ABQ Times

By 2050, the World Health Organization projects that the global population aged 60 and older will reach approximately 2 billion. This demographic shift underscores the need for innovative healthcare solutions. A faculty member at The University of New Mexico's College of Population Health is leading efforts to redefine care for older adults and vulnerable populations.

Grace Chung, PhD, MPH, joined the UNM College of Public Health in July 2023 as an assistant professor. Her work involves collaborating with healthcare providers and policymakers to develop interventions and policies that promote health equity and improve outcomes for underserved populations.

Chung's research focuses on challenges within the healthcare system, particularly concerning the growing number of older adults. An aging population increases demands on healthcare systems, especially regarding chronic condition management and specialized services. As this senior population expands, her work highlights the importance of research into quality of life and barriers to healthcare access.

In a study published in Telemedicine Reports, Chung explored how social support influenced telehealth use among older adults during COVID-19. The study found that living with family or receiving technical support was associated with increased telehealth utilization. This indicates that assisting older adults with technology can help them access virtual care more effectively.

Chung has also contributed to policy development by working with the College of Population Health Center for Health Policy to design a Medicaid program in New Mexico incorporating palliative care in home- and community-based settings. Palliative care provides specialized medical care for those with serious illnesses. This initiative seeks to enhance healthcare access for aging populations.

Beyond healthcare access, Chung's research includes studying tobacco usage impacts on chronic conditions among older adults. She investigates electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as e-cigarettes and vapes, focusing on tobacco dependence symptoms and cessation outcomes among U.S. older adult smokers using data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study from 2013-2023.

Additionally, she is developing a proposal to examine how military exposures combined with tobacco use may affect chronic condition risks in post-deployment veterans alongside collaborators from the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and UNM Health Sciences Center faculty.

Chung's efforts aim to strengthen health equity and improve care for aging populations, offering inspiration within the public health community. Her commitment drives meaningful change towards a more equitable healthcare system amid global demographic shifts towards an aging population.