Recent UTMB graduate combines technical expertise with commitment to health equity for vulnerable populations
Yejin Kang, PhD ‘25, MPH, who graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Public and Population Health in May 2025, has embarked on a career dedicated to understanding and eliminating healthcare disparities through data analysis and health services research.
Yejin brings a unique combination of technical expertise and lived experience to her work examining how social and structural factors create barriers to healthcare access, particularly for Asian American communities and other underserved populations.
"What first drew me to public health was seeing how social and structural factors impact people's health—especially in underserved communities," Yejin explained. "My early experiences as a health educator and my work across South Korea, the U.S., and other countries highlighted striking gaps in care and prevention."
Dissertation Challenges "Model Minority" Myth in Diabetes Care
Yejin's journey to becoming a health services researcher began with firsthand observations of healthcare inequities. Her dissertation at UTMB examined diabetes management among Asian American subgroups, challenging the "model minority" myth that often masks significant health disparities within these communities.
"I was drawn to this topic after seeing high rates of prediabetes and low awareness among Asian Americans—issues often overlooked because of the common practice of aggregating Asian subgroups in data," she noted. Her research revealed important differences in diabetes awareness and management across diverse Asian ethnic groups, highlighting how acculturation and socioeconomic status mediate healthcare experiences.
During her time at UTMB, Yejin published multiple peer-reviewed studies that shed light on critical healthcare issues. Her work includes examining preventive health service utilization among Asian young adults, analyzing racial and ethnic disparities in nursing home staffing levels, and investigating how financial performance affected personal protective equipment shortages in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mentorship and Research Experience Shape Professional Development
Dr. John Prochaska, Yejin's mentor and advisor at UTMB, played a pivotal role in her development as a researcher. "He showed me what it truly means to support students in all aspects of their journey," Yejin reflected. "Throughout my PhD, I faced several hardships, and he was always willing to help and offer guidance. He encouraged me consistently and challenged my knowledge, helping me grow as a researcher."
The hands-on research experience at UTMB proved particularly valuable. As a graduate assistant, Yejin gained experience in study design, data analysis, and manuscript preparation, eventually becoming first author on multiple publications. She also expanded her horizons by attending local, national, and international conferences, building a professional network that continues to support her work.
"Working closely with faculty as a graduate assistant and leading several research projects as the first author strengthened my research skills and taught me the importance of mentorship and collaboration," she said.
Large Dataset Analysis Reveals Hidden Healthcare Patterns
With over five years of experience in public health research, Yejin has developed expertise in analyzing large datasets including Medicare, Medicaid, and national health surveys. Her technical skills in SAS, Stata, R, and SQL enable her to uncover patterns in healthcare utilization that might otherwise remain hidden.
"I hope my work encourages public health interventions and policies to move beyond broad categories and use disaggregated data to recognize the diverse needs of Asian Americans as well as other minority and underserved populations," Yejin explained. "By highlighting barriers in diabetes awareness and management, I aim to support more culturally sensitive and targeted strategies that improve health equity."
Guidance for Aspiring Public Health Professionals
For students considering careers in public health, Yejin offers encouragement tempered with realism about the challenges ahead.
"Public health is incredibly important for all of humanity, and the work we do contributes meaningfully to improving people's health and quality of life," she advised. For PhD students specifically, she emphasized the importance of pacing: "Remember that this journey is like a marathon. Take time to care for your mental health."
She also stressed the value of curiosity and persistence: "Always ask your PI any questions you have, no matter how small or 'silly' they may seem. You never know, those questions might completely change your approach to data analysis or even inspire new ideas for your dissertation."
Career Goals Focus on Eliminating Healthcare Barriers
As she begins her career as a health services researcher and data scientist, Yejin remains focused on her core mission: addressing healthcare disparities and improving utilizations and outcomes for underserved populations.
"I want to pursue a career where I can continue to grow and contribute in these areas," she said. Her goal is to use her unique combination of technical expertise, research experience, and cultural understanding to develop interventions and policies that create more equitable healthcare access for all communities.
Yejin’s dissertation, Mediating Role of Socioeconomic Status and Acculturation on Type 2 Diabetes Management Among Asian American Subgroups, was guided by a multidisciplinary supervisory committee: Dr. John Prochaska (chair), Dr. Brian Downer, Dr. Daniel Jupiter, Dr. Huiwen Xu of Emory University, and Dr. Javier La Fontaine of UT Rio Grande Valley. Their mentorship helped shape her work into a focused contribution to the field of health services research.
Her achievements at UTMB include multiple scholarship awards, including the Laura Ray Endowment Fund Scholarship and several Jason E. Perlman Memorial Scholarships. She maintains memberships in professional organizations including Sigma Xi, the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science, and the American Public Health Association.
Despite facing the additional challenge of completing her PhD while caring for her newborn baby boy, she persevered. "During my PhD journey, I faced significant personal challenges that tested my resilience," she shared. "I learned the value of perseverance, flexibility, and reaching out for support when necessary."
For Yejin Kang, the path from UTMB to her new role as a health services researcher represents an opportunity to make meaningful contributions to public health—one dataset, one study, and one policy recommendation at a time.
Dr. Kang will continue her work as a health services researcher and data scientist, focusing on health disparities and data-driven solutions. After defending her dissertation in April 2025, she earned her PhD in Population Health Sciences from UTMB in May. Her next chapter builds on her commitment to using disaggregated data to inform culturally responsive public health interventions.