Luis Larios, PharmD ’25, MS ’25, is a recipient of the Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award from the United States Public Health Service.
The award recognizes pharmacy students who make significant contributions to public health, beyond what is required by their school’s curriculum, by promoting wellness and healthy communities.
Larios was nominated for the award by Melissa Durham, associate professor of clinical pharmacy and associate dean of organizational success and well-being, who noted his significant contributions to the university and its surrounding communities.
After joining the USC Mann Office of Organizational Success and Well-Being during his first year as a student assistant, Larios became a founding member of the Southern California Outreach for Pharmacy Education (SCOPE) Saturday Academy, a career pathways program in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences for LAUSD high school students, which received a USC Good Neighbors Campaign funding grant. Later, he developed a multicultural educational nutrition pamphlet that has been used widely in USC Mann community education efforts. He also led efforts to organize the first Dia de los Muertos celebration at the USC Health Sciences Campus, a campus event that has become an annual tradition.
In a congratulatory letter about the award, Rear Admiral Kelly Battese, PharmD, MBA, stated: “Your achievements that clearly support public health illustrate the importance of incorporating core public health principles into today’s pharmacy practice. Furthermore, your demonstrated passion and dedication to advance public health and the profession of pharmacy is truly impressive.”