usc phd health behavior research

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Key searches, admission requirements, application deadline.

Applicants to the program should satisfy all requirements for admission to the  Graduate School . Applicants not meeting Graduate School requirements for regular standing may, with approval of the Graduate School, be conditionally admitted to select programs.

The GRE is not required.

Official transcripts must be received from each accredited college or university attended.

ALL letters must be less than a year old and on department letterhead. Letters from peer colleagues or friends will not be accepted.

This program has required supplemental questions within the application.

• Curriculum vitae (C.V.) or resume

Additional requirements for international applicants

How to apply, apply to the program via  sophas.

• Prepare to apply by gathering all materials and information to complete your online application. These materials include personal statement, resume/CV, recommender’s information, personal, financial and education information. International applicants should review  additional requirements .
• Create a  SOPHAS account  and complete all parts of the online application
• Pay application fee
• instructions for domestic applicants
• instructions for international applicants

Quick Links

Register for an info session, go back to doctoral programs.

Return to: Keck School of Medicine of USC    

Biostatistics Division 2001 N. Soto Street, Suite 205 Los Angeles, CA 90032-9234 Director: W. Gauderman, PhD (323) 442-1810 FAX: (323) 442-2993 Email: [email protected] biostats.usc.edu

Health Behavior Research Division c/o USC/IPR 2001 N. Soto Street, Suite 205 Los Angeles, CA 90032-3628 Director: Mary Ann Pentz, PhD (323) 442-8299 Email: [email protected] phdhbr.usc.edu

Environmental Health Division 2001 N. Soto Street, Suite 230 Los Angeles, CA 90032-3628 Director: Frank D. Gilliland, MD, PhD (323) 442-1096 FAX: (323) 442-3272 keck.usc.edu/preventive-medicine/

Master of Public Health Program 2001 N. Soto Street, Suite 205 Los Angeles, CA 90032-3628 Director: Louise A. Rohrbach, PhD, MPH (323) 442-8237 Email: [email protected] mph.usc.edu

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies Program 837 Downey Way Stonier Hall, Suite 101 Los Angeles, CA 90089-1149 Director: Elahe Nezami, PhD (213) 740-1060 Email: [email protected] hpdp.usc.edu

Global Health Studies 837 Downey Way Stonier Hall, Suite 101 Los Angeles, CA 90089-1149 Director: Elahe Nezami, PhD (213) 740-1060 Email: [email protected] hpdp.usc.edu

Professor and Chair : Howard Hu, MD, MPH, ScD

AFLAC Chair in Cancer Research : Christopher Haiman, ScD

Verna R. Richter Chair in Cancer Research : Duncan Thomas, PhD

Sidney R. Garfield Chair in Health Sciences : Mary Ann Pentz, PhD

Ira Goodman Chair in Cancer Research : Mariana Stern, PhD

Professors : H. Allayee ( Chemistry and Mol Biology ); L. Baezconde-Garbanati; R. Bluthenthal; L Chatzi; M. Cockburn; D. Conti; G. Dunton ( Psychology ); C. Haiman; H. Hu; W.J. Gauderman; F.D. Gilliland; S. Gruskin ( Gould Law School ); A. Leventhal ( Psychology ); Chun Li; T.M. Mack ( Pathology ); Wendy Mack ( Gerontology ); R. McConnell; M.A. Pentz;  W. Setiawan ( Medicine ); K. Siegmund; D. Stram; S. Sussman; T. Valente ( Dentistry and Annenberg ); D.C. Thomas; P.D. Thomas, Jr. ( Molecular & Computational Biology ); J. Unger; R. Watanabe ( Physiology and Biophysics ); J. Wiemels; A. Wu

Associate Professors : C. Breton; J.C. Chen; S. Eckel; S. Ingles ( OB/GYN ); J. Tsui

Assistant Professors : J. Barrington-Trimis; B. Belcher; D. Black; Z. Chen; C. Chiang; K. de la Haye; A. Farias; S. Farzan; L. Ferguson; E. Garcia; S. Gazal; M. Herting ( Pediatrics and CHLA ); J. Johnston; D. Meeker ( Pediatrics and CHLA ); N. Mancuso; A. Tackett

Professors of Clinical : E.L. Avol; V. Cortessis ( OB/GYN );M. Cousineau; D. Deapen; J. Klausner; L. Rohrbach; M. Stern ( Urology ); D. Van Den Berg

Associate Professors of Clinical : D. Barkauskas; T. Boley-Cruz; M. Franklin; R. Habre; R. Karim; S. Kumar; L. Liu; R. Mckean-Cowdin ( Ophthalmology ); E. Nezami ( Viterbi ); M. Wilson; H. Wipfli; M. Withers

Associate Professor of Clinical and Educational Scholar : C. Patino-Sutton

Assistant Professors of Clinical : T. Bastain; R. Burke; F. Choudhury; H. Dang; A. de Smith; J. Hartiala; A. Hwang; L. Ji; S. Kim; J.P. Lewinger; T. Mason; K. Miller; M. Nuno; J. Piao; T. Pickering; L. Polfus; A. Ritt; C. Soto ( Children, Youth and Families ); J. Steinberg; S. Tommasi;

Professors of Research : T. Alonzo; J.D. Buckley ( Pediatrics and CHLA ); M. Li; S. Groshen; A. Hamilton; S. Hempel; M. Krailo; P. Marjoram;

Associate Professors of Research : H. Bersaratinia; J. Huh; E. Lee; H. Mi; L. Renfro

Assistant Professors of Research : J.P. Allem; J. Cho, K. Islam; M. Kirkpatrick; J. Millstein; R. Pang; S. Smiley; J. Wang

Adjunct Professors : K. Berhane; W. Cozen; J. Figueriedo; R. Khosla; L. Mascola; J. Miles; F. Pratt; R. Reporter; D.J.M. Tarantola; G. Singh

Adjunct Associate Professors : T. Evans; W. Linn; J. Milam; L. Park; A. Xiang

Adjunct Assistant Professors : T. Alderate; M. Bashash; T. Salam; C. Toledo-Corral; N. Wade

Emeritus Professors : S.P. Azen ( Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, Ophthalmology, Occupational Science ); L. Bernstein; J. Casagrande; C-P Chou; M. Cousineau; S.Groshen; A. Hricko; B. Langholz; M.C. Pike; J. Richardson; R. Sposto; G. Ursin

The department is responsible for training medical, graduate and undergraduate students in the areas of biostatistics, epidemiology, health behavior research, public health and preventive medicine. Faculty from the statistical genetics and molecular epidemiology department also perform research in the areas of biostatistics, epidemiology of acute and chronic diseases, and environmental health.

The undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the department are noteworthy for the extensive opportunities offered to the students for involvement in faculty research. It is not uncommon for students to begin working closely with faculty members on research projects as early as their first or second year of study.

Undergraduate Degrees

Progressive degree programs in preventive medicine.

The Master of Public Health, the Master of Science in Biostatistics, the Master of Science in Applied Biostatistics/Epidemiology and the Master of Science in Molecular Epidemiology programs admit a limited number of undergraduate students to a progressive degree program, which allows them to pursue a master’s level degree while completing the bachelor’s degree. Applicants to the program must have completed 64 units of course work and must submit their applications prior to the completion of 96 units of course work. Applicants need not submit GRE scores, but are expected to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 at the time of application. The application for admission to a progressive degree program must be accompanied by an approved course plan proposal and two letters of recommendation. The requirements for both the BS and the master’s degrees must be satisfied, including a minimum of 128 undergraduate units. For further details on progressive degree programs, see the Requirements for Graduation    page.

Graduate Programs

Doctor of philosophy in psychology (clinical)/master of public health (health promotion).

The PhD/MPH dual degree combines knowledge of clinical psychology research and practice with an understanding of health from a population perspective. The student enrolls primarily in the clinical psychology doctoral program and may apply to the MPH program during the first year. During the second and subsequent years, course work is taken in both programs. The dissertation is undertaken through the Department of Psychology   .

PharmD/Master of Public Health

The School of Pharmacy and the Master of Public Health program, in recognition of the rapidly changing health care environment and in response to the growing demand for pharmacists who are knowledgeable in both pharmacy and population-based health care issues, have developed a dual degree program. The joint PharmD/MPH degree will enable graduates to be more responsive to today’s health care needs and will provide training for pharmacists who seek to be agents of change within the profession and to assume leadership roles in the pharmacy field and in public health at the local, state and national levels.

The Doctor of Pharmacy/Master of Public Health (PharmD/MPH)    program spans five years (four years of pharmacy school courses and one year of public health courses). Students begin the core MPH courses following the successful completion of the first year of pharmacy school. The last three years of the program are devoted to the clinical rotations of the School of Pharmacy and to the completion of the elective courses and practicum (field experience) of the MPH program.

MD/Master of Public Health

The joint MD/MPH program at the Keck School of Medicine is designed for individuals who envision a medical career that combines public health and medical disciplines. For further information about the joint program, refer to the program    page.

The Department of Population and Public Heath Sciences offers the following degree programs:

Global Health Studies (BS)    

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies (BS)    

Applied Biostatistics/Epidemiology (MS)    

Biostatistics (MS)    

Clinical, Biomedical and Translational Investigations (MS)    

Molecular Epidemiology (MS)    

Public Health (MPH)    

Public Health (MPH) (Online)    

Public Health Data Science (MS)    

Master of Public Health/Doctor of Pharmacy (MPH/PharmD)    

Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health (MD/MPH)    

Master of Public Health/Master of Urban Planning (MPH/MUP)    

Master of Public Health/Master of Social Work (MPH/MSW)    

Master of Public Health/Master of Science, Social Entrepreneurship (MPH/MS)    

Biostatistics (PhD)    

Epidemiology (PhD)    

Preventive Medicine (Health Behavior Research) (PhD)    

The Department of Population and Public Heath Sciences also offers the following undergraduate minor programs:

Addiction Science Minor    

Cinema-Television for the Health Professions Minor    

Cultural Competence in Medicine Minor    

Environmental Health Minor    

Global Health Minor    

Health Communication Minor    

Nutrition and Health Promotion Minor    

Public Health Minor    

Substance Abuse Prevention Minor    

• HP 101 Current Issues in Medical Education and Healthcare
• HP 200 Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• HP 230 Nutrition and Health
• HP 250 Introduction to Addiction Science
• HP 270 Introduction to Global Health
• HP 290 Introduction to Research Apprenticeship
• HP 299 Special Topics
• HP 300 Theoretical Principles of Health Behavior
• HP 320 Biological and Behavioral Basis of Disease
• HP 340Lg Health Behavior Statistical Methods
• HP 345 Health Issues in Entertainment Media
• HP 350L Health Behavior Research Methods
• HP 365gmw Culture, Lifestyle, and Health
• HP 370g Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods and Applications
• HP 401 Cultural Competence in Medicine
• HP 402 Maternal and Child Health
• HP 403 Behavioral Medicine
• HP 404 Religion and Health
• HP 405 Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Global Public Health Priority
• HP 408 Environmental Health in the Community
• HP 409 Environmental Impacts on the Brain
• HP 410 Issues in Prevention and Cessation of Drug Abuse
• HP 411 Drug Intervention Program Design and Evaluation
• HP 412 Health Promotion and Prevention Policy
• HP 420m Gender and Minority Health Issues
• HP 421 Violence as a Public Health Issue
• HP 422 AIDS in Society
• HP 430 Obesity and Health
• HP 431 Behavior and Education Strategies for Nutrition and Fitness
• HP 432 Clinical Nutrition
• HP 433 Advanced Topics in Nutrition
• HP 434 Physical Activity and Health
• HP 440 Happiness, Well-Being, and Health
• HP 441 Health Promotion in the Workplace
• HP 442 Chronic Disease Epidemiology
• HP 443 Communicating Better Health: What Works and Why
• HP 446 Poisons, People, and Politics
• HP 448 Global Environmental Changes and Health
• HP 450 Traditional Eastern Medicine and Modern Health
• HP 460 Adolescent Health
• HP 465 Health Status of Indigenous Peoples of America
• HP 470 Case Studies in Global Health
• HP 480 Internship in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• HP 483 Global Health and Aging
• HP 485 Global Health: Obesity and Nutrition
• HP 490x Directed Research
• HP 499 Special Topics
• PM 498 Summer Institute in Biostatistics
• PM 499 Special Topics
• PM 500 Foundations of Health Behavior
• PM 501 Foundations in Health Education and Promotion
• PM 502 Foundations of Public Health
• PM 503 Practice of Public Health
• PM 504 Quality in Health Care
• PM 505 Training and Curriculum Design in Public Health
• PM 506 Overcoming Real World Challenges in Global Health
• PM 507 Public Health Services Research Methods
• PM 508 Health Service Delivery in the U.S.
• PM 509 Comparative Health Care Systems
• PM 510L Principles of Biostatistics
• PM 511aL Data Analysis
• PM 511bL Data Analysis
• PM 511cL Data Analysis
• PM 512 Principles of Epidemiology
• PM 513 Experimental Designs
• PM 514 Sexually Transmitted Infections: a Systems Approach
• PM 515 Multivariate Statistics in Health Behavior Research
• PM 516a Statistical Problem Solving
• PM 516b Statistical Problem Solving
• PM 517a Research Methods in Epidemiology
• PM 517b Research Methods in Epidemiology
• PM 518a Statistical Methods for Epidemiological Studies I, II
• PM 518b Statistical Methods for Epidemiological Studies I, II
• PM 519 Moving Toward Health Equity in the United States
• PM 520L Advanced Statistical Computing
• PM 521 Pre-Departure Training to Optimize Global Health Experiences
• PM 522a Introduction to the Theory of Statistics
• PM 522b Introduction to the Theory of Statistics
• PM 523 Design of Clinical Studies
• PM 524a Practicum in Health Behavior
• PM 524b Practicum in Health Behavior
• PM 524c Practicum in Health Behavior
• PM 525 Culture and Health: Global Perspectives
• PM 526 Communications in Public Health
• PM 527 Epidemiology of Infectious Disease
• PM 528 Program Design and Evaluation
• PM 529 Environmental Health: An Epidemiological Approach
• PM 530 Biological Basis of Disease
• PM 532 Genetics in Public Health and Preventive Medicine
• PM 533 Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology
• PM 534 Statistical Genetics
• PM 536 Program Evaluation and Research
• PM 537 Chronic Disease Epidemiology
• PM 538 Introduction to Biomedical Informatics
• PM 539 Nutrient-Drug Interactions
• PM 540 Maternal and Child Nutrition: Practice and Policy
• PM 541 Obesity, Metabolism and Health
• PM 542 Social Network Analysis
• PM 543L Nonparametric Statistics
• PM 544L Multivariate Analysis
• PM 545L Introduction to Time Series

Doctoral Programs

The Department of Preventive Medicine offers four doctoral degree programs in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Behavior Research, and Population, Health & Place.

Doctor of Philosophy in Biostatistics

The goal of the Ph.D. program in Biostatistics (BIOS) is to train biostatisticians who will have in-depth knowledge of statistical theory and methodology and the ability to apply this knowledge creatively to statistical problems in the biological and health sciences. At the same time, the increasingly specialized lines of biomedical and population research each include unique study designs, modes and complexities of data collection, as well as analytic, computational and methodological challenges.

Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology

The goal of the Ph.D. program in Epidemiology (EPID) is to train epidemiologists who will have in-depth knowledge of epidemiologic theory and methodology and the ability to apply this knowledge to design, conduct, and statistically analyze and interpret data from research studies in the biological and health sciences. At the same time, the increasingly specialized lines of biomedical and population research each include unique study designs, modes and complexities of data collection, as well as analytic, computational and methodological challenges.

Doctor of Philosophy in Health Behavior Research

The specific objective of the program is to train exceptional researchers and scholars in the interdisciplinary field of health behavior research. The well-rounded training that students receive encompasses theory and methods from many allied fields including: communications, psychology, preventive medicine, biostatistics, public health and epidemiology. Students also receive research experience participating in projects conducted by HBR faculty, most of them through the USC Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research (IPR). The program provides students with a depth of understanding, and intellectual capability they need to pursue a career and health-related research.

Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Population, Health and Place

In this innovative interdisciplinary doctoral program, faculty from the USC Dornsife Department of Sociology, the Department of Preventive Medicine of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and the USC Dornsife Spatial Sciences Institute provide training for careers in research, teaching and applied work in sociology (population), preventive medicine (health), and the spatial sciences (place). Students complete two research rotations as well as courses in biostatistics, demography, epidemiology, and spatial sciences, with additional course work required according to specialty area and/or dissertation topic.

Institute For Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research

https://ipr.usc.edu/ [email protected] HSA

Main Phone: (626) 457-6600 Main Fax: (626) 457-4012

Health Behavior Research

Health Behavior Research (Ph.D.)

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (B.S.) UVI-G, MC 7798

Main Phone: 740-1060 Main Fax: 821-1733

Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center CHP-236, MC 9013

Main Phone: (323) 442-1063 Main Fax: (323) 442-3272

Community Outreach and Education Program

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Key searches, doctor of philosophy in health behavior research.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Health Behavior Research provides academic and research training for students interested in pursuing career opportunities in the field of health promotion and disease prevention research. Students receive well-rounded training encompassing theory and methods from allied fields such as communications, psychology, preventive medicine, biostatistics, public health and epidemiology. The program prepares students for research positions in the areas of preventive medicine, public health, population health science, health psychology, and health policy research.

Training is conducted via course lectures, discussions, seminars, student and faculty presentations, and field research. In addition, students gain research experience by participating in faculty projects, most often in connection with the USC Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research (IPR).

Students come away from the program with an in-depth understanding of the subject matter and the intellectual capability needed to pursue a career in health-related research. Small classes, one-on-one mentoring, and research opportunities offered by internationally recognized faculty make this program an exceptional training ground for future impact.

USC Course Catalogue

This program requires completing 60 units of graduate study. Students are required to complete 9 core courses (plus the interdepartmental ethics course INTD 500), 12 units of research, a minimum of 7 units of elective coursework and 4 dissertation units. Students may take additional classes according to their unique research interests.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Health Behavior Research is typically completed in 4-5 years. Below is the recommended time frame for completing program requirements:

Years 1-2 The first two years include core and elective coursework, directed research activity, and seminar participation. Students also work as Research Assistants (RAs) or Teaching Assistants (TAs).

Year 3 During the third year, students should finish any remaining coursework and complete the Qualifying Exam (described below). Passing that exam qualifies the student to begin the dissertation study. Year 3 is a good time to apply for a predoctoral fellowship (e.g., NIH F31).

Years 4 and 5 In years 4 and 5, students move into more independent research activities and perform dissertation research. Unless they have independent funding, students are still involved in RA or TA responsibilities. Students who have not yet obtained dissertation funding or a predoctoral fellowship should apply or resubmit unsuccessful applications. Students should aim to complete and formally defend the dissertation research by the end of the fifth year.

Students are required to take the following core courses. Students who enter the program with a strong statistical background may substitute higher-level statistics classes for PM 510L, PM511aL and PM 511bL after consulting with their advisor.

PM 500 Foundations of Health Behavior | 4 Units

PM 511aL Data Analysis-SAS | 4 Units Prerequisite, 510L, Principles of Biostatistics

PM 511bL Data Analysis-Regression | 4 Units

PM 515 Multivariate Statistics in Health Behavior Research | 4 Units (Prerequisite, PM 512, Intro to Epi Methods)

PM 530 Biological Basis of Disease | 4 Units

PM 601 Basic Theory and Strategies of Prevention | 4 Units

PM 604 Health Behavior Research Methods | 4 Units

PM 615 Intervention Research Grant Proposal Development | 4 Units

PM 756 Research Seminar in Health Behavior | 1 Unit each, 5 required

Students will be expected to attend at least 10 seminar sessions during each semester they are enrolled in PM 756. These sessions can be from any reputable seminar series held at USC or outside USC focusing on research. Seminars should be research-focused and related to the student’s degree and research interests. In some cases, students may wish to attend a conference and count conference sessions toward the attendance total of 10 sessions required for PM 756 (one paper session or symposium equals one seminar). During COVID-19, all seminars may be online. When we are back on campus, students should attempt to attend the majority of the seminars in-person to facilitate networking and interaction.

At the end of the semester, students should submit a 1-2-page paper listing the seminars that they attended and describing what they learned. Examples might include theories, intervention approaches, research methods, new ideas about predictors of health behavior, or novel approaches to intervention translated from basic science research.

INTD 500 Ethics and Accountability in Biomedical Research | 1 Unit

Students must enroll in a minimum of 12 units of directed research (4 units of PM 590, 4 units of PM 690, and 4 units of PM 790; credit/no credit). Students typically begin taking directed research units during their first year. Directed research activity is designed in consultation with your faculty advisor or with another faculty member with whom you may be working. (We strongly encourage you to take directed research units with a variety of faculty members, because you will need to assemble a committee of 5 faculty members who are familiar with your work.) The student and advisor should plan a set of activities that will promote the student’s knowledge in a particular area. This activity is distinct from TA and RA responsibilities. Examples of directed research activities include development and pilot testing of health education curricula, observational studies, design and pilot testing of assessment instruments, data collection efforts (e.g., telephone surveys or face-to-face interviews), data analysis, and literature reviews. As a general rule, 1 unit of research is equivalent to 2 hours of work per week.

PM 590 Directed Research | 4 Units PM 690 Directed Research in Health Behavior | 4 Units PM 790 Research | 4 Units

Students must complete the qualifying exam and dissertation units. Before the qualifying exam, students assemble a Guidance Committee (also known as the Qualifying Exam Committee) consisting of 5 faculty members.

GRSC 800a Qualifying exam | 0 Units

GRSC 800b Qualifying exam | 0 Units

PM 794a Doctoral Dissertation | 2 Units

PM 794b Doctoral Dissertation | 2 Units

All students are required to apply for dissertation funding.

Quick Links

Phd characteristics.

The USC Graduate School is committed to providing detailed information on the inputs, outcomes, and overall characteristics of its PhD programs, for the purposes of full transparency and to support informed decision-making.

Annual Reviews

Annual reviews of graduate students occur at the end of each spring semester. The review is a constructive process in which students receive feedback on their progress in the program and plan for the upcoming year. Career goals and avenues of development are discussed. Each student schedules the review, which typically lasts 30-60 minutes. The student asks at least two faculty members familiar with his/her coursework or research activities to attend the review. In addition, the Ph.D. Program Director should be invited and will attend the review if her schedule allows.

At the time of the review, the student submits the following information to the review committee:

• Written statement of activities and accomplishments during the past year
• Written statement of goals for upcoming year
• List of courses completed and grades received

Second year students also give a brief presentation about a current research project or paper (like a conference presentation), including the research question(s), methods, findings, and conclusions. This presentation counts as the second-year screening exam.

The Qualifying Exam

The Qualifying Examination generally occurs at the end of the third year. You must pass this exam before you are considered a PhD candidate and before you enroll in doctoral dissertation units. The Qualifying Exam has both written and oral components.

Dissertation and Defense

The dissertation is a single document that conforms to USC’s formatting requirements. After completing the written dissertation, students are required to defend their research before their Dissertation Committee. The defense generally lasts about 2 hours and includes a presentation and questions on all aspects of the study – including conceptualization, methodology, statistical analysis, conclusions, and implications.

Program Director

I study the psychosocial and cultural risk and protective factors for health-related behaviors across diverse populations.

View Faculty

Register for an info session, “they might take my baby away”: experiences of using cannabis during pregnancy in california while engaged in perinatal care, department of population and public health sciences launches global health research interactive map tool, keeping it in the family: addressing sedentary and physical activity levels in young children, new faculty: hoda abdel magid, phd, go back to doctoral programs.

Institute for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Research (IPR)

University of southern california, the usc institute of prevention research.

Established in 1980, the University of Southern California Institute for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Research (IPR) is dedicated to the advancement of interdisciplinary research and education to improve the health and well-being of society. Collectively, the members of IPR have been authors of thousands of scientific articles, books, chapters, and other writings in the field of health promotion and disease prevention. Additionally, IPR maintains the longest running National Cancer Institute T32 research training program. Overall, the USC-IPR is a thriving, dynamic institute that has made significant strides toward promoting health and preventing disease in the population, and expects to continue advancing the field in future years.

Mission of IPR  is to engage in scientific research and educational training on the risk and prevention of disease as well as the promotion of health. The long-term goal is to reduce disease risk, eliminate disparities, and to improve the health of diverse populations by: (a) increasing understanding of the epidemiology, determinants, and consequences of disease; (b) conducting field trials to develop and test evidence-based prevention programs; and (c) disseminating model health promotion and disease prevention programs in national and global settings.

Cutting-edge education

Our major research areas are addictions, autoimmune and infectious diseases, health disparities, methodology, obesity, translational, and cancer. 

IPR is recognized as international leaders in interdisciplinary research and training in epidemiology and prevention science, and for more than 20 years have developed research and educational programs that have addressed the complex public health needs in local, national and international settings.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a melting pot of different ethnicity and races which makes it a perfect setting to address public health challenges. Los Angeles City has over 4 million resents. This officially makes LA the most populous city in California and the second-most populous city in the country. LA sits in one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the United States. USC is the largest university residing in East LA, with more than 15,000 graduates. Located in East LA, one of LA’s oldest neighborhoods, IPR’s campus is in the heart of the heritage of Los Angeles. 

Dr. Mary Ann Pentz serves as Director of the Institute for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Research which is apart of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

• Dean of the Graduate School
• PhD Program Characteristics
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• Graduate Degrees awarded at USC
• Fellowships
• Guidelines and Forms
• Student Resources
• Required Documents
• Submission Deadlines
• Guidelines to Submission
• Manuscript Formatting Guidelines
• Fellowships for PhD Students
• Scholarships for Masters Students
• Academic Support, Professional Development and Diversity Inclusion Programs

USC PhD Student Profile: Chris Warren

• Fellows , Professionalization , Profiles

Chris is a PhD student with the Keck Department of Preventive Medicine in his third year of the Health Behavior Research Program. He is a USC Provost’s Predoctoral Fellow and recent recipient of a NRSA F31 award from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Chris’ Research

Chris’ background is in cognitive neuroscience and developmental psychology. As a doctoral student he has explored the neurocognitive factors that influence a child’s ability to engage in goal-directed behaviors relating to health. He focuses specifically on executive function. Executive function forms a key part of the mechanism that allows an individual to say “no” to unhealthy options in service of a long-term goal. An example would be the ability to forgo having a calorie-laden dessert in an effort to achieve a weight-loss goal. He is particularly interested in knowing to what degree near-roadway pollution may affect the development of executive function in children. Near-roadway air pollution is loosely defined as the pollution from vehicle traffic including tailpipe emissions, partially combusted fuel, and debris from tires and brakes. The NIH, which funds most biomedical research, was particularly interested in Chris’ research because most of the current attention in the field is directed towards regional air pollution (smog, power plants, etc.) and the effects of exposure to pollutants early in life. Focusing on the effects of near-roadway air pollution on behavioral outcomes during adolescence is what sets Chris’ research apart from the rest.

USC Graduate School & the Fellowship Application Process

Two summers ago, Chris participated in the USC Graduate School’s Academic Professional Development program, which ran for ten weeks. In this doctoral summer institute, students from across the university gathered once a week to attend workshops on grant writing and manuscript writing.

Forcing yourself to explain your research to someone who isn’t well-versed in it is valuable because you’re communicating and translating the research to concepts that everyone can understand. That was the value of the summer institute – there were people from all around USC and it’s great to have any opportunity to bring people from various disciplines together and learn from one another – Chris Warren

Chris also credits the Provost Fellowship as instrumental to his capability of putting forth a competitive application for the NIH F31 Fellowship. Due to the fact that he wasn’t a TA, it freed up an additional 15-20 hours per week where he could pursue his own research ideas.

Chris’ Advice to PhD Students

As a graduate student, you need to take advantage of the fact that you’re in this incredible community of scholars and put yourself out there, otherwise your focus may narrow too much  – Chris Warren

“For instance, within the Health Behavior Research Division there’s little focus on air pollution; they’re looking more at other determinants of health. But within the broader department of Preventive Medicine there are many people who are interested in that topic and the health effects of environmental exposures more broadly. Seeking people outside of my division is what led me to make these links in my own research. Had I not put myself out there and attended talks on topics different from my own, and taken additional classes taught by professors from other disciplines, I wouldn’t have made these connections. There’s a tendency to want to focus on one area and be the expert, which is important, but as a graduate student you need a variety of perspectives,” said Chris.

Engaging Communities, Advancing Research

• USC Roybal Twitter
• USC Roybal Facebook Page
• Health and Behavioral Health
• Research Overview

Committed to address and advocate for the medical, cognitive, and mental health needs of the elderly.

Research Projects

Testing Savvy Caregiver in a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Sample in Southern California

The project goal is to compare the relative efficacy-effectiveness of two dementia caregiver interventions, Savvy Caregiver Express™ and Savvy Caregiver program on primary (affective status, and reactivity to behaviors), and secondary outcomes (competence, meaning, management, other coping resources, social support, etc.) with a diverse racial and ethnic sample of caregivers to persons with dementia (PWD).

You can learn more about this project at roybal.usc.edu/socalcaregiver .

Research Team

Research Period: 04/01/2020 - 06/30/2022

Funding Source: State of California Department of Public Health Alzheimer's Disease Program

Interdisciplinary Aging Research to Address Health Disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias

This   conference series will (1) address environmental, sociocultural, behavioral, and biological disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias that affect millions of older minorities and their family caregivers; and (2) serve as an incubator of scientific network of interdisciplinary scholars specializing in rigorous team- based approaches to close the ADRD health disparities gap.

Research Period: 04/01/2019 - 03/31/2021

Funding Source: National Institute on Aging

USC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement (ORE) Core

The ORE (Outreach, Recruitment and Education) core is responsible for providing important liaison and outreach between the USC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) and patients, their caregivers and the professional community so that information may be communicated bi-directionally. The ORE Core works closely with the Clinical Core to recruit and retain participants in research studies, and to educate the professional and underserved communities about improving cognitive health and reducing AD and vascular risk factors. The major research initiatives include the Vascular Cohort Study and clinical trials. The ORE Core has a strong presence in the Latino community.

Research Period: 04/01/1984 - 03/31/2020

USC ADRC Website

Advocates for African American Elders (AAAE)

Advocates for African American Elders (AAAE) is an outreach and engagement partnership of academic, governmental, nonprofit, and community groups whose aim is to help African American seniors in Los Angeles advocate for their health and mental health needs. As well as catalyzing general advocacy efforts to improve the delivery of health services for African American communities in Los Angeles County, AAAE seeks to strengthen collaboration between agencies and community organizations, develop training programs and mental health interventions specifically tailored for African American seniors, and increase health literacy.

Research Period: Ongoing

Co-Designing a Mobile App with Chinese Immigrant Caregivers for Self-Management of Their Health

The proposed pilot study aims to employ a user participatory approach to develop a mobile application (app) that is engaging, high quality, and safe to use as a surrogate for the in-person Caregiver Self-Management Program (CSMP), an existing intervention for Chinese caregivers. The CSMP intervention aims to equip Chinese caregivers with self-management knowledge and skills, to increase their self-efficacy for caregiving and self-care, to enhance their physical and mental well-being, and to decrease their caregiving burden.

Research Period: 7/1/2018 – 6/30/2019

Funding Source: USC Undergraduate Research Associates Program (URAP)

Addressing Geriatric Syndromes with Permanent Supportive Housing

Guided by a disablement framework that positions the ability to age in place as a matter of fit between person and environment, the overall objective of this two-year project is to investigate ways to efficiently reduce the gap between the needs of chronically homeless adults and the housing and support service options that are currently available. Specifically, this exploratory study will provide new data on whether and how evidence-based prevention and management strategies that target age-related health conditions (e.g., functional and cognitive impairments, frailty, and hearing and visual impairments) can be integrated in permanent supportive housing.

Research Period: 9/1/2016–5/31/2019

Applying Deep Learning to Military Suicidal Prevention: Smart Phone Application

Research Period: 9/1/2018-12/31/2018

Funding Source: Tri-Service General Hospital

Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC-CTSI)

The Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI) is a multi-faceted research institute created by the University of Southern California (USC) and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) to translate scientific discoveries into solutions for better health. This core group engages a broad spectrum of communities across the continuum of clinical and translational research, with particular emphasis on diverse and underserved communities, including pediatrics. The group helps researchers understand the health needs and research barriers of special populations and then facilitates academic-community partnerships to ensure patient/community engagement in all stages of clinical and translational research. CE also evaluates and disseminates novel approaches for engaging diverse populations in clinical and translational research and eliminating barriers to research participation.

Research Period: 7/1/2016–6/30/2021

Funding Source: National Institute of Health

Translating Caregiver Self-Management Research for Chinese Immigrant Community Use through Participatory Co-Design App Development

The proposed pilot study will employ a user participatory approach to design, prototype, and pilot-test a CSMP mobile app to meet the needs of Chinese immigrant caregivers. The app is expected to include five core functions to engage caregivers in self -care: building CSMP-based skills, tracking self-management behaviors, summarizing health information, coaching for problem solving, and enabling communication for support and sharing.

Funding Source: Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI); Grant ID: 12-5176-3304

Chinese Longitudinal Aging Social Survey

The longitudinal study was developed with Renmin University and the USC Roybal Institute on Aging to survey older adults in China’s urban and rural households and gather data on social trends and the changing relationship between social structure and quality of life in China.

Funding Source: Renmin University of China

Enduring Connections of Family: Implications of Drug Use on Family Systems

Intergenerational transmission of disadvantage is well known, but rarely considered in studies of people who inject drugs (PWID). Further, while downward transmission of disadvantage (from parents to children) has been examined extensively, the impact of disadvantage within sibling groups or upward (to aging parents) has been inadequately addressed. Aging parents may be particularly vulnerable to drug using children who may have remained in closer contact to parents as compared to other siblings. Further, their proximity may not be entirely negative; caregiving of domiciled elders may be more easily accomplished for aging PWID who have failed to establish other legal means of support.

Latino families and communities have long been regarded as especially close, with families retaining close connections to members despite mental health issues, repeated incarceration, and drug abuse. In the following, we propose to explore family relations and connections among middle aged (40 to 60 years old) Hispanic PWID in Los Angeles.  The goal will be to describe how these long-term drug users connect with families and to consider positive and negative consequences of these enduring connections.

Research Period: 2016 - 12/2018

Funding Source: USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging

Healthcare Stereotype Threat (HCST), Health Disparities, and Minority Aging

The first of its kind, the research will investigate the research questions of whether and how HCST contributes to disparities in healthcare resource use and health in aging African Americans and Latinos as compared to Whites. The research is to provide a new understanding of later life health disparities by examining a previously overlooked psychosocial barrier to care among aging minorities, namely HCST and how it can be ameliorated.

Research Period: 8/15/2017-3/31/2022

Funding Source: National Institute on Aging: K01 - Mentored Research Scientist Development Award

Helping Carers to Care (HC2C)

Developed with Peking University’s Institute of Mental Health, the initiative facilitates the development, implementation and evaluation of training models in Beijing for caregivers of individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

HIV Risk, Drug Use, Social Networks: Homeless Persons Transitioned to Housing

This longitudinal study will explore how the transition to permanent supportive housing affects health risk and prevention behaviors among chronically homeless men and women age 40 and over, with a specific focus on risks related to HIV/AIDS.

Research Period: 6/1/2014-5/1/2019

Funding Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

Limited English Proficiency, Health and Healthcare among Older Immigrants

Limited English proficiency (LEP) is a unique vulnerability of older immigrants that poses a significant risk to health and healthcare. Given that social and environmental contexts play a critical role in the lives of persons with LEP, this project investigates how social connectedness and neighborhood/community characteristics (e.g., ethnic density, health service environments in the neighborhood) influence the link between LEP and health/healthcare. The interactive roles of social connectedness and neighborhood characteristics will be explored by using an innovative and synergistic mix of Social Network Analysis (SNA) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Research Period: 5/15/2015-4/30/2020

Preventing Injection Initiation: the Change the Cycle Randomized Control Trial

Injection drug use appears to be increasing in the US. Yet, there are few behavioral interventions to prevent injection drug use initiation and none have been proven to be efficacious in a rigorous, large scale randomized controlled trial (RCT). The project proposes to address this critical public health need by conducting a large-scale RCT of “Change the Cycle” (CTC), a single- session, hour-long, one-on-one intervention that aims to reduce injection initiation by encouraging active people who inject drugs (PWID) to not promote drug injection, model injection behavior, describe how to inject, or assist in injection initiations of on-injectors. CTC uses the Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills model (IMB) to illuminate harms of drug injection, increase motivation to not model injection behaviors, and improve behavioral skills to resist request to initiate non-injectors into drug injection.

Research Period: 8/1/2015 - 6/30/2019

Funding Source: National Institute of Drug Abuse

Conference Series on Aging in the Americas: United States and Mexico

The USC Roybal Institute received a sub-award from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, which received a (R13) Scientific Meeting Grant from NIA, to host the fifth installment of its conference series at USC. The aim of the Conference Series on Aging in the Americas is to use research to augment knowledge about dimensions of healthful aging for people of Hispanic descent in the United States and Mexico. One of the major goals is to promote interdisciplinary collaboration by gathering a broad array of researchers in the fields of health, health care policy, and behavioral and social aspects of aging into a single forum to exchange ideas and foster collaborative efforts aimed at addressing key issues affecting the health of aging Hispanics.

Research Period: 9/1/2016 – 12/31/2017

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) Workshop Series

The goal of the workshop series is to identify research priorities for the Aging Cluster through a series of meetings bringing together researchers in the field of aging. The meetings will host experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease research to present the most-up-to-date research, policies, and funding opportunities. Faculty from the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and across campus will be invited.

Research Period: 2017

Funding Source: USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work Research Council

Programa Esperanza (Project Hope)

The primary aim of the study is to test the comparative effectiveness of Programa Esperanza (Project Hope) and enhanced usual care (EUC). Programa Esperanza is a short-term, culturally modified psychosocial intervention for Spanish-speaking Latino patients 55 years of age or older with depression and multiple medical conditions. Our long-term goal is to widely disseminate the results and actionable steps needed to increase the adoption and sustainability of evidence-based behavioral health practices for low-income, Limited-English-speaking geriatric populations.

Research Period: 1/1/2015–06/30/2019

Programa Esperanza video

Funding Source: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)

Translation and Validation Study of QODD Chinese Version

The proposed study will translate the Quality of Death and Dying Scale into traditional/simplified and Mandarin/Cantonese versions and validate its validity and reliability.

Research Period: 7/1/2018 - 6/30/2019

Funding Source: Shanghai Lixin Accounting and Finance College, Distinguished Faculty Research Grant

USC-Los Angeles County Training a Workforce in Inter-Professional Geriatrics

The USC-LAC Training a Workforce in Inter-Professional Geriatrics (USC-LAC TWIG), also referred to as The Geriatric Workforce Education Project (GWEP), was funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to develop a comprehensive inter-professional geriatric primary care-based assessment and training program. The Geriatric Assessment Program (GAP) has an emphasis on inter-professional training and team-based care. The focus for GAP is on improving recognition and care for patients who have cognitive impairment or have a dementia diagnosis, and who, in addition, have significant medical co-morbidities. As faculty lead, Dr. Katz heads up the Student Senior Partnership Program (SSPP), a student volunteer program, made up of 3-4 students from different disciplines. The SSPP teams visit a senior’s home three times to discuss their physical well-being, their relationships with friends and the community and how they stay connected, and lastly how they keep active and fit which helps them with memory and cognition.

Research Period: 7/1/2015 – 6/30/2019

Funding Source: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Reducing the Duration of Untreated Psychosis Through Community Education

The overall objective of the study is to strengthen the effectiveness of informational campaigns to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis by bringing more scientific rigor to their development and by extending their reach through sustainable campaigns for diverse, high-risk communities. Spanish-speaking adolescents and adults (ages 15-64) residing in a high density Latino community within Los Angeles County will serve as the target group.

Research Period: 6/1/2014–12/31/2017

Funding Source: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Research Period: 2/1/2018 – 6/30/2018

Funding Source: USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work: Department of Adult Mental Health and Wellness

Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI) Workforce Development Core

The Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI) is a multi-faceted research institute created by the University of Southern California (USC) and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) to translate scientific discoveries into solutions for better health. This core group provides expertise in education, training and career development with special focus on research in diverse populations. It has a broad target audience that includes not only career clinical researchers, but also clinicians, research staff, clinical and community partners, and patients.

Research Period: 7/1/2016–12/31/2017

Funding Source: USC Keck School of Medicine (NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences)

EAGER: Studying the Dynamics of In-Home Adoption of Socially Assistive Robot Companions for the Elderly

Project description is forthcoming.

Research Period: 9/1/2015–8/31/2017

Funding Source: National Science Foundation (NSF)

2017 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count

In coordination with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the research team will conduct the 2017 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, a demographic survey of homeless adults, youth, and families, as required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Research Period: 9/1/2016–9/1/2017

Funding Source: Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority

Harmonizing U.S. Datasets to Enhance the Study of Cognitive Health in Older Minority Populations

The purpose of the pilot is to investigate the feasibility of harmonizing several epidemiological datasets that include Latinos and African Americans, usually in small proportions, that when combined, will permit the analysis of cognitive health and associated factors among these minority populations.

Research Period: 3/1/2017 - 6/30/2017

USC Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR)

The goal of the USC RCMAR is to build an infrastructure to support high-quality research and enduring research careers in the economics of aging, retirement, and health economic challenges, with a particular focus on health and economic challenges of elderly minority populations. It is a collaboration between USC and RAND that utilizes the resources of the USC Roybal Center on Health Policy Simulation, the USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, the USC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, and RAND’s Roybal Center for Financial Decisionmaking.

Research Period: 7/2012 – 6/2015

Funding Source: National Institute on Aging (NIA); Grant ID: P30AG12-012

Testing Correspondence of Health Environment Indicator to Health Outcomes in Older Population Groups

The study will use a combination of official statistical sources, including the US decennial census and American Community Survey, in conjunction with recent epidemiological survey data from several studies covering Los Angeles County to scientifically test consistency relationships between community markers and health outcomes measured at the individual level. The anticipated results would provide an evidence base to recommend measures to best predict population health among old-age community residents, and promote the measures associated most closely with health outcomes in population subgroups defined by age group, race/ethnicity, nativity, primary language, and socioeconomic level. Such findings would more confidently inform epidemiological studies as well as future needs assessment and “healthy community” monitoring.

Research Period: 10/2013 - 6/2014

Funding Source: National Institute on Aging (NIA); Grant ID: 5P30AG017265-14 (USC/UCLA Center on Biodemography and Population Health Subaward)

An Examination of Treatment-Relevant Patient Characteristics in the USC ADRC Data Set

The objective of the project is to examine ethnic differences in dementia progression from early states of mild cognitive impairment, measure invariance, and co-morbidity patterns among Mexican Americans and White non-Latino patients and controls in the California ADRC Uniform Data Set (UDS).

Research Period: 4/2012 - 3/2013

Funding Source: USC Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC); Grant ID: P50 AG05142

Risk and Protective Factors for Depression among Racial Groups

The study aimed to investigate the social and psychological risk and protective factors for depression among African American, Caribbean Black, Asian American, Latino and non-Hispanic white adults using existing national epidemiological data. The goal of the research was to identify those factors that would enhance current interventions, as well as provide information relevant to the development of new and innovative research-based interventions that met the mental health needs of diverse populations.

Research Period: 9/2009 - 6/2012

Regaining Humanity - The Gold Standard of Care

The symposium, titled “Regaining Humanity – The Gold Standard of Care,” aims to bring stakeholders together to exchange knowledge and ideas about addressing the health needs of the aging incarcerated population. The Gold Coats, a growing group of formerly incarcerated individuals trained as specialized caregivers in prison, will demonstrate an effective action plan for programmatic development and create a research agenda. The symposium will focus on addressing the needs of two subpopulations of currently and formerly incarcerated people: 1) people living with cognitive impairments and chronic and terminal illnesses; and 2) extensively trained and skilled caregivers seeking appropriate licensure and employment after release from prison.

A Helping Hand to Activate Patient-Centered Depression Care among Low-Income Patients (AHH)

The study aims to improve patient self-care management and patient-provider care management relationships among underserved low-income patients, who must simultaneously cope with major depression and chronic co-morbid physical illness. Some participants will be randomly selected to receive typical clinical services, while others will participate in a program in which community members, who are trained to provide basic health education, offer training and advice. Findings will determine whether community health worker promotora care management training improves patient-centered outcomes, such as self-care need and management, treatment adherence, symptom improvement, and care satisfaction over the usual team care.

Research Period: 10/2013 – 12/2017

A Program for Families Caring for a Loved One with Dementia (SAVVY Caregiver Program)

This is a comparative cluster-randomized pilot to compare the relative feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of implementing the original and modified version of the Savvy Caregiver Program (SCP) in community-based settings. SCP is a structured, group-administered intervention for adult family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease or associated dementias.

Research Period: 12/2015 – 6/2016

Bringing Evidence-Based Programs to Historically Underrepresented Older Minorities

This pilot project will produce an exhaustive inventory of MH/SU EBIs within existing LA County health and human services (HHS) provider systems. We will use a two-pronged approach that addresses the community needs with respect to MH/SU issues on the one hand, and the capacity of HHS provider systems to serve historically underrepresented older minorities—who typically bear excess burden of MH/SU conditions—on the other. Selected data produced by this study will be used in Dr. Vega’s proposed CTSI simulation modeling pilot (“metrics pilot study”) and will serve as the basis for future research applications.

Research Period: January 2015–December 2017

Funding Source: Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI); Grant ID: 5UL1TR000130

Enhanced Geriatric Depression Treatment in Adult Day Health Care

The major goal of the project was to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of adding individually administered Problem Solving Therapy (PST) to enhanced usual care as an approach for treating depression in adult day health care (ADHC) for predominantly low-income Latinos with depression and significant comorbid medical illnesses.

Research Period: 3/2009 - 12/2011

Transition Coaching for Latino Diabetics

The project sought to develop a program aimed at improving self-management behaviors and skills for hospitalized Latino diabetics age 50 and over who were leaving the hospital for home. To date, no programs of this type has focused specifically on this group of diabetics. Participants in the program received help from a diabetes-trained coach who was also Latino and bilingual. The project sought to improve treatment of diabetes, specifically aiming at improving adherence to care, continuity of care and patient self-management skills.

Research Period: 1/2009 - 12/2011

Funding Source: American Diabetes Association

Paths to Wellness for Older African Americans in Adult Day Health Care

This randomized pilot study investigated the feasibility, acceptability and trend toward effectiveness of adding individually administered Problem Solving Therapy (PST) to treat current major depressive disorder (MDD) in older African Americans enrolled in adult day health care (ADHC).

Research Period: 8/2009 - 10/2011

Funding Source: Larson Endowment for Innovative Research and Teaching, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

National Network on Multicultural Research on Health and Health Care to Eliminate Health and Healthcare Disparities

This project brought together a team of 12 multidisciplinary senior faculty researchers to investigate disparities in medical care provided to minority subpopulations for chronic diseases and to mentor junior faculty investigators to develop a new generation of researchers with the skills needed to reduce disparities through improved health care.

Research Period: 11/2007 - 6/2011

Funding Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Testing of a Frailty Diagnostic Measure for Low-Income, Medically Ill Older Adults with Depression

Little is known about the frailty syndrome and its relationship to clinical depression in older minorities. The study aimed to develop and test a frailty measure for its predictive ability in determining clinical depression and severity.

Research Period: 11/2010 - 3/2011

Funding Source: Los Angeles Basin Clinical and Translational Science Institute; Grant ID: 1UL1RR031986

Mental Health Disparities within the Context of Health Disparities: Depression and Obesity among Black Women

The project aimed to investigate mental health disparities within the context of health disparities. Specifically, it used data from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES) to examine the relationship between obesity and depression among black women.

Funding Source: Los Angeles Basin Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Ethnicity and the Diagnosis of Affective Illness

In an effort to better understand diagnostic disparities (i.e., the overdiagnosis of psychosis in African Americans), the study examined how patient characteristics (i.e., ethnicity) influence the diagnostic process in patients with serious mental illness. The primary objective was to test the hypothesis that clinicians over-emphasize psychotic symptoms at the expense of affective symptoms in African Americans.

Research Period: 7/2005 - 6/2010

Funding Source: National Institute of Mental Health; Grant ID: R01 MH068819

Stigma of Depression among Hispanic Primary Care Patients

The major focus of the project was to develop a stigma measure for depressed Latinos and test the effects of stigma on the course of depression treatment, medication adherence, and treatment outcome, in a longitudinal study of primary care patients.

Research Period: 2007 - 2010

Breast Cancer Media & Training Campaign for Hispanic Women

The purpose of the project was to educate Latino women on the importance of breast cancer screenings through a national media campaign that targeted more than 83 Spanish-language television stations across the United States.

Research Period: Completed

Funding Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/AARP

Adult Immunization Project

The goals of Roybal Immunization Consortium for Older Adults (RICO) were to increase older-adult vaccine coverage rates in the Latino community and to be a health advocacy organization for older adults. A major outcome of the RICO was the development of a policy paper for a coordinated adult immunization service delivery plan for Los Angeles County.

Funding Source: California Department of Health Services

Adult Immunization Project: Immunization Program Translation

The primary goal of the project was to increase the knowledge base of health care providers in order to improve vaccination rates among older adults, particularly those from ethnic communities.

Funding Source: Unihealth Foundation

Adult Immunization Program

The USC Roybal Institute was approached by The California Endowment to conduct a comparative study to evaluate the current status of the immunization level of Latinos in the greater East Los Angeles area. The study was designed to compare newly collected data with the findings from an earlier dataset to determine whether there were changes in immunization levels over time and to determine potential barriers to immunization services. Another important aspect of the project was to develop and implement intervention strategies in the East Los Angeles area as well as an immunization coordination plan for Los Angeles County.

Funding Source: The California Endowment

Injuries in the Elderly

The project was a collaborative effort between the Southern California Injury Prevention Research Center at UCLA and the USC Roybal Institute. The goal of the intervention was to reduce the rate of falls and fall injuries among older adults in East Los Angeles. In order to achieve this objective, home-safety assessments were conducted and an education package was created to promote fall prevention efforts in the community.

Funding Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Physical Activity Promotional Campaign for Elderly Hispanic Women

The USC Roybal Institute’s bilingual (i.e., Spanish and English) physical activity guide for older adults was used by individuals, agencies and organizations as part of an intervention to improve physical condition and reduce injuries. The guide was distributed locally and nationally to organizations serving older individuals.

Funding Source: Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC)/National Coalition of Hispanic Health and Human Services Organizations (COSSMHO)

Replication and Dissemination of Effective Breast and Cervical Cancer Health Education Interventions

The goal of the project was to enhance the capacity of a national network of community, migrant and homeless health centers to increase the number of early detection screenings for breast and cervical cancer for Latinas age 50 and over. Among the objectives was to increase the knowledge of breast and cervical cancer screenings and the utilization rates of mammograms and Pap tests among Latinas. The staffs of various health centers were trained on how to reach out to community organizations and leaders who were also concerned about the health of Latinas.

One of the key components of the initiative was the establishment of a community consortium composed of community leaders, public and private health-care providers, private industry, academic researchers and consumers that met to address the problem of low screening rates among Latino women over the age of 50 in the community.

Funding Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/National Association for Community Health Centers (NACHAC)

Unintentional Injury Prevention Among Older Adults

The goal of the project was to develop and distribute educational materials to help reduce the incidence of falls among older adults by providing a training manual and educational material for service providers in Los Angeles County. A total of 13 informational sessions were also conducted for health care providers, the aging service network, agencies, organizations, institutions, caregivers and their families, volunteers and other interested individuals at locations across the county.

Staff members on the project worked with AltaMed to integrate the fall and injury prevention community service model into the agency’s existing services, which helped to reduce reported fall rates from 12% to 3% over a four- to six-month period. The training manual and related education materials were also adopted by three health service providers in aging service delivery that were contracted and funded by the Los Angeles City Department of Aging.

Funding Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine (ATPM)

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Equity in Cancer Care and Health Outcomes (ECCHO) Lab

Population and Public Health Sciences

Meet the ECCHO Team

Assistant Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences

Co-Director of the Ph.D. program in Epidemiology

Faculty of the Gehr Family Center for Health System Science

Member of the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at USC

* Ph.D. Health Services Research, Emphasis in Evaluation Sciences and Statistics, University of Washington School of Public Health.

*MPH Sociomedical Sciences, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University.

*BS Biology, University of California, Los Angeles.

Dr. Farias has extensive expertise in understanding the multilevel determinants of disparities in cancer care and outcomes. Combining his expertise in cancer epidemiology, health services research and health disparities, Dr. Farias employs a mixed-methods approach to research by combining qualitative in-depth interview/focus groups with large qualitative data including SEER-CAHPS, SEER-Medicare, MEPS, NHIS, NCCDB. Dr. Farias values mentorship and training the next generation of cancer health disparities researchers.

* MD/Ph.D. Candidate – 6th year (4th-year Epidemiology Ph.D. Candidate), Keck School of Medicine

* BA, Human Biology, Stanford University

Stephanie is studying associations between patient experiences with healthcare, patient race and ethnicity, and use of care among older adults with colorectal cancer and comorbid chronic conditions. She uses SEER-CAHPS data, which pairs national cancer registry data from the National Cancer Institute with Medicare patient experience survey data and Medicare claims files. As a future physician-scientist, Stephanie hopes to empower individual patients to achieve optimal health, while also working to understand the conditions which create inequitable health care and outcomes and formulating effective ways to promote health equity for all patients.

*Postdoctoral Fellow, Emphasis in Health Service Research – University of California San Diego

*PhD, Health Behavior Research– University of Southern California

*MPH, Behavioral Science and Health Education – Emory University

*BA, Latin American Studies – University of California Los Angeles

Carol is a cancer health disparities researcher trained in behavioral science within public health. Broadly, her research experience has centered on three areas of focus: 1) cancer survivors, 2) informal caregivers, and 3) cancer screening. Within this work, she uses a mixed-method approach to explore whether there are any racial/ethnic differences, the role of social determinants, and specific cultural factors that may be related to these outcomes. Her dissertation work at USC specifically focused on childhood cancer survivors (CCS), their caregivers, their providers, and the complex relationships between these three individual stakeholders and how that leads to CCS engagement in care in ethnically diverse populations (with a focus on Hispanics). She is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Association for Cancer Education, the American Society of Preventive Oncology, and the Society of Behavioral Medicine.

*PhD Candidate – Keck School of Medicine of USC

*MPH, Epidemiology and Biostatistics – Keck School of Medicine of USC

*BS, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention – University of Southern California

Cynthia N. Ramirez, PhD(c), MPH is a PhD Candidate in Preventive Medicine and Health Behavior Research in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Since 2012, Cynthia has supported various qualitative and quantitative health disparities research projects investigating inequities in health and healthcare access in Hispanic/Latino/a/x communities. Cynthia’s dissertation combines, applies, and builds upon the research skills she has developed throughout her academic career by using mixed-methods approaches to better understand multilevel determinants of disparities among documented and undocumented safety-net emergency department patients. Cynthia is passionate about social justice and intends to dedicate her career to promoting inclusive and evidence-based programs and policies to reduce inequities among historically marginalized populations.

Cynthia Begay, PhD(c), MPH (Hopi/Navajo/Chicana) is a doctoral candidate at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. She is a longtime advocate for the American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities to advance health equity and reduce health disparities. Guided by community-based participatory research methods, Cynthia has worked with Tribal communities in California, specifically in cancer control, mental health, and substance use, for over ten years. Her current work at USC focuses on utilizing a mixed-methods approach to examining cancer disparities among AIAN in California using the CA Cancer Registry. Her hope is to reevaluate and improve on small population methodologies, specifically among AIAN, through cancer registry data.

* MD student, 4th-year – Keck School of Medicine

*BA in Public Health – UC Berkeley, 2019

Paul is researching racial/ethnic differences in patient experiences, focusing on patients with colorectal cancer. Paul’s research interests include health disparities and gastrointestinal disorders. Paul hopes to explore solutions for preventative health disparities.

* Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California San Diego (April 2023)

*PhD Candidate, Health Behavior Research– University of Southern California (In progress)

*MPH, Community Health – University of Southern California

*BS, Kinesiology & Health Promotion – California Polytechnic University, Pomona

Steven De La Torre, PhD(c), MPH, is a Mexican-American scholar and Doctoral Candidate at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. His work includes developing and testing dynamic models that provide insights into idiographic behavioral patterns of physical activity that span historically underrepresented populations and cancer survivors. Through his community engagement work, Steven has worked extensively with underserved Hispanic/Latino populations throughout Southern California and is dedicated to reducing health disparities through culturally competent Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs). His work ultimately aims to develop new dynamic modeling tools and theories that incorporate the unique needs of diverse populations and impact behavior in real time. He will continue his career as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Diversity and Google Health Equity Research Initiative (HERI) funded post-doctoral research fellow at the University of California, San Diego, in Spring of 2023. 

* Ph.D. Student, 2nd-year – University of Southern California

*MPH – California State University (CSU), Northridge

*BS in Health Science; Emphasis in Healthcare Management – CSU, Dominguez Hills

Angel is a second year, PhD student researching the factors that contribute to unmet healthcare needs and variations in health outcomes based on nativity, using the NIH All of Us Cohort. His research interests lie in the areas of health disparities, cancer disparities, and health equity, with a particular focus on marginalized and ethnic minority communities. Through his work, he aims to contribute to the current knowledge that can inform the development of targeted interventions and policies to improve health equity and reduce disparities in these populations.

* Biostatistics Ph.D. Candidate, 4th-year – University of Southern California

*BS in Mathematics; Emphasis in Statistics – University of Utah

*NIEHS T32 Predoctoral Fellow

KJ’s dissertation work focuses on new statistical methodology for differential co-expression analyses with the goal of identifying regulatory mechanisms driving disease progression and symptomatology. Post-PhD, KJ is interested in being a staff statistician at a large research hospital, focusing on providing statistical support to clinicians in various fields.

*Undergraduate Student at USC–Senior *Health and Human Sciences, BA

*Psychology Minor

Claudia is a USC undergraduate member of the Farias team studying Health and Human Sciences on a pre-med track. She is interested in researching healthcare disparities both in terms of treatment and patient outcomes. She hopes to pursue a career in medicine and one day help to dismantle these same disparities.

Primary site

All research from behavioral sciences.

A Randomized Trial Looking at Planning Prompts to Reduce Opioid Prescribing

The study confirmed the benefit of planning prompts, and repeat letter exposure among clinicians with poor patient outcomes.

• Journal Articles

Want Safer Prescribing? Provide Doctors with a Plan for Helping Patients in Pain

Letters notifying physicians of patient overdose deaths and providing a plan for the future is an effective intervention, according to new USC Schaeffer Center research

• Press Release

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Use by Opioid Prescribers: A Cross-Sectional Study 

The research assessed PDMP use in Minnesota, which requires opioid prescribers to hold accounts and, in most cases, search the PDMP before prescribing, but where enforcement authority is limited

Context Matters: Using an Evidence to Decision (EtD) Framework to Develop and Encourage Uptake of Opioid Deprescribing Guideline Recommendations at the Point-Of-Care

The context within which evidence-based recommendations are considered, as well the political and health-system environment, can contribute to the success of recommendation implementation.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Deprescribing Opioid Analgesics: Summary of Recommendations

Eleven recommendations provide advice about when, how and for whom opioid deprescribing should be considered.

Clinician Job Satisfaction After Peer Comparison Feedback

A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Comparing Doctors to Peers Doesn’t Make Them Hate Their Jobs and May Improve Quality of Care

Researchers found that behavioral interventions aimed at improving performance can be designed to protect clinician job satisfaction and improve quality of care.

Many Americans Wrongly Assume They Understand What Normal Blood Pressure Is – and That False Confidence Can Be Deadly

Nearly half of all Americans ages 20 and up have high blood pressure. Yet research shows that most people in the US don’t know the cutoff numbers for healthy blood.

• Evidence Base

False Confidence in Blood Pressure Knowledge Undermines Intentions to Seek Care

Most Americans don’t know the meaning of 120-80 mm Hg, but think they do.

Telling Doctors Their Patients Fatally Overdosed Reduces Opioid Prescriptions Up to One Year Later

Those clinicians who received the letter wrote 7% fewer prescriptions than clinicians who hadn’t received the notification.

Fall 2024 On-Campus MSW Application Main Deadline: April 1, 2024 Summer 2024 Online MSW and MSN Application Deadline: March 12, 2024 Summer 2024 DSW Application Deadline: March 19, 2024

Students will learn how to use evidence-based research to inform clinical practices and interventions, while developing practice skills that prepare them for work in various health and mental health clinical settings.

MSW Advanced Standing Curriculum Snapshot (AMHW)

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Fall 2021 Admits

2-year (4 semesters)   60 Total units needed to graduate

Year 1 Semester 1 (Fall): 15 Units 3   Human Behavior and the Social Environment (506) 3   Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups (544) 3   Science of Social Work (546) 3   Policy and Advocacy in Professional Social Work (536) 3   Applied Learning in Field Education (589A)

Semester 2 (Spring): 17 Units 3   Policy in Integrated Care (638) 3   Research and Evaluation for Social Work with Adults and Older Adults (635) 3   Assessing Wellness to Improve Recovery in Integrated Care (637) 3   Applied Learning in Field Education (589B) 2   Integrative Learning for Social Work Practice (588) 3   Diversity, Social Justice, and Culturally Competent Social Work Practice (630)

Year 2 Semester 3 (Fall): 14 Units 3   Explanatory Theories of Health and Mental Health (644) 3   Social Work Practice in Integrated Care Settings(643) 4   Advanced Applied Learning in Field Education (699A) 1   Integrative Learning for Advanced Social Work Practice (698A) 3   Elective* or Track Course**

Semester 4 (Spring): 14 Units 3   Advanced Practice with Complex Social Work Cases (647) 4   Advanced Applied Learning in Field Education (699B) 1   Integrative Learning for Advanced Social Work Practice (698B) 3   Elective* or Track Course ** 3   Elective*

3-year (6 semesters)   60 Total units needed to graduate

Year 1 Semester 1 (Fall): 6 Units 3   Human Behavior and the Social Environment (506) 3   Policy and Advocacy in Professional Social Work (536)

Semester 2 (Spring): 6 Units 3   Science of Social Work (546) 3   Elective*

Year 2 Semester 3 (Fall): 6 Units 3   Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups (544) 3   Applied Learning in Field Education (589A)

Semester 4 (Spring): 14 Units 3   Research and Evaluation for Social Work with Adults and Older Adults (635) 3  Assessing Wellness to Improve Recovery in Integrated Care (637) 3   Policy in Integrated Care (638) 3   Applied Learning in Field Education (589B) 2   Integrative Learning for Social Work Practice (588)

Year 3 Semester 5 (Fall): 14 Units 3   Social Work Practice in Integrated Care (643) 3   Explanatory Theories of Health and Mental Health (644) 4   Advanced Applied Learning in Field Education (699A) 1   Integrative Learning for Advanced Social Work Practice (698A) 3   Elective* or Track Course**

Semester 6 (Spring): 14 Units 3   Diversity, Social Justice, and Culturally Competent Social Work Practice (630) 3   Advanced Practice with Complex Social Work Cases (647) 4   Advanced Applied Learning in Field Education (699B) 1   Integrative Learning for Advanced Social Work Practice (698B) 3   Elective* or Track Course**

*Sample Electives

Psychopathology and Diagnosis of Mental Disorder(612) Substance Related and Behavioral Addictive Disorders and Recovery (617) Neuropsychological Development (606) Loss, Grief & Bereavement (692) Brief Therapy and Crisis Intervention (615) Systems of Recovery from Mental Illness in Adults (618) Advanced Theories and Clinical Interventions in Health Care (631) Clinical Interventions: Evidence Based Practice in Health and Mental Health Settings (645) Social Work with Older Adults (653) Clinical Practice with Older Adults (616) Practice with Latino Populations (628) Clinical Practice with Couples (663) Spirituality, Religion and Faith in Clinical Practice (682) Group Psychotherapy in Mental Health Settings (694)

A Track offers the opportunity for students to customize their education by selecting electives in particular areas of interest that will enhance their social work practice. A Track is not required to complete the MSW program.

Military Social Work Track 633 theories and concepts of military social work 641 clinical practice w/ service members and veterans 656 dc military immersion elective (optional) 6xx global military immersion elective (optional) (pending sp'18)

Curriculum subject to change

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First NEMO Prizes fund research partnerships at the intersection of health and engineering

February 26, 2024

Awards were given to two USC research teams to fund collaborations between engineering and one or more of the university’s five health sciences schools.

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