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Hyekyun Rhee, PhD, RN, PNP, FAAN
Hyekyun Rhee, PhD, RN, PNP, FAAN

Bio

Over the past decade, Hyekyun Rhee has established an internationally-recognized program of research developing innovative approaches to asthma self-management using technologies and peer dynamics to improve asthma outcomes in adolescents.

Among these approaches include an award-winning wearable device that monitors symptoms around the clock. Data from the Automated Device for Asthma Monitoring (ADAM) can be recorded and downloaded to a smartphone or computer and analyzed for patterns of symptom frequency throughout the day, guiding medication or behavioral adjustments. The device has been recognized as a leading wearable innovation in health care and is being further developed by a start-up company, Health Care Originals.

Rhee is also conducting an NIH-funded study evaluating a peer-led asthma self-management program for inner-city teens in Buffalo, Baltimore, and Memphis. The Peer-led Asthma Self-Management for Adolescents (PLASMA) program examines the effects of the intervention program in improving self-management and overall outcomes of asthma in teens. She has also been developing a clinical study of an interactive text messaging system to help teens and their parents with daily asthma management and facilitate parent-teen partnerships through information sharing in a timely manner.

Rhee joined the University of Rochester School of Nursing faculty in 2007 and was named endowed chair of nursing science in 2015. She was inducted as an American Academy of Nursing fellow in 2016.

Areas of Expertise

  • Care Strategies : Behavioral Change
  • Care Strategies : Communications
  • Care Strategies : Self-Care
  • Care Strategies : Teaching
  • Level of Care : Chronic Illness / Disability
  • Populations : Adolescents
  • Theoretical Interests : Bio-Psycho-Social
  • Theoretical Interests : Developmental
  • Theoretical Interests : Social / Physical Environmental

Professional Experience
Professor, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 7/2016 - Current

Associate Professor, University Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (Pediatrics), Rochester, NY, US. 7/2013 - Current

Associate Professor, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 1/2007 - Current

Associate Professor, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 1/2007 - 6/2016

Assistant Professor, University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA, US. 7/2002 - 12/2006

Research Assistant, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, US. 1997 - 2002

Teaching Assistant, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, US. 9/1998 - 2001

Awards
Distinguished Nurse Researcher, Cathryne A. Welch Center for Nursing Research
Foundation of New York State Nurses, 2017

Fellow
American Academy of Nursing, 2016

Endowed Chair for Nursing Science
University Rochester , 2015

Distinguished Alumni Award
Catholic University of Korea, 2014

Provost Multidisciplinary Award
University of Rochester, 2011

Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching
University of Rochester School of Nursing, 2009

University Teaching Fellow
University of Virginia, 2005

Nightingale Award
University of Virginia, 2004

Excellence in Diversity Teaching Fellow by Teach Resource Center
University of Virginia, 2003

Elizabeth Scott Carrington Scholarship
University of North Carolina @ Chapel Hill, 2000

Richardson Scholarship
University of North Carolina @ Chapel Hill, 2000

Graduate Student Scholarship
University of North Carolina @ Chapel Hill, 1998

Sandergaard Scholarship
University of North Carolina @ Chapel Hill, 1998

Elizabeth Scoot Carrington Scholarship
University of North Carolina @ Chapel Hill, 1997

Presentations
Lessons learned from Asthma Diary by Adolescents with Uncontrolled Asthma
22nd International Nursing Research Congress, Honor Society of Nursing, 2011
Cancun, Mexico

Improving asthma self-management in adolescents.
CTSI Symposium: Applying Science to Benefit Health Care Reform., University of Rochester Medical Center, 2011
Rochester, New York

Effects of an asthma self-management program on adolescent peer leaders.
ENRS annual meeting, ENRS, 2010
Providence, Rhode Island

Effects of peer-led asthma self-management program for adolescents.
State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research, 2010
Washington, District Of Columbia

Barriers to Adherence as a Mediator Between the Perception of Family Support and Asthma Outcomes in Adolescents.
2009 SRCD Biennial Meeting, SRCD, 2009
Denver, Colorado

Relationship between Perception of family support and quality of life in adolescents with asthma.
Family Research Round Table, University of Rochester Medical Center, 2008
Rochester, New York

Inaccurate Symptom Perception and Morbidity Outcomes in Adolescents with Asthma.
2008 State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research, 2008
Washington, Delaware

Rural Female Adolescents: Beliefs About Being Nonsmokers
Associate of Community Health Nursing Educators, 2008
Atlanta, Georgia

Parent-Child communication About Female Adolescent Tobacco Use: What do Mothers Say?
Society for Prevention Research 15th Annual Meeting, 2007
Washington, District Of Columbia

Teen asthma project: Peer-assisted asthma self-management program for adolescents
13th Annual Asthma, Allergy & Pulmonary Update, 2007
Rochester, New York

Application of information technology as a research tool for rural adolescents with asthma
American Public Health Association 135th Annual Meeting, 2007
Washington, District Of Columbia

Information technology and asthma management programs in adolescents.
Annual Conference of Respiratory Care, 2007
Atlantic City, New Jersey

Building a research partnership for youth tobacco prevention.
Associate of Community Health Nursing Educators, 2007
Kansas City, Kansas

Parent-Child communication About Female Adolescent Tobacco Use: What do Mothers Say?
Society for Prevention Research 15th Annual Meeting., Society for Prevention Research, 2007
Washington DC, District Of Columbia

Application of a computer-assisted intervention and an on-line data collection method in rural adolescents with asthma.
Southern Nursing Research Society, 2007
Galvaston, Texas

Decision making quality and risk behaviors in adolescents with asthma.
Southern Nursing Research Society, 2007
Galvaston, Texas

Protective factors and female adolescent nonsmoking in rural Virginia.
134th Annual Meeting, American Public Health Association, 2006
Boston,, Massachusetts

Listening to youth nonsmokers: Guidance for tobacco prevention
Congress on Nursing Science, 2006
Washington, District Of Columbia

Living with Asthma: A Focus Study of Adolescents with Asthma.
17th International Nursing Research Congress, Nursing Research Congress, 2006
Montreal Quebec, Canada

Decision making quality and risk behaviors in adolescents with asthma living in rural areas
2nd Rural Health Care Research Center Annual Conference, University of Virginia School of Nursing, 2006
Charlottesville, Virginia

Listening to youth: Guidance for Interventions
VYTP Statewide Conference 2006, 2006
Richmond, Virginia

"Too cute to smoke": Protective factors and youth nonsmoking behavior
133rd Annual Meeting, American Public Health Association, 2005
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"I wish I could do more": Psychosocial experiences of adolescents with asthma.
Southern Nursing Research Society., 2005
Atlanta, Georgia

Examining physical symptom patterns using person oriented approach.
Southern Nursing Research Society, 2005
Atlanta, Georgia

Patterns of Physical Symptoms in Adolescents: Application of a Clustering Method.
State of the Science Congress in Nursing Research, 2004
Washington, District Of Columbia

Beliefs and Norms of Nonsmoking African American Adolescents.
State of the Science Congress in Nursing Research, 2004
Washington, Delaware

Protective Factors and Youth Nonsmoking Behavior.
Society for Prevention Research, 2004
Montreal, Canada

Physical Symptoms in Children and Adolescents from a Developmental Perspective.
Southern Nursing Research Society, 2003
Orlando, Florida

Prevalence of Recurrent Somatic symptoms in U.S. Youth.
Southern Nursing Research Society, 2001
Baltimore, Maryland

Headaches in U.S. youth: Examination of gender and racial differences in the prevalence and causal factors of headaches.
Carolina Population Center, 2000
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Prevalence and predictors of headaches in U.S. adolescents.
plenary session, Add Health workshop, 2000
Bethesda, Maryland

Depression, self-esteem, and insomnia as predictors of headaches in adolescents.
Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT) conference, 2000
North Carolina

Toward Healthy Children 2000: New Approach to Conceptualizing Health in Children.
International Council on Nursing, 1997
London, England

Publications
Rhee, H., Love, T., & Harrington, D. (2018). Blood Neutrophil Count is Associated with Body Mass Index in Adolescents with Asthma. JSM Allergy and Asthma, 3 (1), 1091.

Mammen, J. R., Java, J. J., Rhee, H., Butz, A. M., Halterman, J. S., & Arcoleo, K. (2018). Mixed-methods content and sentiment analysis of adolescents' voice-diaries describing daily experiences with asthma and self-management decision-making. Clinical & Experimental Allergy. PMID: 30113733 DOI: 10.1111/cea.13250

Grape A., Rhee H., Wicks M., Tumiel-Berhalter L., Sloand E. (2018). Recruitment and Retention Strategies for an Urban Adolescent Study: Lessons Learned From a Multi-center Study of Community-based Asthma Self-management Intervention for Adolescents. Journal of Adolescence. PMID: 29587184 DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.03.004

Mammen, J. R., Java, J. J., Rhee, H., Butz, A. M., Halterman, J. S., & Arcoleo, K. (2018). Mixed-methods content and sentiment analysis of adolescents’ voice-diaries describing daily experiences with asthma and self-management decision-making. Clinical & Experimental Allergy. DOI: 10.1111/cea.13250

Rhee, H., Wicks,M., Dolgoff, J., Love, T., & Harrington, D. (2018). Cognitive factors predict medication adherence and asthma control in urban adolescents with asthma. Patient Preference and Adherence, 12, 929-937. PMID: 29872278 PMCID: PMC5973469 DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S162925

Rhee, H., Love, T., Harrington, D., & Grape, A. (2018). Common allergies in urban adolescents and their relationships with asthma control and healthcare utilization. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology, 14 (33). PMID: 30186335 PMCID: PMC6120086 DOI: 10.1186/s13223-018-0260-y

Mammen, J., Rhee, H., Atis, S., Grape, A. (2018). Changes in asthma self-management knowledge in inner city adolescents following developementlly sensitive self-management training. Patient Education & Counseling, 101 (4), 687-695. PMID: 29129307 PMCID: PMC5878979 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2017.10.016

Rhee, H., Love, T., Harrington, D., & Grape, A (2017). Comorbidity of Atopy in Urban Adolescents with Asthma. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 119 (5), 466-467. PMID: 29150074 PMCID: PMC5726452 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2017.08.017

Rhee, H., McQuillan, B., Chen, D. G., Atis, S. (2017). Perceptions about Interpersonal Relationships and School Environment Among Middle School Students with Asthma. The Journal of Asthma, 54 (9), 905-910. PMID: 28055268 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2016.1277540

Rhee, H; Belyea, M; Mammen, J (2017). Visual analogue scale (VAS) as a monitoring tool for daily changes in asthma symptoms in adolescents: a prospective study. Allergy, Asthma amd Clinical Immunology, 13 (24). DOI: 10.1186/s13223-017-0196-7

Mammen JR, Rhee H, Norton SA, Butz AM. (2017). Perceptions and experiences underlying self-management and reporting of symptoms in teens with asthma.. Journal of Asthma, 54 (2), 143-152. PMID: 27337035 PMCID: PMC5182183 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2016.1201835

Mammen, J., Rhee, H., Norton, S.A. (2016). It's Just My Normal Symptoms:'Understanding Teen Asthma Self-Management. , 15 (1).

Mammen JR, Norton SA, Rhee H, Butz AM. (2016). New approaches to qualitative interviewing: Development of a card sort technique to understand subjective patterns of symptoms and responses.. Int J Nurs Stud. (58), 90-6.

Conn, K., Fisher, S., & Rhee, H. (2016). Parent and Child Independent Report of Emotional Responses to Asthma-Specific Vignettes: the relationship between emotional states, self-management behaviors, and symptoms.. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 31 (1), E83-E90.

Groth, S., Rhee, H., & Kitzman, H. (2015). Relationships between BMI, physical activities and sedentary behaviors in adolescents with asthma and without asthma.. Journal of Asthma.

Rhee, H., Belyea, M., Sterling, M., & Bocko (2015). Evaluating the validity of an automated device for asthma monitoring (ADAM).. Journal of Medical Internet Research., 17 (10), e234.

Rhee H, Belyea MJ, Sterling M, Bocko MF (2015). Evaluating the Validity of an Automated Device for Asthma Monitoring for Adolescents: Correlational Design. Rhee H, Belyea MJ, Sterling M, Bocko MF, 17 (10), e234.

Rhee, H., Fairbanks, E., & Butz, A (2014). Symptoms, Feelings, Activities and Medication Use in Adolescents with Uncontrolled Asthma: Lessons Learned from Asthma Diaries.. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 29 (1), 39-46.

Rhee, H., Allen, J., Mannen, J., & Swift, M. (2014). Mobile Phone-Based Asthma Self-Management Aid for Adolescents (mASMAA): A Feasibility Study.. Patient Preference and Adherence, 8, 63-72.

Sterling, M., Rhee, H., & Bocko, M. (2014). Automated cough assessment on a mobile platform. Journal of Medical Engineering, 1-9. 951621. DOI: 10.1155/2014/951621

Rhee, H., Miner, S., Sterling, M., Halterman, J., & Fairbanks, E. (2014). Development of An Automated Device for Asthma Monitoring (ADAM) for Adolescents: Methodologic Approach and User Acceptability. Journal of Medical Internet Research: mHealth and uHealth, 2 (2), e27.

Rhee, H., McQuillan, B. & Belyea, M.J. (2012). Evaluation of a peer-led asthma self-management program for adolescents and benefits of the program for adolescent peer leaders.. Respiratory Care, 57 (12), 2082-2089. PMID: 22710616

Mammen, J., Rhee, H. (2012). Concept analysis: asthma self-management in adolescents.. Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology, 25 (4), 180-189.

Rhee, H., Pesis-Katz, I., Xing, J. (2012). Cost benefits of a peer-led asthma self-management program for adolescents. Journal of Asthma, 49 (6), 606-613. PMID: 2275899

Rhee, H., Belyea, M.J. & Halterman, J.S. (2011). Adolescents' Perception of Asthma Symptoms and Use of Health Care Services. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 25 (2), 105-113.

Rhee, H., Belyea, M., Hunt, J. & Brasch, J. (2011). Effects of a Peer-Led Asthma Self-Management Program for Adolescents.. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 165 (6), 513-519.

Kulbok, P.A., Meszaros, P.S., Botchwey, N., Hinton, I., Anderson, N.L., Rhee, H., Bond, D., Hartman, K., Noonan, D., & Bovbjerg, V. (2010). Mother-daughter communication: A protective factor for nonsmoking among rural adolescents.. Journal of Addictions Nursing, 21, 69-78.

Rhee, H., Belyea, M.J. & Brasch, J. (2010). Family Support and Asthma Outcomes in Adolescents: Barriers to Adherence as a Mediato. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45 (5), 472-478.

Rhee, H., Belyea, M.J., Ciurzynski, S.M., & Brasch, J (2009). Barriers to adhering asthma self-management in adolescents: Relationships to psychosocial factors. Pediatric Pulmonology, 44 (2), 183-191.

Rhee, H., Belyea, M.J. & Elward, K.S. (2008). Patterns of Asthma Control Perception in Adolescents: Associations with Psychosocial Functioning. Journal of Asthma, 45 (7), 600-606.

Rhee, H., Ciurzynski, S.M. & Yoos, H.L. (2008). Pearls and Pitfalls of Community-Based Group Interventions for Adolescents: Lessons Learned from an Adolescent Asthma Camp Study: Lessons Learned from an Adolescent Asthma Camp Study. . Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 31 (3), 122-135.

Kulbok, P. Rhee, H., Hinton, I., Botchwey, N., Bovbjerg, V., & Anderson, N. (2008). Factors influencing non-smoking adolescents. Public Health Nursing, 25 (6), 505-515.

Rhee, H., Hollen, P.J., Belyea, M.J., & Sutherland, M.A (2008). Decision-Making Program for Rural Adolescents with Asthma: A Pilot Study. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 26 (3), 439-450.

Rhee, H., Hollen, P.J., Sutherland, M.A., & Rakes, G. (2007). A pilot study of decision making quality and risk behaviors in rural adolescents with asthma. Pediatric Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, 21 (2), 93-104.

Rhee, H., Wenzel, J. & Steeves, R. (2007). Psychosocial experiences of adolescents with asthma: Focus group study.. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 21 (2), 99-107.

Rhee, H., Wyatt, T., & Wenzel, J. (2006). Adolescents with asthma: Learning needs and internet use assessment.. Respiratory Care, 51 (11), 1441-1449.

Rhee, H., Holditch-Davis, D., & Miles, M.S. (2005). Patterns of physical symptoms and associations with psychosocial factors in adolescents.. Psychosomatic Medicine, 67 (6), 1006-1012.

Rhee, H., Miles, M.S., Halpern, C.T., & Holditch-Davis, D. (2005). Prevalence of recurrent physical symptoms in US Adolescents.. Pediatric Nursing, 31 (4), 314-319.

Rhee, H. (2005). Racial/ethnic differences in adolescents' physical symptoms.. Journal of Pediatric Nursing (20), 153-162.

Rhee, H. (2005). Relationships between physical symptoms and pubertal development.. Journal of Pediatric Health Care. (19), 95-103.

Rhee, H. (2003). Physical symptoms in children and adolescents.. Annual Review of Nursing Research, 21, 95-121.

Rhee, H. (2002). Physical Symptoms in U.S. adolescents: Prevalence and Patterns.. Dissertation Abstracts International, 63 (3).

Kristjansdottir, G., & Rhee, H. (2002). Risk factors of back pain frequency in schoolchildren: A search for explanations to a public health problem.. Acta Paediatrica (9), 849-854.

Rhee, H. (2001). Risk factors and sequelae of headaches in schoolchildren: Clinical implications from a psychosocial perspective.. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 16 (6), 392-401.

Rhee, H. (2001). Additional thoughts about racial differences in the prevalence of headaches in US adolescents.. Headache, 41 (4), 419-420.

Rhee, H. (2000). Prevalence and predictors of headaches in US adolescents.. Headache, 40 (7), 528-538.

Projects
Peer-Led Asthma Self-Management for Adolescents (PLASMA): A Multi-site Study
National Institute on Nursing Research
9/15/2014 - 6/30/2019
Role: Principal Investigator