Photo: Courtesy of Gilmar Flores
“The USC MPH program equipped me to apply [what I learned] to daily aspects of my role, such as assessing and monitoring population health status, building partnerships to mobilize support for communities, creating effective communication materials and content, evaluating the organization’s programs, and building a team that is passionate about what they do.” – Gilmar Flores, MPH alum
Gilmar Flores, Master of Public Health alum, serves as the Director of Programs and Research for Breathe Southern California, a non-profit that promotes clean air and healthy lungs through education, advocacy, research, and technology. In his role, Flores oversees the organization’s respiratory public health programs and research projects that support disadvantaged communities throughout Southern California.
Flores discovered his passion for promoting equity and bolstering public health infrastructure for community improvement during a fellowship with AmeriCorps in 2014. Coinciding with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, he notes, “This pivotal experience exposed me to the stark inequalities that plagued communities, particularly those reliant on Federal Qualified Health Centers. It was a wake-up call.” During his AmeriCorps fellowship, he served community health centers across Los Angeles County which sparked his interest in pursuing a Master’s in Public Health.
After the fellowship, Flores went on to work full-time at Cedars Sinai in patient services while attending the MPH program from 2015-2017. He was drawn to USC’s online program because of the flexibility online coursework provided him to balance work and family commitments, as well as the opportunity USC provides to learn from leading experts in the public health field and to connect with a vast network of professionals. “Joining the USC family has allowed me to network with folks who have now become my colleagues and friends, and we now implement programs in the field that are bringing change to our communities,” he shares.
Developing Skills & Strong Support Networks with USC’s MPH
Flores credits the MPH program with providing him the skills and knowledge he needed to advance in his career implementing public health programs in Los Angeles. “One of the most rewarding aspects of the program was the hands-on experience I gained through courses such as Program Design & Evaluation and Policy Evaluation. These courses didn’t just provide theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills that I could immediately apply,” he says.
The online MPH emphasizes experiential learning and significant collaboration. Through group projects and classroom discussions, Flores was also able to connect with his fellow students from all across the country. “Our conversations and sharing feedback became a backbone for connecting and learning [during the program and throughout my career],” he says.
As he continues to promote community-centered solutions at Breathe Southern California and consider the impact of how state funding and pharmaceutical grants are focusing more on specific populations to address local needs, Flores has noticed that “equity is integral to ensuring effective systems are in place to enable access to services and care for those most in need”. The skills and network he developed during his time in the MPH program continue to prove essential for advocating for these equitable solutions.
Exploring Global Opportunities
As part of the MPH program, Flores pursued a concentration in Global Health. This concentration focuses on examining how socioeconomic, political, environmental and educational factors influence access to care, causes of illnesses and recovery in societies around the world. In alignment with his focus on global health, Flores also completed his practicum experience in Panama at the Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas. There, he worked on two projects – a community assessment of individuals’ perceived susceptibility and barriers to the Zika Virus with an exploration of how clinics could trigger change in these perceptions, and a literature review of scorpion sting case fatality. “I was able to see the health belief model in action and learn from it [through real-life] experience,” he says.
Learning about different cultures and understanding how culture can impact social groups has continued to inspire Flores. He has been able to integrate ethical considerations into the health research and programs that he has implemented through Breathe Southern California, with special consideration for individuals who have migrated from different countries to the Los Angeles area.
Beyond the MPH
After the fires in Los Angeles in January 2025, Flores’ interest in the effects of climate change on individuals’ and communities’ lives has been strengthened. He’s currently exploring how the fires may have impacted individuals with cardiovascular and respiratory issues, and how community organizations like Breathe Southern California can address climate-related issues in health care and provide immediate relief to those affected.
BlueSky LA, a new initiative Flores is launching, is one of these projects. BlueSky LA is working to establish new green spaces in disadvantaged communities throughout Los Angeles. The initiative aims to improve air quality and enhance the overall well-being of the residents. “Creating green areas provides a refreshing environment for local communities, fostering both physical and mental health. It’s inspiring to see how these projects can bring nature back into urban settings while empowering residents to engage in volunteerism and contribute to the resilience of their neighborhoods,” he says. “Through our efforts, we are cultivating a healthier, cleaner, and greener future for all.”
Having graduated from USC’s MPH program almost a decade ago, Flores looks back on his time in the program fondly and can see how impactful his time at USC has been for his career. For individuals considering the online MPH program, Flores shares this advice: “Build your network early through the courses, projects and interactions with professors. These networks become [even more] important once you leave the graduate program. USC’s Trojan Family community is immense, and we support each other.”