Hyunsung Oh
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Mail code: 3920Campus: Dtphx
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Dr. Hyunsung Oh is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University and has been leading the practice-oriented AI application initiative in social work practice since September 2025. His work in this role focuses on promoting ethical and responsible uses of AI to support helping processes as well as advancing health equity, with a particular focus on immigrant and linguistically minoritized communities. Dr. Oh investigates systemic, cultural, and perceptual barriers that affect access to mental health services, especially for individuals living with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Leveraging advances in AI large language models (LLMs) and their potential to accelerate lifelong learning, Dr. Oh began working in full-stack development to better utilize existing information technology that has historically been inaccessible to many social workers in under-resourced practice settings. Limited funding often restricts access to IT innovations, resulting in fragmented and outdated databases of community resources.
To address this gap, Dr. Oh independently developed the Community Resources Engine (https://resource-engine.onrender.com), an online, searchable directory designed to help individuals, families, community organizations, and professionals locate mental health and substance use treatment providers across Arizona and other states. The platform enables users to search for services based on population needs (e.g., adults, youth, veterans), types of treatment (such as therapy, counseling, and inpatient or outpatient care), and specific service offerings (including trauma-informed care, co-occurring disorder treatment, and peer support). It also provides information on service availability, provider contact details, and user-friendly filters to tailor searches to specific needs.
This IT product represents an early example of the transformation that AI LLMs can bring to under-resourced social work and behavioral health systems. In addition to its practical value, the website offers opportunities for research projects aimed at documenting the impact of social worker managing local service databases on care coordination and service access in Arizona.
As an educator, Dr. Oh is dedicated to cultivating data literacy and research skills among undergraduate and graduate students. He integrates tools such as Excel, Power BI, and generative AI (including RAG-AI and ChatGPT) to prepare future social workers for evidence-informed practice and systems-level advocacy. His current projects include developing AI-powered platforms to address information gaps in behavioral health and human services systems.
Beyond the university, Dr. Oh contributes to language and cultural education through his leadership in the CTCC Korean School, where he helps guide instructional programming and school policy. His work reflects a strong commitment to cross-cultural competence, peer advocacy, and community empowerment.
Dr. Oh is multilingual and grounded in both academic rigor and community-based practice. Whether mentoring students, leading research, or building bridges across sectors, his goal remains the same: to help make social systems more inclusive, responsive, and just.
- Ph.D. Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 2014
- M.S.W. Social Work, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea 2009
- B.A. Social Work and Economics, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea 2007
Dr. Hyunsung Oh is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University and has been leading the practice-oriented AI application initiative in social work practice since September 2025. His work in this role focuses on promoting ethical and responsible uses of AI to support helping processes as well as advancing health equity, with a particular focus on immigrant and linguistically minoritized communities. Dr. Oh investigates systemic, cultural, and perceptual barriers that affect access to mental health services, especially for individuals living with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Leveraging advances in AI large language models (LLMs) and their potential to accelerate lifelong learning, Dr. Oh began working in full-stack development to better utilize existing information technology that has historically been inaccessible to many social workers in under-resourced practice settings. Limited funding often restricts access to IT innovations, resulting in fragmented and outdated databases of community resources.
To address this gap, Dr. Oh independently developed the Community Resources Engine (https://resource-engine.onrender.com), an online, searchable directory designed to help individuals, families, community organizations, and professionals locate mental health and substance use treatment providers across Arizona and other states. The platform enables users to search for services based on population needs (e.g., adults, youth, veterans), types of treatment (such as therapy, counseling, and inpatient or outpatient care), and specific service offerings (including trauma-informed care, co-occurring disorder treatment, and peer support). It also provides information on service availability, provider contact details, and user-friendly filters to tailor searches to specific needs.
This IT product represents an early example of the transformation that AI LLMs can bring to under-resourced social work and behavioral health systems. In addition to its practical value, the website offers opportunities for research projects aimed at documenting the impact of social worker managing local service databases on care coordination and service access in Arizona.
As an educator, Dr. Oh is dedicated to cultivating data literacy and research skills among undergraduate and graduate students. He integrates tools such as Excel, Power BI, and generative AI (including RAG-AI and ChatGPT) to prepare future social workers for evidence-informed practice and systems-level advocacy. His current projects include developing AI-powered platforms to address information gaps in behavioral health and human services systems.
Beyond the university, Dr. Oh contributes to language and cultural education through his leadership in the CTCC Korean School, where he helps guide instructional programming and school policy. His work reflects a strong commitment to cross-cultural competence, peer advocacy, and community empowerment.
Dr. Oh is multilingual and grounded in both academic rigor and community-based practice. Whether mentoring students, leading research, or building bridges across sectors, his goal remains the same: to help make social systems more inclusive, responsive, and just.
REFREED PUBLICATIONS (*: Correspondence author; †: Graduate student)
36. Shin, S.*, Ahn, S., Oh, H., & Joung, J. (2025). Between hope and trauma at the last resort: A Qualitative meta-synthesis of patient experiences with electroconvulsive therapy. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 1-8.
35. Marroquín, J. M., Lechuga-Peña, S., Oh, H., & Marsiglia, F. F. (2025). Advancing health equity for Latinx autistic adults in the United States through an intersectionality lens. Social work. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swaf029
34. Boby, M.†, Oh, H.*, Marsiglia, F., & Liu, L. (2024). Bridging social capital among Facebook users and COVID-19 cases growth in Arizona. Social Science and Medicine, 360, 117313
33. Jeong, C. H.*, Oh, H., Palinkas, L. A., & Lusenhop, W. (2024). Perceptions of health insurance among self-employed Korean immigrants from South Korea in the United States. Health Education and Behavior, 51(1), 167-175. https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981221139169
32. Marsiglia, F. F.*, Oh, H., León, T., & Gonzalez, E. (2024). Reaching vulnerable and underserved communities in the US Southwest through a successful COVID-19 community-academic partnership. American Journal of Public Health, 114(S5), S388-S391. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2024.307684
31. Oh, H., Cho, Y.*, Bae, J., Holley, L. C., Shafer, M., Kim, K., & Lee, Y. (2024). Impact of statutory revisions to family-petitioned civil commitment in South Korea. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 94, 101982. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2024.101982
30. Oh, H., Marsiglia, F. F., Pepin, S.*, Ayers, S., & Wu, S. (2024). Health behavior and attitudes during the COVID-19 pandemic among vulnerable and underserved Latinx in the Southwest USA. Prevention Science, 25(2), 279-290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-023-01512-6
29. Shafer, M. S.*, Oh, H., Sturtevant, H.†, Freese, T., & Rutkowski, B. (2024). Patterns and predictors of sustained training and technical assistance engagement among addiction treatment and affiliated providers. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 51(2), 264-274. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-023-09854-3
28. Hernandez-Salinas, C.†, Marsiglia, F. F., Oh, H., Campos, A. P.*, & De La Rosa, K. (2023). Community health workers as puentes/bridges to increase COVID-19 health equity in Latinx communities of the Southwest U.S. Journal of Community Health, 48(3), 398-413. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-022-01182-5
27. Goldman, J. L., Kalu, I. C., Schuster, J. E., Erickson, T., Mast, D. K., Zimmerman, K., Benjamin, D. K., Kalb, L. G., Gurnett, C., Newland, J. G., Sherby, M., Godambe, M., Shinde, N., Watterson, T., Walsh, T., Foxe, J., Zand, M., Dewhurst, S., Coller, R.,…Haroz, E. (2023). Building school-academic partnerships to implement COVID-19 testing in underserved populations. Pediatrics, 152(Supplement 1), e2022060352C. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-060352C
26. Lee, R. E.*, Todd, M., Oh, H., Han, S., Santana, M., Aguilar-Troncoso, J., Bruening, M., Kramer, J. L., León, T., Murugan, V., Valdez, H., & Villegas-Gold, M. (2023). Acceptability and feasibility of saliva-delivered pcr coronavirus 2019 tests for young children. Pediatrics, 152(Supplement 1). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-060352D
25. Shen, F. L., Shu, J., Lee, M., Oh, H., Li, M., Runger, G., Marsiglia, F. F., & Liu, L.* (2023). Evolution of COVID-19 health disparities in Arizona. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 25(4), 862-869. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-023-01449-6
24. Choi, H., & Oh, H.* (2022). Mental health care for children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences and challenges. Journal of Korean Academic Nursing, 52(4), 359-362. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.22094
23. Oh, H*., Kim, M., Kim, J.†, Choi, H., Kim, H. S., Holley, L. C., & Kweon, O. Y. (2022). Lack of continuity of care experienced by people diagnosed with schizophrenia in South Korea. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30(3), e760-e769.
22. Oh, H., Um, M. Y.*, & Garbe, R.† (2021). Social networks and chronic illness management among low-income tenants in publicly subsidized housing: Findings from a pilot study.. Social Work in Public Health, 36(3), 405-418.
21. Lopez, K.*, & Oh, H. (2021). Developmental disabilities in the context of Fragile Families: Racial and ethnic disparities at age 9. Social Work Research, 45(4), 293-305
20. Oh, H.* (2021). Book Review: Evidence-based practices for social workers: An interdisciplinary approach. Research on Social Work Practice, 31(1), 108-110.
19. Oh, H.*, Poola, C.†, Messing, J., Ferguson, K., & Bonifas, R. (2021). Correlates of attitudes toward evidence-based practice among MSW students preparing for direct practice. Journal of Social Work Education, 57(4), 707-719. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2020.1714521
18. Oh, H.*, Trinh, M., Vang, C.†, & Becerra, D. (2020) Addressing barriers to access primary care for Latinos in the U.S.: An agent-based model. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 11(2), 165-184.
17. Oh, H. & Park, S.* (2020). Gender and stress-buffering of social capital toward depression among precarious workers in South Korea. WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation, 66(1), 53-62.
16. Xiang, X., An, R., & Oh, H. (2020). The bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and homebound status among older adults. The Journal of Gerontology: Series B, 75(2), 357-366.
15. Holley, L., Oh, H., & Thomas, D.† (2019). Mental illness discrimination and support experienced by people who are of color and/or LGB: considering intersecting identities. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 89(1), 16-26.
14. Oh, H* (2019). Continuity of care, a tenet for providing community-based services in the era of deinstitutionalization: Experience of Arizona, United States, Global Social Security Review, 9, 34-47. (Not Scored Impact Factor in 2018; Published in Korean & English; you can access to the English version via the link following; https://www.kihasa.re.kr/english/publications/eng_review/list.do?menuId=109&tid=96&bid=99&aid=12)
12. Oh, H.,* & Jeong, C. (2017). Korean immigrants don’t buy health insurance: The influences of culture on self-employed Korean immigrants focusing on structure and functions of social networks. Social Science and Medicine, 191, 194-201.
11. Cederbaum, J. A., Wilcox, S. L., Oh, H., Sullivan, K. S., Ell, K., & Hassan, A. M. (2017). The role of service member mental health and marital satisfaction in post-deployment family reintegration. Military Behavioral Health, 5, 364-373.
10. Ell, K., Aranda, M. P., Wu, S., Oh, H., Lee, P., & Guterman, J., (2017). Promotora assisted depression and self-care management among predominantly Latinos with concurrent chronic illness: Safety net care system clinical trial results. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 61, 1-9
9. Oh, H.*, Ell, K., & Palinkas, L. A. (2017). Self-care behavior change and depression among low-income predominantly Hispanic patients in safety-net clinics. Social Work in Health Care, 56, 714-732.
8. Oh, H.*, & Ell, K. (2016). Depression remission, receipt of problem-solving therapy, and self-care behavior frequency among low-income, predominantly Hispanic diabetes patients. General Hospital Psychiatry. 41, 38-44.
7. Ell, K., Aranda, M. P., Wu, S., Oh, H., Lee, P., & Guterman, J. (2016). Promotora assisted depression care among predominately Hispanic patients with concurrent chronic illness: Public care system clinical trial design. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 46, 39-47.
6. Ell, K., Oh, H., & Wu, S. (2016). Integrating biopsychosocial intervention research in a changing health care landscape. Research on Social Work Practice, 26, 28-34.
5. Kintzle, S., Oh, H., Wilcox, S., Hassan, A. M., Ell, K., & Castro, C. A. (2015). Civilian unemployment and mental health: The moderating impact of alcohol misuse in returning National Guard. Military Medicine, 180, 986-993.
3. Wilcox, S.L., Oh, H., Redmond, S.A., Chicas, J., Hassan, A.M., Lee, P-J., & Ell, K. (2015). A Scope of the problem: Post-deployment reintegration challenges in a National Guard Unit. WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation, 50(1), 73-83.
2. Ell, K., Oh, H., Lee, P-J., & Guterman, J. (2014). Collaborative health literate depression care among predominantly Hispanic patients with coronary heart disease in safety net care. Psychosomatics, 55(6), 555-565.
GRANT (FUNDED)
2021-2023 ●Co-Principal Investigator, “Apoyo for Latin American Asylum-Seekers: a Pilot Study.” (4U24MD016258-02; Leading PI: Susan Pepin)
●Grant funding agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
●Total funding: $280,432
●Funding opportunity title: The RADx-UP CDCC Rapid Research Pilot Program
●REC/RID/IIA: 35%/35%/35%
2021-2023 ●Co-Principal Investigator, “Eliminating COVID-19 disparities in partnership with underserved/vulnerable transnational communities of Arizona.” (3U54MD002316-15S2; Leading PI: Flavio F. Marsiglia)
●Grant funding agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
●Total funding: $1,985,102
●Funding opportunity title: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Emergency Competitive Revisions for Community-engaged COVID-19 Testing Interventions among Underserved and Vulnerable Populations – RADx-UP Phase II (Emergency Supplement - Clinical Trial Optional) (NOT-OD-21-103)
●REC/RID/IIA: 30%/30%/30%
●Grant funding agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
●Total funding: $2,998,548
●Funding opportunity title: [OTA-21-007] RADx-UP Return to School Diagnostic Testing Approaches (OT2 Clinical Trial Optional)
●REC/RID/IIA: 5%/5%/5%
2020-present ●Co-Principal Investigator, “Eliminating COVID-19 disparities in Arizona in partnership with underserved/vulnerable communities.” (3U54MD002316-14S1; Leading PI: Flavio F. Marsiglia)
●Grant funding agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
●Total funding: $4,707,512
●Funding opportunity title: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Limited Competition for Emergency Competitive Revisions for Community-Engaged Research on COVID-19 Testing among Underserved and/or Vulnerable Populations (NOT-OD-20-121)
●REC/RID/IIA: 20%/20%/20%
2019-2024 ●Co-Investigator, “Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center”
●Grant funding agency: Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
●Co-PIs: Michael Shafer, Professor at School of Social Work, ASU; Beth Rutkowski, Associate Director of Training/Epidemiologist at UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Program (ISAP)
●Direct cost: $450,000 (sub-award: [Pass through UCLA-ISAP]; funded between 03/2018 – 09/2022)
● REC/RID/IIA: 0%/0%/0%
2018-2020 ●Principal Investigator, “Uncovering Functions of Social Networks Associated with Diabetes Management among Latino Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Social Support, Health Literacy, and Trust in Physicians.”
●Grant funding agency: NIH/NIMHD Specialized Center of Excellence on Minority Health and Health Disparities grant entitled, “Leveraging Bio-Cultural Mechanisms to Maximize the Impact of Multi-Level Preventable Disease Interventions with Southwest Populations” (2U54MD002316-11; PI: Flavio F. Marsiglia) operated by Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center (SIRC)
●Total direct: $50,000
● REC/RID/IIA: 0%/0%/0%
●Total direct: $15,000
● REC/RID/IIA: 0%/0%/0%
2017-2018 ●Principal Investigator, “What social networks keep older adults physically active? A Feasibility study on a participatory group exercise program at a federally subsidized housing.”
Grant funding agency: Obesity Solution
●Student Co-I: Cindy Vang
●Total Direct: $5,000
● REC/RID/IIA: 0%/0%/0%
2015 ●Principal Investigator, “Examining the effects of past experience and culture on health care use among Korean immigrants who are employed by a small business”
●Grant funding agency: Behavior, Health, and Society Research Cluster, School of Social Work University of Southern California
●Multi-PI: C.H. Jeong
●Total Direct: $7,676
● REC/RID/IIA: 0%/0%/0%
GRANT PROPOSALS IN UNDERREVIEW
GRANTS (Not FUNDED)
2024 (not funded) ●Principal Investigator, “OASIS AZ: Overcoming Asian Immigrant Mental Health Service Barriers in Arizona”
●Grant funding agency: BCBSAZ: Foundation for Community & Health Advancement
●Total funding: $125,000
●REC/RID/IIA: 100%/100%/100%
2024 (not funded) ●Co-Investigator, “Respiratory Virus Sentinel Surveillance Network in Underserved Arizona Populations”
●Grant funding agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
●Total funding: $28,744,334
●REC/RID/IIA: 5%/5%/5%
2022 (not funded) ●Co-Principal Investigator, “Identifying D&I strategies for the equitable adoption of the AZ R.A.P.I.D. Intervention”
●Grant funding agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
●Total funding: $2,608,151
●REC/RID/IIA: 20%/20%/20%
2022 (not funded) ●Co-Principal Investigator, “Southwest Borderlands COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Project.”
●Grant funding agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
●Total funding: $10,000,000
●REC/RID/IIA: 15%/15%/15%
2021 (not funded) ●Principal Investigator, “Improving Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine through a Community Health Worker Led Multilevel Intervention for Vulnerable and Underserved Communities in Arizona.”
●Grant funding agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
●Total funding: $3,448,888
●REC/RID/IIA: 30%/30%/30%
2020 (not funded) ●Principal Investigator, “Modeling Disparities in Covid-19 infection and Examining Social Policies for Resilient Community for Latinx Immigrants: Agent-Based Modeling.”
●Grant funding agency: NIH/NIMHD
●Total direct: $125,000
●REC/RID/IIA: 30%/30%/30%
2019 (not funded) ●Co-Investigator, “Strengthening Pathways to Independent Living - ASU CHPDP and Phoenix Rescue Mission”
●Grant funding agency: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
●PI: Dr. Micaela Mercado
●Total Direct $75,000
● REC/RID/IIA: 25%/25%/25%
2018 (not funded) ●Co-Investigator, “Arizona Integrated Health, Recovery, and Housing Navigation Project” (5-year project)
●Grant funding agency: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
●PI: Dr. Ramona Denby-Brinson
●Total budget: $2,500,000
● REC/RID/IIA: 10%/10%/10%
RESEARCH PROJECTS without EXTERNAL FUNDING
08/2016-present ●Principal Investigator, “Examining effectiveness of SWG 619 in integrating evidence-based practice (EBP) and facilitators and challenges in adoption of EBP”
●Grant funding agency: Arizona State University Faculty Research Development Fund
●Direct: $200
●Methods: Pre-experimental design: Pre and post-evaluations between Fall semester in 2017.
09/2015-Present ●Co-Investigator, Improving Health Outcomes in Independent Senior Housing through an Interprofessional Health and Social Service Center, Funded by National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (NEXUS) (PI: Robin Bonifas, PhD)
●Duties: Conducting evaluation of effectiveness of interprofessional education on students’ and residents’ outcomes, Supervising BSW/MSW interns and students from other health-related departments participating in the interprofessional team.
Courses
2026 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SWU 321 | Statistics for Social Workers |
| SWU 321 | Statistics for Social Workers |
2025 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SWU 321 | Statistics for Social Workers |
| SWU 321 | Statistics for Social Workers |
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SWU 321 | Statistics for Social Workers |
| SWU 321 | Statistics for Social Workers |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SWU 321 | Statistics for Social Workers |
| SWU 321 | Statistics for Social Workers |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SWU 321 | Statistics for Social Workers |
| SWU 321 | Statistics for Social Workers |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SWU 321 | Statistics for Social Workers |
| SWU 493 | Honors Thesis |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SWU 458 | Behavioral Health Services |
- ADP committee, member (2015 - Present)
- PhD committee, member (2015 - Present)
- Research on Social Work Practice, Member of Editorial Board (2015 - 2018)