RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Health and Population Science and Center for Asian Health (CAH) at Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM). With training in Kinesiology, public health, and epidemiology, my research aims to examine and address health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations. I have contributed to multidisciplinary research that integrates epidemiological analyses, psychosocial and behavioral frameworks, and community-based participatory research to improve cardiometabolic, mental health, and cancer outcomes in underrepresented populations. I have co-developed and evaluated culturally tailored (behavioral, educational) interventions to promote behaviors such as physical activity and sodium reduction to prevent chronic disease in Asian American communities in addition to addressing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among Philadelphia youth. My research scope also examines how neighborhood and built environment characteristics influence preventive behaviors such as colorectal cancer screening and physical activity among Asian American communities. This work incorporates contextually and culturally relevant indices that capture neighborhood-level determinants contributing to health disparities through the integration of primary and secondary data and the application of multilevel modeling approaches.
Over the past decade, I have played pivotal roles in large-scale NIH- and HHS- funded studies, including serving as co-investigator and research program manager for projects, including REACH IDEAL (Improving Diets with an Ecological Approach for Lifestyle) Program (CDC), U54 TUFCCC/HC Regional Comprehensive Cancer Health Disparity Partnership (NIH/NCI), and Philadelphia Teen Outreach Project (US Department of Health and Human Services). I lead the project “Empowering South Asian Communities: Combating Health Misinformation and Promoting Equity Through Information Literacy,” which aims to assess health-based misinformation among South Asian Americans and develops culturally competent community education programs to strengthen information literacy.
EDUCATION
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- PhD, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
- MPH, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
- BPHE, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
MEMBERSHIPS
- American Public Health Association
HONORS & AWARDS
- Leadership Fellow, Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy, and Leadership
- Best Student Poster Award, Physical Activity Section, American Public Health Association
- Graduate Writing Award, American Kinesiology Association
- Student Honorary Award, University of South Florida
- T Holders' Association, University of Toronto
- Marie Parkes’ Memorial Award, University of Toronto
- Scholar in Training Award, American Association for Cancer Research
- GMaP Region 4 Travel Award, Fox Chase Cancer Center
PUBLICATIONS
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1pkt5N9zs5zIr9/bibliography/public/