Course Description

Instructor: Jane Chung

Join us for a special presentation introducing the HomePal Research Study, a new project from Emory University exploring how voice technology like Amazon Alexa can help measure and reduce loneliness among older adults. This engaging session will be led by Jane Chung, Principal Investigator and her team member who will walk us through the study’s goals, how it works, and what it’s like to interact with a smart speaker in your own home. Adults 65 and older who live alone in metro Atlanta are invited to participate in the study, which includes a few home visits, brief mobile surveys, and use of a smart speaker for three months — with up to $220 in compensation. Come learn how you can be part of this innovative research and help shape the future of aging and technology!

Bio: Jane Chung: Dr. Chung (she/her) is an Acting Associate Professor in the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University.  She received a Bachelor's degree in Nursing Science and Master's degree in Nursing Administration and Leadership from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. She obtained an MS in Health Informatics and PhD in Nursing from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Before joining Emory University, she served as an  Associate Professor (with tenure) at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing. In recognition of the impact of her work, she has been selected as a fellow of the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship Program for Nurse Leaders and Innovators and was a fellow of the Latino Aging Research Resource Center, one of the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Her program of research is directed toward developing, applying, and evaluating technology applications and AI/machine learning to detect early functional changes and social isolation risks, which may lead to adverse health outcomes. Focusing on technology-enabled prevention and proactive interventions, she aims to promote healthy aging in community-dwelling older adults including those with health disparities. Additionally, she continues to work on advancing the technology implementation science by exploring the acceptability of digital health technology among older adults and caregivers in a sociocultural context. She utilizes design thinking to create user-centered technology solutions that meet the needs of older adult users. Dr. Chung's ultimate goal is to develop a community-based informatics approach that supports older adults in aging in place, maximizing their independence and function through the end of life. Dr. Chung has taught in pre-licensure, Master's, DNP, and PhD programs at various academic institutions before she joined Emory School of Nursing. She is passionate about providing mentoring to undergraduate and graduate students in both nursing and non-nursing fields and committed to nurturing the next generation of nurse leaders and nurse scientists.