Appointment of Ricky N. Bluthenthal, PhD, as chair of the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ricky N. Bluthenthal, PhD as chair of the department of population and public health sciences (PPHS), effective July 1, 2025. Dr. Bluthenthal has ably served as interim chair since July 1, 2024.

Dr. Bluthenthal is a Distinguished Professor of PPHS whose expertise spans a broad range of research disciplines including clinical psychology, sociology, harm reduction, and community-based behavioral interventions to mitigate health disparities. His studies have been funded by NIAAA, NIDA, NIMHD, the CDC and the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation among others. He has also served as a standing member on three study sections and was chair of one. Dr. Bluthenthal has received numerous awards including the John P. McGovern Award for Excellence in Medical Education from the Association for Multidisciplinary Education & Research in Substance Use & Addiction, the William Foote Whyte Distinguished Career Award from the Sociological Practice & Public Sociology section and the Senior Scholar Award from the Drugs and Society section of the American Sociological Association, the Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Public Interest from the Society of Addiction Psychology (Division 50) of the American Psychological Association, and the Social Science Distinguished Alumni Award from the Social Science Division of the University of California Santa Cruz among others. He has also served as the Keck School’s inaugural associate dean for social justice and as director of the Justice through Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Well-Being and Social Transformation (JEDI-WeST) program.

Dr. Bluthenthal takes the helm of PPHS at a time of significant challenges to the field of medicine and public health. I look forward to partnering with him to ensure the Keck School is a destination for those passionate about addressing biomedical and health challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific discovery, knowledge translation to trainees and society, and engagement with communities locally and globally.

I welcome the leadership of Dr. Bluthenthal in furthering the outstanding work and accomplishments of PPHS faculty, staff, and students. In alignment with the Keck School’s strategic roadmap and missions, they will advance research, excellence in teaching, and impactful community partnerships to address the most complex challenges in human health and our communities.

Carolyn C. Meltzer, MD
Dean, Keck School of Medicine of USC