Member Insight: Yueh-Ying Han

What sparked your decision to become an epidemiologist?

While studying for my master’s degree in environmental health and exploring my research direction in Taiwan, I was drawn into how environmental factors and lifestyles can affect health and disease outcomes. Encouraged by my advisor at the time, Dr. Fung-Chang Sung, who is a remarkable environmental epidemiologist and an excellent mentor, I applied for the PhD programs in Epidemiology in the U.S. and decided to be an epidemiologist as my career.

What do you see as the biggest obstacle facing epidemiologists in the next five years?

The biggest obstacle facing epidemiologists has always been the competition for funding resources. Recently, on top of misinformation and attack on science during COVID-19 pandemic, actions by the administration have sent shock waves through our research community. In the next five years, not only will the financial support in scientific research be even more difficult to obtain, but we will also face uphill challenges to preserve science, to protect our values, to gain public trust, to advocate our work, and to cultivate the next generation of epidemiologists.

Do you have any pets?

Losing our German Shapard a few years ago was devastating. We are still thinking about it.

Why did you join SER? What keeps you coming back?

Working in the School of Medicine, I mostly collaborate with physicians and basic scientists. Joining SER allows me to obtain advanced training, access to the newly developed methods, and innovative topics in the epidemiologic research field. I also enjoy meeting new members via participating in the SER Committee and catching up with old friends at the annual meetings.

What advice do you give students who want to become epidemiologists?

“Do what you love and love what you do”.

Outside of epidemiology what do you enjoy doing?

I enjoy a short run in the neighborhood, hiking in the woods, biking around the city, and hanging out with family and friends. My husband and I also love traveling to explore places that we have not been to. It widens our perspectives on the world and makes us appreciate cultures that we do not know.

What is something that not many people know about you?

The only state that I have not visited in the U.S. is Montana.