CHRISTABEL CHEUNG

Specifically, Dr. Cheung has 12+ years of extensive experience solving user problems via rigorous mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) to generate scientific evidence and inclusive products and services in applied settings. Her background also includes 8 years of health and mental health services experience in executive management and clinical social work practice roles, 3 years of public relations experience in enterprise digital technology, and 6 years as a certified personal fitness trainer.

As an independent user experience (UX) research consultant advising on inclusive products and services at Jade Gangster, LLC, Dr. Cheung provides scientific and subject matter consultation on UX/UI/HCI research and advocacy for usability, end-to-end, and multi-disciplinary studies in applied settings. Jade Gangster is an independent consultancy born from her trailblazing cancer blog, acknowledged by the oncology community as one of the first to advocate for racially-minoritized young adult patients. 

In her concurrent role as assistant professor of social work at the University of Maryland, she leads Cheung Research Lab as its principal investigator with a goal to eliminate unnecessary suffering by centering patient wisdom. Dr. Cheung’s research team conducts UX research to inform human-centered products and services for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients with $9 million+ of secured grant funding. Her research activities include national and global collaborations with cross-functional scientists, engineers, and stakeholders with emphasis on underrepresented BIPOC and LGBTQ+ user audiences. 

Dr. Cheung is frequently invited to speak at national and global conferences and events and to contribute expert testimony in media interviews as an embodied BIPOC AYA patient scientist and two-time cancer survivor (Hodgkin’s lymphoma) and bone marrow transplant beneficiary. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism from University of Missouri-Columbia, a Master of Social Welfare from University of California, Berkeley, and a PhD in Social Welfare from University of California, Los Angeles.