William J. McCarthy, Ph.D.

William J. McCarthy, Ph.D.


Dr. McCarthy has devoted most of his 30-year career to intervention studies designed to encourage members of special populations to adhere to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (African American adult women, low-income middle school students, low-income patients of community health centers) and to be smokefree (WIC participants, aerospace workers, Korean and South Asian immigrants, residents of homeless shelters). He has also conducted epidemiological investigations of tobacco use in special populations (adolescents, Asian subpopulations, residents of homeless shelters). Dr. McCarthy received the 1994 American Cancer Society Capitol Dome award for his career of public service, the 1994 Health Fitness Leader award from the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, and the 2013 American Cancer Society St. George Medal for his exemplary volunteer activities. He received his research training at Yale University (Psychology Ph.D.) and the University of Illinois (Psychology, M.A.).