About

About

The Global Health and Underserved Populations’ multidisciplinary research team includes experts in the fields of psychology, HIV/AIDS prevention, substance abuse counseling, information management, and research methodology. Frank Wong, Ph.D. leads the team, which also includes Vince Crisostomo, Zhihuan Jennifer Huang, Bernhard Liese, Natti Rattidham, Brian Smith, Estina Thompson, and Jordana De Leon.

FACULTY/STAFF

Frank Y. Wong, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of International Health at Georgetown University’s School of Nursing and Health Studies. He has expertise in community-based research efforts that target racial, ethnic and under-served populations. His NIH-funded research focuses on social epidemiology and examines ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs) use and HIV infection among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals in the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Wong is particularly interested in studying the impact of migration on ATOD use and HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. He sits on numerous national and international advisory boards and committees and has received several supplements to mentor junior researchers and others interested in NIH research careers related to HIV and substance abuse. E-mail: fyw@georgetown.edu

Zhihuan Jennifer Huang, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.B.B.S. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International Health at Georgetown University’s School of Nursing and Health Studies. She currently teaches an undergraduate course in epidemiology and is a visiting epidemiologist at the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of HRSA. In the past five years, Dr. Huang’s research has concentrated on the special needs of young immigrant families, focusing in particular on social and familial influences on maternal and child behavior and health. Her extensive portfolio of peer-reviewed publications focuses on health disparities among immigrant mothers and children and employs both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. In addition, Dr. Huang served as Principle Investigator (PI) for a recently completed pilot study designed to assess the impact of acculturation on health care access for children in Chinese immigrant and refugee families. She also recently participated in a study on migrant workers’ HIV risk factors in Shanghai, China. She is the designated PI or Co-PI for several proposals currently under review with NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. She practiced internal medicine in China prior to completing her doctorate in epidemiology in the United States. E-mail: zh34@georgetown.edu

Bernhard Liese, M.D., D.Sc., M.P.H. is Chair of the Department of International Health at Georgetown University’s School of Nursing and Health Studies. He has over 25 years of experience in the field of health and development. Currently, Dr. Liese serves as a Public Health Advisor at the World Bank. His area of concentration is in communicable and tropical parasitic diseases in the Africa region. Dr. Liese has worked for the World Bank for a number of years and has held several positions including Senior Advisor for human development, Director of the Joint Health Services Department, and Operations Advisor and Principal Tropical-Disease Specialist to name a few. In addition, he spent four years directing the Nursing and Midwifery School in Cameroon. Dr. Liese is an avid lecturer and author of numerous articles. Email: bhl6@georgetown.edu

Jin Zhang, M.A. is Data Analyst for the GHUP research team in the Department of International Health at Georgetown University. She received her M.S. in Statistical Science from George Mason University. Prior to working at Georgetown, Jin worked as a contractor for USDA. Email: jz73@georgetown.edu

Weibing Wang, M.B.B.S., Ph.D. is a visiting post-doctoral fellow. A lecturer in the Department of Epidemiology at Fudan University in China, Weibing is an accomplished researcher in the field of tuberculosis transmission. He has authored or co-authored 18 articles that have appeared in journals such as the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, the European Journal of Public Health, and the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology. In addition, Weibing has served as principal investigator and co-principal investigator on seven grant-funded project that focus on various areas of TB research, including transmission in China, gender equity in TB control in India and China, multi-drug resistance, and socio-economic disparities in health care. Email: ww73@georgetown.edu

Brian Smith, M.A. is Research Coordinator for the GHUP research team in the Department of International Health at Georgetown University. He received his M.A. in International Relations from the George Washington University. Email: bds33@georgetown.edu

Vince Crisostomo works to connect not-for-profit organizations serving Asian and/or Pacific Islander communities (APIs) across the US and in the Asia-Pacific Region with academic researchers. In addition to this work in HIV prevention and care, Mr. Crisostomo has played major roles in implementing research studies targeting APIs in San Francisco, Guam, and Washington DC, and has acted in an advisory capacity for projects targeting marginalized communities for the Fijian Office of Health Ministry; Secretariat of the Pacific Office of Minority Health; HRSA; CDC; State of California Office of AIDS; San Francisco Department of Health; San Francisco Human Rights Commission; and University of California, San Francisco. He also has provided technical assistance to community-based organizations and LGBT organizations across the country and in the Asia-Pacific region. Email: vac4@georgetown.edu