Lydia W. Li

Lydia W. Li is a Professor of Social Work at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, with academic affiliations including the Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation and the Center for Chinese Studies. Her research focuses on healthy aging among socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults, particularly addressing social isolation, depression, ageism, and cross-cultural gerontology. She holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MSW from the University of Hong Kong.

Education:

• PhD in Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2000)
• MSW, University of Hong Kong (1989)
• Honors Diploma in Social Work, Hong Kong Baptist College (1984)

Research Interests: Professor Li’s work emphasizes community-based interventions to improve mental health and reduce disparities in aging populations. Key areas include social isolation’s impact on health outcomes, ageism’s health consequences, and policy implications for aging in diverse cultural contexts.

Awards:

• Fellow, Gerontological Society of America (2013)
• Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholar (2002)
• New Investigator Award, Institute on Aging (2000)

Grants & Projects: She has led studies funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, Arthritis Foundation, and others, including the COACH trial for comorbid depression and hypertension in rural China. Current projects explore phone-based meditation interventions for socially isolated elders.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams at the University of Michigan and international partners to address aging challenges through policy, research, and practice.