Faculty Directory

 

Wei Yang, Ph.D., M.D.

Professor

Teaching	Education	Professional
Research	Publications

Contact Information

Office Number: LR 212
Office Hours: By Appointment
Phone Number: (775) 682-7094
Email Address: weiyang@unr.edu

 

Teaching
CHS 230       CHS 724     CHS 725		Introduction to Environmental Health An introduction and comprehensive overview of the field of environmental health including risks to human health from pollution; the major routes of exposure in humans from chemical, physical, and biological contaminants in air, water, and soil. Environmental Epidemiology Introduction to environmental epidemiology, emphasizing the impact of environmental factors on human disease and the epidemiological research methodology typically used. Health and the Environment General introduction to major environmental health issues from individual, local to global. Topics include how public health related to environmental pollutants and degradation; agents of environmental contamination (physical, chemical, and biological); applications of environmental health (air, water, food, solid and liquid wastes); and emerging global and local environmental health challenges.
CHS 739     CHS 753		Cancer Epidemiology Fundamental concepts of cancer epidemiology including descriptive epidemiology carcinogenesis, incidence and mortality, site-specific risk factors and cancer control and prevention. Health Informatics Health informatics is a new and rapidly growing field, which covers the applications of information and information technology in the areas of health services and public health. The course provides students first hand skills and experience on health data collection, management, security, analysis, integration, warehouse and decision support.
CHS 780		Biostatistics in Public Health Introduction to the underlying principles of biostatistics and a variety of statistical applications in public health research.

 

Education
Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Health from the University of Nevada, Reno
M.S. in Nutrition from the University of Nevada, Reno
M.D. in Preventive Medicine from Nanjing Medical College, China

Professional
Dr. Wei Yang joined UNR in 2007 as a Professor and the Director of Nevada Center for Health Statistics and Informatics (NCHSI). Through an approach known as “Centralized Health Data Warehouse”, NCHSI extends health statistics beyond simply using statistics and computers as tools for computation to a process of knowledge acquisition, storage, retrieval, linkage, analyses, and representations of health, human and other related data. Dr. Yang and his team provide technical capacity and collaborative opportunities for researchers on statistical methodology, sophisticated database design, data collection and data analysis in the areas of behavior risk factor surveillance and environmental epidemiology.
Before joining UNR, Dr. Yang worked for seven years as a Physician and Clinical Epidemiologist in Occupational Medicine, and served ten years as the Nevada State Chief Biostatistician and Director of the State Center for Health Data and Research at Nevada State Department of Health and Human Services.

Research Interests
Dr. Yang’s research interests include utilizing population-based health informatics approaches on environmental epidemiological studies, e.g. the link between air quality and human health; and on behavior risk factor epidemiological studies including multilevel (e.g. individual and community level) analyses among health behaviors, health conditions and community built environment.

Selected Publications

• Lu, M. and Yang, W. 2011. Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis of Complex Survey Data with Application to BRFSS Data. Journal of Data Science. (In Press).

• Cook, D.M., Moulton, P.V., Sacks, T., Yang, W., 2011. Patient-reported responses to medication therapy management services: analysis of a 5-year program. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. (In Press).

• Francis, S.S., Selvin, S., Yang, W. and  Wiemels, J.L. 2011. Unusual Geospatial Patterning of Childhood Leukemia: Fallon, Nevada Leukemia Cluster. Chemico-Biological Interactions. (In press. Doi : 10.1016 / j.cbi. 2011.02.019)

• Noffsinger, S., Clements-Nolle, K., Lee, W., Bacon, R., Albers, E., Yang, W.  2011. Substance Use and Fighting among Male and Female High School Youth:  A Brief Report. Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse. (In Press).

• Lombardi, V.C., Redelman, D., Hagen, K.S., Hunter, K.W., Diamond, J.W., Smith-Gagen, J. Yang, W., and Mikovits. J.A. 2011. Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-Related Virus associated Chronic Fatigue Syndrome reveals a distinct inflammatory signature.  In Vivo-International Journal of Experimental and Clinical Pathophysiology and Drug Research. 25 (2) 307-314, 2011.

• Yang, W., Qeadan, F. and Smith-Gagen, J. 2011. Examination of Health Behaviors in a Dynamic Population. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 65:1140-1144, 2011.

• Huang, Y., Yang, W. and Omaye, S. 2011. Intimate Partner Violence, Depression and Overweight/Obesity. Aggression and Violent Behavior. 16 (2011) 108–114, 2011. 

• Yang, W., Qeadan, F., Cook, D., and Smith-Gagen, J. 2010. Heterogeneity of Odds Ratios over Time in Cross Sectional Trend Studies: An Overweight-Obesity Example from a Nationwide Population-based Study. Advances and Applications in Statistics. 17 (2), 175-190, 2010.

• Yang, W., Hardwick, S.P., Tiano, N. and Pettis, C.T.  2010. Health Care Insurance and Advance Directive Completion: A Population-based Study. Nevada Journal of Public Health. 7(1) 49-56, 2010. 

• Pelter, M.M., Carey, M., Stephens K.E., Anderson, H., Yang, W. 2010. Improving Nurses’ Ability to Identify Anatomic Location and Leads on 12-lead Electrocardiograms with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 9 (4), 218-225, 2010.

• Mburia, A., Clements-Nolle, K., Lee, W., Shadley, S., Yang, W. 2010. Intimate Partner Abuse and Depression in a Population-based Sample: Can Social Support Help? Journal of Interpersonal Violence.  25 (12) 2258-2278, 2010..

• Longo, B., Yang, W., Green, J., Crosby, F.L., Crosby, V.L. 2010. Acute health effects associated with exposure to volcanic air pollution (vog) from increased activity at Kilauea Volcano in 2008. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. 73: 20, 1370 — 1381. 2010.

• Calder, J., McVean, A., Yang, W. 2010. The Association Between History of Abuse and Current Suicidal Ideation: Results from a Population Based Survey. Journal of Family Violence. 25:205–214. 2010.

• Longo, B., Yang, W., Green, J., Longo, A., Harris, M., Bibilone, R. 2010. An Indoor Air Quality Assessment for Vulnerable Populations Exposed to Volcanic Vog From Kilauea Volcano. Family and Community Health. 33(1), 383–393. 2010. 

• Yang, W., Qeadan, F. Gagen, S. 2009. The Hispanic Epidemiological Paradox in the Fastest Growing State in the US. Hispanic Health Care International. 7 (3), 130-141, 2009.

• Cook, D. M., Lee, W., Yang, W. 2009. Discrepancy between home and workplace smoking policy among populations from multiple US states. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. 15(4) 391-401, 2009.

• Yang, W., Qeadan, F., Brown, L., Chino, M., Hall, S., Guinan, M. 2009. Ethnicity as a Risk Factor of Mother to Child Transmission among HIV Infected Mothers. Journal of Health Disparity Research and Practice. (3 (1), 15-28. 2009.

• Yang, W. and Omaye, S. 2009. Air Pollutants, Oxidative Stress and Human Health. Mutation Research -- Genetic Toxicology & Environmental Mutagenesis. 674:45–54, 2009.

• Longo, B., and Yang, W. 2008. Acute bronchitis and volcanic air pollution: A community-based case at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, USA. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A, 71: 1565–1571, 2008.

• Mukhopadhyay, S., Wendel, J., Lee, W., Yang, W. 2008. Does Birth Certificate Data Yield Useful Estimates of the Impact of Prenatal Care on Infant Health. Economic Bulletin. 9(21) 1-14, 2008.

• Devereux, P. G., Clements-Nolle, K., Clodfelter, S., Bargmann-Losche, J., Feroro, M., & Yang, W. 2007. HIV-Positive Inmates Released from Nevada's Prisons in 2001: Results from Matching Health Division and Corrections Databases. Journal of the Nevada Public Health Association. 4:11-16, 2007. 

• Shah, G., Greenway, J., Yang, W. 2007. Episiotomy and Obstetric Trauma in Nevada: Evidence from Linked Hospital Discharge and Birth Data. Journal of the Nevada Public Health Association. 4:1-10, 2007.

• Hosey, G., Llorens-Chen, S.A., Qeadan, F., Crawford D., Wilson, C., Yang, W. 2007 Assessing Behavioral Health Risks, Health Conditions, and Preventive Health Practices among American Indians/Alaska Natives in Nevada. Journal of Health Disparities and Practice. 1 (3): 29-44, 2007.

• Yu, R.B., Yang, W., Omaye, S.T. 2004. Mortality and Other Risk Factors among Infants Born to Teenage Mothers. Journal of Nanjing Medical University. 18(5): 228-234, 2004.

• Chen, L., Yang, W., Jennison, B.L., Goodrich, A., and Omaye, S. 2002. Air pollution and birth weight in northern Nevada, 1991-1999. Inhalation Toxicology. 14(2):141-158, 2002.

• Chen, L., Yang, W., Jennison, B.L., Goodrich, A., and Omaye, S. 2001. Using Two Different Statistical   Models to Compare the Associations between PM10 and Hospital Admissions for COPD. Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods. 11:233-246, 2001.

• Chen, L., Yang, W., Jennison, B.L., and Omaye, S.T. 2000. Air Particulate Pollution and Hospital Admissions for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Reno, Nevada. Inhalation Toxicology. 12:281-298, 2000.

• Chen, L., Jennison, B.L., Yang, W., and Omaye, S. 2000. Elementary School Absenteeism and Air Pollution. Inhalation Toxicology. 12:997-1016. 2000.

• Yang, W., Jennison, B.L., and Omaye, S.T. 1998.  Cardiovascular Disease Hospitalization and Ambient Levels of Carbon Monoxide. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. 55:101-112.

• Yang, W., Jennison, B.L., and Omaye, S.T. 1997.  Air Pollution and Emergency Room Visits for Asthma in Reno, Nevada.  Inhalation Toxicology. 97:9:pp15-29.

• Yang, W. and Omaye, S.T. 1997.  Heterocyclic Amines (HCA) and Asian High Temperature Cooking: Cancer and Bacterial Mutagenicity. Environmental and Nutritional Interactions. 97:1:191-211.
• Yang, W. and Read, M. 1996. Dietary Pattern Changes among Asian Immigrants. Journal of Nutrition Research. 96:16(8):pp.1277-1293.