Yao Tian is a health economist and health services researcher with expertise in mental health services, pediatric health care delivery, and the use of large administrative databases to evaluate health care quality, outcomes, and policy. She is joining the Department of Health Economics and Policy at the Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern Medical Center as an Associate Professor.
Yao's research focuses on improving health care delivery for children by examining access to care, quality measurement, care transitions, and payment policy. She has extensive experience working with national and state administrative databases, including HCUP and Medicaid claims, to inform evidence-based policy. Her work has been supported by federal (e.g., AHRQ) funding, and actively collaborate with clinicians, health systems, and policymakers to translate research into practice.