Distinguished scientist: Dejun Su, PhD

This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony on March 9 for UNMC’s Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist, New Investigator and Community Service to Research Award recipients.

• Name: Dejun Su, PhD
• Title: Associate professor, UNMC Department of Health Promotion
• Joined UNMC: October 2012
• Hometown: Dandong, China

Please describe your research focus in three words or less:

Health equity

Why is research important in the world today? 

Equity is the soul of public health. Health disparity research is a dynamic field as new policies, technologies, economic cycles and sociopolitical norms constantly shape the distribution of health care resources, health behaviors, health outcomes and related disparities in our nation. Part of my research concerns how factors at various level (such as income distribution at the society level, health care workforce development, telemedicine programs, perceived racism, marital status and acculturation among immigrants) are related to inequities in health and health care access. 

My research will make a difference because:

Identifying and understanding factors contributing to health disparities and their persistence over time is usually a prerequisite for developing effective and targeted interventions to address them. Promoting health equity and social justice is an endless journey that requires serious commitments and efforts from all of us.

The best advice I’ve ever received is: 

Calm yourself down first before you need to make an important decision.

Three things you may not know about me are:

• I am a guitar player.
• I enjoy gardening.
• I have been stung by fire ants and wasps multiple times.