Research Fellow
Department
Department of Systems, Populations and Leadership
University Affilliations
U-M President's Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Contact
University of Michigan School of Nursing
400 North Ingalls Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482
Interests
Cancer survivorship
Cancer equity research
Oncology symptom science
Digital health
Health informatics and data science
Dr. Youran Lee is a nurse scientist whose program of research centers on the intersection of social determinants of health, diet, and symptom science in oncology. Her work seeks to reduce inequities in symptom management and improve the quality of life for patients living with cancer, particularly colorectal cancer. Dr. Lee integrates advanced nursing informatics and large data analytics—including AI-based network analysis, machine learning, and natural language processing—to examine how multilevel social determinants of health, health behaviors, and biomarkers shape symptom severity across racially and ethnically diverse populations. She has authored various publications and presented her findings nationally and internationally. Her research has been supported by grants and honors from Sigma Theta Tau International and the Oncology Nursing Foundation.
Teaching
Dr. Youran Lee is a dedicated nurse educator and scholar whose instructional efforts span graduate-level teaching, curriculum development, and inclusive mentorship. She has served as a teaching assistant and guest lecturer for courses such as Disparities in Health and Healthcare in the U.S., where she facilitated engaging discussions on cancer care inequities and employed technology-enhanced pedagogies to foster critical thinking. Her commitment to student-centered, inclusive learning is evident in her leadership roles, including mentoring diverse doctoral students, guiding peer support groups, and serving on curriculum task forces to integrate equity-focused, nurse-led care models. Drawing from her cross-cultural educational experiences in South Korea and the U.S., Dr. Lee cultivates classrooms that promote active learning, and empower students as compassionate, collaborative change agents. Her teaching reflects UMSN’s leadership in preparing nurses who advance health equity and lead across care, education, and research settings.
Affilliations/Service
Member, American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), 2025-present
Member, American Academy of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), 2024-present
Member, Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), 2024-present
Leadership committee chair, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Beta Epsilon Chapter, 2023-2025
Member, Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), 2023- present
Treasurer, North Carolina Korean Nurses Association (NCKNA), 2022-2024
Member, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, 2021- present
Notable Awards/Honors
KSEA-KUSCO Graduate Scholarship, Korean American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA), 2025
Research Doctoral (PhD) Academic Scholarship, Oncology Nursing Foundation, 2024-2025
Sigma Small Grant Award, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), 2024-2025
Rising Star Dissemination Award, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Beta Epsilon Chapter, 2023
Summer Research Fellowship, Duke University, 2022-2024
Race and the Professions Fellowship, The Kenan Institute for Ethics, Duke University, 2021-2022
Education
PhD, Duke University, Durham, NC 2025
MSN, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, 2020
BSN, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, South Korea, 2015
Publications Highlights
Lee, Y., Silva, S. G., & Gonzalez-Guarda, R. (2025). Social determinants of health, health behaviors, and general health among colorectal cancer survivors: A cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE, 20(8), e0329752. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0329752
Lee, Y., Wang, O., Ansah, O.O., Park, J., Affronti. M. L., & Cary, M. P., Jr. (2025). Integrating artificial intelligence in cancer care: Bridging disparities and enhancing nursing practices. Clinical Journal of Oncology, 29(4), 345-351. https://doi.org/10.1188/25.CJON.345-351
Lee, Y., Lin, Y., Bailey, D. E., & Gonzalez-Guarda, R. (2025). Social determinants of health, diet changes, and treatment-related symptom experiences in patients with advanced colorectal cancer who are receiving chemotherapy: A qualitative study. European Journal of Oncology Nursing Society, 78, 102949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2025.102949
Lee, Y., Lin, Y., Barandouzi, Z. A., Ledbetter, L., & Gonzalez-Guarda, R. (2025). Social determinants of health, diet, and symptom experiences in colorectal cancer survivors: A scoping review. Supportive in Care in Cancer, 33(6), 519. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09564-w
Lee, Y. & Gonzalez-Guarda, R. (2025). The state of science on mitigating cancer inequities through measuring and addressing social determinants of health. Advances in Nursing Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/ANS.0000000000000556
Albrecht, T. A., Pastva, A. M., Yang, Q., Lee, Y., Leblanc, T. W., Richardson, D., & Bryant, A. L. (2024). Pilot testing of Build StaMINA: A tailored physical activity program for adults receiving treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000001408
Wang, D., Hendrix, C. C., Lee, Y., Christian, N., & Crego, N. (2024). Characteristics of older adults with Alzheimer’s disease who were hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic: A secondary data analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(6), 703. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060703
Randall, P. S., De Gagne, J. C., Lee, E., Slack, J., Lee, Y., & Ledbetter. L. (2023). The experience of resilience in newly graduated nurses: A qualitative meta synthesis. Nurse Education in Practice, 70, 103681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103681
Lee, Y. & Cho, E. (2022). Predictors of patient safety activities among registered nurses and nurse aides in long-term care facilities. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 541. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03234-w