Fan Yang
Assistant Professor
What I Do
I am passionate about harnessing the power of technology, particularly AI, to make health care more accessible and equitable for marginalized populations. My work is driven by the goal of addressing health disparities and promoting health equity. By focusing on the ethical and societal dimensions of technology, I aim to create more effective, accessible interventions that can positively impact the lives of underserved communities. My hope is that through these innovations, we can bridge gaps in health care and provide meaningful solutions to those most in need.
Education
Ph.D. in Social Work – University of Alabama
Master of Social Work – University of Alabama
B.E. in Software Engineering – Luoyang Normal University, China
Research
Dr. Fan Yang’s research explores the prevention of risky behaviors and the promotion of protective behaviors that contribute to better health outcomes, particularly among marginalized populations. Her interdisciplinary work integrates social work and technology, with a focus on leveraging AI to improve access to health care services and enhance the quality of health interventions. Specifically, Dr. Yang’s research spans three key areas: utilizing AI as an analytical tool to examine socio-ecological factors in disease prevention; analyzing the impact of AI on risky health behaviors among at-risk populations; and developing accessible, cost-effective AI-driven health care solutions. Additionally, her work addresses the ethical implications of AI, including data privacy and algorithmic bias, with a focus on reducing health care disparities and advancing health equity for underserved communities.
Selected Publications
Selected First and Corresponding Author Publications:
- Artificial intelligence in health care: bibliometric analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(7), e18228.
- Existing mobile phone apps for self-care management of people with Alzheimer disease and related dementias: systematic analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research Aging, 3(1), e15290.
- The role of strains in negative emotions and bullying behaviors of school-aged children. Children and Youth Services Review, 94, 290-297.