Current Team Members

Born and raised in Savannah, GA, I made the long trek from the east to the west coast to attend UC Berkeley, where I earned a B.A. in Integrative Biology with an emphasis in Human Biology and Health Sciences and minored in Global Public Health. Motivated by my public health courses, I sought after research opportunities related to social determinants of health to further understand the intersection between public health and medicine. Eventually, I found my way to Prof. Jih through the Asian American Research Center on Health (ARCH). I also earned my Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology and an Advanced Certificate in Child, Youth, and Family Health at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Given my experiences working with and serving vulnerable youth, I have career interests in adolescent medicine, preventive medicine, injury/violence epidemiology, and social epidemiology. Currently, I am a Public Health Fellow on the Interpersonal Violence Track at the CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, while preparing to apply to MD/PhD programs in Epidemiology.

adolescent health, childhood adversity, chronic disease epidemiology, epidemiological methods, injury and violence epidemiology, juvenile justice, lifecourse epidemiology, safety net programs, social epidemiology, social needs care, urban health

I was born in San Francisco and raised in Berkeley—where I completed elementary school, high school, and university. At UC Berkeley, I completed at B.A., majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology with an emphasis in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and minoring in Spanish Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Inspired by my mom, who works with terminally ill seniors, I developed a great interest in adult and geriatric health. My interest in adult medicine is continuously fueled by Dr. Jih’s research: where connections between age, medicine, diet, health, food insecurity, and language are revealed! At the present moment, I am a medical student at the University of Vermont.

adult and geriatric health, multicultural and multilingual aspects of medicine, vulnerable populations, polypharmacy

I graduated from University of California, Los Angeles in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Nursing and minor in Global Health. During my undergraduate years, I particularly enjoyed exploring multicultural communities around Los Angeles, and my involvement in cultural clubs on campus sparked my curiosity in further studying cultural influences on health outcomes within community settings. I eventually joined Dr. Jih’s lab, where I work with driven individuals who all carry a common goal in promoting health equity for diverse communities. At the present moment, I am a clinical nurse in one of the intensive care units at Stanford Health Care. In the long run, I hope to enter academia as an educator and researcher.

social determinants of health, health disparities, alternative medicine, integrative health management, global health

I attended junior college in Sacramento before transferring to UCLA, where I graduated in 2020 with a B.S. in Human Biology and Society and a Minor in Public Health. I became interested in public health after taking a Medical Anthropology class in community college, which introduced me to the effects of globalization on medicine and the cultural considerations required to effectively treat patients. Since then, I've pursued interdisciplinary activities to learn how health is impacted by non-medical factors including migration, culture, education, incarceration, government policy, and geopolitical conflict. My parents immigrated from Cambodia and Vietnam to San Francisco as a result of war, which has guided my interest in immigrant health. I was drawn to Dr. Jih's work, which emphasizes integrative health and inclusive, quality healthcare for ethnically diverse patients. Currently, I am pursuing my MD at USC Keck School of Medicine.

human rights, health policy, qualitative research, community health, migrant and refugee health, reducing health disparities, epidemiology

Originally from San Francisco, I attended UC Irvine and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. Prior to joining UCSF, I spent several years at two SF Department of Public Health community primary care clinics as a panel manager. I provided direct care as a medical assistant while ensuring that patients were up to date on basic preventative care. I also helped with the implementation of system-wide quality improvement and workforce development initiatives. Additionally, I volunteered for a UCSF student-run clinic that focused primarily on the health of seniors, Filipinxs, and Filipinx Americans, eventually serving as Executive Director. I am currently a Clinical Research Coordinator in the UCSF Pediatric Pool program supporting many divisions throughout UCSF by managing recruitment and the daily operations of concurrent clinical research studies. I am passionate about working in health care for systemically marginalized populations and interested in the use of innovative strategies to deliver high quality, effective, and accessible care, especially methods focused on cultural humility, quality improvement, and community empowerment. My work is rooted in a commitment to service and advocacy, with a desire to achieve health equity for all.

social determinants of health, cultural humility, primary care, community-based participatory research, comparative clinical effectiveness research, race-conscious medicine, medical reparations

I am originally from San Diego, CA. I completed my undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley in Integrative Biology with an emphasis in Integrative Human Biology, and Psychology. I also completed a Science and Math Education minor where I regularly taught in Bay Area schools. Influenced by my parents' refugee experience, my identities, and more, I am interested in Dr. Jih's work towards health equity in multiethnic and linguistically diverse populations. I am currently a community research navigator at the University of Wisconsin--Madison where I focus on community-based participatory research and increasing underrepresented populations' participation in Alzheimer's research.

social determinants of health, cultural humility, community-based participatory research, health equity, aging, Alzheimer's, neuropsychology, neuromodulation, LGBTQIA+ health

I grew up in Los Angeles and later attended UC Davis, where I majored in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior and minored in Sociocultural Anthropology. As an undergraduate, I worked with underserved Asian patients at a free student-run clinic in Sacramento. I observed how factors such as language, culture, living conditions, financial status, and social support all played integral roles in shaping a patient’s individual healthcare experience. This exposure drew me to the Jih Lab, where I aim to continue my involvement in AAPI health and promote health equity for marginalized communities through research. In the future, I hope to attend medical school.

AAPI health, social determinants of health, health equity, cultural humility, language barriers

I recently graduated with an M.S. in Global Health Sciences from UCSF. I am from Pasadena and graduated from the University of Southern California in 2017 where I received a B.S. in Human Biology and a B.A. in Narrative Studies. During my senior year of college, I worked as a caregiver in an assisted living facility where I ultimately fostered my interest in working with the older adult population. Additionally, my family is from Cambodia—an aspect I hope close to me, and which continues to spark my interest in working with immigrant and Asian American populations. These combined factors led me to the Jih Lab where I will be doing my capstone project on studying the impact of social support network on chronic disease management among older minority adults. One day, I hope to become a practicing physician and conduct health-related research exploring ethnic health disparities, social determinants, and immigrant/LGBTQ+ health.

global health, ethnic health disparities, social determinants of health, immigrant/LGBTQ+ health, cultural competency, social health-related needs, mental health

Born and raised in the Bay Area, I attended Diablo Valley College studying Allied Health with the intention of transferring into an Allied Health program. During my time at DVC, I worked construction where I was exposed to the harsh realities and struggles that many faced, especially immigrant populations. I witnessed poor health habits and behaviors, the contextual factors that influence them, as well as the toxic stigma surrounding mental health. I realized that, while each individual needs their own care, I wanted to focus on improving community health, which lead me in the direction of Public Health. I am now at San Francisco State where I am in my final undergraduate year majoring in Public Health. I chose to intern for Dr. Jih as her work in bringing health equity to multiethnic diverse populations is crucial in empowering communities to manage their health.

health equity, mental health, language barriers, community health

I was born in New Jersey and moved around New York and Florida until my family settled in Redmond, Washington. Growing up in a Thai and Filipinx working class family and experiencing life in many different parts of the U.S. led me to become very interested in the social and political determinants of health—particularly those relating to immigration and work. I attended the University of Pennsylvania, where I received a B.A. in Health & Societies, took interdisciplinary courses in history, sociology, and anthropology, and concentrated in Race, Gender, and Health. During this time, I was heavily influenced by my classes in Asian American Studies and my community engagement work with a Southeast Asian grassroots organization in Philadelphia. Eager to learn more about community-based approaches to improve population health, I pursued a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Equity, Social Justice, and Human Rights and a Certificate in Total Worker Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I joined Dr. Jih's lab in an interest to conduct research on Asian American health outcomes and improve care for diverse communities. Currently, I am also an ASPPH Fellow at CDC's Office of Health Equity, where I am working on projects related to health equity infrastructure in state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments.

social determinants of health, health equity, health disparities, cultural humility, community-based participatory research, worker and workplace health, immigrant health, public policy (related to immigration and work), public health and healthcare infrastructure

I grew up in the East Bay Area and recently graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where I majored in Human Biology and Society. This allowed me to explore how science intersects with broader societal issues, sparking my interest in research, health equity, and education. Throughout undergrad, I engaged in various initiatives related to these fields, which reinforced my desire to work with underserved communities.

My passion for healthcare stems from my upbringing. My grandparents run a free clinic in rural South India, and seeing their dedication to providing care for those with limited access inspired me to pursue a career in medicine where I can make a similar impact. 

I joined Dr. Jih’s lab to deepen my understanding of how research can drive meaningful change in clinical settings, especially in improving care for diverse, often marginalized, communities. I’m eager to contribute to ongoing projects that align with my long-term goal of advocating for health equity and patient-centered care, and I look forward to learning more about the research process in this setting.

social determinants of health, health equity and disparities, cultural humility, health literacy, thermal inequality, community-based participatory research, health interventions