Hyunsung Oh
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Mail code: 3920Campus: Dtphx
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I investigate mental health, health disparities, and community engagement techniques to mitigate the adverse affects of structural inequities and barriers to care that disproportionately affect racial/ethnic minorities and those with severe mental illness. For this research, I combined transdisciplinary theories and empirical evidence from social science, social work, and public health and developed a research portfolio to answer important issues necessary for building multilayered culturally competent treatments for health disparity groups. Particularly, I focus on social determinants of health (SDOH) to explain racial/ethnic minority and immigrant disparities in health outcomes and access to health care. To advance current understanding of multilevel factors contributing to health disparities, I used social network analysis (SNA) to evaluate interpersonal connections as a way by which societal norms and attitudes pertinent to health care utilization are transmitted and adopted (2U54MD002316-11; NIH/NIMHD). My study has been financed by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is an indication of the significance and quality of my research ideas. I am honored to be a 2020 Health Disparities Research Institute scholar who received a week-long training, an effort of the NIMHD Director to promote early career health disparities academics. I am also a Co-Principal Investigator for NIH-funded RADx-UP program study addressing the significant barriers Latinx, AI, and AA experience disproportionately in gaining access to COVID-19 testing (3U54MD002316-14S1). The project aims to eliminate disparities in access to COVID-19 testing in Arizona by establishing cross-sectoral collaboration networks. I contributed to the development of a protocol for Community Health Worker (CHW)-led testing outreach in underserved communities. Listening to the perspectives of communities affected by health disparities and acting swiftly to make improvements during the most difficult pandemic has been an invaluable learning experience.
- 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
I am a health disparities and community-engage researcher who seeks to develop evidence-based culturally congruent interventions to mitigate negative impacts of structural inequities disproportionately affecting Latinx and other health disparities groups in the Southwest region of the United States. For this research, I integrated transdisciplinary theories and empirical evidence from social science, social work, and public health and built research portfolio to answer significant questions necessary to answer in developing multilevel culturally competent interventions for the health disparities groups. In particular, I focus on social determinant of health (SDOH) in explaining gaps in health outcomes and access to health care burdening racial/ethnic minorities and immigrants. To expand state-of-art knowledge about multilevel factors contributing to health disparities, I deployed social network analysis (SNA) to assess interpersonal connections as means by which social norms and beliefs relevant to health care use are disseminated and adopted (2U54MD002316-11; NIH/NIMHD). My research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), which is an acknowledgement of significance and rigor of my research ideas. I am proud to be a 2020 Health Disparities Research Institute scholar who received a week-long training, a NIMHD Director’s initiative to support early career health disparities scholars.
I am a Co-PI of the RADx-UP NIH initiative funded research to address daunting challenges that Latinx, AI, and AA disproportionately face while access to COVID-19 testing (3U54MD002316-14S1). The project aims to eliminate disparities in access to COVID-19 testing in Arizona through cross-sectoral collaboration networks brought together units within the university – health disparities researchers and bio-engineers specialized in saliva-based testing – and well-known community health providers – Equality Health Foundation (EHF) and a coalition of providers of color- to deliver culturally competent COVID-19 testing programs across Arizona. This RADx-UP project is led by Dr. Flavio Marsiglia and I am serving the Executive Committee as Co-PI with him. In specific, I am responsible for identifying Community of Urgent Testing Needs (CUTN) by using GPS-based Integrated Mapping system with multiple layers of data showing epidemiological information as well as SDOH. I led to developing a protocol of culturally congruent Community Health Worker (CHW)-led testing outreach being executed in underserved communities, including Maryvale Village, South Mountain community, Yuma, San Luis, and Eloy. Listening to the voices from the health disparities communities and taking action to make changes promptly during the most challenging pandemic has been an invaluable learning experience.
REFREED PUBLICATIONS (*: Correspondence author; †: Graduate student)
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 (COVID-19 Pandemic Health Disparities)
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 (COVID-19 Pandemic Health Disparities)
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 (COVID-19 Pandemic Health Disparities)
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 (COVID-19 Pandemic Health Disparities)
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 (COVID-19 Pandemic Health Disparities)
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 26. Hernandez-Salinas, C., Marsiglia, F. F., Oh, H., (COVID-19 Pandemic Health Disparities)
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 (COVID-19 Pandemic Health Disparities)
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
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 |
2020 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SWG 531 | Social Policy and Services |
| SWU 458 | Behavioral Health Services |
| SWG 558 | Intro Behavioral Hlth Services |
2020 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SWU 432 | Social Policy and Services |
| 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)