PROJECT: Targeted mental health program for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander youth that provides culturally sensitive mental health services, including curriculum on body image and eating disorders, gaming addiction, among other topics.

Hannah Lee is a third-year MD/MPH student at the David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) at UCLA and UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. A graduate of Brown University with a concentration in public health, Lee has focused her academic and professional efforts on addressing mental health disparities and promoting equity in underserved communities.

Born to immigrant parents in Los Angeles, Lee gained early insight into the cultural stigmas surrounding mental health — an understanding deepened by her personal recovery from an eating disorder. This lived experience inspires her ongoing mission to champion accessible, culturally attuned care for vulnerable populations.

Prior to medical school, as a Fulbright Research Scholar in South Korea, Lee conducted research on culturally sensitive approaches to adolescent mental health care. This experience fueled her dedication to bridging cultural contexts and improving mental health outcomes for marginalized groups.

At UCLA, Lee co-founded A-Team Med with DGSOM medical student Matthew Yan, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing mental health disparities and leadership gaps within AANHPI communities. Their “Accepting All Bodies” curriculum, previously implemented at the Busan Foreign School, exemplifies their tailored approach — promoting body empowerment and addressing eating disorders among Asian youth. In addition, Lee co-leads the Body Empowerment Project at UCLA, which utilizes research-validated, weight-neutral strategies to reduce high mortality rates associated with eating disorders in underserved communities throughout Los Angeles.

Recognized as a Klingenstein Fellow, Lee’s career trajectory is defined by her commitment to cultural psychiatry and public health leadership. She strives to create impactful, evidence-based interventions that challenge stigma and reshape mental health services for populations often underrepresented in care utilization and resources.