Asthma: Guidelines & Treatments

Monday, February 13, 2012, 6:00 p.m. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma affects people of all ages, and more than 22 million people in the United States have asthma.* An asthma attack is a distressing and potentially life-threatening experience. DR. EDWARD HU will discuss the diagnosis, evaluation, and general management strategies for asthma. Edward Hu, M.D., is an assistant professor at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Dr. Hu serves as the Department of Medicine’s medical director for its Center for Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the USC University Hospital and its ambulatory practice. Dr. Hu’s areas of interests include common allergy-related problems, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, as well as rare disorders of the immune system. His research has focused on the role of pulmonary function testing in the evaluation of asthma control. His other clinical interests include food allergies, urticaria, hereditary angioedema, and primary immunodeficiencies. In his new role as medical director of the Center for Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Dr. Hu is dedicated to expanding the diagnosis and treatment options for patients with allergies and immunodeficiency disorders. Join us on Monday February 13 and when Dr. Hu will review the latest asthma guidelines and discuss treatment strategies. * Based on National Institutes of Health and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Living Trusts: What You Need to Know

Thursday, February 9, 2012, 7:00 p.m. — Californians choose living trusts to manage their family wealth. Learn how a living trust can ensure your loved ones continue to thrive through a crisis. As Californians age and "kidults" take longer to grow up, the older generation is increasingly concerned to ensure their hard-won assets are not needlessly dissipated by the next generation's serial divorces, profligate spending habits and addiction issues. How can you protect your grandchildren's ability to afford college through a living trust? How can you protect your adult child from a pushy new spouse? How can you support and incentivize your children's and grandchildren's highest purpose in life -- whether it's going to Harvard, becoming a plumber or being a stay-at-home mom? In this city of the nuclear family, how can we cement relations within our extended family so that our grandchildren grow up to be each others' closest allies? Back by popular demand, attorney ELIZABETH BOTSFORD’s program on Estate Planning in October at Crowell Library was very well received. She graduated with a law degree from the London School of Economics. She worked for Baker and McKenzie in Hong Kong, the European Commission in Brussels, Mishcon de Reya in London and has practiced law in California for well over a decade. Ms. Botsford qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales and is an active member of the California Bar. She recently completed a Masters degree in tax law (LLM Hons) at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, graduating with Honors.