “The Annenberg School of Nursing is an unparalleled asset, not only for our students, but for the entire community, as it helps ensure more people receive high-quality care from these outstanding future nurses.” 

One secret to the success of Los Angeles Jewish Health has always been the talent and dedication of their leaders. This spring, LAJH added yet another outstanding staff professional to its administrative roster: Chief Information Officer Rey Lopez.Rey arrived at LAJH after a long tenure as CIO at Kern Medical Hospital in Bakersfield and, before that, as Director of Information Systems for St. Joseph Medical Center at Providence Health & Services in Burbank. For over two decades in the healthcare field, he has played a vital role in enhancing IT infrastructure, which in today’s medical field is critical in the delivery of high-quality patient care.“I love being part of this industry. The value of the work you put in makes such a difference to patients and others,” Rey says. “That was a huge part of what attracted me to LAJH: knowing I could provide critical support to residents, employees, and the entire community.”Central to his portfolio is building technology and business solutions to help LAJH grow, to assist its employees to be more efficient in their jobs, and to safeguard residents’ health and wellbeing by protecting their sensitive personal health information and data.“Whether it’s securing electronic health records, streamlining our payroll systems, or reducing cost and enhancing the performance of our data reporting systems, there are so many ways we can harness technology to be more nimble and to provide LAJH stakeholders with new pathways to success,” Rey says.Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Rey attended California State University, Northridge, graduating with a degree in business administration and management information systems. It was as a small business owner in the late 1990s—based in Encino, he consulted on issues related to worker’s compensation—that he developed an interest in pursuing a healthcare career.“As I began encountering issues related to employee injuries and the need for retraining, my eyes were opened to what a positive impact working in healthcare could have,” Rey says. “The people I was serving were getting a real, tangible benefit that could seriously improve their lives.”During his tenure at Providence, Rey got to know LAJH CEO and President Dale Surowitz, who was Providence’s CEO at the time. For Rey, having an opportunity to team up with Dale again was an important factor in his decision to accept the LAJH position.“I’d already had a front-row seat watching Dale run an organization,” Rey says. “Knowing what he’s done for the community, and getting another chance to collaborate with him, was a really big draw for me.”Rey’s new position at LAJH further deepens his connection to the San Fernando Valley, where he lives with his wife and two children, who are 11 and 14. He also has two older kids and is a proud grandfather of three.“I’m so happy to be working in the Valley again, contributing to the community that I love,” Rey says. “Through LAJH, I look forward to helping make it an even better—and healthier—place to live.” 

Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH) has long worked in close partnership with the state of California in helping to set the standard for comprehensive senior care. This spring, California Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced an extension of this work by awarding LAJH $28 million to support the expansion of inpatient behavioral health services.The grant is funded through Proposition 1, a bond initiative passed by voters in 2024 to establish the state’s Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP). The award to LAJH is a vital step in addressing California’s growing senior behavioral health crisis at a time of intensifying need: California’ senior population is projected to double by 2040, and with it, the number of older adults experiencing behavioral health challenges (particularly those who are low-income, medically complex, or socially isolated) is rising sharply.This funding will support the expansion of inpatient behavioral health services for seniors“This grant is a transformational investment in improving the mental health of our community’s seniors, empowering us to expand access to high-quality, compassionate inpatient care for seniors in acute psychiatric distress,” said LAJH President and CEO Dale Surowitz. “We are tremendously proud of our past successes meeting seniors’ most critical healthcare needs, and we look forward to extending that track record of achievement in ways that will strengthen the fabric of our entire community.”Governor Newsom underscored the importance of Proposition 1 in his remarks announcing the awards.“Californians demanded swift action to address our state’s behavioral health crisis when they voted for Prop 1 in March 2024…and we’re delivering our biggest win yet,” he said. “Whether it’s crisis stabilization, inpatient services, or long-term treatment, we’re ensuring that individuals can access the right care at the right time.”This funding is part of California’s broader strategy to modernize the behavioral health system—increasing transparency, broadening access, and building the infrastructure necessary to provide a full continuum of care for individuals living with mental illness and substance use disorders. Through Proposition 1 and BHCIP, the state aims to create more than 6,800 new residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots, addressing urgent gaps in care across every region of California.“Our seniors require the very best mental health care possible,” Dale said, “and this new grant helps ensure we will continue to deliver the care and compassion they deserve.”The expansion will take place in the Mark Taper Building on the Grancell Village campus

Extensive scientific research continues to demonstrate the medical benefits of healthy eating. A new collaboration between Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH) and the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology (USC) is deepening that body of evidence with a study looking at the effects of diet on older adults who reside in a senior living facility.USC Associate Professor Roberto Vicinanza, MD, PhD, a noted specialist in geriatric medicine, led the eight-week study, which was designed to gauge the impact of a modified Mediterranean diet on LAJH residents’ health. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes plant-based, whole foods, including those from all five food groups. Featured in the diet are select fruits and vegetables; fish, lentils, and beans for protein, while limiting red meat and poultry; nuts and olive oil, which provide healthy fats; and opting for whole versus refined grains.  “The Mediterranean diet and its health effects are well documented, but older adults are often overlooked,” Dr. Vicinanza says. “To design this dietary intervention, I was inspired by the traditional eating habits of a long-lived community in southern Italy known as Cilento—a longevity hotspot that I have explored extensively in the last three years. Based on this experience, in our study we adjusted the Mediterranean diet to meet the unique needs and limitations of older adults, many of whom experience challenges in the digestion of certain foods.”LAJH residents enrolled in the study ate their meals together to help foster a sense of community. In addition, they increased their physical exercise, incorporating activities like walking into their daily routines.LAJH Residents Participated in the Mediterranean Diet StudyAccording to Noah Marco, MD, LAJH’s chief medical officer and executive director of the Brandman Research Institute, researchers evaluated study participants based on three core components measured prior to the introduction of the diet: their ability to walk, their muscle strength, and their biological markers of health as indicated through blood tests. Results are still pending, but Dr. Marco notes that preliminary data are highly encouraging.“We wanted to know, going into the study, whether someone in their later stages of life could, by modifying their diet and adding a little exercise, change markers of longevity, frailty, and health, even in a short period of time,” Dr. Marco says. “Based on our findings, the answer is clearly ‘yes!’”He points to one example as anecdotal evidence of the study’s success.“We had a participant who has been diabetic most of her adult life; for 20 years, she was on three different medications. As a result of this study, she now has better control of her disease and is down to one medicine,” he says. “We saw lots of things like this: improvement in people’s cholesterol and blood sugar levels, significant weight loss, weight gain in one instance where the resident needed it. The benefits were clear.”Some of these benefits seem to have stemmed from the study’s social aspects, Dr. Vicinanza says.“Seniors sometimes feel isolated and lonely,” he says. “But we saw something amazing during the study, which was that participants were supporting and encouraging each other, which provided a sense of community and purpose—both things that have been associated with longevity.”LAJH resident Marcia Mass, 83, was one of the study’s enthusiastic participants. She says it has transformed her physical health.“I’ve lost weight, and I feel better—more energized and alert,” she says. “I play a word game on the computer, and before the diet, I was getting to level 15 or 20. Now, I’m at level 64! Everything seems easier.”LAJH resident Marcia Mass (center) receives a certificate of completion, with Noah Marco, MD (left), LAJH Chief Medical Officer, and USC Associate Professor Roberto Vicinanza, MD, PhDThe study was made possible through generous funding from the Anita and William Jeung Estate Research Grant and the Simon Nutrition and Alzheimer’s Research Fund.In addition to Dr. Marco and Dr. Vicinanza, other key investigators from the USC School of Gerontology included Pinchas Cohen, MD, dean of the school, for the aging biomarkers; Cary Kreutzer, EdD, RDN, who played a critical role in developing tools to improve diet adherence; Julie Pollard, a part-time lecturer, who helped establish protocols for physical activity; and Adam Hughes, Shirley Liu, and Chiara Pomari—students from USC’s Master of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity Program—who served as study coordinators.Once the study’s results have been finalized, Dr. Marco and Dr. Vicinanza hope to replicate it with a larger cohort of residents.“We’ll be applying for a grant from the National Institutes of Health, and we think this falls directly in line with its priorities: leveraging lifestyle changes to increase health dramatically among seniors while potentially reducing costs,” Dr. Marco says. “It’s win-win!” Sample food eaten during studyDuring the study, residents complete a form following mealsUSC and LAJH worked together to complete the studyResearchers made sure residents were well informed during the study

Major Investment Will Dramatically Expand Inpatient Mental Health Services for Seniors in Need (LOS ANGELES, CA – May 15, 2025) — As one of California’s leading providers of coordinated senior health services, Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJHealth) is proud to announce it has been awarded $28 million by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) as part of Proposition 1’s Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 1: Launch Ready initiative. The funding, announced by Governor Gavin Newsom, is part of an historic $3.3 billion investment in behavioral health infrastructure, supporting 124 projects statewide.At LAJHealth, this funding will support the expansion of inpatient behavioral health services for seniors, a critical step in addressing California’s growing senior behavioral health crisis. This expansion comes at a time of intensifying need. California’s senior population is projected to double by 2040, and with it, the number of older adults experiencing behavioral health challenges—particularly those who are low-income, medically complex, or socially isolated—is rising sharply.“California is facing a senior behavioral health crisis,” said Dale Surowitz, President and CEO of Los Angeles Jewish Health. “This transformative investment allows us to act urgently and proactively by expanding access to high-quality, compassionate inpatient care for seniors in acute psychiatric distress. We are deeply grateful to Governor Newsom and DHCS for recognizing the urgency of this need and investing in a more sustainable, responsive future for our aging population.”Governor Newsom underscored the importance of Proposition 1 in his remarks announcing the awards:“Californians demanded swift action to address our state’s behavioral health crisis when they voted for Prop 1 in March 2024. Today, we’re delivering our biggest win yet. Whether it’s crisis stabilization, inpatient services, or long-term treatment, we’re ensuring that individuals can access the right care at the right time.”This funding is part of California’s broader strategy to modernize the behavioral health system—increasing transparency, expanding access, and building the infrastructure necessary to provide a full continuum of care for individuals living with mental illness and substance use disorders.Through Proposition 1 and BHCIP, the state aims to create more than 6,800 new residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots, addressing urgent gaps in care across every region of California.

Dale Surowitz is honored for his commitment to improving San Fernando Valley life(RESEDA, CA – April X, 2025)  Los Angeles Jewish Health CEO and President Dale Surowitz was recognized with the Valley Economic Alliance’s Humanitarian Award at its 30th Anniversary Valley of the Stars Awards Gala on April 17th. The event, which took place at the Hilton Los Angeles in Universal City, celebrated Surowitz’s work on behalf of some of the most vulnerable members of the community.In the company of family, friends, Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH) colleagues, and other Valley Economic Alliance honorees at the event, Surowitz acknowledged the role his LAJH coworkers have played in his success. “This Humanitarian Award is not just a personal award—it belongs to the entire LAJH family,” he said. “It reflects the unwavering dedication of our staff and volunteers, who bring our mission of compassionate care to life every day.”Surowitz joined LAJH in 2020, bringing over three decades of experience leading hospitals and healthcare organizations in the San Fernando Valley. His career has been driven by a focus on improving quality of life for a broad range of Valley residents.“I believe we have an ethical and social responsibility to take care of those who don’t have the ability to care for themselves,” he said. “At Los Angeles Jewish Health, we work together to uplift our community’s seniors and treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve.”Sonya Blake, the Valley Economic Alliance’s CEO and president, said Surowitz has had a profound impact on the San Fernando Valley.“We are proud to present the Humanitarian Award to Dale,” she said. “His unwavering commitment to leading an organization that provides exceptional care and support to our seniors is truly inspiring and strengthens the fabric of our community.”The Humanitarian Award adds to the long list of honors Surowitz has received throughout his career including the Fernando Award (the highest award for volunteerism and philanthropy in the San Fernando Valley), the Community Leadership Award from MAPS Charities and the Heart of Gold Award from the Child Development Institute. In addition, he is a member of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ Valley Advisory Board.Surowitz oversees the largest nonprofit, single-source provider of comprehensive senior healthcare in the greater Los Angeles area. From independent and assisted living to short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and a leading PACE adult day healthcare program, LAJH serves more than 4,000 seniors each year.