Shu Phua specializes in qualitative research and evaluation of public health programs and initiatives. Her interests and project work cover a range of topics, including health equity, social determinants of health, and behavioral health.
Since joining Mathematica in 2022, Phua has worked on a variety of projects, including state, foundation, and federal contracts. In previous roles, she has supported cross-state analysis of 1115 Substance Use Disorder Demonstrations, conducted a pandemic preparedness needs assessment for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and provided technical assistance to multisector coalitions addressing social determinants of health on the Getting Further Faster Community of Practice project. Currently, she supports qualitative data collection on the evaluation of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative in California. Phua also supports the evaluation of two Robert Wood Johnson Foundation projects. For the Transforming Health and Health Care Systems project, she has developed theories of change and conducted qualitative data collection. For the Transforming Public Health Data Systems project, she has developed ecosystem maps of the public health data system and supported qualitative data collection and analysis.
Phua has an M.P.H. with a concentration in health policy, law, and ethics from the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine. She also holds a B.A. in biology with a minor in psychology from the University of Virginia.