Karina Torralba, MD, MACM, FACR, CCD

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Areas of Treatment:

Specialties:

  • Rheumatology

Title:

  • Assistant Professor

Department:

Locations:

Background:

Dr. Torralba was born in Manila, Philippines. Coming from a family of well-regarded physicians in the Philippines, and having grown up learning about medical conditions even at the dinner table, Dr. Torralba has a deep inclination towards the treatment of patients with chronic and systemic rheumatic conditions.

Prior to returning to USC as a faculty member in 2008, Dr. Torralba was faculty at the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock, Arkansas, and was also affiliated with the Central Arkansas for Veterans Healthcare Services (CAVHS). Dr. Torralba has been quite involved in community activities. She is active in committees involving the Arthritis Foundation of Southern California, the American College of Rheumatology, and the Ultrasound School of North American Rheumatologists. She has had research involvement in Lupus health-related quality of life studies, in collaboration with a group of rheumatologists in the Southern California area (PATROL), and another group that is headed by Dr. Meenakshi Jolly of the Division of Rheumatology at Rush University in Chicago, IL.

She also has distinguished herself as an educator, receiving the Clinician Scholar Educator Award from the Research and Education Foundation of the American College of Rheumatology; she also recently accomplished a Masters in Academic Medicine from our own USC Keck School of Medicine; has completed the UAMS Teaching Scholars Program, and the Medical Education Research Certificate (MERC) program of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Dr. Torralba also co-directs the Lupus Clinic, and directs the Early Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Clinic at the Los Angeles County Medical Center - these opportunities and experiences have made her an expert in these areas. She is an associate editor for the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, has served as reviewer for numerous journals including Clinical Therapeutics, the Journal of Rheumatology, Arthritis and Rheumatism. She recently served as editor for an edition on Early Arthritis, for the Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. She most recently has published chapters on serologies in lupus in collaboration with Dr. Francisco Quismorio (Director, Lupus Clinic, LAC; Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, KSOM, USC) in the renowned bible on SLE, the Dubois Lupus Erythematosus (2012 edition), and on osteoarthritis in collaboration with Dr. Richard Panush (professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, KSOM, USC) for the latest edition of Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. She likewise has published chapters on Interstitial Lung Disease in Sjogren's syndrome (in collaboration with Dr. Quismorio), and articles on various other topics including Gout, Vasculitis, Rheumatoid arthritis and medical publication and research ethics.

Apart from SLE, Dr. Torralba has done clinical research on rheumatoid arthritis, musculoskeletal ultrasound, immunology and pharmacogenetics. She also serves as the education coordinator for medical student and resident teaching in the USC Division of Rheumatology, and has served as Associate Director of the USC-LAC Rheumatology fellowship training program (2008-2012).

Education:

  • Master of Academic Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2009 - 2011
  • Doctor of Medicine, University of Santo Tomas, Manila Philippines, 1992 - 1996
  • BS Biology Accelerated, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, 1989 - 1992

Internships:

  • Internal Medicine, Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1998 - 1999
  • Multi-Specialty Internship, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines, 1996 - 1997

Residencies:

  • Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1999 - 2001

Fellowships:

  • Rheumatology Fellowship, LAC-USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 2001 - 2003

Board Certification:

  • Diplomate in Rheumatology, American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Diplomate in Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Certified Clinical Densitometrist, International Society of Clinical Densitometry
  • Medical Education Research Certificate, Association of American Medical Colleges
  • Diplomate in Rheumatology, Philippine Rheumatism Association, 2004
  • Diplomate in Internal Medicine, Philippine College of Physicians, 2004

Professional Society Memberships:

  • Ultrasound School of North American Rheumatologists
  • American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
  • Arthritis Foundation - Public Health Advisory Committee
  • American College of Rheumatology
  • - Continuing Assessment Review and Education Core Development Committee
  • - Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Examination Development Group
  • - Clinician Educator Core Group
  • USC Collegium of Educators
  • American College of Physicians
  • Philippine College of Physicians
  • Philippine Rheumatism Association
  • Arthritis Care and Research Foundation of the Philippines

Awards:

  • American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation Clinician-Educator Award 2008 - 2011
  • Amgen Rheumatology Fellowship Award 2002 - 2003
  • E Donnall Thomas Resident Research Award, Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, NY 2000 - 2001
  • Cum Laude, BS Biology Accelerated, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
  • President Manuel L Quezon Leadership Award, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines

Languages:

  • English
  • Spanish
  • Tagalog