George Washington University (GWU) School of Nursing recently released a doctoral program in which the school’s assistant professor in health disparities and oncology, Dr. Daisy Le, will fi gure prominently. Although not a nurse, Le’s in-depth research in health equity and healthcare disparities as well as her extensive community-based work make her of crucial importance to dean Dr. Pamela Jeff ries’ transdisciplinary research vision.
“Daisy’s work can expand not only across the School of Nursing, but also the School of Public Health, School of Medicine and the health sciences,” says Jeffries. “In this day and age, we need to be collaborative as we look for increasing and contributing to the science of our profession as well as all health professions.”
Health inequity has impacted Le on a personal level. The daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Le grew up in the Tenderloin District in San Francisco, which was replete with crime and poverty during her childhood. Her parents spoke little English and didn’t know how to access social and health services.
“Seeing what my parents did not have access to is actually what drove me to want to do something about it through learning about it in school and eventually in practice,” says Le.
As an undergraduate at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), she double majored in sociology and Asian American studies with an emphasis on public health.
Those areas gave her a comprehensive understanding of the socio-cultural determinants of health. “There are social and cultural factors that can influence health,” says Le. “Having the social science background gave me the theoretical methods and approaches that I really needed to be able to productively apply it to enhance my study in health equity. I wanted to give a voice to those who were underserved or oppressed.”
Le earned two master’s degrees at UCLA in public health and Asian American studies. She then earned her doctorate at University of Maryland, College Park. Before, during and aft er her doctoral studies, Le has involved herself in community engagement work.
