College of Science and Health > Faculty & Staff > Faculty A-Z > Young-Me Lee

Young-Me Lee

  • ylee23@depaul.edu
  • Professor and Vincent DePaul Professor, Nursing
  • ​​​​​​PhD, RN​​
  • School of Nursing
  • (773) 325-4105
  • ​990 W.​ Fullerton, room 2304

My research focuses on community-based scholarship addressing preventive health behaviors and global health as related to depression, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and health disparities among minority and underserved populations. My other related work includes representing DePaul University as Co-PI in the Bridges to the Doctorate Program (R25), a National Institute of Health grant where I have aided in the recruitment of underrepresented minority nursing students for the PhD program in order to diversify the nursing workforce and reduce health disparities in the health science field. My intensive, collaborative research experience includes a strong research foundation in qualitative, quantitative, literature review, and mixed-method research methodologies.


Specialization and Interests
  • Public health
  • Health disparities
  • Underserved populations
  • Depression
  • Coping
  • Community-based research
  • Sexually transmitted infections among Hispanic and African-American adolescents
  • Community-based intervention programs
  • Global health
Awards and Honors
  • Recognition of the Presenter from Global Korean Nursing Association
  • Outstanding Leader Award from Chicago Korean Nurse Association
  • Outstanding Scholar from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 
  • Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center: Golden Lamp Society Award (Recognition of Outstanding doctoral nursing student)
  • Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center: The Mary S. Oakley Gerontological Nursing Research Award
  • Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center: The College of Nursing Dean’s Award
  • Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center: Alumni Association Award
  • Outstanding Service Award, Global Korean Nursing Foundation

    Awards from 2018 and 2020:
  • 2019: Pinnacle Nurse Leader Recognition, 22nd Power of Nursing Leadership
  • 2019: Outstanding Service Awards, Global Korean Nursing Association
  • 2018: Vincent DePaul Professor Award, DePaul University
DePaul Affiliations
  • Program Director, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation -  New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program
  • Chair, School of Nursing Local Review Board
  • Pre-Health Advising Committee
Professional Affiliations
  • American Nurses Association
  • American Academy of Nursing
  • Sigma Theta Tau
  • Midwest Korean Nurses Association
  • The National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations (NCEMNA)
  • The Global Korean Nursing Foundation (GKNF)
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles (from 2019-2020)
Note: The asterisk (*) denotes DePaul graduate student
1. Roat, C., Webber-Ritchey, K, Spulark, R & Lee, Y.M. (Accepted). Barriers to Black Americans Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine: An Integrative Literature Review. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. 10.1007/s40615-022-01437-w 
2. Shim, S., Lee, H., Kim, S, Thi N., Huong T., Lee, Y.M., Thi P., Loan B. (Accepted) Association of Smoking Media Literacy with Vietnams and South Korean Adolescents’ Susceptibility to Smoking. Journal of School Nursing 
3. Lee, MK., Lee, H, Song, KJ. & Lee, Y.M. (2022). Benefits of sustained physical activity from middle-age to early old age on quality of life in early old age. Scientific Reports, 12, 16455. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20431-0 
4. Simonovich, S., Aquino, E., Lattner, C., Soco C., Amer, L., Howard, S., Shah, P., Nwafar, G, Lee, Y.M. (2022). Nurses’ PPE Experiences & Safety during Covid 19 Pandemic. Psych, 4, 226-237. https://doi.org/10.3390/psych4020019 
5. Lee, Y.M., Webber-Ritchey, K., Bishhop, J., & Aquino, E. (2022) Predictors Associated with New Nursing Faculty’s Intent to Leave Nursing Academia: Teaching Preparation in Doctoral Program, Institutional Supports, and Job Satisfaction. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 19(1).doi: 10.1515/ijnes-2021-0148 
6. Lee, Y.M., Hyun, M. Y., Choi, S., & Aquino, E. (2021). Mediating role of spirituality in relationship of depression and problematic drinking and gambling. Journal of Addictions Nursing, 32(2), 79-87. 
7. *Furtado, S., *Stallworth, T., Lee, Y.M., & Tariman, (2021). J. Stressors and Coping Strategies of Pediatric Oncology Patients: A Literature Review. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 25(4), 367-371.  
8. Bernstein, K., Lee, Y. M., Gona, P., Shin, H., Cho, S., & Park, Y. (2021). Depression, depression literacy, and sociodemographic characteristics of Korean Americans: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 23(3), 547-557. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10903-020-01092-5 
9. Lee, H. Y., Lee, H. K., Kim, Y. R., Kim, S. K., & Lee, Y.M. (2020). Network support using social networking services to increase exercise adherence for Korean-Chinese middle aged migrant women: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Medical Internet Research mHealth and uHealth, 8(11):e19159. doi: 10.2196/19159. 
10.  Cho, M. K., Lee, Y.M., Lim, S. J.., & Lee, H. K. (2020). Factors associated with the health literacy on social determinants of health: A focus on socioeconomic position and work environment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6663: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186663 
11.  Lee, E. K., Lee, Y.M., & Rische, L. (2020). Factors affecting depression in high school students with chronic illness: A nationwide cross-sectional study in South Korea. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 34(3), 164–168. 
12.  Bernstein, K., Shin, H., Park, G. K., Lee, Y.M., & Hong, O. S. (2020). Evaluation of physical and mental health literacy among Korean Americans. Health Education and Behavior, 47(3), 457–467. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198120907887
13.  Lee, E. K., Park, S. K., Lee, Y.M., & Rische, L. (2020). Factors associated with maintaining smoking cessation in adolescents after implementation of tobacco price increase policy in South Korea: Using the 11th youth health behavior online survey conducted in 2015. Research in Nursing and Health, 43, 40–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.21996