Damin Jung

Damin Jung, MSN, BSN, RN, is a doctoral student in the Florence S. Downs PhD Program in Nursing Research and Theory Development at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing (Fall 2026 cohort).
Prior to her doctoral studies, she practiced for three years as a registered nurse at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital and Samsung Medical Center, including extensive clinical experience in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU). Growing up closely with her grandparents, she developed an early, personal interest in how older adults can maintain their independence and dignity. In clinical practice, she observed severe care fragmentation firsthand—seeing patients with serious and chronic illnesses frequently readmitted due to a lack of post-discharge follow-up, limited community support, and health literacy barriers.
Motivated to address these systemic challenges, she transitioned to academia, subsequently serving as a research associate, research assistant, and teaching assistant at The Catholic University of Korea. Her research identifies structural barriers that prevent vulnerable and dependent populations—particularly older adults—from accessing essential healthcare resources. Integrating health services research, statistical network analysis, health policy, palliative care, and health equity, her work aims to eliminate care fragmentation and ensure that individuals are supported to live well across the entire continuum of life.
Her recent work includes a scoping review on South Korea's hidden caregiving infrastructure of ganbyeong-in (informal paid caregivers) in hospital settings, her master's thesis evaluating digital health literacy among older adults, and an international investigation on structural disparities in palliative care opioid accessibility in Vietnam, which she delivered as an oral presentation at the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) 2026 World Congress.
Personal Website: sites.google.com/nyu.edu/damin-jung