Social Impact

Neighborhood Academic Initiative scholars Jessica Alcazar and Tristan Baizar talk with Thomas S. Sayles, senior vice president for University Relations during the NAI Annual Gala and Awards Ceremony on May 9. Photo by Gus Ruelas Good Neighbors

Neighborhood Academic Initiative Adds Two Elementary Schools

USC’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative expands beyond South Los Angeles to include more than 100 sixth-graders in East Los Angeles.

1 min readSocial Impact, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Scholarships, Students
A colorful illustration of a mother, father and daughter embracing with desert plants and small animals in the foreground and a tree, a man holding a cactus, a woman and girl wearing masks, and a skeleton playing guitar in the background Muralist Paul Botello’s imagery aims to increase vaccination rates among Latinos as part of the “Stay Connected Los Angeles” public health campaign supported by USC. (Illustration/Paul Botello) An Equal Shot

Vulnerable Groups Came First in USC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts

When COVID-19 hit Southern California, Keck Medicine of USC mobilized to protect the hardest-hit, highest-risk communities.

8 min readHealth, Social Impact, Community Health, COVID-19, COVID-19 Heroes, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Health Care, Medicine, Public Health
At Keck Medicine of USC, keeping both organ transplant recipients and their donors healthy is all part of the plan. At Keck Medicine of USC, keeping both organ transplant recipients and their donors healthy is all part of the plan. (Illustration/Simone Noronha) Medical innovation

Living Donor Program From Keck Medicine of USC Is a Win-Win

The shortage of organs for transplants is an issue for patients. Living donors are one key. Another: Helping them get healthier to ensure successful outcomes for the donor and the patient.

7 min readHealth, Social Impact, Health Care, Innovation, Keck Medicine, Keck School of Medicine
USC alumni Manuel Carmona, Kellee O'Rourke, Angelo Reyes, Matthew Feaster and Adrienne Kung stand in an outdoor corridor at Pasadena City Hall From left: USC alumni Angelo Reyes, Manuel Carmona, Kellee O'Rourke, Matthew Feaster and Adrienne Kung helped Pasadena achieve one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the state. Their Best Shot

How USC Alumni Led Pasadena to One of California’s Highest COVID Vaccination Rates

Five Trojan public health experts share their personal stories about facing down a global health crisis.

7 min readHealth, Social Impact, Alumni, Alumni Life, Community Health, COVID-19 Heroes, Public Health
Illustration by Jason Holley of a jogger running in smog An individual's risk can be a combination of several things, and chemical pollution are high on that list. (Illustration/Jason Holley) Think Clean

Your Brain on Air Pollution

Research at USC is helping define the environment’s impact on the brain. Growing evidence links the long-term effects of dirty air to accelerated cognitive decline and dementia, and USC researchers hope to better understand environmental effects and gene-environment interactions on brain health.

11 min readHealth, Social Impact
USC researcher Peter Kuhn possesses an unrelenting mission to improve the lives of cancer patients. In 2014, Peter Kuhn joined USC to become a founding member of the Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, a 190,000-square-foot interdisciplinary research facility wholly committed to exploring new frontiers in medicine and health. (Illustration/Curt Merlo) Beating the Odds

Finding a Cure

USC researcher Peter Kuhn possesses an unrelenting mission to improve the lives of cancer patients.

5 min readHealth, Science/Technology, Social Impact, Cancer, Faculty, Health Care, Medicine, Research
USC researcher John Carpten strives to decode how genes influence cancer — especially for groups hit hardest by the disease Carpten's mission is to untangle the role of biology in cancer to improve treatment — particularly to help close the gaps where Black people and other understudied, underserved populations face a greater burden of disease. (Illustration/Curt Merlo) Serving the Underserved

Decoding the “C” Word

USC researcher John Carpten strives to decode how genes influence cancer — especially for groups hit hardest by the disease

7 min readHealth, Science/Technology, Social Impact, University, Cancer, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Health Care, Medicine, Research
Illustrated image of a woman talking to a baby with doctors watching by Mikyung Lee Since 2019, Lauren Klein has been researching computer science and child development at the USC Interaction Lab. She is developing an automated system to model and support infant-caregiver interactions by detecting signs of toxic stress. (Illustration/Mikyung Lee) Tech Talk

Baby Talk

Doctoral student Lauren Klein is working with a local children’s hospital to help clinicians detect signs of toxic stress in infants

7 min readScience/Technology, Social Impact, Student Life, Research, Student Life
A screenshot of the virtual reality project showing four caribou standing in a grassy field with mountains and a stream in the background The changing climate’s effect on caribou comes to life in a unique student-led project. (Photo/Courtesy of Robert Hernandez) Reality Check

Stunning Virtual Reality Project Takes You to the Arctic — and Into Climate Change

Think caribou in the arctic tundra have nothing to do with you? USC students use immersive technology to explain their urgent message for us all.

7 min readScience/Technology, Social Impact, Climate Change, Innovation, Journalism, Students, Sustainability, Virtual Reality