Building the Bones of Something Great

According to the World Health Organization, significant orthopaedic injuries account for more patient cases worldwide than cancer and HIV-AIDS combined. The impact of these injuries on young children’s lives, and the barriers to access high quality medical care, represent a serious threat to families.  

For over a century, Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children (LuskinOIC) has stood with open doors to address children’s musculoskeletal issues, from bone injuries to congenital orthopaedic disorders. Established in 1911, during the rise of polio, LuskinOIC has expanded into a first-class center for research, education, and medical care. 

Today, its focus is on providing care where it is most needed: delivering compassionate, comprehensive treatment to children from underserved families. As Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer Michael Sullivan says, “Our parents, particularly the uninsured, are already nervous coming into a healthcare organization. But as we say: ‘We’re kid first, not insurance first.’”

LuskinOIC makes patient accessibility central to their mission as care providers. “The psychology of being welcomed is an important part of the healing process, particularly for parents. These are families that are used to being told no,” says Sullivan.

Contributions from donors help ensure accessibility. Donations allow LuskinOIC to relieve the burden on low-income families by supporting the cost of treatment. 

Take Efrain for example. Efrain was born with a significant limb deficiency and was unable to walk. Doctors in his home country considered amputation or leg-lengthening procedures, but the family had reservations and little funds to afford either option. When they relocated to Los Angeles, they saw a pediatrician and a nurse who immediately suggested they visit LuskinOIC.

Under the care of Dr. Anthony Scaduto, LuskinOIC’s President and CEO, Efrain underwent a rotationplasty – a very rare, unique, and painful surgery. But this amazing procedure gave him the opportunity to easily wear a prosthesis, allowing Efrain to have two functional legs, and for the first time let him walk without any crutches or assistive devices. Efrain is simply one example of the thousands of children who count on LuskinOIC for care. 

The expert medical staff are trained in 21 sub-specialties and treat over 70,000 patient visits a year. They see children from Los Angeles County and around the world, regardless of ability to pay. All of the care for children, research in orthopaedics, and education is possible thanks to private support.