History

1970’s

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.

1980’s

members of the Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research

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.

1990’s

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’s

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.

Early 2010’s

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.

Members of the USC Tobacco Center of Regulatory Sciences

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.

Members of the USC Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social stressors Center for Environmental Health Disparities

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.

Late 2010’s

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).

A group of researchers discussing work at a table

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.

2020’s

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

Department of Population and Public Health Sciences lockup

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.