LA BioMed to honor Local Business and Research Leaders

The Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) will honor one of the Palos Verdes Estate’s leading businessmen and philanthropists, Ralph Scriba, with its Award for Community Service, and one of its most distinguished researchers, Kouichi R. “Corky” Tanaka, MD, of Rancho Palos Verdes, with its Award for Inspirational Leadership at the institute’s Translating Science and Transforming Lives Gala Dec. 5 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

LA BioMed will also honor Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, one of the preeminent scientific and medical minds in the world today, with the Award for Advancing Innovations.

“We are privileged to have the opportunity to honor such distinguished leaders in medicine, research and philanthropy at our gala,” said Rodney D. Franks, LA BioMed vice president for development. “It is an honor to recognize Dr. Soon-Shiong for devoting his vision, his voice and his resources to improving our nation’s healthcare system. Mr. Scriba is an accomplished businessman who deserves every accolade for giving back so much to the community, and Dr. Tanaka is renowned for nearly a half a century of leadership in medicine, research and education.”

Mr. Scriba founded the aircraft parts manufacturer, Swift-Cor, in his garage in 1956 and built it into a major enterprise before selling it in 2000. Since retiring, Mr. Scriba has devoted his life to philanthropy through the Ralph Scriba Family Foundation and Scriba Enterprises, which oversees industrial properties, office buildings and residential developments in California, Arizona and Texas. His foundation made the first-ever $1 million gift to LA BioMed.

Dr. Tanaka joined the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center faculty in 1961 as chief of the Division of Hematology. He also served as associate chair of the Department of Medicine, acting chair of the Department of Medicine, director of the Hematology Research Laboratory and in other capacities, while also playing a key role in training over 450 internal medicine physicians. Dr. Tanaka has authored nearly 300 research publications, and he is an LA BioMed “Legend” in whose name the KR. Tanaka MD Endowed Chair of Medicine is being created.

RPV Researcher Dr. Kouichi “Corky” R. Tanaka to receive LA BioMed’s Award for Inspirational Leadership at its Dec. 5 gala.

Dr. Soon-Shiong is one of the nation’s leading physicians, surgeons and scientists, having pioneered treatments for diabetes and cancer and published more than 100 scientific papers.  He developed and sold two multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical companies, American Pharma Partners (APP) and Abraxis Bioscience (ABII). He holds 50 U.S. patents on groundbreaking advancements across a myriad of fields, and he and his wife, Michele Chan, are among the country’s most generous philanthropists in supporting the improvement and expansion of healthcare through the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation.

“Each of our honorees is a true visionary whose myriad contributions are helping to move healthcare forward and ensure that it serves those most in need,” said David I. Meyer, PhD., LA BioMed president and CEO. “They are inspirations to all of us who work in the field of research and strive every day to improve the lives of patients across the globe. It is fitting that the Translating Science and Transforming Lives Gala would honor three leaders who have transformed so many lives.”