Our Chinese Medical Program Team
The Chinese Medical Program team at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is comprised of expert, compassionate bilingual health care professionals.
Shirley Hwang, RN, MS, AOCNS
Regional Vice President of Business Development
Originally from Taiwan, Shirley Hwang attended the Taipei Medical College, School of Nursing, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She earned her Master’s Degree in nursing from the University of Illinois, School of Nursing in Chicago. She worked at UCLA Medical Center as clinical nurse specialist before coming to New Jersey in 1991 to work as an oncology advanced nurse practitioner at the East Orange VA Health Care System, where she received several government research grants to establish the oncology outcome research program.
In 2005, Shirley joined the team at Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) as Administrative Director of Cancer Services, and was promoted to Assistant Vice President of the Regional Oncology Service Line, and subsequently to Vice President of Business Development. At MMC, Shirley also established the Neuroscience Program and the ethnic-specific medical programs, including the Chinese and Russian Medical Programs. The Chinese Medical Program was subsequently expanded to other RWJBarnabas Health facilities.
It was that expertise, combined with her firsthand knowledge of the health care system, local doctors and services that eventually led to the development of the Chinese Medical Program. Often approached by friends and family, members of her church congregation and the local Chinese community for recommendations and assistance regarding medical care, the need for a coordinated approach that increased access to a broad array of services became apparent to Shirley. She approached Monmouth Medical Center’s Senior Administration about her idea to help the Chinese community access health care services – and the Chinese Medical Program was created. Now serving nearly 1,500 patients each year across Southern and Central New Jersey, the program brings much-needed health and wellness programs to more and more people throughout the state as word spreads of its many patient success stories.
Stephanie Zou
Patient Navigator and Director
Stephanie Zou is a Director with the Chinese Medical Program. Born in Harbin, China, she speaks both Mandarin Chinese and English. Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree in journalism in China and her master’s degree in Mass Communication and Information Science in the U.S., from Rutgers University. She has nearly 10 years of experience in the communication industry working for several media organizations in the tri-state area.
As a journalist, Stephanie has interviewed countless people from various walks of life. That knowledge, coupled with her personal background, gives her a unique in-depth understanding of the social, health and wellness needs of Chinese Americans. She has seen firsthand the barriers that Chinese Americans often face when seeking quality medical care, and she’s here to help program participants access the medical care and information they need and make the most of the medical benefits and resources available to them in the community.
Now a member of the Chinese Medical Program, Stephanie feels privileged to be part of a team that strives to bridge the needs of Chinese community and the abundance of medical resources at RWJBarnabas Health.
Angela Lee
Patient Navigator and Manager
Angela Lee is the patient navigator for the Chinese Medical Program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. She has more than 15 years of experience serving the Chinese community in the health care and social services fields, most recently as patient navigator for the Chinese Medical Program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. A Hong Kong native, she speaks fluent Cantonese, Mandarin and Toishanese dialects.
Angela previously served as the Director of the Chinese and Russian Medical Programs at Monmouth Medical Center, Community Executive at the American Cancer Society-Asian Initiatives and Associate Director at New York Asian Women’s Center, a community-based organization helping Asian women and children overcome domestic violence.
