Kelly Baek, PhD

Assistant Professor, Social Work and Social Ecology

Contact Information

Email kbaek@llu.edu
Phone 909-379-7583
Fax 909-379-7594

Department of Social Work and Social Ecology, Office 201E
Loma Linda University
1898 Business Center Dr., San Bernardino, CA 92408

Degrees and Certifications

  • PhD, Social Policy and Social Research - Loma Linda University, 2018
  • MSW, Social Work - Wayne State University, 2009
  • Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor for adults

Areas of Specialization

  • Mental health
  • Culturally-sensitive interventions
  • Program development and evaluation
  • Community-based research

Current Research Projects

Professional Memberships

  • National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

Recent Publications and Presentations

Publications

 

  • Alemi, Q., Stempel, C., Montgomery, S., Koga, P. M., Smith, V., Baek, K., Fisher, C. C., & Malika, N. (2021). Prevalence and Social-Ecological Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence in a Conflict Zone-Evidence From the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey. Violence Against Women, 10778012211051398. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012211051398.
  • Freeman, K., Baek, K., Ngo, M., Karas, E., Cirtron, S., & Montgomery, S. (2021). Exploring the usability of a community resiliency model approach in a high need/low research traumatized community. Community Mental Health Journal, 10.1007/s10597-021-00872-z. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-021-00872-z.
  • Baek, K., Oritz, L., Alemi, Q., Mann, S., Kumar, A., & Montgomery, S. (2020). Factors influencing formal and informal resource utilization for mental distress among Korean Americans in southern California. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-020-01050-1
  • Baek, K., Mann, S. K., Alemi, Q., Kumar, A., Newman, P., Montgomery, S. (2018). Impact of heart disease risk factors, respiratory illness, mastery, and quality of life on the health status of individuals living near a major rail yard in southern California. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15, 2765. doi. 10.3390/ijerph15122765.
  • Alemi, Q., Siddiq, H., Baek, K., Sana, H., Stempel, C., Aziz, N., & Montgomery, S. (2017). Effect of perceived discrimination on depressive symptoms in 1st- and 2nd-generation Afghan-Americans. Journal of Primary Prevention, 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s10935-017-0492-5.  
  • Alemi, Q., Stempel, C., Koga, P. M., Smith, V., Danis, D., Baek, K., & Montgomery, S. (2017). Determinants of health care service utilization among first generation Afghan migrants in Istanbul. International Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 14, 201. doi. 10.3390/ijerph402020201.
  • Alemi, Q., Stempel, C., Baek, K., Lares, L., Villa, P., Danis, D., & Montgomery, S. (2016). Impact of post migration living difficulties on the mental health of Afghan migrants residing in Istanbul. International Journal of Population Research, vol. 2016, Article ID 7690697, 8 pages. doi:10.1155/2016/7690697.
  • Calvo, R., Ortiz, L., Villa, P. & Baek, K. (2018). Latinxs in social work education: A call for action. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 38(3), 264-276.

Presentations

  • Baek, K., Freeman, K., & Montgomery, S. (2020, October). Evaluation of the community resiliency training innovation project in San Bernardino County. Paper presented at the meeting of the 148th Annual American Public Health Association Conference, San Francisco, CA.
  • Lister, Z., Freeman, K., Baek, K., Ngo, M., Chia, D., Montgomery, S. (2020, October). Implementation of a wellness program within a large healthcare facility. Paper presented at the meeting of the 148th Annual American Public Health Association Conference, San Francisco, CA.
  • Ngo, M., Freeman, K., Baek, K., Truong, S., Lister Z., & Montgomery, S. (2020, October). Impact of a low-dose wellness intervention on decreasing stress among healthcare professionals. Paper presented at the meeting of the 148th Annual American Public Health Association Conference, San Francisco, CA.
  • Truong, S., Baek, K., Freeman, K., & Montgomery, S. (2020, October). Evaluating the effectiveness of the community resiliency model intervention on veterans. Paper presented at the meeting of the 148th Annual American Public Health Association Conference, San Francisco, CA.
  • Chia, D., Ngo, M., Baek, K., Freeman, K., & Montgomery, S. (2020, August). Effect of low-dose intervention on burnout for healthcare professionals in clinical settings. Poster presented at the meeting of the 128th Annual American Psychological Association Conference, Washington, D. C.
  • Truong, S., Baek, K., Freeman, K., Huelett, B., Ngo, M., & Montgomery, S. (2020, August). Analyzing the impact of a low-dosage intervention for PTSD symptoms among healthcare professionals. Poster presented at the meeting of the 128th Annual American Psychological Association Conference, Washington, D.C. 
  • Baek, K., Mann, S. K., Alemi, Q., Kumar, A., Ortiz, L., Evans, C., & Montgomery, S. (2019, November). Factors that impact mental health of Korean American church leaders in southern California. Poster presented at the meeting of the 147th Annual American Public Health Association Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Chara, R., Kumar, A., Mann, S., Chara, G., Baek, K., Singh, R., Roberts, L., & Montgomery, S. (2019, November). Exploring Punjabi-American women's gender-role experiences in southern California. Poster presented at the meeting of the 147th Annual American Public Health Association Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Mann, S. K., Kumar, A., Baek, K., Mann, R., & Montgomery, S. (2018, November). Cross-cultural aging perspectives: Exploring health equities among diverse older adults in Southern California. Poster presented at the meeting of the 146th Annual American Public Health Association Conference, San Diego, CA.
  • Montgomery, S., Mann, S. K., Baek, K., Montgomery, C., Sherzai, D., & Montgomery, S. (2018, November). Exploring cognitive needs, perceptions, and barriers to resource-seeking among monolingual Spanish-speaking Latino older adults. Paper presented at the meeting of the 146th Annual American Public Health Association Conference, San Diego, CA.

Community Engagement

  • Mental health consultant for Korean Seventh-day Adventist churches (2018-present)
  • Research mentor for Center for Health Disparities & Molecular Medicine (CHDMM) students (2017-present)