Faculty Research Spotlight

What brought you to the UAB School of Public Health?

During my postdoctoral training, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Bisakha Sen on a research project examining HCV treatment among Medicaid enrollees, a joint effort between UAB and Weill Cornell Medicine. Around the time I was on the job market, the department had just acquired the national Medicaid claims database (TAF) and was seeking to recruit someone with expertise in working with these data. The position aligned closely with my research experience. I was especially drawn to the department’s substantial investment in TAF data and its strong commitment to supporting data-driven health services research.

What is the broad focus of your research?

My research focuses on the ongoing opioid epidemic in the United States, particularly the impact of federal and state policy responses. In recent years, a range of policies have been implemented, such as prescription drug monitoring programs, opioid prescribing limits, methadone take-home flexibilities, and more recently the removal of the X-waiver. I am interested in understanding how these policies have influenced opioid prescribing patterns and access to treatment for opioid use disorder, as well as how their effects vary across different populations. I am especially interested in evaluating potential unintended consequences, such as whether these policies create barriers to appropriate opioid therapy for patients with legitimate clinical needs.

Where did you receive your training and degrees?

I received my MPH degree in epidemiology from Peking University, China, and PhD degree in health services research from Texas A&M University. I did my postdoc training at the Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine.

What is the most exciting project you are currently working on?

The most exciting project I’m currently working on is a pilot grant I received from the Center for Engagement in Disability Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. In this project, I examine trends in opioid use and the impact of opioid-related policies among the Medicaid disabled population using national Medicaid claims data. Individuals with disabilities have a disproportionately high prevalence of opioid use, yet those covered by Medicaid have received relatively limited attention, largely due to data constraints. With the availability of the newly released TAF data, this project aims to fill an important gap in the literature and provide policy-relevant evidence on how opioid policies affect a highly vulnerable population.

What is your favorite self-authored manuscript?

My favorite self-authored manuscript, “Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Mandates and Opioids Dispensed Following Emergency Department Encounters for Patients With Sickle Cell Disease or Cancer With Bone Metastasis opens a new website,” is a research letter we published in JAMA examining the impact of PDMP mandates on opioid prescribing in the emergency department for patients with sickle cell disease or cancer with bone metastases. We found that PDMP mandates were associated with a significant reduction in opioid prescribing during ED visits for these patients, despite opioid therapy is typically necessary to treatment the severe pain associated with both conditions and these patients were generally not targeted by state opioid policies. This study represents one of the earlier efforts to document the unintended consequences of opioid policies, especially for populations with legitimate pain management needs.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of so far in your career?

One professional accomplishment I’m really proud of is successfully securing intramural funding to support the development of my research program. Since joining UAB, I have been awarded two pilot grants from UAB centers as well as a Spark Award from the School of Public Health. These awards allow me to build a strong foundation for my independent research by supporting projects that leverage large administrative claims database to evaluate opioid-related policies and their impact on vulnerable populations.

What is the coolest training or program you've been a part of, or your favorite conference you've attended?

My favorite conference is AcademyHealth.

What kind of research would you like to be doing that you haven't yet had the opportunity to do?

I am interested in examining opioid use among individuals dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. This population has a high prevalence of disability and opioid use, yet they may experience fragmented care due to the separation of coverage across the two programs.

If you had the funding to answer any one research question, what would that question be?

I would examine whether reductions in opioid prescribing are associated with increased use of non-prescribed opioids, such as illicit opioids.

If you weren't in academia, what would your career be?

Probably a programmer.