Precision Healthcare and the Future of U.S. Healthcare

Two Tuesdays January 21 & 28, 12:30 pm

Hal Slavkin, Professor and Dean Emeritus from USC, returns to Crowell Library on two Tuesdays, January 21^st and January 28th, with two lectures on the advances in healthcare based on new understanding of the human genome.  The U.S. healthcare system as it exists essentially rations healthcare by income class or socioeconomic status.  According to Dr. Slavkin, the U.S. currently pays more for healthcare than any other industrial nation in the world in terms of percent gross domestic product at 18.9% with Switzerland 2nd at 12.3%. Current spending of $3.5 trillion for healthcare (for >70% of population) will become $5.6 trillion by 2027.

How can we increase access to the entire U.S. population, reduce costs to 10% GDP, and improve health outcomes?  Profoundly significant discoveries have and are being made that can provide innovation and transformation for US healthcare. This lecture series will highlight what is and what might be.

Hal Slavkin received undergraduate (English Literature) and dental degrees from USC. After postdoctoral studies at UCLA, he returned to USC as full-time faculty (1968-2014) and department chair of Biochemistry, and director of the research group in Craniofacial Molecular Biology. As dean of the dental school, he spent five years as director of NIDCR at the NIH during the Clinton Administration (1995-2000). He is Member of National Academy of Medicine. He published 570 scientific papers, edited 11 books, authored two texts, one novel, and wrote and produced the PBS program, A Lifetime of Change.  He serves on Boards of LA Trust for Children’s Health and Santa Fe Group, an advocacy group created to address underserved populations with respect to access, quality and cost of health care. The Group is presently working to add oral health benefits to Medicare. He supports wife’s gourmet cooking by chopping and washing dishes, pots and pans and also loving “Molly” a Cavalier King Charles puppy of four months.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.  No reservations are required.

Artisan Guitar Ensemble in Concert

Artisan Guitar Ensemble

Sunday, January 12, 3:00 pm

Come to Crowell Public Library on Sunday, January 12 at 3:00 p.m. for an enjoyable hour of music from around the globe featuring compositions from Japan, Russia, France, Brazil, Spain and Mexico.  The Artisan Guitar Ensemble is a Southern California-based guitar trio established in 2006 when its members were studying music at CSU Fullerton.  The group endeavors to cultivate community and culture through shared musical experiences with its audiences. Performing exemplary music characterized by an easy rapport and well-timed synchronicity among its members, the group has a unique expressive quality that is formal yet intimate and familiar.  The trio encourages bringing kids to the performance for early exposure to live music performance in a casual environment. 

The Ensemble has performed extensively across the state of California, and have taken part in master classes by some of the finest musicians in the classical guitar world including Roland Dyens, Martha Masters, Pavel Steidl, and David Leisner.  All of the members are soloists performing and teaching throughout the city.  Their goal is to reach as wide an audience as possible, making the music approachable and enjoyable for everyone from the diehard classical music aficionado, to the casual listener. 

Andre Giraldo has studied privately with John Dearman, and Richard Turner and David Grimes.  He received his B.M. in Classical Guitar Performance from CSUF.  Andre believes that the best classroom is the stage itself, and continually seeks the opportunity to perform in order to reach new levels as a musician.  Max Mendoza has studied music his whole life and earned a BFA in classical guitar from CSU Fullerton. Besides performing with the trio, Max performs solo, in “pop/rock” bands, and in Latin/jazz groups. Daniel Ramirez began playing the electric guitar at an early age.  His studies and field of interest expanded into jazz and eventually led to classical and finger style guitar playing.  Daniel also graduated from CSUF with a degree in classical guitar performance.  Daniel continues playing electric guitar in bands that range from reggae, jazz, progressive rock to worship music. 

Come learn about the composers and their music and stay after to chat with the performers or ask any questions you may have!  

Grammy nominated guitarist Fabio Zini

Sunday, October 20, 2:00 p.m

Guitarist Fabio Zini will present an electrifying repertoire that combines tango, Argentine folk and classical music, when he performs at Crowell Public Library on Sunday October 20 at 2:00 pm in the Barth Community Room.  Mr. Zini has traveled the world delighting audiences, from his hometown in Santa Fe, Argentina to Skagway, Alaska, Hawaii, all over Europe, and Asia.  His soulful and romantic touch on the guitar connects the audiences with such great composers  as  Bach,  Tchaikovsky, Schubert, Manuel de Falla, Ernesto  Lecuona  and Astor Piazzolla. 

Fabio Zini received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with an instrumental major in guitar from the National University of Santa Fe, Argentina.  He has composed several works for the guitar and other instruments, including a concerto for guitar and orchestra.  The Ten Commandments of the Guitar, book and CD, is a collection of original compositions by Fabio Zini, illustrating his technique. After several successful studio albums, Fabio developed the Zinistesia System - the first musical notation in color for guitar in the USA and Canada.  He has also taught guitar to students at Florida International University in Miami. 

This year Mr. Zini has composed for the documentary, “The Needle and the Thread.”  In 2007 he was nominated for a Grammy in the Tango genre.  In 2017 Classical Guitar Magazine published their video pick of Fabio Zini playing Piazzolla's Adios Nonino.

Don’t miss a performance full of passion and joy at Crowell Public Library on Sunday, October 20^th at 2:00 p.m. in the Library’s Barth Community Room.