Soohyoung
Rain
Lee
Assistant Professor, Wurzweiler School of Social Work
Soohyoung Rain Lee, PhD, MSW., is an Assistant Professor at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Â鶹Çø. He has extensive experience in direct practice across hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers and brings various perspectives to his research and teaching.
His research is dedicated to advancing access and equity in healthcare and social systems by addressing public health disparities that affect diverse populations. His work investigates barriers at the individual, community, and systemic levels, focusing on access to pain management strategies, alternative care models such as telehealth and online engagement, and caregiver resources for individuals with Alzheimer's disease-related dementia (ADRD).
Dr. Lee leads the at Â鶹Çø, Wurzweiler School of Social Work. AWL focuses on examining the influence of social, economic, and political contexts on access to care and individuals' well-being. The lab employs diverse methodologies, including mathematical modeling, to examine the delivery of healthcare and social services, identify barriers to equity, and propose solutions that improve outcomes for underserved populations. The lab also promotes intergenerational equity by exploring financial inclusion, generational dynamics, and strategies to enhance multi-generational workplaces.
By integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches, Dr. Lee's work addresses critical challenges in aging, healthcare, and social disparities.
He teaches Research for both Masters and Ph.D. levels:
- Social Work Practice in Schools - Master's Level
- Gerontology - Master's Level
- Social Work Practice and Evaluation Research – Master’s Level
- Fundamentals of Applied Statistics – Ph.D. Level
- Strategies of Inquiry – Ph.D. Level
- Dissertation Proposal Seminar I & II - PhD Level
His research focuses on developing and applying mathematical modeling methods to evaluate public health and social issues, including disparities in access to healthcare and social resources. Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, he examines gaps in access to both quality and affordability of healthcare. In the social context, he investigates barriers to accessing mainstream financial products and promoting multi-generational workplaces.
Aaron H. Beckerman Research Award (2018, May)
First place award in the annual Center for Healthy Aging in Multicultural Populations (CHAMP) student poster competition (2015, April)
Reprints & preprints available at
1denotes corresponding author
2denotes students collaboration
- Lee, S. R., Jung, E., Jin, S., Wang, Z. A., Brown, P., & Polotsky, E (accepted). The Association between Subjective and Objective Financial Knowledge: Path Analysis to Savings Behavior by Age. Social Science & Humanities Open
- Flaherty, H.B., Henshaw, L.A, Lee, S.R., Auerbach, C, Beckerman, N. L., Toumarides, E., Miskiewicz, M. & Rose, A. (2024). Understanding Self-Care: Exploring its Impact of Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Social Work Students. Clinical Social Work Journal
- Lee S.R., Maxi A2, Kim L, Kim Y, Choe I, Hong C, Kim P, Reed, P, Kim Y, Shen J, Yoo J. (2024). Enhancing Telehealth Accessibility for Older Adults in Underserved Areas:mA 4M Framework Approach. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 2024; 10.
- Zuckerman, M., Lane, S. R., & Lee, S. R. (2024). Social Work Student Perceptions of Co-Response: Implications for Policy. Journal of Policy Practice and Research, 1-17.
- Kim YM., Lee SR., Kovarie G., Maxi A., Hong SK. (2024). Authentic Behavior and Job Satisfaction among Child Welfare Caseworkers. A Journal of the National Association of Social Workers.
- Lee, S. W., Elsakr, C., Ayutyanont, N., Lee, S., & Oh-Park, M. (2023). Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Inpatient Falls During Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Case-Control Study. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 102(8), 715-719.
- Lee, Se Won., Werner, Bryan., Nguyen, Dan., Wang, Charles., Kang, Mingon., Ayutyanont, Napatkamon., Lee, Soohyoung. (2022). Opioid Utility and Hosptial Outcomes among Inpatients Admitted with Osteoarthritis and Spine Disorders. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 102(4), 353-359.
- Lee, S.R & Kim, L.S (2022). Co-residence of Older Parents and Adult Children Benefits Older Adults' Psychological Well-being: Path Analysis. International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
- Lee, S.R. (2021). When Home Hospice Patients Discharge to Nursing Facility: A mixed Methods. Open Journal of Nursing.
- Lee, S.R & Cuellar, M, J. (2019). Data-Driven Recommendations for Promoting Collaboration Among School Security Personnel and School Social Workers in the United States. International Journal of School Social Work.
- Barber, S. J., & Lee, S.R (2016). Stereotype Threat Lowers Older Adults' Self-Reported Hearing. Gerontology, 62, 81-85.