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Dr. Hee Yun Lee is the Thomas P. Holland Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Georgia School of Social Work, where she also serves as Director of the Institute for Nonprofit Organizations. She holds a joint appointment with the School of Medicine and serves as Associate Director of the Division of Digital Behavioral Health at the School of Medicine’s Research Institute.

An internationally recognized leader in behavioral health, digital health innovation, and health equity, Dr. Lee advances community-engaged, technology-enabled intervention science to reduce disparities among underserved and marginalized populations. Over the past two decades, she has led numerous clinical and community-based trials and developed eight evidence-based digital health applications integrating artificial intelligence, wearable technologies, and culturally tailored strategies. Several of these innovations have been adopted by major insurers and healthcare systems. Her research spans cancer prevention, mental health, substance use, health literacy, aging, digital therapeutics, and implementation science.

Dr. Lee has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals and was recognized by Elsevier in 2025 as one of the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in Public Health. She has secured over $25 million in federal, foundation, and state funding and currently serves as Principal Investigator on multiple federally funded projects, including NIH, HRSA, NSF, and NOAA awards.

In 2026, she was elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW)—the highest honor in the social work profession in the United States—in recognition of her distinguished and sustained contributions to research, policy, and practice. She is frequently invited to deliver keynote addresses and distinguished lectures at national and international conferences and institutions, including major universities, government agencies, and professional organizations in the United States and Asia.

Through interdisciplinary collaborations bridging social work, medicine, public health, engineering, computer science, business, nursing, and psychology, Dr. Lee continues to shape national priorities, including Healthy People 2030, and influence policy, research, education, and practice worldwide.

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