Elissa S. Lee
My purpose is centered on improving accessibility of systems (esp. healthcare!), engaging people in building community and leading healthier lives.
Close
Latest Projects
I. SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES
2022 Lee, E., Pyatak, E.A. 50 Studies Every Occupational Therapist Should Know. Proposal accepted by the Oxford University Press. Publication for Nov 2022.
2021 Schepens Niemiec, S., Lee, E.S., Saunders, R., Wagas, R., Wu, S., Technology for activity participation in older people with dementia: Expert perspectives and a scoping review Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, DOI:10.1080/17483107.2022.2116114
2019 Lee E.S., King M., Salazar E., Diaz J., Blanchard J., Vigen C., Schepens Niemiec S., Jordan M.K., Banerjee J., Shukla J., Pyatak E.A. Addressing diabetes in primary care: A Lifestyle Redesign approach. Ann Behav Med, 53(Suppl 1), S308.
2021 Pyatak, E.A., Lee, E.S., et. al. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Clinical Trial Participation among Young Adults (YA) with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Presentation at the AmericanDiabetes Association, virtual.
2020 Schepens Niemiec, S.L., Blanchard, J., Lee, E.S., Strizich, A. Strategies to Improve Health Technologies for Older Adults with Cognitive Impairments and Dementia. Presentation at the Gerontological Society of America, Philadelphia, PA or virtual.
2020 Rappaport, K., Lee, E.S., Farmer, M. Integrating medical, dental, and behavioral primary care into one health home from the beginning of life. Presentation at the American Public Health Association, San Francisco, CA or virtual.
2020 Pyatak, E.A., Lee, E.S., et. al. Addressing Diabetes in a Safety Net Primary Care Clinic: Effectiveness of Lifestyle Redesign Occupational Therapy. Poster session accepted at the National Society for Behavioral Medicine, San Francisco, CA. Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 global pandemic.
2020 Lee, E.S., Roberts, C., Curry, H., Yue, J., Strizich, A., Rafeedie, S. The Development of a Student-Led Philanthropy Committee to Enhance Academic Experience and Impact Community. Poster session accepted at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. Boston, MA. Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 global pandemic.
2020 Lee, E.S., Lin, T. Access and Advocacy: Patients Navigating the Healthcare System. Poster session accepted at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference. Boston, MA. Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 global pandemic.
2020 Lee, E.S., Rappaport, K. Occupational Therapy Practice in Pediatric Primary Care. Presentation at the Western Regional OT Spring Symposium. Las Vegas, NV.
2019 Lin, T., Granados, G., Lee, E.S. Helping Patients Navigate the Healthcare System. Presentation at the annual conference of the Occupational Therapy of California. Pasadena, CA.
2019 Lee, E.S., Pyatak, E.A., et. al. Occupational Therapy in Primary Care for Diabetes: Implementation and Clinical Outcomes. Poster session presented at the National Society for Behavioral Medicine, Washington, DC.
2019 Lin, T., Granados, G., Lee, E.S. Healthcare Navigation for Clients with Chronic Conditions. Presentation at the Occupational Therapy Association of California Symposium, San Diego, CA..
2018 King, M., Lee, E., Cho, G. Addressing Diabetes in Primary Care: Lifestyle Redesign Approach. Presentation at the annual conference of the Occupational Therapy Association of California. Pasadena, CA.
2018 Lee, E.S., Pyatak, E.A., Modi, R. An Implementation Manual for Occupational Therapy to Address Chronic Conditions in LAC-DHS Primary Care. Gehr Student Innovators Symposium, Los Angeles, CA.
2018 Pyatak, E.A. et. al. Addressing Diabetes through Primary Care. Southern California Regional Dissemination Implementation & Improvement (DII) Science Symposium, Los Angeles, CA.
2021 American Public Health Association annual conference (Health Administration Section)
2021 American Public Health Association annual conference (AAPI Caucus)
2021 Kindness is Action: Showing Kindness to Self While Showing Up for Others. Invited panelist. Panel hosted by Upworthy and Born This Way Foundation.
2020 Resiliency and Strength in an Uncertain Time. Invited panelist at the annual conference of Mental Health America: COVID-19, Mental Health, and the Need for Equity.
2020 Community Conversations: Mental Health Awareness in the Asian American Pacific Islander Community. Invited panelist. Panel hosted by Born This Way Foundation.
2018 Be Kind Campaign – Inaugural Panel. Invited moderator for Born This Way Foundation, West Hollywood, CA.
2016 Lee, E.S. Uplifting Communities through Dance. Rotaract, University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley, CA.
American Public Health Association (APHA), 2020-present
Gerontological Society of America (GSA), 2020-present
Association of LGBTQ Journalists (NLGJA) 2021-present
Supermajority, Majority Leader, 2020-present
Scholars Strategy Network (SSN), 2020-present
Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ), 2020-present
Asian American Journalist Association (AAJA), 2020-present
Society for Behavioral Medicine (SBM), 2018-present
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 2017-present
Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC), 2017-present
2021-2022 Fellowship, Journalists in Aging Fellowship Program, The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and the Journalists Network on Generation
2021-2022 Fellowship, Freelance Fellow, AARP and the Association of LGBTQ Journalists
2020-2021 Fellowship, Freelance Fellow, Association of Health Care Journalists
2018-2020 Scholarships, Distinguished Scholar, USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association
2017-2020 Awards, Leadership Awards, University of Southern California, Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
2019 Scholarship, Charlene and Shane Ventanilla Memorial Scholarship, Cigna Health
2019 Award, Order of Arete Award, University of Southern California
2019 Award, Spirit of Occupational Therapy Award, University of Southern California, Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
2018 Fellowship, Student Innovator Award, University of Southern California Gehr Center of Health Systems Science and Innovation
2018 Scholarship, Fred Sammons Scholarship, California Foundation of Occupational Therapy
2017 Fellowship, Urban Bush Women, Summer Leadership Institute. Unable to attend.
2016 Award, Outstanding Student Leader Award, University of California, Berkeley
2015 Scholarship, Florence Schwimley Memorial Scholarship in the Performing Arts, University of California, Berkeley
2015 Honors, Psi Chi, Honors Society of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley
2012 Honors, Dean’s List, 2012, University of California, Berkeley
2011 Award, National Honoree, Prudential Spirit of Community Taiwan
II. CURRENT EMPLOYMENT
2021-Present Consultant, Research/Impact, Program Development, Communications
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
Mental Health America (MHA)
Gender and Sexuality Alliance Network
Park Family Community Foundation
University of Southern California
Asians for Mental Health
2019-Present Reporter,
Children’s Health Matters; The Health DivideCenter for Health Journalism
2020-Present Correspondent
Southern California News Group
2021 Full-Time Caregiver for Temporarily Ill Family Member (Jan-Jun 2021)
2018-2021Consultant, Partnerships, Program Development, and Impact Evaluation
Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation
2017-2020 Doctoral Resident
Lifestyle Redesign for Chronic Conditions Lab, University of Southern California
2018 Research Assistant
Healthy Aging and Research Technology Lab, University of Southern California
2016-2017 Program Coordinator, Too Small to Fail
Clinton Foundation and the Opportunity Institute
2016 Public Health Intern, Department for Community Health & Engagement
UCSF-Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland
2015 Intern, Human Resources (Corporate Wellness and Social Responsibility)
Avis Budget Group
2014 Intern, Women’s Center
GLIDE San Francisco
2019 Level II, Hand Rehabilitation, Concentra, San Francisco, CA
2019 Level II, Pediatric Primary Care, Neighborhood Health Center, Portland, OR
2018 Level I, Inpatient Acute, St. Joseph’s Health, Orange, CA
2018 Level I, School-Based Pediatrics, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles, CA
2017 Level I, Community-Based Mental Health, San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center, Van Nuys, CA
2022 Senior Living Column: How to Reduce the Risk of Falls in Older Adults, Southern California News Group.
2022 For older LGBT caretakers, together can still feel alone against aging and illness, Southern California News Group.
2022 “I felt so caught in between:’ Older, LGBT caretakers face special challenges
2022 ‘Please take me home’: The heartbreaking rubric of dementia and COVID, Southern California News Group.
2021 Babies get the limelight, but what happens to mothers’ brains after they give birth? Center for Health Journalism.
2021 As AAPIs, We Need Therapists Who Look Like Us, Mental Health America.
2021 Caring for Our AAPI Community, Channel Kindness.
2020 This nursing home ‘angel’ struggled to support her family. Then she got coronavirus. Southern California News Group.
2020 For nursing home residents, COVID-19 sparks an epidemic of loneliness, Center for Health Journalism
2020 The pandemic through a wrench in the 2020 Census. Advocates are trying to limit the damage, Center for Health Journalism
2020 Redlining and Health Equity, HealthBegins
2020 A student’s return to Taiwan shows what a serious government response looks like, Center for Health Journalism
2020 Be Kind to Yourself series: Stress management and school/work from home, Channel Kindness
2019 When the trauma of a difficult birth leaves mothers devastated, alone, Center for Health Journalism
2019 Let’s talk about suicide prevention: A look inside Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, Channel Kindness
2018 Untreated mental health disorders among moms inflict a massive toll on families, the economy, Center for Health Journalism
2018 Understanding the impact of trauma: How trauma can affect your mind and body, Society for Behavioral Medicine
2018The Power of Public-Private Partnerships to Foster Health through Innovation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
2020-Present Registered Occupational Therapist
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) #434749
III. SERVICE ACTIVITIES
2017-2019 Founding Philanthropy and Wellness Chair, Occupational Science and Therapy Council, University of Southern California (See 2018-2019 Report)
2017-2019 Job and Life Services Lead, Skid Row Carnival of Love, Wayfarer Foundation
2018 Student Membership Director, SBM
2016-2017 Mental Health Content Director, Subconscious.org
2013-2017 Founder, Dance the Bay, University of California, Berkeley
2014-2017 Founder, 475 nm: Perceptions on Mental Health, University of California, Berkeley
2020-Present Board of Directors, School Health Clinics of Santa Clara County; Behavioral Health Committee Chair
2017-2018 Board of Directors, Luna Dance Institute
2020-Present Health Administration Section, Policy Committee Member, APHA
2020-Present LGBTQ Caucus, Policy Committee Member, APHA
2020-Present Member, Inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force, AOTA
2018-2020 Student Representative and Lead for Student Working Group, Diversity, Access, and Equity Committee, University of Southern California
Contact With Me
Copyright 2021. Frenify Team — Privacy Policy