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Keck School of Medicine of USC

Department of Population and Public Health Sciences

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Igniting Discovery in Population and Public Health

Since its founding in 1977, the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at Keck School of Medicine of USC has consistently ranked among the top Schools of Public Health in terms of competitively awarded funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Latest News

    Press Releases

    Photo shows Night long exposure photograph of the Santa Clarita wildfire

    USC-led CLIMA Center awarded $4.1 million by NIH to study impact of wildfire smoke and extreme heat on human health

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    Study finds health disparities in PFAS levels linked to drinking water, food access and industrial pollution

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    New USC research center explores environmental health across the lifespan

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    Campus News

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    USC geneticist speaks at the first-ever White House Conference on Women’s Health Research

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    USC MPH student Diana Flores awarded first place in cancer research training program in Puerto Rico

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    The art of climate justice: scholars speak through art, advocacy, policy, literature, and faith

    Media Mentions

    THE NEW YORK TIMES ◆ How Drug Overdose Deaths Have Plagued One Generation of Black Men for Decades

    THE NEW YORK TIMES ◆ How Drug Overdose Deaths Have Plagued One Generation of Black Men for Decades

    KTVU Fox 2 News ◆ Why has California declared a state of emergency over bird flu

    KTVU Fox 2 News ◆ Why has California declared a state of emergency over bird flu

    LOS ANGELES TIMES ◆ In the dust of the Coachella Valley, residents push for a park along the shrinking Salton Sea 

    LOS ANGELES TIMES ◆ In the dust of the Coachella Valley, residents push for a park along the shrinking Salton Sea 

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    Interim Chair
    Ricky Bluthenthal, PhD

    Our faculty, staff and students do incredible research and advocacy, and are leaders throughout the University. We’re part of making USC – and our communities – a better place.

    Ricky Bluthenthal, PhD
    Interim Department Chair
    Distinguished Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
    Associate Dean for Social Justice
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    Ricky Bluthenthal, PhD

    Join a new generation of trailblazers

    Learn real-world skills and make connections needed to stand out and improve population and public health. The Department offers undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and post-doctoral education and training programs that nurture students to become innovators and leaders – in their communities and around the world. Employers tell us that the real-world, practical skills our graduates possess make them some of the most prepared job candidates they encounter.

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    By the Numbers

    6

    Divisions

    #2

    Funding from the National Institutes of Health

    12

    Degree Programs

    Our Values and Culture

    We aim to improve population and public health locally and globally through the pursuit of high-impact, transdisciplinary research; the translation and communication of knowledge; and the training of outstanding students, professionals and future researchers, educators and leaders.

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    Focus on Health Equity

    Health as a rights and equity issue

    Our experts know a one-size-fits-all approach to health simply does not work. Whether via policy, access to care, community programs or other resources, healthy populations can only truly be achieved when all people are provided equitable opportunity for health.

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    Continuous Improvement and Growth

    Local to global health challenges

    Highly active, the Department is recognized as one of the top research units of its kind in the country. The Department of Population and Public Health Sciences is poised to meet new challenges by growing its faculty, research and education programs in the name of health for all.

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    Reflection and Belonging

    Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

    The Department is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive environment for our students, faculty, staff and other community members. Through tangible efforts and creating space for input across the Department, we aim to continually improve as we prioritize a culture of reflection, empowerment and belonging.

    125+ Faculty

    Our faculty work across a broad research portfolio while fostering partnerships across the University, local and global organizations, and communities for a truly transdisciplinary and collaborative approach. They pursue evidence-based solutions that utilize ‘big data’ and state-of-the-art analysis methods to identify risk factors and policy approaches to improve human health.

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    Research Across Disciplines

    Home to highly active centers and institutes and a wide variety of research studies, work in the department serves to advocate for and inform community and organizational action. In addition to significant work in USC’s surrounding communities in Los Angeles and the United States, the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences conducts research and provides educational opportunities in more than a dozen countries.

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    Research News
    Listen on Preventive Pros: the Podcast
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    Community Engagement and Outreach

    Our community of scholars are brilliant, uncommonly collaborative, and deeply engaged in our surrounding communities.

    Community Engagement and Outreach

    Help Support Our Work

    Your generosity supports the trailblazing efforts of students in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, who are on a mission to impact public health for good.

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