Judy Jou

Judy Jou, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Science at California State University, Long Beach. Her areas of interest include health policy, health services research, and systems-level approaches to improving health across the life span. Prior to joining CSULB, she worked as a policy analyst at UCLA, where she examined the extent and impact of social policies such as paid family leave, social security and pensions systems, and labor laws on health and wellbeing in countries around the world. Currently, her research addresses family caregiving and its impact on the physical, mental, and financial wellbeing of older adults, as well as policies and practices to better support caregivers. Additionally, she works on issues related to health care access, disparities, and outcomes during midlife, a critical period for interventions that can lead toward successful aging. She received her PhD in Health Services Research, Policy, and Administration from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2016.

  • 2016 - Ph.D. in Health Services Research, Policy, and Administration 
    University of Minnesota School – Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
  • 2011-M.A. in International Relations 
    Institute Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals, Barcelona, Spain 
  • 2010-M.A. in Public Policy and Public Administration 
    University of York, York, United Kingdom
  • 2007-B.A. in Psychology 
    Yale University, New Haven, CT

  • Health and social policy
  • Family caregiving
  • Lifespan approach to health
  • Paid leave for family caregiving
  • Student caregivers

  • Johnson PJ, Jou J, Rockwood TH, Upchurch DM. Perceived benefits of using complementary and alternative medicine by race/ethnicity among midlife and older adults in the U.S. Journal of Aging and Health. 2019;31(8), 1376-1397.
  • Shippee TP, Shippee ND, Fernstrom KM, Mobley PD, Frazer MS, Jou J, Britt HR. Quality of life for late life patients: Mixed-methods evaluation of a whole-person approach for patients with chronic illnesses. Journal of Applied Gerontology. 2019;38(7), 910-930.
  • Johnson PJ, Jou J, Upchurch DM. Psychological distress and access to care among midlife women. 2018. In press at the Journal of Aging and Health.
  • Johnson PJ, Jou J, Rhee TG, Rockwood TH, Upchurch DM. Complementary health approaches for health and wellness in midlife and older US adults. Maturitas.2016;89:36-42.
  • Jou J. Care for caregivers? Delayed and forgone medical care in family members of individuals with major health needs. Poster presentation at the Annual Research Meeting of AcademyHealth. Washington DC; 2-4 June 2019.

  • 2017 Charles E. Gibbs Leadership Prize, Honorable Mention 
  • 2015 Best Student Abstract, Women's Caucus  
  • 2012 American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Conference Grant  
  • 2009 – 2011 Erasmus Mundus Graduate Scholarship  
  • 2007 – 2008 Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship