Hao Zhang

Hao Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Organization at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), School of Public Health. He also holds multiple associate scientist appointments at UAB’s School of Medicine, including in the Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE), Center for AIDS Research, and Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS). He joined UAB in October 2023.

His educational background includes a PhD in Health Care Related fields from Texas A&M University (2019) and an MPH in Epidemiology from Peking University (2015). He completed postdoctoral training at Weill Cornell Medicine in Population Health Sciences (2019–2023).

Hao Zhang’s research focuses on health policy and health economics, particularly quantitative analysis of substance control policies such as Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs), state opioid limit laws, and medical marijuana legalization. He uses large claims databases and econometric models to study disparities in substance use disorder treatment and opioid prescribing, especially among vulnerable populations like Medicaid beneficiaries and cancer patients. His work also extends to aging, environmental health, and healthcare quality in China.

His recent publications span high-impact journals including JAMA, JAMA Network Open, JAMA Oncology, The Lancet Healthy Longevity, and the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. These articles reveal strong trends in opioid policy evaluation, healthcare access for older adults, and geriatric health outcomes in low- and middle-income settings, with a particular emphasis on China. His methodological expertise includes difference-in-differences, longitudinal data analysis, and psychometric validation.

• Published in top-tier journals including JAMA and The Lancet Healthy Longevity
• Frequent collaborations with researchers from Weill Cornell, UAB, and Chinese institutions
• Research funded by extramural grants, including from Weill Cornell Medical College

Hao Zhang has secured grant funding for research on the intended and unintended consequences of state opioid policies on cancer pain treatment. While no direct mentions of student advising are found, his active research program suggests engagement in mentoring. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and maintains a presence on Google Scholar and LinkedIn.