USC names Jonathan Samet USC President C. L. Max Nikias has named Jonathan Samet, MD, MS, the Flora L. Thornton Distinguished Chair of Preventive Medicine and chair and professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and director of the USC Institute for Global Health, as Distinguished Professor.

Samet is a member of the Institute of Medicine and fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His honors include the Edward Livingston Trudeau Medal of the American Thoracic Society and American Lung Association, the Prince Mahidol Award in Public Health and two U.S. Surgeon General’s Medallions.

An internationally recognized expert on the effects of inhaled pollutants and environmental toxins, Samet leads research that shapes local, regional and national policies on environmental risks. His landmark contributions in the area of active and passive smoking led to the development and advancement of smoke-free policies around the world.

“I am deeply honored to have been named Distinguished Professor,” Samet said. “I have enjoyed my five years at USC and having such superb colleagues and students. I look ahead to more challenges in my field and working with colleagues here to find innovative ways to address them.”