Ruofan Yao

Ruofan Yao serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Holding dual qualifications as an MD and MPH, Dr. Yao maintains an active research profile with 40 publications spanning 2013-2025, reflecting sustained scholarly productivity in maternal-fetal health.

Dr. Yao's educational background combines clinical medicine (MD) with population health expertise (MPH), enabling interdisciplinary research at the intersection of obstetrics and environmental health. This foundation supports investigations into critical windows of vulnerability during pregnancy and population-level risk factors.

Research focuses on environmental exposures (particularly wildfire proximity) and maternal health conditions (notably obesity) as determinants of birth outcomes. Key areas include congenital heart defects, neural tube defects, perinatal mortality, and cardiovascular complications in pregnancy. Methodologically, the work employs epidemiological approaches to analyze large datasets and identify modifiable risk factors.

Analysis of 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a clear trajectory toward environmental obstetrics, with 60% examining wildfire impacts on congenital anomalies and 40% investigating obesity-related pregnancy complications. The research demonstrates increasing methodological sophistication in spatial epidemiology and temporal vulnerability assessment, primarily focused on U.S. populations.

No scientific awards are documented in the available materials. Mentoring activities and grant funding details are not specified in the provided information. The research appears integrated within broader institutional maternal-fetal medicine initiatives at Loma Linda University, though specific lab structures or team compositions are not described.