History
1970
The Cancer Surveillance Program registry is initiated
The Cancer Surveillance Program registry is initiated by Brian Henderson, MD with researchers Thomas Mack, MD, MPH, Malcolm Pike, PhD, Susan Preston-Martin, PhD, and John Hisserich, PhD, MPH. The registry becomes population-based within two years, with complete incidence data for LAC available. The program collects and analyzes information on all new cancer diagnoses and will go on to become one of the world’s most productive cancer registries.
1973
The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center is established
The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center is established, led by G. Denman Hammond, MD.
1977
The Department of Family and Preventive Medicine is established
The Department is established with Brian Henderson, MD as the inaugural chair. Henderson later goes on to become dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC from 2004-2007 and Kenneth T. Norris Jr. Chair in Cancer Prevention.
1977
The Division of Biometry is established
The Division of Biometry is established, led by Stanley Azen, PhD.
1983
The Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research is established
The Health Behavior Research Institute at the USC School of Pharmacy is absorbed into the Department and becomes the Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research. The Division of Health Behavior Research is also established.
1984
The Department is renamed the Department of Preventive Medicine
 The Department of Family and Preventive Medicine becomes the Department of Preventive Medicine as the independent Department of Family Medicine is formed.
1984
The Division of Biostatistics is established
The Division of Biostatistics is established, led by Duncan Thomas, PhD.
1989
Malcolm Pike, PhD is appointed Flora L. Thornton Chair
Malcom Pike, PhD is appointed Flora L. Thornton Chair, and serves until 1999.
1996
The Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center is established
The Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center (SCEHSC) is established by John M. Peters, MD.
1999
Ronald Ross, MD is appointed Flora L. Thornton Chair
Ronald Ross, MD is appointed Flora L. Thornton Chair, and serves until 2006.
2000
The Division of Biostatistics absorbs the Division of Biometry
The Division of Biometry is absorbed by the Division of Biostatistics, and is co-led by Stanley Azen, PhD and Duncan Thomas, PhD.
2006
Malcolm Pike, PhD serves as Interim Chair
Malcolm Pike, PhD serves as Interim Chair until 2008.
2008
Jonathan M. Samet, MD, MS is appointed Flora L. Thornton Chair
Jonathan M. Samet, MD, MS is appointed Flora L. Thornton Chair and serves until 2017.
2008
The USC Institute for Global Health is established
The USC Institute for Global Health is established by Jonathan M. Samet, MD, MS.
2008
The Center for Applied Network Analysis is established
The Center for Applied Network Analysis is established by Thomas Valente, PhD.
2010
The Division of Bioinformatics is formed
The Division of Bioinformatics is formed, led by Paul Thomas, PhD.
2012
The Division of Disease Prevention and Global Health is formed
The Division of Disease Prevention and Global Health is formed.
2013
The Tobacco Center of Regulatory Sciences is established
The Tobacco Center of Regulatory Sciences (TCORS) is established by Jonathan M. Samet, MD, MS and Maryann Pentz, PhD.
2014
The Center for Health and Equity in the Americas is established
The Center for Health and Equity in the Americas is established by Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati, PhD, MPH, MA and Maryann Pentz, PhD.
2015
The Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social stressors Center for Environmental Health Disparities is established
The Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social stressors (MADRES) Center for Environmental Health Disparities is established by Carrie Breton, ScD and Theresa Bastain, PhD, MPH.
2016
The Center for Genetic Epidemiology is established
The Center for Genetic Epidemiology is established by Christopher Haiman, ScD.
2017
Thomas Valente, PhD serves as Interim Chair
Thomas Valente, PhD serves as Interim Chair until 2020.
2018
The USC Institute for Addiction Science is established
The USC Institute for Addiction Science is established by Adam Leventhal, PhD and John Clapp (of USC Social Work).
2018
The Institute of Global Health becomes the Institute on Inequalities in Global Health
The Institute of Global Health becomes the Institute on Inequalities in Global Health, led by Sofia Gruskin, JD, MIA.
2019
The Center for Young Adult Cancer Survivorship Research is established
The Center for Young Adult Cancer Survivorship Research is established by Kimberly Miller, PhD, MPH; Joel Milam, PhD; and David Freyer, DO, MS.
2019
The Office of Social Justice is established
The Office of Social Justice is established at Keck School of Medicine of USC by Ricky Bluthenthal, PhD.
2020
Howard Hu, MD, MPH, ScD is appointed Flora L. Thornton Chair
Howard Hu, MD, MPH, ScD is appointed Flora L. Thornton Chair amidst a global pandemic.
2020
The COVID-19 Pandemic Research Center is established
The COVID-19 Pandemic Research Center is established by Frank Gilliland, MD, MPH, PhD; Jennifer Unger, PhD; Howard Hu, MD, MPH, ScD; Lourdes Baezconde Garbanati, PhD, MPH; David Conti, PhD; and Andrea Kovacs, MD. The Department is now home to 13 centers and 3 institutes.
2021
The Department of Preventive Medicine becomes the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
A new name is selected to reflect the ongoing mission and vision of the Department.