Meet Kimlin
Dr. Kimlin Tam Ashing is professor, and directs the Center of Community Alliance for Research and Education (CCARE) at City of Hope Medical Center. She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. As an advocate-scientist, her work is advancing population health. She develops and implements evidenced based, culturally and community responsive health improvements. Her mission is to engage advocates and civil society in science to speed-up and ensure the public benefit of biomedical research and advancements
She serves on the Board of Directors for the African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium; American Psychosocial Oncology Society; National Advisory Council for the Asian Pacific Islander Native Hawaiian Cancer Survivors Network; and on the Executive Council of American Cancer Society, Los Angeles. She is a Life member of the Association of Black Psychologists and licensed Clinical Psychologist. She serves as Scientific Advisor to Latinas Contra Cancer, and Army of Women, and scientific partner with the Association of Black Women Physicians, Los Angeles Chapter; and The Take Action of Health Initiative--a partnership among National Urban League, Anthem and Pfizer.
She is the notable leader in examining health disparities, and cancer inequities, survivorship and quality of life. She has published over 78 articles and book chapters. Her life work is to increase the voice and representation of underrepresented groups in cancer and biomedical research. To achieve her aims, she conducts community participatory research, mentors students and trainees, and educates and empowers advocates. Her scholarship is to understand how culture, ethnicity, socio-ecological, structural and systemic contexts influence health and patient centered outcomes. She then applies this knowledge towards reducing health disparities and promoting community health improvements.
Dr. Ashing connects with community advocates and multi-sectoral partners to develop and implement community participatory programs and interventions to reduce the risk and burden of chronic illnesses, including cancer, obesity and diabetes. She is a community-minded researcher who is guided by examining the interface of society, biology, culture and person. Her studies are multicultural with diverse ethnic groups, including African Americans, Afro-Caribbean Americans, Latino Americans, Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, Filipino Americans, Korean Americans and European Americans.
As a woman of color raised in a multicultural (Chinese and Afro-Caribbean) and multilingual home, and the youngest of eight siblings, she recognized the salience of culture and context very early in her life. As the daughter of two former cancer survivors, and as a psychologist, she is compassionate and passionate about her work to reduce cancer disparities and inequities, and enhance health outcomes for underserved communities.
