Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at USC

08/26/2026

This summer, Michelle Navarette Vega, a student in USC’s MS in Biostatistics program, completed the Cancer Prevention Research Training Program at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, working with Dr. Kim-Anh Do’s lab.

Her research explored new ways to predict breast cancer risk using blood biomarkers measured over time. By applying a Bayesian screening framework to longitudinal data, she helped improve both the accuracy and timing of risk prediction compared with the standard approach.

“The foundation I built in USC’s Biostatistics MS program made this possible. My coursework in data analysis and epidemiology, along with my thesis experience working with complex biological data, prepared me to dive into real clinical data and problem-solve from day one.”

The experience also helped clarify what comes next: pursuing a PhD focused on identifying chronic disease risk earlier and more accurately.

Congratulations, Michelle--and thank you to Dr. Kim-Anh Do and Dr. Ehsan Irajizad for their mentorship!

08/19/2026

Recently, faculty and staff from the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences Keck School of Medicine of USC came together for our summer meeting and BBQ!

Beyond great food and time spent connecting as a department, we celebrated a very special milestone: the retirement of Daniel Stram, PhD, Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences. Thank you, Dr. Stram, for your years of dedication and impact on our department, our students, and our field. We wish you all the best in this next chapter!

08/14/2026

Congratulations to our students named 2025–2026 scholarship recipients!

🎓 2026 Incoming KSOM Dean's Master's Scholar
Damonte Watson – Addiction Science
🎓 2025 continuing KSOM Dean’s Master’s Scholars
Luis E. Trujillo – Addiction Science
🎓 Dr. Rodolfo Montes Scholarship (recognizing academic excellence and commitment to advancing health in diverse communities)
Cydney Davis – Public Health
Benjamin Alonzo – Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Proud to celebrate their achievements!

Related News Exploring global health governance: PM 589 in Geneva August 27, 2024 Staff Spotlight: Meet Nicole Avila, a versatile project administrator of the biostatistics and data science summer program […]

08/08/2026

Is the soil in your yard safe after the Palisades and Eaton fires? USC researchers have answers.

Erika Garcia, associate professor of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and epidemiological advisor to USC's CLEAN project, worked with USC Dornsife colleagues to analyze more than 6,000 soil samples across Los Angeles County. The fires did release lead into the environment, but older homes and preexisting sources make it hard to separate fire impacts from decades of prior contamination.

Read the full findings here:

Study examined Palisades, Eaton fires, environmental contamination.

08/03/2026

Want to learn how healthcare systems work to improve quality, outcomes, and patient care?

Dr. Sue Kim, PhD, MPH, teaches public health and health policy courses for Master of Public Health students, including a course on Quality in Health Care. The class explores value-based care, quality outcomes, and how healthcare providers, hospitals, health plans, and other organizations work together to deliver high-quality care.

Get an inside look at what our MPH courses are all about and how they’re preparing the next generation of public health leaders.

07/28/2026

Victoria Cortessis, PhD, Clinical Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, discusses groundbreaking research uncovering a significant link between Type 1 diabetes and bladder cancer.

New findings show that people with Type 1 diabetes may have up to a fourfold greater risk of developing bladder cancer compared to those without the condition. For years, researchers struggled to identify additional risk factors because smoking, a leading cause of bladder cancer, often overshadowed other potential connections.

By accounting for the impact of smoking, researchers were able to reveal a clear association between Type 1 diabetes and bladder cancer that had previously gone undetected.

This discovery provides valuable information for patients and healthcare providers alike, helping to support earlier detection, informed conversations, and potentially better outcomes.

07/17/2026

This summer, USC's Department of Population and Public Health Sciences welcomed 27 students from California, across the U.S., and around the world, including China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, for the four-week Global Health Summer @ USC program, led by Mellissa Withers, PhD, MHS.

Students explored real-world public health challenges through hands-on learning, diving into disease outbreak investigations, global health trends, social justice, climate change, and health behavior theories before applying what they learned in their own research projects focused on campus health hazards.

Program highlights included a mock measles outbreak investigation, guest speakers from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Planned Parenthood discussing STI contact tracing, and an all-day mock United Nations conference in collaboration with USC Dornsife's International Relations course.

Beyond the classroom, students experienced life at USC by living in the residence halls, exploring Los Angeles on weekend excursions, and building lasting connections with peers from around the world.

07/10/2026

Course Spotlight Series

Ever wonder what our courses are all about? We’re taking you inside our curriculum, one course at a time.

First up: our core biostatistics courses with Jim Gauderman, PhD. Learn what you’ll study, how these foundational courses prepare you for real-world research, and what makes them an essential part of the student experience.

Stay tuned as we continue highlighting the courses that make up our program!

06/03/2026

How do genetics and diet work together to influence colorectal cancer risk?

A study led by Dr. Joel Sanchez-Mendez, a recent USC Population and Public Health Sciences (PPHS) PhD graduate, found that genetic variation in the TGF-β signaling pathway may help explain the relationship between red meat consumption and colorectal cancer risk. Analyzing data from more than 70,000 individuals, the research provides new insight into the biological mechanisms linking diet and cancer development.

The study also highlights innovative analytical methods developed by James Gauderman, PhD, leader of the Biostatistics Division within PPHS and a member of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at Keck Medicine of USC's Cancer Epidemiology Program. The findings advance our understanding of how genetics and lifestyle factors interact to shape cancer risk and may help inform future prevention strategies.

Congratulations to Drs. Joel Sanchez-Mendez, James Gauderman, Mariana Stern, and the entire research team on this important work.

Full article available here:

AbstractBackground:. Red meat and/or processed meat are established colorectal cancer risk factors. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have reported more than 200 variants associated with colorectal cancer risk. We used functional annotation data to identify subsets of variants within known path...

05/21/2026

Check out our 2025–2026 annual report! Ranked #1 nationally in NIH funding in its field according to the 2025 Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research rankings, the Department continues to advance research and training that address urgent public health challenges locally and globally.

Read the full annual report here: https://keck.usc.edu/pphs/annual-report/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_id=2025-2026_PPHS_Annual_Report

Department of Population and Public Health Sciences Annual Report Explore Our Programs PPHS Leadership Divisions Inclusive Excellence Sustainability History Annual Report Research Centers and Institutes Global Health Research Engagements Education Prospective Students Doctoral Programs Master’s Pr...