EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Tsu-Yin Wu, an Eastern Michigan University professor from the College of Health and Human Services, was named the winner of the 2020 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) National Civic League Health Equity Award.

Professor Wu was recognized virtually for her accomplishments during a Livestream award ceremony, hosted by the All-American City Awards Facebook Page, on the evening of Tuesday, August 18.

During her acceptance speech, she thanked both RWJF and the National Civic League for the recognition, stating that she’s truly grateful to be part of the University’s Center for Health Disparities, Innovations, and Studies team, and for all the overwhelming support from the entire Eastern Michigan community. It is with the support of these groups that she has seen that the work they are doing can truly make a difference.

The full awards ceremony was recorded and can be viewed by visiting the All-America City Awards Facebook Page.

The RWJF-National Civic League Award seeks to recognize individuals or teams of individuals (no more than two individuals) who have successfully implemented a systems change approach to reduce health disparities within the past two years related to one or more of the following areas: access to quality care, education, employment, income, community environment, housing, and public safety.

Dr. Wu, who serves as the director of the Center for Health Disparities, Innovations, and Studies and is a professor of nursing at Eastern Michigan University, has worked diligently over 15 years to transform health care systems, including to provide badly needed health care programs culturally-tailored to the Asian-American community, particularly those traditionally underserved, to improve their health outcomes and access to care. Professor Wu has also contributed significant empirical efforts to better the representation of Asian Americans’ health status and voices in health care research.

The National Civic League says it believes that to achieve health equity we must understand the challenges, aspirations, barriers and realities of the community. To share the example of innovative approaches to equity and shine a light on leaders across this country, the League partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to create the Health Equity Award. For more information on the award, visit the NCL award website.

To learn more about the Center for Health Disparities Innovations and Studies at EMU, visit the program website.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.