Thomas William Valente, PhD

Thomas W. Valente, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Division of Health Behavior Research, Institute for Prevention Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. He is author of Social Networks and Health: Models, Methods, and Applications (2010, Oxford University Press); Evaluating Health Promotion Programs (2002, Oxford University Press); Network Models of the Diffusion of Innovations (1995, Hampton Press); and over 250 articles and chapters (as of January 2024) on social networks, behavior change, and program evaluation. Valente uses social network analysis, health communication, and mathematical models to implement and evaluate health promotion programs designed to prevent tobacco and substance abuse, unintended fertility, and STD/HIV infections. He is also engaged in mapping community coalitions and collaborations to improve health care delivery and reduce healthcare disparities. He is currently working on specifications for network models of diffusion and contagion with the R package NetdiffuseR; and is also well-known for his work developing network models of program implementation and network interventions.

• Annenberg School for Communication, Los Angeles — PhD — 06/1991 — Communication

• Using Social Network Analysis to Understand Peer Influences on ENDS Use
  NIH · R01DA051843 · Sep 1, 2020 – Jul 31, 2025 · Role: Principal Investigator
• The Global Diffusion of Tobacco Control
  NIH · R01CA157577 · May 1, 2012 – Mar 31, 2019 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Integrating Social, Behavioral & Preventive Sciences to Reduce Children's Caries
  NIH · R34DE022272 · Sep 15, 2011 – Mar 31, 2014 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Social networks and networking that put adolescents at high risk
  NIH · RC1AA019239 · Sep 30, 2009 – Aug 31, 2012 · Role: Principal Investigator
• IDU NETWORK AS REVEALED BY NEEDLE EXCHANGE DATA
  NIH · R29DA010172 · Sep 25, 1996 – Feb 28, 2002 · Role: Principal Investigator

• Unger, Jennifer
• Leventhal, Adam
• Sussman, Steven
• Barrington-Trimis, Jessica
• Pedersen, Eric
• Klausner, Jeffrey