Biography
Dr. Moon, a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, is a social worker and gerontologist who received her Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University and completed her NIH-funded postdoctoral training (T32) in dementia care and community-based participatory research with racial and ethnic minority groups through the Carolina Program on Health and Aging Research (CPHAR) at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. Dr. Moon’s research focuses on health disparities, service utilization, and dementia caregiving among diverse racial and ethnic populations. Her long-term goal is to improve the health of racially and culturally marginalized older adults and their caregivers by enhancing coping skills and health behaviors.
Her research has been supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2016–2017), the Korean American Social Work Educators Association (2018–2019), the National Institute on Aging through the Native Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (NAD-RCMAR, 2020–2022), the Alzheimer’s Association AARG-D (2023–2026), and multiple internal grants. She also served as Co-Investigator on a National Institute on Aging-funded National Dementia Workforce Study Pilot Grant (2025–2026). Most recently, Dr. Moon received funding from the National Institute on Aging as MPI with Dr. Rote for the ANCHOR Study, “Assessing Needs, Challenges, Help-Seeking, Outreach, and Resilience in Male Dementia Caregivers” (R15AG104577; 2026–2029).
Dr. Moon’s Alzheimer’s Association-funded project investigates psychosocial and cultural factors associated with screening intentions for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) among members of the Yankton Sioux Tribe (YST). This research provides a foundation for developing culturally appropriate ADRD care interventions for the YST and other high-risk American Indian communities. She is also engaged in studies examining disparities in cognitive and mental health among racially and culturally marginalized populations using local and nationally representative datasets.
In collaboration with Dr. Rote, Dr. Moon has conducted studies exploring coping strategies, service needs, and barriers faced by dementia caregivers in Kentucky, including African American family caregivers, to inform the development of effective dementia care supports statewide.
Research Interests
Minority Health, Caregiving, Health Disparities, Immigrant, Research Methods, Dementia, Community-based Participatory Research, Social Determinants of Cognition and Physical Health, Depressive Symptomatology
Degrees and Certifications
Case Western Reserve University
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Ewha Womans University