About

Earl Strum, MD, MMM, is the Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Under his leadership, the department has a long-standing legacy of contributions to the art and science of anesthesiology, with a focus on improving perioperative care, addressing patients’ pain, and reducing anesthesia risk through rigorous research partnerships. The department collaborates extensively across the Keck School, working on innovative initiatives such as sustainability in operating rooms and advancing patient-centered, compassionate care. Dr. Strum oversees educational programs that include anesthesiology residencies, clinical fellowships, and training for nurse anesthetists, emphasizing comprehensive clinical environments and mentorship. The department’s research efforts, which date back over a century, aim to enhance critical care outcomes and develop new approaches to pain management. The department also prioritizes education through simulation, distance learning, and clinical rotations, preparing future healthcare professionals to excel in diverse settings.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Political Science
• Virology
• Demography
• Internal medicine
• Nursing
• Immunology
• Psychiatry
• Environmental health
• Emergency medicine
• Pathology

Selected publications

• Health Care Workers’ Reflections, Experiences, and Sequela throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine · 2024

  • Political Science
  • Medicine
  • Environmental health

  OBJECTIVE: Health care workers (HCW) experienced significant stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative study describes how they contextualized the experience several years later. METHODS: In August 2023, 1832 HCW at an academic medical center completed a confidential electronic survey; 443 of them responded to an open-ended question about their experiences during the pandemic. The statements were analyzed qualitatively, using a grounded theory approach to allow themes to emerge from the data. RESULTS: Common themes included fear/anxiety (22%), burnout (15%), protecting family from risk (11%), lack of employer support (11%), fear of illness (8%), increased appreciation for life (8%), and exposure to death/illness (5%). CONCLUSION: HCW experienced substantial stress during the pandemic. Mental health services and structural changes in the health care system are needed to protect HCW during future public health emergencies.

  PublisherDOI

• Surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and Variants Using Digital Droplet Polymerase Chain Reaction at a Large University and Healthcare System in California

  Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2023 · 1 citations

  • Medicine
  • Virology
  • Internal medicine

  Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with different infectivity, transmission potential, and morbidity change the characteristics of local epidemics and affect vaccine effectiveness. As part of the University of Southern California COVID-19 Pandemic Research Center's efforts to understand, control, and inform local community on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we implemented a SARS-CoV-2 surveillance program among students, employees, and USC Keck Medical Center patients. We present the epidemiology and distribution of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants among the population. Methods: We used digital droplet reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyze in real-time remnant SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive saliva specimens stored at the USC Keck Medicine laboratory between September 2020 and April 2022. Samples were tested for the original strain (A20) and 9 SARS-CoV-2 variants: α(B.1.1.7, Q.1-Q.8), β(B.1.351, B.1.351.2, B.1.351.3), γ(P.1, P.1.1, P.1.2), δ(B.1.617.2), δ+(or δ417N), ε(B.1.427 and B.1.429), η(B.1.525), λ(C.37) and ο(B.1.1.529, ΒΑ.1, BA.2). We reviewed deidentified health information from positive cases including demographics, history of COVID-19 (eg, symptoms, hospitalizations, and repeat infections), and COVID-19 vaccination status. Results: We reviewed 1169 cases and determined the variant type of 482 specimens: 77 specimens were original strain, 119 "Delta", 165 "Omicron". The original strain was detected during the third and fourth quarters of 2020. The Delta variant appeared during the second quarter of 2021, whereas Omicron appeared in the fourth quarter of 2021. Conclusions: Prospectively tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants in a university population and a hospital system, utilizing a low-cost, high-throughput PCR assay, was feasible. Local variant monitoring remains important to inform prevention and control efforts among university and clinical settings.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• SARS-CoV-2 viral variants can rapidly be identified for clinical decision making and population surveillance using a high-throughput digital droplet PCR assay

  Scientific Reports · 2023 · 3 citations

  • Biology
  • Computational biology
  • Virology

  Epidemiologic surveillance of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants is essential to assess impact on clinical outcomes and vaccine efficacy. Whole genome sequencing (WGS), the gold-standard to identify variants, requires significant infrastructure and expertise. We developed a digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay that can rapidly identify circulating variants of concern/interest (VOC/VOI) using variant-specific mutation combinations in the Spike gene. To validate the assay, 800 saliva samples known to be SARS-CoV-2 positive by RT-PCR were used. During the study (July 2020-March 2022) the assay was easily adaptable to identify not only existing circulating VAC/VOI, but all new variants as they evolved. The assay can discriminate nine variants (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Eta, Epsilon, Lambda, Mu, and Omicron) and sub-lineages (Delta 417N, Omicron BA.1, BA.2). Sequence analyses confirmed variant type for 124/124 samples tested. This ddPCR assay is an inexpensive, sensitive, high-throughput assay that can easily be adapted as new variants are identified.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Healthcare workers benefit from second dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine: Effects of partial and full vaccination on sick leave duration and symptoms

  Public Health in Practice · 2022 · 11 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Medicine
  • Demography
  • Emergency medicine

  Objective: In addition to morbidity and mortality of individuals, COVID-19 can affect staffing among organizations. It is important to determine whether vaccination can mitigate this burden. This study examined the association between COVID-19 vaccination status and time until return to work among 952 healthcare workers (HCW) who tested positive for COVID-19. Study design: Prospective observational study. Methods: Data were collected between December 2020 and July 2021 at an academic campus in Southern California consisting of two large hospitals and multiple outpatient clinics and other facilities. HCW who tested positive for COVID-19 during the study period (N = 952, mean age = 39.2 years, 69% female, 45% Hispanic, 14% white, 14% Asian/Pacific Islander, 5% African American, and 21% other race/ethnicity) completed an initial interview and were followed until they returned to work. We assessed associations between COVID-19 vaccination status (unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or fully vaccinated) and outcomes (days until return to work and presenting symptom). Results: Return-to-work time for fully vaccinated HCWs (mean = 10.9 days) was significantly shorter than that of partially vaccinated HCWs (15.5 days), which in turn was significantly shorter than that of unvaccinated HCWs (18.0 days). Fully vaccinated HCWs also showed milder symptom profiles compared to partially vaccinated and unvaccinated HCWs. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccination has the potential to prevent long absences from work and the adverse financial, staffing, and managerial consequences of these long absences.

  PublisherDOI

• Healthcare workers benefit from second dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine: Effects of partial and full vaccination on sick leave duration and symptoms

  medRxiv · 2021-11-21

  preprintOpen access1st author

  ABSTRACT Importance In addition to morbidity and mortality of individuals, COVID-19 can affect staffing among organizations. It is important to determine whether vaccination can mitigate this burden. Objective : This study examined the association between COVID-19 vaccination status and time until return to work among 952 healthcare workers (HCW) who tested positive for COVID-19. Design Data were collected prospectively between December 2020 and July 2021. HCW who tested positive for COVID-19 completed an initial interview and were followed until they returned to work. Setting An academic campus in Southern California consisting of two large hospitals and multiple outpatient clinics and other facilities. Participants Clinical and nonclinical HCW who tested positive for COVID-19 during the study period (N=952, mean age=39.2 years, 69% female, 45% Hispanic, 14% white, 14% Asian/Pacific Islander, 5% African American, and 21% other race/ethnicity). Exposure COVID-19 vaccination status (unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or fully vaccinated) Main Outcome Measures Days until return to work, presenting symptom Results Return-to-work time for fully vaccinated HCWs (mean=10.9 days) was significantly shorter than that of partially vaccinated HCWs (15.5 days), which in turn was significantly shorter than that of unvaccinated HCWs (18.0 days). Fully vaccinated HCWs also showed milder symptom profiles compared to partially vaccinated and unvaccinated HCWs. Conclusions and Relevance COVID-19 vaccination has the potential to prevent long absences from work and the adverse financial, staffing, and managerial consequences of these long absences. KEY POINTS Question Do healthcare workers (HCW) who are vaccinated against COVID-19 return to work sooner and experience milder symptoms compared with unvaccinated HCW? Findings Among 952 healthcare workers who tested positive for COVID-19 between December 2020 and July 2021, return-to-work time for fully vaccinated HCWs (mean=10.9 days) was significantly shorter than that of partially vaccinated HCWs (15.5 days), which in turn was significantly shorter than that of unvaccinated HCWs (18.0 days). Fully vaccinated HCWs also showed milder symptom profiles compared to partially vaccinated and unvaccinated HCWs. Meaning COVID-19 vaccination has the potential to prevent long absences from work and the adverse financial, staffing, and managerial consequences of these long absences.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Total Care (Spirituality, Positive Psychology, and Surgical Home) to Minimize Demoralization Syndrome in Intensive Care Unit Setting

  Southern Medical Journal · 2014-01-01 · 1 citations

  letterSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Первичная и повторная артропластика тазобедренного или коленного суставов у пациентов 80 лет и старше

  Анестезиология и реаниматология · 2012-01-01

  article1st authorCorresponding

  Due to the ageing of the population, more and more patients older than 80 years are in need of the hip and knee joints total endoprosthesis. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe perioperative mortality and frequency of complications associated with both primary and re-arthroplasty of hip and knee joints in this age group. For more information about demography, the perioperational period and frequency of complications were investigated 59 patient’s card, who have had a 71 endoprosthesis operations, carried out by one surgeon. Information on mortality was obtained by means of telephone interviewing. The average level of mortality within 30 days, 1 year and 5 years amounted to 2,0, 6,1 and 10.2% respectively. Compared with other studies conducted over the past 20 years, these results reflect a significant reduction in the mortality rate. Average frequency of complications in our study was to 52.2%, which corresponds to the previously published data. All the complications were eliminated and did not cause permanent disability. Thanks to the development of anaesthesia, surgical techniques and technologies, joint endoprosthetics can be considered safe in patients older than 80 years.

  Publisher

• The role of intraoperative hemodialysis in liver transplant patients

  Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation · 2011-05-03 · 26 citations

  reviewSenior authorCorresponding

  PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) is a major surgical procedure that can be both challenging and lengthy. One of the common findings in end-stage liver disease is renal failure, whether acute or chronic, which may complicate the intraoperative course. RECENT FINDINGS: The use of intraoperative hemodialysis is described by several centers to aid during OLT cases with impaired renal function or kidney failure. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of available data, which is limited to sporadic case reports, and only few structured studies in which continuous renal replacement therapy was used versus intraoperative hemodialysis, which is the main focus of this article. The rationale behind the use of intraoperative hemodialysis during OLT in patients with kidney dysfunction or failure is that the procedure is usually complicated by major hemodynamic changes, metabolic derangement, and coagulation abnormalities, which we think can be better managed intraoperatively using hemodialysis. In our institution, we performed over 140 cases of OLT using intraoperative hemodialysis since 2003 until the present. A retrospective cohort study is being conducted during the writing of this article. Preliminary data collection report zero percentage intraoperative mortality and 48 h postoperatively. SUMMARY: Hemodialysis is widely acknowledged as a treatment option to stabilize patients with renal failure, and one of the most challenging situations is during OLT in which the role of intraoperative hemodialysis is becoming more important today more than ever before.

  PublisherDOI

• Desflurane Versus Sevoflurane

  Anesthesia & Analgesia · 2005-06-17

  article1st authorCorresponding

  In Response: We would like to thank Dr. Boncyk for his interest in our publication. We did not mean to imply that the oxygen saturations were higher as a result of the anesthetics given. We simply stated the fact that the oxygen saturation was higher in the desflurane group on arrival to the postanesthesia care unit. With regard to the issue of standardization, we did indeed standardize the flow to 6 L/min via facemask for transport to postanesthesia care unit in our protocol. We apologize for omitting this piece of information from our final manuscript and thank you for bringing this to our attention. Earl M. Strum, MD Janos Szenohradszki, MD, PhD Department of Anesthesiology Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA [email protected]

  PublisherDOI

• Live Donor Liver Transplantation Without Blood Products

  Annals of Surgery · 2004-07-22 · 80 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: Developing strategies for transfusion-free live donor liver transplantation in Jehovah's Witness patients. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Liver transplantation is the standard of care for patients with end-stage liver disease. A disproportionate increase in transplant candidates and an allocation policy restructuring, favoring patients with advanced disease, have led to longer waiting time and increased medical acuity for transplant recipients. Consequently, Jehovah's Witness patients, who refuse blood product transfusion, are usually excluded from liver transplantation. We combined blood augmentation and conservation practices with live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) to accomplish successful LDLT in Jehovah's Witness patients without blood products. Our algorithm provides broad possibilities for blood conservation for all surgical patients. METHODS: From September 1998 until June 2001, 38 LDLTs were performed at Keck USC School of Medicine: 8 in Jehovah's Witness patients (transfusion-free group) and 30 in non-Jehovah's Witness patients (transfusion-eligible group). All transfusion-free patients underwent preoperative blood augmentation with erythropoietin, intraoperative cell salvage, and acute normovolemic hemodilution. These techniques were used in only 7%, 80%, and 10%, respectively, in transfusion-eligible patients. Perioperative clinical data and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. Data from both groups were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Preoperative liver disease severity was similar in both groups; however, transfusion-free patients had significantly higher hematocrit levels following erythropoietin augmentation. Operative time, blood loss, and postoperative hematocrits were similar in both groups. No blood products were used in transfusion-free patients while 80% of transfusion-eligible patients received a median of 4.5+/- 3.5 units of packed red cell. ICU and total hospital stay were similar in both groups. The survival rate was 100% in transfusion-free patients and 90% in transfusion-eligible patients. CONCLUSIONS: Timely LDLT can be done successfully without blood product transfusion in selected patients. Preoperative preparation, intraoperative cell salvage, and acute normovolemic hemodilution are essential. These techniques may be widely applied to all patients for several surgical procedures. Chronic blood product shortages, as well as the known and unknown risk of blood products, should serve as the driving force for development of transfusion-free technology.

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Frequent coauthors

• Vladimir Zelman

  11 shared

• Peter Gruen

  Neurological Surgery

  9 shared

• Alexander Patapov

  Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science

  9 shared

• Stephen N. Steen

  Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science

  9 shared

• Janos Szenohradszki

  LAC+USC Medical Center

  6 shared

• Yolee Casagrande

  University of Southern California

  6 shared

• Jennifer B. Unger

  University of Southern California

  5 shared

• Kim Newton

  4 shared