Stephanie Jong

Stephanie Jong is an Associate Professor in Health Sciences and Widening Participation Academic Lead at the School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia (UEA). She is actively engaged in teaching, research, and institutional initiatives aimed at improving access, success, retention, and progression for underrepresented students in health education. Her academic work spans public health, health equity, and evidence-based practice.

• Doctor of Education, Flinders University (2017)
• Master of Education, Flinders University (2012)
• Bachelor of Education / Bachelor of Health Science, Flinders University (2011)

Stephanie Jong's research focuses on process evaluations of complex interventions, behavior change related to nutrition and physical activity, and enhancing research participation. A central theme in her work is understanding and addressing health inequalities and inequities, particularly through educational and healthcare system interventions. She is deeply committed to widening participation in higher education and has led initiatives to support students from diverse backgrounds.

Her recent publications reflect a strong interdisciplinary focus on public health, health equity, education policy, and clinical practice. Themes include racism in healthcare education, contextual admissions in higher education, physical activity during the pandemic, intimate partner abuse, and clinical decision-making in physiotherapy. Her work employs mixed methods, qualitative, and scoping review methodologies, demonstrating methodological rigor and real-world applicability.

Stephanie Jong has been recognized with several awards, including:

• UEA Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Research Prize for Best Paper from an Early Career Researcher (2022)
• UEA Engagement Award

She currently co-supervises six PhD and Professional Doctorate students, contributing to the next generation of health researchers. While specific grant funding is not detailed in the text, her involvement in multicenter trials (e.g., MedEx-UK) and community-based projects suggests active grant-supported research. She has presented her work internationally in Australia, the UK, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Slovakia, indicating a strong collaborative and global research network.

Dr. Jong is a member of the Lifespan Health and Health Promotion research groups at UEA, contributing to interdisciplinary teams focused on improving health outcomes across the life course and promoting equitable health practices.