Yi-an Yang, MS, MA

Hello! I'm Yi-an (pronounced as "ee-ang"), the course creator. With over a decade of experience as a health communication specialist and researcher, I've dedicated my career to advancing health equity, particularly among those with limited English proficiency (LEP). My expertise comes from providing intercultural health communication services at esteemed institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, CDC, and HHS.

My passion for health communication stems from a personal experience involving my grandma, affectionately known as "Amah" in Taiwanese. When she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, my family faced challenges in understanding her diagnosis and treatment. Frustratingly, her doctor discouraged questions from laymen, and some family members believed we should simply listen without questioning. Unconvinced by her treatment plan, Amah self-prescribed bitter melon tea and rice porridge, which worsened her blood sugar levels. It was only when she adhered to her medications that her health began to improve.

Motivated by this personal journey, I'm committed to using evidence-based models to unravel the reasons behind people's health choices. I co-investigated the "Cultural Beliefs Impacting Medication Adherence among Hispanic Patients with Chronic Conditions" study at a Federally Qualified Health Center.

I'm proud that Amah Health secured 2nd place in the National Health Equity Innovation Challenge, hosted by BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois. My mission revolves around enhancing healthcare outcomes and achieving greater equity.

My academic background includes a master's degree in health communication from Northwestern University and an additional master's degree in linguistics and translation from Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan.

Every day, I strive to prevent stories like ours from recurring in other families. I'm delighted to have you join me on this journey of change and development.