Longtime UCLA donor and UCLA Health System Board Chair Henry Gluck and his daughter, UCLA Health System Board member Tracey Gluck, enjoyed more than just an exciting baseball game when they attended the Los Angeles Dodgers versus the Washington Nationals game on Memorial Day, May 29, at Dodger Stadium. Father and daughter took to the field, and Tracey Gluck threw the pre-game ceremonial first pitch.
Also on hand was the UCLA Health Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU), along with Dr. May Nour (RES ’13, FEL ’14, ’15), medical director of the UCLA Arline and Henry Gluck Stroke Rescue Program, and Dr. Jeffrey L. Saver, senior associate vice chair for clinical research and Carol and James Collins Chair in the UCLA Department of Neurology, who shared information on this innovative, lifesaving program. Launched in 2017 as a pilot project, California’s first MSU provides vital access to highly advanced clinical care in the prehospital setting. Staffed by a vascular neurologist, critical care nurse, firefighter paramedic and a technologist, the MSU is a specialized ambulance with a computed tomography scanner. This enables the medical team to examine brain tissue and brain blood vessels in the vehicle prior to arrival at the hospital.
Once the team determines the type of stroke, patients can be quickly treated with lifesaving medications in the MSU and routed to the most appropriate level-of-care stroke center.
“It was truly an honor to throw the first pitch, but more than that, my father and I were grateful to spread awareness about a leading health concern to such a large audience,” Tracey Gluck said.
The Gluck family provided the initial funds to equip the MSU and has advocated for its use since the beginning. UCLA Health participated in a nationwide study that showed MSUs improve access to stroke care and treatment, as well as better clinical outcomes for patients, compared to those who don't start receiving care until they reach the emergency department.
“Time is everything with stroke diagnosis and treatment,” said Henry Gluck. “We are thrilled the mobile stroke unit has been highly successful in prehospital response to needs all throughout Los Angeles County since the program was launched more than five years ago. With information from our research into hot spots of greatest stroke occurrence — especially in medically underserved areas — our sights are set on blanketing the county with additional MSUs where the needs are greatest.”
UCLA Health serves as the official medical partner of the L.A. Dodgers, a multiyear relationship in which UCLA Health physicians provide care to players. The partnership between the two organizations extends to collaborations that benefit the community and deliver their joint mission of community service, fitness and health for a broad and diverse audience. UCLA Health provides various basic health care resources at a number of events throughout the year, including free eye exams, basic dental checks, blood pressure and blood glucose screenings, nutrition education and fitness training.
To further educate Memorial Day game attendees about stroke, stadium screens lit up with photos of the Gluck family and the UCLA MSU, accompanied by a voiceover explaining the Gluck family’s involvement, the purpose of the stroke program and the MSU and thanking the family for helping support the program — all part of an L.A. Dodgers program, Dodgers Healthcare All Stars, presented by UCLA Health.
