معرفی
Kelly E. Baek, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work & Social Ecology at Loma Linda University's School of Behavioral Health. Her academic and professional work centers on mental health disparities, community-based interventions, and behavioral health policy, with a focus on immigrant and minority populations including Korean Americans and Afghan-Americans.
- Institution: Loma Linda University
- School: School of Behavioral Health
- Department: Social Work & Social Ecology
- Academic Rank: Associate Professor
Dr. Baek’s research interests include mental health help-seeking behaviors, postmigration stress, intimate partner violence in conflict zones, and community resiliency models. Her work often employs qualitative and mixed methods to explore sociocultural, ecological, and structural factors influencing mental health outcomes in vulnerable populations. She has led and contributed to numerous community-based studies examining the mental health challenges faced by Korean American church communities and Afghan migrants.
Her recent publications span public health, social work, and community mental health journals, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach. The research trends show a consistent focus on underserved populations, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive interventions. She has been involved in developing and evaluating low-dose wellness interventions such as the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) for healthcare professionals, veterans, and chronically ill adults.
Dr. Baek holds professional certifications as a Mental Health First Aid Instructor (since 2019) and a Community Resiliency Model Instructor (since 2019). She also serves as a Behavioral Health Consultant for the Korean American Seventh-day Adventist community, demonstrating her commitment to community engagement.
- Mental Health First Aid Instructor (2019–Present)
- Community Resiliency Model Instructor (2019–Present)
She has secured multiple grants as Principal Investigator or co-investigator, including federally funded projects such as the Federal Community Health Worker Training Program and the State Peer Personnel Training and Placement Program. Her teaching portfolio includes graduate courses in behavioral health policy, advanced research methods, and social welfare history and policy, indicating strong mentorship and curriculum development experience.
Dr. Baek has presented her research at national conferences including the American Public Health Association, the Council on Social Work Education, and the American Psychological Association. Her collaborative work with colleagues like Dr. Shannon Montgomery and Dr. Quynh Alemi highlights a strong research network in health disparities and immigrant mental health.
