2024-2025 Annual Report
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Through discovery, training and action, we are solving population and public health challenges, from local to global, for today and tomorrow.
Message from the Chair (Interim)
Public health challenges change and persist yet the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California remains an enduring source of scientific knowledge and innovative solutions. In terms of advancing knowledge, our faculty, research staff, post-doctoral and doctoral fellows, masters and undergraduate trainees published over 800 peer-reviewed manuscripts in scientific journals in 2024 with studies appearing in leading journals in medicine, public health, genetic epidemiology, computational biology, environmental health, and behavioral research. At the same time, our faculty, trainees, and alumni have responded to the most pressing public health challenges in recent years including wildfires in Los Angeles, long COVID, PFAs exposure, and translating cutting edge science into practical interventions for communities in the areas of cancer, air pollution, and substance use among many others.
To support these outcomes, we need strong extramural support. According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, we remain the #2 ranked public health department in schools of medicine based on NIH funding with 21 of our faculty among the top 200 funded principal investigators in these departments. We are also home to three USC Institutes including the Institute on Inequalities in Global Health, the Institute for Addiction Science, and the Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, all of which combine scientific and training expertise from across the University to ignite discovery and train the next generation of public health researchers and practitioners.
This year, members of our department continued to be widely recognized for their achievements. For instance, Marlena Fejzo was selected for Forbes magazine’s “50 over 50 in innovation,” Adam Leventhal was named the 2025 Research Laureate by the American Academy of Health Behavior, Laura Ferguson won the USC Graduate Mentoring Award from the Provost Office at USC, and Vickie Williams won the Keck School Staff Award for Leadership. Faculty members hold half-a-dozen endowed chairs and the Department is home to 3 USC Distinguished Professors and 1 USC University Professor (the highest honor bestowed by USC).
These achievements and recognitions highlight our strengths in these challenging times. I believe we can continue to succeed by doing what we do best - designing and conducting groundbreaking scientific discovery from cell to society. To continue this success, we will need to be nimble, creative, and persistent. Changes in NIH priorities have occurred in the past (albeit, not at this scale) and can be managed in the future. For my part, I wouldn’t want to be in any other department during this time due to the depth of talent in our trainees, our highly skilled staff, and our immensely accomplished faculty.
In the pages that follow you will read about stories of extraordinary public health achievements, about engaged and impactful alums, about students pushing themselves to learn and grow, and about scientific discoveries that lay the foundation for improved population health here and globally.
It is an honor to be in leadership of this tremendous department in a time like this. I hope you find this report to be as inspiring as I have.
Best wishes,
Ricky N. Bluthenthal, PhD
Chair (interim), Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Distinguished Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
Igniting Discovery the PPHS Way
#2 in NIH funding nationally
among public health departments in schools of medicine
$77M+ in total costs for grants, contracts, and gifts in FY24
Research in Critical Mass
800+ Publications CY 2024
122 Full-time Faculty
35 Joint/Dual Faculty
40 Adjunct Faculty
Focus on Engagement
200+ Community Partners
3 Institutes
45+ Centers & Labs
Leading the Future
4400+ Alumni
1647 Students
(academic year 2024-2025)
12 Degree Programs
Education
Message from the Vice Chair for Education
The 2024–2025 academic year marks a significant milestone for the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC: the culmination of a four-year, department-wide effort of self-study and comprehensive curricular review. This extensive process has touched every corner of our educational enterprise—from our two undergraduate degrees in Health Promotion & Disease Prevention and Global Health, to our five Master of Science programs, our Master of Public Health degree, and our three doctoral programs in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Health Behavior Research.
Throughout this journey, faculty, staff, and students collaborated in curriculum committees to assess strengths, identify opportunities for innovation, and shape strategic priorities for growth. Together, we reimagined and advanced how best to educate the next generation of health researchers and public health leaders. The result: successful program reviews completed through the University Curriculum Academic Review (UCAR), and a reaffirmation of excellence with the Master of Public Health (MPH) program’s reaccreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in 2024.
These achievements were only possible thanks to the insight, passion, spirit and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and partners. Their contributions have laid the groundwork for meaningful innovations that will benefit students now and for years to come.
Looking ahead, our focus turns to student outcomes—ensuring our graduates are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and adaptability needed to thrive in a dynamic and evolving field. Our faculty bring the latest research, innovative teaching methods – such as experiential and adaptive learning – and real-world public health practice into the classroom. The result is a rich learning environment where academic rigor meets hands-on experience, preparing students for their professional careers.
In this report, you’ll find highlights of the many exceptional opportunities our students have engaged in—whether through scholarship, mentorship, leadership, or immersive field experiences.
We are especially grateful for the ongoing support of our alumni and community public health partners. Their involvement—through mentorship, the PPHS Alumni Council, practicum advising, and participation in events—adds immeasurable value to our students’ education. The Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB), which includes 20 leading local and state organizations, continues to play a vital role by offering curriculum feedback, professional mentorship, and guidance on workforce development.
In 2024, we proudly celebrated the graduation of 457 students, and we continue to support a vibrant student body of more than 1,200 learners across our undergraduate and graduate programs.
As we reflect on the accomplishments of the past year, we invite you to explore the stories that follow. We hope you will be inspired—and perhaps moved to join us as an alum, mentor, or community partner in shaping the future of public health.
Roberta McKean-Cowdin, PhD
Vice Chair for Education
Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences (Educational Scholar)
Meet the 2024–2025 Dhablania and Kim Family Global Medicine and Health fellows
Through the generosity of supporters, ten students across various Keck School of Medicine of USC degree programs will be able to enrich their understanding of health challenges in different communities by learning through research and clinical experiences and preparing them to serve humanity’s needs. This fellowship is instrumental in promoting the exchange of knowledge and skills that will impact our students’ careers but also the health and wellness for many throughout the world.
Faculty bring first-of-its-kind mentoring and community-building program to USC
The MOSAIC program provides group mentorship, professional and academic development, help navigating institutional resources, and the space to build community. Programming includes events like skill-building workshops, chats with the chair, and informal gatherings to discuss challenges, celebrate achievements, and provide support.
USC medical students shape policy tackling tough global health challenges in D.C. summer program
Scholars work with governmental and nonprofit agencies to advance health in a new joint program by the USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health and the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
USC MPH students transforming public health leadership through innovation and methodology
During this year’s U.S. election season, Master of Public Health students explored voting as a structural determinant of health. Learners enrolled in Public Health Leadership and Management course received training to envision, strategize, and implement actionable solutions to today’s most pressing social and health challenges.
USC students tackle climate change negotiations at 2024 APRU global climate change simulation
In August, the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) hosted a Student Global Climate Change Simulation providing an opportunity for scholars to tackle pressing climate change challenges of our time. The four-week mock United Nations Climate Change Negotiation conference brought together 180 students from 20 universities across the world.
Exploring global health governance: PM 589 in Geneva
After a four-year hiatus, the USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health, whose faculty are based in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at Keck School of Medicine of USC, offered PM 589: Global Health Governance and Diplomacy in Practice once again this past spring. The course, which begins in Los Angeles and culminates with two weeks in Geneva, Switzerland offers students immersive, hands-on experiences in real-world high-level global health forums, conversations, and events.
USC Medical Student Christine Raj Contributes to FEMA Report on Child Disaster Preparedness
In order to assess the current landscape of pediatric disaster preparedness, Christine Raj, a fifth year student in the joint Doctor of Medicine / Master of Public Health (MD/MPH) program at Keck School of Medicine of USC, co-authored a chapter on child disaster preparedness in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funded report.
Message from the Vice Chair for Culture and Engagement
Our willingness and desire to engage are hallmark to our Department’s culture, and our engagement with our students has been incredibly impactful and rewarding. This year, the Representation, Engagement, Development, and Impact (REDI) Council launched new initiatives to foster community for graduate students and kicked-off their 2025-2028 strategic plan to chart the roadmap for fostering an environment of engagement in the Department, with transparency and awareness of various circumstances and career goals our students, staff, and faculty may have, so that all can reach their potential at USC.
Mariana C. Stern, PhD
Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences and Urology
Ira Goodman Chair in Cancer Research
Vice Chair for Culture and Engagement
Associate Director for Population Science at USC NCCC
Student and Alumni Accomplishments
Awards & Recognitions
Diana Flores awarded first place in cancer research training program in Puerto Rico
Sandy Oliver Lopez Najera, PhD, awarded Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Award
Angel Arizpe receives grant to study the implications of substance use among Hispanic cancer survivors
Samantha Garcia, PhD receives National Institutes of Health MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award (K99/R00)
7 USC scholars receive American Association for Cancer Research awards for their research on cancer health disparities
Scholar-In-Training Award
Joel Sanchez Mendez
Miriam Gorbatov
Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Award
Angel Arizpe
Ugonna Ihenacho, PhD, MPH
Fatimata Sanogo, PhD
Women in Cancer Research Scholar Award
Kelsie Campbell
Dayanara Ruiz
Students and Alumni in Action
Iona Cheng, PhD, MPH, is building the evidence base in cancer research for Asian Americans
Cheng is co-leading a new study to uncover the causes of cancer in Asian Americans. Through a $12.45 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, she hopes to uncover the burden of cancer in this understudied group.
Pedram Razavi, MD, PhD, is developing new paradigms for cancer treatment and therapeutics
Razavi is a physician-scientist and breast oncologist, and an alumnus of USC's MPH and PhD in Epidemiology programs. He currently serves as a faculty member at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Jennifer Tzi is raising awareness in a campaign to end child marriage
The MPH online program renews Jennifer Tzi’s passion for improving public health and advancing the well-being of children.
Support our Students
Our alums are getting involved in Department education and research missions through providing student mentorship, serving on the PPHS Alumni Council, acting as practicum advisors, sharing their wisdom through networking sessions and through guest speaking in classes, and through supporting student scholarship and the PPHS Student Success Fund. Contact karentho@usc.edu to explore how you can get involved.
Research
Message from the Interim Executive Vice Chair
As the institutional leader in population and public health sciences research at the University of Southern California, faculty and staff in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences (PPHS) are conducting paradigm changing research in minority health and health disparities; biostatistics and epidemiology; environmental health and preventive medicine; and community and patient engagement and outreach that is driving policy and practice to improve health and well-being in Los Angeles, California, and beyond.
The Department’s faculty and staff are organized into six divisions: bioinformatics; biostatistics; disease prevention, policy, and global health; environmental health; epidemiology and genetics; and health behavior research.
Notably, the research enterprise in PPHS includes several NIH-funded institutional centers and laboratories that are developing new methods and novel strategies to address multilevel drivers of health disparities, addictions, social networks, and environmental exposures that increase disease risk and reduce health care quality and outcomes.
With more than $77 million in total costs for grants, contracts, and gifts in FY24, the department’s research enterprise contributes significantly to the economic ecosystem at USC - and beyond - through job creation, innovation, and the development and implementation of evidence-based solutions that support the health care delivery and healthy living.
I invite you to visit our division websites to learn more.
- Bioinformatics
- Biostatistics
- Disease Prevention, Policy and Global Health
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology and Genetics
- Health Behavior Research
Chanita Hughes Halbert, PhD
Interim Executive Vice Chair and Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
Dr. Arthur and Priscilla Ulene Chair in Women’s Cancer
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Brain Health:
How do environment, genetics, lifestyle and other factors affect our brain?
Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy increases postpartum depression risk for at least three years, study finds
Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC are among the first to examine the link between air pollution and depression beyond 12 months postpartum.
Sweeping review reveals latest evidence on the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of ADHD
A comprehensive literature review from USC researchers summarizes the most robust findings on addressing ADHD in children and adolescents, which will inform updated clinical practice guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
More than 11% of U.S. 12th graders used psychoactive delta-8-THC last year, study finds
Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC conducted one of the first nationally representative studies of adolescent use of the new hemp-derived cannabis products, which have intoxicating effects that resemble marijuana.
Exposure to certain pollution sources harms children’s learning and memory, USC study shows
The peer-reviewed study contributes to mounting evidence that the fine particulates PM2.5 are detrimental for memory and cognition for people of all ages.
A new USC study involving 8,500 children from across the country has revealed that a form of air pollution, largely the product of agricultural emissions, is linked to poor learning and memory performance in 9- and 10-year-olds. The specific component of fine particle air pollution (PM2.5), ammonium nitrate, is also implicated in Alzheimer’s and dementia risk in adults, suggesting that PM2.5 may cause neurocognitive harm across the lifespan. Ammonium nitrate forms when ammonia gas and nitric acid, produced by agricultural activities and fossil fuel combustion, respectively, react in the atmosphere.
The findings appear in Environmental Health Perspectives.
“Our study highlights the need for more detailed research on particulate matter sources and chemical components,” said senior author Megan Herting, an associate professor of population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “It suggests that understanding these nuances is crucial for informing air quality regulations and understanding long-term neurocognitive effects.”
For the last several years, Herting has been working with data from the largest brain study across America, known as the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, or ABCD, to understand how PM2.5 may affect the brain.
Fluoride exposure during pregnancy linked to increased risk of childhood neurobehavioral problems, study finds
Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC conducted the first U.S.-based study examining the link between prenatal fluoride and childhood social, emotional and behavioral functioning.
Addressing lead exposure at the 77th World Health Assembly
Until five years ago, lead exposure had been declining worldwide - in part due to the removal of lead from gasoline, paint, and plumbing systems. However, Howard Hu, MD, MPH, ScD, says in recent years the known neurotoxin has been leaching back into the economy.
Researcher reassesses definitions and interpretations around race and ethnicity in neuroimaging research
What are the ethical considerations we should bear in mind as we conduct research? Postdoctoral scholar Carlos Cardenas-Iniguez, PhD, is deliberating on the growing availability of large-population human biomedical datasets and the ways in which the research practices behind them may further stigmatize some groups.
Climate:
How are we addressing our changing world?
USC-led CLIMA Center awarded $4.1 million by NIH to study impact of wildfire smoke and extreme heat on human health
With a $4.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, USC researchers will characterize climate-related exposures and gaps in adaptation capacity to understand their combined impacts on human health
From devastating wildfires and landslides to droughts and extreme heat waves, climate-related events disrupt the lives of communities around the world. How these events impact the health of Los Angeles’s vulnerable communities is a question numerous USC researchers are working to solve. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $4.1 million to a USC-led initiative to build a community of transdisciplinary scientists and a robust infrastructure with the goal of advancing solution-oriented climate change adaptation and health research.
CLIMA brings together researchers from the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, USC Viterbi School of Engineering and USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
This NIH award is a milestone in USC President Carol Folt’s Sustainability “moonshot,” an ambitious university-wide commitment to innovation in the space of sustainability through research and education.
“California provides an ideal opportunity to identify gaps in climate resilience and adaptation strategies to inform policies that protect the most vulnerable and strengthen climate resiliency,” said center director Rima Habre, ScD, associate professor of environmental health and spatial sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the Spatial Sciences Institute at USC Dornsife.
CLIMA researchers have been collaborating with USC Dornsife Public Exchange and the City of Los Angeles Climate Emergency Mobilization Office (CEMO) to build a visual mapping tool called a StoryMap, which can add narrative context to the city and county’s extreme heat challenges.
USC researchers to assess immediate and long-term health impacts of LA wildfires through Project Firestorm
Through Project Firestorm, a team of researchers from Keck School of Medicine are embarking on an a rapid-response epidemiological study to investigate the health impacts of wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires. The timely study is co-led by Frank Gilliland, MD, PhD, professor of population and public health sciences, Jennifer Unger, PhD, professor of population and public health sciences, and Daniel Soto, EdD, MPH, assistant professor of clinical population and public health sciences, from the medical school.
“This fire was very intense and on a different scale than most recent fires in terms of the number of houses burned and the density and age of the housing. These factors make a huge difference in terms of exposures,” says Gilliland, who has worked as a respiratory health and cancer epidemiologist since the 1970s. “We really don’t know what the health effects are, revealing a gap in the scientific literature. We want to better understand not only the physical effects such as respiratory health, but also neurological and immune outcomes that could potentially occur.”
Exposures:
How do the things we come into contact with affect our health?
Air Pollution
Exposure to air pollution before pregnancy linked to higher child body mass index, study finds
An international research team co-led by the Keck School of Medicine of USC found that greater air pollution exposure in the three months before conception was associated with higher childhood obesity risk up to two years after birth.
Air pollution exposure during childhood linked directly to adult bronchitis symptoms in new research
Asthma and symptoms of bronchitis in youth do not fully account for the association in a study that underlines the need to reduce pollution according to scientists at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
Salton Sea — an area rich with lithium — documented as hot spot for child respiratory issues
A USC study finds boys and girls living closest to the landlocked lake experience more respiratory issues than those farther away.
Windblown dust from the shrinking Salton Sea harms the respiratory health of children living nearby, triggering asthma, coughing, wheezing and disrupted sleep, USC research shows.
The findings also indicate that children living closest to the sea, who are exposed to more dust in the air, may be the most affected.
The study, published in Environmental Research, found that 24% of children in the area have asthma — far higher than the national rate of 8.4% for boys and 5.5% for girls. The abnormally high rate raises health experts’ concerns about the children’s health in this predominantly low-income community of color 150 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
Furthermore, experts say, the dust problem is likely to intensify in a hotter climate, with evaporation exposing more and more of the lake bed, or playa, leading to more dust events.
Substance Use
Few U.S. adults use nicotine pouches, study finds
In a large, nationally representative study co-led by the Keck School of Medicine of USC, nicotine pouch use was uncommon among U.S. adults, including those who had tried to quit smoking, in the midst of rising sales and concerns over teen use.
Vaping and Video Games
Recently, there has been a noticeable ‘nostalgia’ trend on social media ranging from early 2000s fashion to retro gaming. According to researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, one industry that has noticed this popularity is e-cigarette companies who have started to produce new vaping devices that contain video games leaning into this trend.
PFAS
Study links PFAS contamination of drinking water to a range of rare cancers
In the first study of its kind, researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC found an association between levels of manmade “forever chemicals” in drinking water and the incidence of certain digestive, endocrine, respiratory, and mouth and throat cancers.
New USC research center explores environmental health across the lifespan
Scientists at the Center for Translational Exposomics Research at the Keck School of Medicine of USC are studying how pollutants impact chronic disease, with a focus on practical, community-oriented solutions.
USC researchers develop novel framework leveraging multi-omics data to advance environmental precision health
In the first study of its kind, researchers found an association between levels of manmade “forever chemicals” in drinking water and the incidence of certain digestive, endocrine, respiratory, and mouth and throat cancers.
Study finds health disparities in PFAS levels linked to drinking water, food access and industrial pollution
Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC found that certain neighborhood factors were associated with higher levels of PFAS in the blood of Southern California residents, which increases the risk for disease.
‘Forever chemicals’ linked to poor sleep among young adults in first-of-its-kind study
High levels of four types of PFAS showed effects on sleep, with related genes identified for the first time, through Keck School of Medicine of USC research.
USC study finds link between PFAS, kidney function and gut health
In the first study of its kind, researchers from the Keck School of Medicine found that problems with gut bacteria and related metabolites can help explain the link between “forever chemicals” and kidney damage.
Disease and Genetics:
What influences disease and can we prevent it?
For University Professor Adam Leventhal, studying addiction hits close to home
The Keck School of Medicine professor is the founding executive director of the USC Institute for Addiction Science, which has 80 faculty members across 10 USC schools, colleges and hospitals. He also received the 2025 Research Laureate Award from the American Academy of Health Behavior.
Gene Ontology Consortium releases comprehensive resource describing functions of more than 20,000 human genes
More than 25 years after its initial launch, the Gene Ontology Consortium has published a new resource of human gene functions to support more accurate scientific analyses.
USC researchers partner on NIH funded Columbia-led exposomics coordinating center to advance precision environmental health
The new NEXUS: Network for Exposomics in the US Coordinating Center has been awarded $7,722,583 to organize and stimulate research on the human exposome exploring the cumulative measure of environmental exposures and corresponding biological responses.
Filling in genomic blanks for disease studies works better for some groups than others
An apparent disparity in the effectiveness of genome-wide association studies concerns a technique that is reliable for those with European or African ancestry as well as for Latinos, but serves other populations less well, according to a Keck School of Medicine of USC study.
Cancer
Researchers to utilize $7.6M and the latest technology to better understand prostate cancer predictors
A multilevel study that was initially funded in 2018, the RESPOND (Research on Prostate Cancer in Men of African Ancestry: Defining the Roles of Genetics, Tumor Markers, and Social Stress) study is the first of its kind to have established a large cohort of patients across the country.
Large-scale study explores genetic link between colorectal cancer and meat intake
Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC used a new statistical method to pinpoint the genetic underpinnings of the link between red and processed meat intake and colorectal cancer risk in nearly 70,000 people.
First genome-wide comparison of vapers and smokers finds similar DNA changes linked to cancer risk
Young adults who vape show chemical changes in their DNA similar to those found in young adults who smoke — changes known to be linked to the development of cancer.
USC researchers examine social and clinical drivers of stress responses among African American breast cancer survivors
In an effort to improve breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of Black women, USC researchers are now focused on identifying multilevel drivers that contribute to increased risk and poor outcomes.
USC researchers find genetic variant contributing to disparities in childhood leukemia risk
The variant, located on the IKZF1 gene, helps explain why Hispanic/Latino children face a higher risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and offers insights about what causes the disease.
Evidence review makes the case for further research into Tethered Spinal Cord
An evidence review on the diagnosis and treatment of tethered spinal cord, a rare condition affecting the nervous system, found that, while surgery could be a good option for symptomatic patients, data showing the benefit of surgical intervention for asymptomatic patients was lacking.
Prenatal maternal stressors linked to higher blood pressure during first year after birth, study shows
The study investigated whether mothers who reported higher perceived stress and depressive symptoms during pregnancy, developed higher blood pressure in the four-year period after birth.
USC-led trial confirms side effect: Semaglutide, better known as Ozempic and Wegovy, could also help people cut down on their alcohol intake.
The blockbuster drug semaglutide, better known as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for obesity, could also help people cut down on their alcohol intake, according to new research led by Christian Hendershot, director of clinical research at USC’s Institute for Addiction Science.
The findings showed that weekly injections of semaglutide — compared with placebo injections — reduced alcohol craving, drinking quantity and the frequency of heavy drinking days in adults with symptoms of alcohol use disorder.
The discovery could help address an important treatment gap: An estimated 178,000 U.S. deaths per year can be attributed to alcohol, which is linked to liver disease, cardiovascular disease and is a known cause of cancer, as noted recently by the U.S. surgeon general. Nearly a third of American adults have met criteria for problem drinking at some point in their lives, yet very few seek or receive treatment.
The study affirms a common observation by many patients and doctors since Ozempic and drugs like it exploded in popularity: People begin weekly injections of semaglutide for obesity or diabetes — and suddenly lose their desire for alcohol.
This is the first randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of semaglutide designed to study the phenomenon.
COVID-19
Mental health disparities in Los Angeles County worsened during COVID-19 pandemic, study shows
Depression risk grew more common among non-white residents, with the largest effects in areas hit hardest by deaths from COVID-19, according to a research collaboration between USC and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Severe COVID-19 infection increases heart attack and stroke risk as much as having a history of heart disease, study finds
Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, UCLA and Cleveland Clinic studied the link between COVID-19 and major cardiac events, finding an increased risk that varied by blood type.
Community
Message from the Associate Dean for Community and Workforce Development Initiatives
This year, as we come together to grapple with local, national, and international events – including wildfires that have ravaged our hometown – our department remains committed to our partners, to the people of Los Angeles, and to all the communities we serve. We look to our unifying values as Trojans, including integrity, accountability, excellence, community, open communication, and well-being, to guide us and inform our initiatives.
This past year we were able to provide a wealth of research knowledge to policymakers and officials so that communities can benefit from our work. We further developed the population and public health workforce via pathway programs for high school, college, and graduate-level students, all featuring a keen service-learning approach to serve the communities of Los Angeles. We partnered with numerous agencies, organizations, and community leaders to disseminate public health knowledge and services to community members. We sprang to action for our neighbors and continue to work tirelessly to provide support in the wake of the wildfires.
We have always been dedicated not only to partnering with communities, but being thoughtful and aware in how we partner with them. This year we formalized this by developing our Principles of Local and Global Engagement in partnership with the USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health. These eight principles provide guidance when working with partners in terms of our research, education, and community programs, and support our commitment to putting communities – and the people who make them up – first.
We look forward to continuing to work with and serve our communities in the year ahead.
Lourdes Baezconde Garbanati, PhD, MPH
Distinguished Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and
Associate Dean for Community and Workforce Development Initiatives
Supporting our Communities in the Aftermath of the Los Angeles Wildfires
Taking Action for Communities
When Los Angeles was devastated by wildfires in January 2025, our faculty and staff jumped into action to support the various communities affected. For weeks they worked around the clock, providing for those in need and strategizing around the longer term. The Department continues to support the people of Los Angeles, especially those most affected by the fires. Work to rebuild these communities is only just beginning. To learn more and find resources, visit cenhealth.usc.edu.
Press & Resources
Our experts became go-to sources for media outlets like The Washington Post, Vox and Spectrum News 1, and our centers and labs put together comprehensive resources for community members and researchers.
Research
Our researchers assembled quickly to begin gathering data in the aftermath of the fires.
Collaboration
Our experts are working with and advising partners on topics like sustainable rebuilding.
Student Efforts
Students from Keck School of Medicine of USC led wildfire relief efforts as part of Blueprints for Pangaea USC to support Californians affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires.
Action for Communities
Principles of Local and Global Engagement
The Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, together with the USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health, has developed and adopted Principles of Local and Global Engagement to guide all aspects of our work. These principles draw on a review of similar initiatives and guidance from many of our partners, and recognize our responsibility to operate ethically within these partnerships.
These principles align with international human rights norms, with a view to recognizing respect for human rights as central to ethical engagement.
USC geneticist speaks at the first-ever White House Conference on Women’s Health Research
Marlena Fejzo, PhD, the USC geneticist behind the groundbreaking discovery of the role the hormone known as GDF15 plays in pregnancy sickness, delivered a speech at the first-ever White House Conference on Women’s Health Research on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.
Health and human rights: a USC distinguished professor helps formulate international recommendations
The International AIDS Society Lancet Commission on Health and Human Rights has formulated recommendations around key domains at the intersection of health and human rights.
Claradina Soto, PhD, MPH, tackles youth vaping in Native American communities through community partnership
In order to address growing concerns around youth vaping in underserved and hard-to-reach AIAN populations, researchers from University of Southern California and the Resources for Indian Student Education (RISE), an American Indian education center, conducted a community-based participatory research initiative.
Keck School of Medicine of USC Young Adult Workforce Academy prepares high school graduates for vocational pathways
The initiative responds to workforce development needs identified by community members. Participants gain a better understanding of how to prepare for vocational careers paths through hands-on training, while identifying their own goals and passions.
USC Researchers Present the Latest on Environmental Health in Santiago, Chile at 2024 International Society for Environment Epidemiology Conference
The 36th Annual Conference of the International Society for Environment Epidemiology was hosted in Santiago Chile, from August 25-28, 2024. This year’s theme was ‘Addressing challenges in environmental health, justice, and development.’
Recognition
We are proud to celebrate the dedication, skills and achievements of our outstanding faculty and staff.
New Faculty
Artur Galimov, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences
Division of Health Behavior Research
Christian Hendershot, PhD
Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
Division of Health Behavior Research
Linda Ko, PhD
Visiting Professor of Family Medicine and Population and Public Health Sciences
Todd William Schneberk, MD, MSHPM, MA
Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Population and Public Health Sciences
Bhavna Sharma, PhD
Assistant Professor of Architecture and Population and Public Health Sciences
Division of Environmental Health
Kathryn Smith, PhD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry & the Behavioral Sciences and Population & Public Health Sciences
Robin Stevens, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor of Communication and Population & Public Health Sciences
Division of Health Behavior Research
Awards and Achievements
Faculty
Tracy Bastain, PhD
Associate Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
Chair’s Citation on Pedagogical Excellence
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
David Black, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
Visiting Scholar of Medicine and Epidemiology
Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University
Chair’s Citation on Pedagogical Excellence
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Rita Burke, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences, Pediatrics, and Spatial Sciences
Chair’s Citation on Pedagogical Excellence
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Farzana Choudhury, MBBS, PhD
Associate Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
Chair’s Citation on Pedagogical Excellence
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Adam de Smith, PhD
Assistant Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
Chair’s Citation on Pedagogical Excellence
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Sandrah Proctor Eckel, PhD
Associate Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
Chair’s Citation on Pedagogical Excellence
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Laura Ferguson, PhD
Associate Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and Spatial Sciences
USC Graduate Mentoring Award
University of Southern California
Marlena Fejzo, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
50 over 50 in Innovation
Forbes
Ans Irfan, MD, EdD, DrPH, ScD, MPH, MRPL
Clinical Associate Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences (Clinician Educator)
Chair’s Citation on Pedagogical Excellence
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
CET Faculty Fellow
USC Center for Excellence in Teaching
Jesse A. Goodrich PhD
Associate Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
Baxter Foundation 2025 Faculty Fellowship
Donald E. & Delia B. Baxter Foundation
Sofia Gruskin, JD, MIA
Distinguished Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and Law
World Health Summit Academic Alliance Lancet Commission on Academic Responsibility
Lancet and World Health Summit
WHO Sexual Health and Well-being Advisory Group, WHO Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research
World Health Organization
Adam Leventhal, PhD
University Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and Psychology
University of Southern California
2025 Research Laureate Award
American Academy of Health Behavior
Trevor Pickering, PhD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences
Chair’s Citation on Pedagogical Excellence
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Jo Marie Reilly, MD, MPH*
Professor of Clinical Family Medicine (Educational Scholar)
USC Associates Award for Excellence in Teaching
University of Southern California
Introduction to Clinical Medicine Excellence in Teaching Award
Keck School of Medicine of USC
*Joint appointment in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Goleen Samari, PhD, MPH, MA
Associate Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
Chair’s Citation on Pedagogical Excellence
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Kimberly Siegmund, PhD
Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
Chair Elect for the Section on Statistics in Genomics and Genetics
American Statistical Association
Daniel Soto, EdD, MPH
Assistant Professor Of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences
Digital Education Innovator Award
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Mellissa Withers, PhD, MHS
Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences (Educational Scholar)
Inclusive Pedagogical Excellence Award
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Thomas William Valente, PhD
Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
Chair’s Citation on Pedagogical Excellence
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Staff
Aileen S. Goforth
Administrative Assistant
Keck School of Medicine STAR Award
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Micaela Hewus, MPH
Research Coordinator II
Keck School of Medicine STAR Award
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Leah Meza
Program Manager
Keck School of Medicine STAR Award
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Iris Ni, MS
Associate Research Administrator
Keck School of Medicine STAR Award
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Linda Rivera
Public Communications Coordinator
Keck School Staff Award for Innovation
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Renee Stanley, MPH, CHES
Program Manager
Staff Monthly Recognition Award - May 2024
The University Staff Club and USC Staff Assembly
Vickie Williams, MPH
Chief Programs and Communications Officer
Keck School Staff Award for Leadership
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Diler Yuksel
Instructional Designer
Digital Learning Innovation Architect Award
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Annual Reports from our Institutes, Centers and Programs
Institute for Addiction Science
Institute on Inequalities in Global Health
Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU)
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A call for support
Supporting population and public health is more important than ever. Philanthropic support on every scale makes a difference in areas of innovation and in training the future leaders in the field.
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Thank you for exploring the work of the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at Keck School of Medicine of USC. If something in this report sparked your interest, please reach out to connect.
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Keck School of Medicine of USC
1845 N. Soto St
Los Angeles, CA 90032
323-442-7200
Explore philanthropic partnership opportunities
Karen Thomas
Director of Development
karentho@usc.edu
The programs within this report are open to all eligible individuals. Keck School of Medicine of USC operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.
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