Dr. Ryan Suk (pronunciation: Rye-un Sook; pronouns: she/they) is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing with a secondary appointment at the Department of Health Policy and Management at Rollins School of Public Health. Dr. Suk also serves as a Faculty Consultant for Health Economics & Outcomes Research (HEOR) at the Winship Center for Cancer Health Equity Research of Winship Cancer Institute. She is a Health Economist and Decision Scientist by training and focuses on data-driven, community-engaged, and process-embedded research to advance cancer health equity and improve healthcare efficiency. 

Dr. Suk's research focuses on HPV-associated cancer prevention and control, and she is dedicated to tailoring efforts for under-recognized/underserved populations, including LGBTQIA+ communities, Asian American communities, socio-economically disadvantaged children, and older adults (Project "A Second Chance"; 27-45 years for HPV vaccination and 66+ years for cervical cancer prevention). She is especially interested in integrating economic evaluation, community engagement, and business process models to optimize resources and their allocation by developing and implementing various decision support or navigation tools to enhance HPV-associated cancer prevention and control. Dr. Suk is also deeply committed to understanding public discourse to better address common concerns and misinformation surrounding HPV-associated cancer prevention with empathy and clarity. Her research has been published in JAMA Health Forum, JAMA Network Open, JAMA Pediatrics, JNCI, LGBT Health, Journal of General Internal Medicine, and more. 

They are also passionate about mentoring and teaching, with a special focus on enhancing knowledge in health economics and decision science among students across diverse disciplines, including nursing and other clinical fields.

Dr. Suk received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration (BBA) from Korea University (Seoul, Korea), an MS in Economics from the University of Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah), and a PhD in Health Economics from The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) School of Public Health (Houston, Texas). Before joining Emory, they served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and at UTHealth School of Public Health.

Outside the academic sphere, they enjoy backyard birding & squirreling, as well as weight training. Dr. Suk is a Seoul (Korea) native.

1. Suk R, Xie Z, Spencer JC, Lemieux-Cumberlege A, Hong YR. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority adults in the US and their unmet medical needs and telehealth use due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Annals of LGBTQ Public and Population Health. 2024. doi:10.1891/LGBTQ-2022-0029
2. Vu M, Zhu Y, Trinh DD, Hong YR, Suk R. Awareness and knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine among Asian American adults by origin group: A 2014-2019 population-based analysis. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2023. doi: 10.1007/s11606-023-08485-w
3. Hong YR, Xie Z, Lee J, Turner K, Suk R. Cancer Survivors’ Unmet Healthcare Needs and Emergency Department Utilization during the COVID-19 Pandemic. AJPM Focus. 2023. doi:10.1016/j.focus.2023.100065
4. Suk R, Liao K, Bauer C, Basil C, Li M. Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Administration Trends among Commercially Insured Adults Aged 27-45 Before and After Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommendation Change in the US, 2007-2020. JAMA Health Forum. 2022. doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.4716
5. Bauer C, Zhang K, Xiao Q, Lu J, Hong YR, Suk R. County-level social vulnerability and breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening rates in the US, 2018. JAMA Network Open. 2022. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.33429
6. Suk R, Hong YR, Rajan SS, Xie Z, Zhu Y, Spencer JC. Assessment of US Preventive Services Taskforce-concordant cervical cancer screening rates and reasons for underscreening by age, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, rurality, and insurance, 2005 to 2019. JAMA Network Open. 2022. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.29913
7. Suk R, Hong YR, Wasserman RM, Swint JM, Azenui NB, Sonawane K, Tsai AC*, Deshmukh AA*. [* Authors with equal contribution] Analysis of Suicide after Cancer Diagnosis by US County-Level Income and Rural vs Urban Designation, 2000-2016. JAMA Network Open. 2021. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.29913
8. Deshmukh AA*, Suk R*, Shiels MS, Sonawane K, Nyitray AG, Liu Y, Gaisa MM, Palefsky JM, Sigel K. [* Authors with equal contribution] Recent Trends in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anus Incidence and Mortality in the United States, 2001-2015. JNCI. 2020. doi:10.1093/jnci/djz219
9. Suk R, Montealegre JR, Nemutlu GS, Nyitray AG, Schmeler KM, Sonawane K*, Deshmukh AA*. Public Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Receipt of Vaccination Recommendations. JAMA Pediatrics. 2019. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.3105
10. Suk R, Mahale P, Sonawane K, Sikora A, Chhatwal J, Schmeler K, Sigel K, Cantor SB, Chiao EY*, Deshmukh AA*. Trends in Risks for Second Primary Cancers Associated with Index Human Papillomavirus Associated Cancers. JAMA Network Open. 2018. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.1999
11. Sonawane K, Suk R, Chiao EY, Chhatwal J, Qiu P, Wilkin T, Nyitray AG, Sikora A, Deshmukh AA. Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection: Differences in Prevalence Between Sexes and Concordance with Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection, NHANES 2011 to 2014. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017. doi: 10.7326/M17-1363

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Complete List of Published Work: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/ryan.suk.1/bibliography/public/

Dr. Suk’s primary objectives in teaching and mentoring are to: 1) provide a strong foundation in core concepts, 2) inspire students to pursue independent advanced learning, and 3) connect class or research material to their individual research or professional interests. Dr. Suk focuses on foundational teaching for students at all levels, aiming to clarify key concepts and encourage independent learning. By providing engaging materials and linking class content to students’ interests, she strives to make learning relevant and personal. As an educator and mentor, Dr. Suk’s ultimate goal is to ensure that the students are able to connect the knowledge they gain in class to their own personal stories. Moreover, Dr. Suk advocates for a classroom where students feel comfortable answering questions, speaking up, and embracing mistakes, which helps alleviate imposter syndrome and fosters a supportive and welcoming learning atmosphere.

She has taught various graduate-level courses, such as Advanced Health Economics, Economic and Social Determinants of Health, Health Services Research Methods, and Economic Evaluation, and has mentored students and trainees on topics related to data analysis, mathematical modeling (e.g., Markov model, microsimulation), and health disparities.

My research vision is, "Sustainable, Efficient & Inclusive Population Health Improvement"

1. Clinical topic: HPV-associated cancer prevention and control​
2. Method expertise: Economic evaluation, decision modeling & systems science; quantitative data analysis
3. Population focus: Under-recognized and/or underserved populations, including older adults outside the routine HPV vaccination or cervical cancer screening age groups, LGBTQ+ individuals, Asian American communities, and socioeconomically disadvantaged children.

• 2025 Emerging Leaders Fellow, National HPV Vaccination Roundtable, American Cancer Society
• Top reviewer for 2023, JAMA Network Open 
• Selected trainee for the 3rd Annual SGM Cancer CARE Workshop (NIH1R25CA240113, SGM Cancer CARE, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center) Feb 29-Mar 2, 2024
• Selected trainee for NIH All of Us data and LGBTQ+ research training, PRIDEnet Research Basecamp (PRIDEnet, NIH All of Us, Stanford University) Mar 23-24, 2023  
• SPHSA Research Day 2020, 3rd Place Award, The University of Texas HSC, 2020
• (Title: Risks of Suicidal Deaths after a Cancer Diagnosis by County-level Socioeconomic and Metropolitan Status in the US, 1992-2016) 
• People with AIDS Public Health in the Americas Scholarship, The University of Texas HSC, 2019
• Department of Management, Policy and Community Health Scholarship, The University of Texas HSC, 2019
• School of Public Health Travel Fund, The University of Texas HSC, 2019
• Grinter Fellowship, University of Florida, 2016-2019
• Graduate Student Council Travel Grant, University of Florida, Spring 2018 
• Thesis Grant, Department of Economics, University of Utah, 2015-2016