Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at
UC San Diego

Our mission is to improve public health through prevention research, education, and clinical care.

The Exercise and Physical Activity Resource Center (EPARC) offers state-of-the-science services, tools, and resources to conduct physical activity and exercise-related research.

Designed by Gordon Saxe, MD, PhD, the Center for Integrative Medicine Natural Healing & Cooking Program draws from nutrition science, epidemiology and time-tested principles.

Student presenters and faculty participate in the 2019 Public Health Research Day Poster Session

Wertheim Family Foundation pledges $25 million for UC San Diego Public Health

Underserved populations are treated by UC San Diego medical students at the Student-Run Free Clinic.

FMPH Faculty Members, Drs. Jim Sallis, Eric Hekler, and Elena Martinez, attend the White Coats 4 Black Lives demonstration on June 8, 2020.

Staff practice a communication exercise at the 2019 FMPH Staff Retreat

Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Faculty, 2018

The Institute for Public Health hosts a workshop with the American College of Sports Medicine and Exercise is Medicine leadership to develop a research agenda for this important health initiative

Chair's Message

Since 1966, our Department of Family Medicine and Public Health has had a rich history of leadership and scholarly activities at the intersection of primary care and public health. Our faculty, staff, students, and alumni are engaged in efforts locally, nationally, and globally that improve public health and health care delivery through research, teaching, and clinical care. Learn more.

News

*To view a list of current SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 research, academic, and service activities, please click here.

Led by Camille Nebeker, EdD and Co-Investigators, Nadir Weibel, PhD, Alan Card, PhD, MPH, and Anthony Magit, MD, MPH, the Research Center for Optimal Digital Ethics (ReCODE) supports researchers and institutions involved in the digital health research process. The goal of ReCODE is to increase awareness of ethical principles and practices from the earliest stages of technology design to the deployment of digital health research. For more information and resources, please visit the ReCODE website.

The Wertheim Family Foundation pledges $25 million lead gift towards creating a School of Public Health at UC San Diego. Learn more.

Events

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Faculty Recruitments

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Presentations & Publications

Andrea LaCroix, PhD, MPH, Cythnia Stuenkel, MD, and Christina Chambers, PhD, MPH presented, "The Top 10 Stories of Women's Health" at the Howell Foundation's Health Lecture Luncheon. The presentation explored how to integrate the latest findings of research in women's health diagnosis and treatment, and presented an overall update on the pressing issues that will affect women's health in the next decade. Read more.

John Pierce, PhD, and FMPH colleagues cited in abstract, "California has changed social norms, dramatically reducing smoking behavior and lung cancer." This abstract, featured in Atlas of Science, highlights findings from their 2019 study, “Trends in Lung Cancer and Cigarette Smoking: California Compared to the Rest of the United States.” Read more.

Suzi Hong, PhD cited in study examining evidence of COVID-19 neuropsychiatric sequelae, and the need for neuropsychiatric monitoring of those exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Read more.

Camille Nebeker, EdD cited in publication, "An Examination of Emerging Bioethical Issues in Biomedical Research." This publication summarizes discussions from a February 2020 workshop led by the Board on Health Sciences Policy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Read more.

Tarik Benmarhnia, PhD cited in study examining the link between heatwave exposure and preterm birth in California. Read more.

Rohit Loomba, MD cited in study indentifying two enzymes that control liver damage in nonalcholic steatohepetatis (NASH). Read more.

Presentations & Publications Archive

Research

Nancy Binkin, MD, MPH featured in article discussing the use of public health tools to combat COVID-19 in Veneto, Italy. Read more.

Cheryl Anderson, PhD, MPH, MS featured in article describing four ways to improve heart health. Read more.

Linda Hill, MD, MPH to lead new program that expands statewide initative to prevent driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis and prescription drugs. Read more.

Christina Chambers, PhD, MPH to lead NIH supported initiative examining effects of early exposure of opiods on infant and child development. Read more.

Shu-Hong Zhu, PhD featured in article regarding proposed ban on vaping products in San Diego County. Read more.

Research Archive

Appointments & Recognition

Andrea LaCroix, PhD, MPH has been appointed by Dr. Francis Collins, Director of NIH, to serve on the National Institute on Aging Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC). The BSC evaluates the performance of intramural scientists and the quality of their research programs, which represents an integral part of the overall NIH mission.

Richard Garfein, PhD, MPH has been selected to serve on the WHO Digital Health Technical Advisory Group (DHTAG) and Roster of Experts. This group will work to achieve WHO's triple billion goals set in the General Programme of Work (GPW13), and Sustainable Goal 3: Ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Congratulations to Michael LaMonte, Phd, MPH (University at Buffalo), Andrea LaCroix, PhD, MPH, and John Bellettiere, PhD, MPH who recently received the US Paul Dudley White International Scholars Award at the American Heart Association (AHA) Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health 2020 Scientific Sessions in Phoenix, Arizona. This award was in recognition for their abstract, "Steps-per-day and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Older Women: the OPACH Study". Read more.