Daniel Soto

Assistant Professor Of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences

Director of the Bachelor of Science Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HP) & Global Health (GH) Programs

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Overview

Daniel W. Soto, Ed.D, MPH, is an assistant professor at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine. He directs the Center for Population Health (CPH). He has over 20 years of population-based health behavior research experience and seven years of curriculum design and teaching experience with graduate and undergraduate programs in public health. Dr. Soto has led research and evaluation efforts on several longitudinal and cross-sectional studies of acculturation, mental health, diabetes prevention, substance use, addressing health disparities, preventing the spread of infectious disease, and tobacco control. Most recently, Dr. Soto led a team of 20+ graduate students to work on preventing the spread of COVID-19 in K-12 schools in Los Angeles County. He has established effective community engagement, recruitment, and retention methods for populations across the United States. Additionally, Dr. Soto has published over 100 manuscripts on acculturation, cultural stress, nicotine addiction, and substance use prevention in adolescents and young adults.

Awards

  • University of Southern California, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences: Digital Education Innovator Award, 2023
     – 2024
  • University of Southern California, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences: Chair’s Citation on Pedagogical Excellence Award, 2024
     – 2025

Education and Training

  • University of California Davis, Davis, CA — BA — 06/2001 — Sociology/Native American Studies
  • University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA — MPH — 06/2010 — Public Health/Biostatistics
  • University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA — EdD — 05/2023 — Educational Psychology

Publications

  • Patient-Provider Communication and Treatment Decision-Making among Latino Men with Prostate Cancer: A Qualitative Study. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2026 Jul 30.. View in PubMed
  • A Qualitative Exploration of Patient Activation Among Hispanic Breast Cancer Patients. Res Sq. 2026 Jul 29.. View in PubMed
  • Associations between food insecurity and mental health outcomes among Hispanic/Latino adolescents in Los Angeles and Miami. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2026 Jul 14.. View in PubMed
  • Adolescent Depressive Symptoms Predict Increased Binge Drinking in Emerging Adulthood: Moderation by Sexuality and Socioeconomic Status. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2026 May 07.. View in PubMed
  • Pathways from cultural and economic stressors to mental and behavioral health risks in Hispanic youth: The roles of perceived stress and multicultural hassles. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2026 May 04.. View in PubMed
  • Wildfire smoke-related PM2.5 concentration measurements, perceived indoor air quality, and health symptoms among Southern California residents during the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires: A latent class mediation approach. Environ Int. 2026 Apr; 210:110207.. View in PubMed
  • Barriers and Facilitators to Hepatitis C Virus Treatment in Los Angeles County. Res Sq. 2026 Mar 16.. View in PubMed
  • Triple tank control: disposable vape devices with adjustable nicotine and flavour levels. Tob Control. 2025 Dec 30.. View in PubMed
  • Transforming academic public health mentorship: implementation and expansion of MOSAIC. Front Public Health. 2025; 13:1640606.. View in PubMed
  • Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD Among Southern California Residents After the January 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2025 11 26; 19:e327.. View in PubMed