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Shinduk Lee, DrPH, MSPH/HSA

Languages spoken: Mandarin Chinese, Korean

Research Statement

Dr. Lee’s research covers a broad range of topics relevant to healthy aging and chronic disease prevention and management, with particular interests in the role of lifestyle factors (e.g., physical activity) in promoting population health. During her doctoral and postdoctoral training, she played a pivotal role in implementation and evaluation of various evidence-based programs, such as A Matter of Balance (i.e., community-based fall prevention program), Fit & Strong! (i.e., physical activity program), Texercise-Select (i.e., lifestyle program), and Stanford University’s chronic disease self-management programs (e.g., Chronic Disease Self-Management Program and Diabetes Self-Management Program). Her long-term goal is to expand the understanding of behavior change among middle-aged and older adults, role of aging in society, and how interventions can be widely scaled and sustained to enhance healthy aging at the population level.

Education History

Undergraduate Texas A&M University
 BS
Graduate Training Texas A&M University
 MSPH/HSA
Doctoral Training Texas A&M University
 DrPH

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Smith ML, Zhong L, Lee S, Towne SD Jr, Ory M (2021). Effectiveness and economic impact of a diabetes education program among adults with type 2 diabetes in South Texas. BMC public health, 21(1), 1646. (Read full article)
  2. Lee S, Washburn DJ, Colwell B, Gwarzo IH, Kellstedt D, Ahenda P, Maddock J (2021). Examining social determinants of undiagnosed diabetes in Namibia and South Africa using a behavioral model of health services use. Diabetes research and clinical practice, 175, 108814. (Read full article)
  3. Kellstedt DK, Washburn DJ, Lee S, Gwarzo I, Ahenda P, Maddock J (2021). Household motor vehicle ownership and obesity among Indian females and males: 2005-2016. International health, 13(2), 143-150. (Read full article)
  4. Vollmer Dahlke D, Lee S, Smith ML, Shubert T, Popovich S, Ory M (2021). Attitudes Toward Technology and Use of Fall Alert Wearables in Caregiving: Survey Study. JMIR aging, 4(1), e23381. (Read full article)
  5. Yoshikawa A, Smith ML, Lee S, Towne SD, Ory M (2021). The role of improved social support for healthy eating in a lifestyle intervention: Texercise Select. Public health nutrition, 24(1), 146-156. (Read full article)
  6. Yoshikawa A, Ramirez G, Smith ML, Lee S, Ory M (2020). Systematic review and meta-analysis of fear of falling and fall-related efficacy in a widely disseminated community-based fall prevention program. Archives of gerontology and geriatrics, 91, 104235. (Read full article)
  7. Du Y, Wang W, Washburn DJ, Lee S, Towne SD Jr, Zhang H, Maddock J (2020). Violence against healthcare workers and other serious responses to medical disputes in China: surveys of patients at 12 public hospitals. BMC health services research, 20(1), 253. (Read full article)
  8. Towne SD, Smith ML, Li Y, Dowdy D, Ahn S, Lee S, Yoshikawa A, Jiang (2022). A Multi-Level Analyses of Charges and Cost of Fall-Related Hospitalizations Among Older Adults: Individual, Hospital, and Geospatial Variation. Journal of aging & social policy, 34(4), 515-536. (Read full article)
  9. Smith ML, Lee S, Towne SD Jr, Han G, Quinn C, Peña-Purcell NC, Ory M (2020). Impact of a Behavioral Intervention on Diet, Eating Patterns, Self-Efficacy, and Social Support. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 52(2), 180-186. (Read full article)
  10. Lee S, Smith ML, Dahlke DV, Pardo N, Ory M (2020). A Cross-Sectional Examination of Patients' Perspectives About Their Pain, Pain Management, and Satisfaction with Pain Treatment. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.), 21(2), e164-e171. (Read full article)
  11. Lee S, Smith ML, Kromann L, Ory M (2019). Medical Students and Childhood Obesity: Health Disparity and Implication for Education. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(14), (Read full article)
  12. Lee S, Jiang L, Dowdy D, Hong YA, Ory M (2019). Effects of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program on medication adherence among older adults. Translational behavioral medicine, 9(2), 380-388. (Read full article)
  13. Lee S, Jiang L, Dowdy D, Hong YA, Ory M (2018). Attitudes, Beliefs, and Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence Among Adults Aged 65 or Older With Chronic Diseases. Preventing chronic disease, 15, E148. (Read full article)
  14. Lee S, Wang W, Washburn DJ, Shi H, Yu Y, Du Y, Zhang H, Maddock J (2018). Effect of the treatment-before-deposit policy on trust in physicians and perceived service quality among patients in 12 hospitals in China. The International journal of health planning and management, 33(4), 1110-1120. (Read full article)
  15. Lee S, Smith ML, Towne SD Jr, Ory M (2018). Effects of Sequential Participation in Evidence-Based Health and Wellness Programs Among Older Adults. Innovation in aging, 2(2), igy016. (Read full article)
  16. Towne SD Jr, Li Y, Lee S, Smith ML, Han G, Quinn C, Du Y, Benden M, Ory M (2018). Physical activity and associated medical cost savings among at-risk older adults participating a community-based health & wellness program. PloS one, 13(6), e0198239. (Read full article)
  17. Ory MG, Lee S, Han G, Towne SD, Quinn C, Neher T, Stevens A, Smith M (2018). Effectiveness of a Lifestyle Intervention on Social Support, Self-Efficacy, and Physical Activity among Older Adults: Evaluation of Texercise Select. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(2), (Read full article)
  18. Towne SD Jr, Lee S, Li Y, Smith M (2016). Assessment of eHealth capabilities and utilization in residential care settings. Health informatics journal, 22(4), 1063-1075. (Read full article)
  19. Ory MG, Lee S, Zollinger A, Bhurtyal K, Jiang L, Smith M (2015). Translation of fit & strong! For middle-aged and older adults: examining implementation and effectiveness of a lay-led model in central Texas. Frontiers in public health, 2, 187. (Read full article)
  20. Lee S, Ory MG, Vollmer Dahlke D, Smith M (2022). Social support, sense of belonging, and communication technology use among paid and unpaid caregivers of middle-aged and older adults. Frontiers in public health, 10,

Book Chapter

  1. Lee S, Smith M (2021). Rural aging: Chronic diseases.
  2. Smith ML, Lee S, Towne SD Jr, Pickett AC, Horel SA, Kulinski K (2021). Rural aging: Evidence-based programs.