Dr. Grace X. Ma Appointed Associate Dean for Health Disparities and Professor in Clinical Sciences

Grace X. Ma, PhD, has been appointed Associate Dean for Health Disparities and Professor in Clinical Sciences at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM).

In her new role at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Dr. Ma will be promoting the awareness of health disparities in the region and integrating collaborative translational research throughout LKSOM, Temple University Health System, other colleges within Temple University, and industry partners that focus on specific under-represented and underserved communities.

The Center for Asian Health, of which Dr. Ma is Founding Director, has been moved to LKSOM from its previous location at Temple University’s College of Public Health. She will maintain her duties as Director of the Center for Asian Health as well as continue to serve as Laura H. Carnell Professor, and a Member of Fox Chase Cancer Center’s Population Science Division.

“I am pleased to announce Dr. Ma’s new appointment,” says Larry R. Kaiser, MD, FACS, President/CEO & Dean of Temple’s healthcare enterprise. “I am confident that with Grace’s experience and expertise she will expand the Center for Asian Health’s research portfolio and, in doing so, continue to advance the mission of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine.”

Dr. Ma will serve as a resource and consultant regarding health-disparity research funding for students, residents, fellows, and faculty, as well as the Office of Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; the Temple Institute for Transformative Medicine; and the Temple Center for Population Health.

Prior to joining LKSOM, Dr. Ma was Professor of Public Health at Temple University. Previously, she held appointments at the University of Oklahoma as Research Director of Health Promotion and Drug/Alcohol Prevention, and Director of Health Promotion and Wellness Research Program. As a principal investigator, Dr. Ma has received more than 70 research grant awards and exceeded $46 million in federal, state, and foundation funding.

Dr. Ma earned a Master of Science in Mental Health and a Doctorate in Medical Anthropology, with a specialty in Ethnic Community Health, from the University of Oklahoma. She has authored and coauthored five books and more than 125 peer-reviewed publications; served on numerous scientific and state, national, and community health advisory boards; and served as a member of many public health and ethnic health associations.