Darren Liu

Dr. Darren Liu joined the West Virginia University School of Public Health in the fall semester of 2022 as a professor in the Department of Health Policy, Management & Leadership. He is a fellow of The Gerontological Society of America and a selected member of The Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee for the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. He also served on the board of directors for The Association of University Programs in Health Administration and has co-chaired diversity and inclusion sessions for both ASPPH and AUPHA. 

Tell us a little about yourself.

Growing up in Taiwan, I had come to the U.S. in 2002 for graduate education. As the youngest child in my family, I had gained full familial support (especially by my father) to study abroad and to practice our family culture that welcomes and respects the varied cultures of people from everywhere. As an international student, I experienced a range of difficulties at different stages but was able to make it through because of ample support from others including peer students, faculty and even a strange bus rider. Each of these practiced the same values. Later, I organized an International Student Organization at the University of Pittsburgh where I facilitated school-wide activities to support international students. We also mentored them. Many of the initial group later became mentors of others. 

What are some of your research areas?

My research areas include nursing home quality, long-term care administration, diversity and inclusion, and healthcare disparities. I am the author or co-author of 40+ peer review papers and book chapters. I have also made over 60 conference presentations and lectures including those in which I served as a discussant. I am also a senior author of two textbooks: "Isms in Health Care Human Resources: A Concise Guide to Workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" and "The Challenges of Health Disparities: Implications and Actions for Health Care Professionals." I am currently working on a third textbook.

What does public health mean to you?

Public health and healthcare administration are the same in that they both heavily rely on the social context of health like cultural competency, healthcare equities and social determinants of health. These two related, but separate, socio-disciplines are also vastly different. 

The key issues are differently defined and differently approached. For example, while public health focuses on population, health care administration addresses the business side of healthcare.

Is there anything you’d like both future and current students to know?

I hope our students will inherit an interest in those issues that are the pride of our University by appreciating diversity and generating approaches to its implementation before they exit. Such a heritage is key to the very core. In retrospect, public health is not only respect but also caring for others!