Xiang Gao

Xiang Gao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health and Education at the University of North Carolina–Greensboro (UNC-G). His research focuses on socioecological factors influencing health disparities, particularly among vulnerable populations such as African Americans and Asian Americans. Key areas include cardiovascular epidemiology, injury prevention, firearm violence, and adolescent driving behaviors. He holds a PhD from Colorado State University and an MPH in Epidemiology from Indiana University. Dr. Gao teaches epidemiology, quantitative methods, and data analysis at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He serves on the Undergraduate Program Committee (UPC) at UNC-G and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.

Dr. Gao’s educational background includes:

• PhD in Public Health, Colorado State University
• MPH in Epidemiology, Indiana University Bloomington
• Postdoctoral Training: Columbia Center for Injury Science and Prevention

His research interests span:

• Socioecological determinants of health disparities
• Firearm violence prevention and policy
• Adolescent driving behaviors and safety
• Injury prevention in school populations
• Advocacy for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) representation in academia

Key research trends reflected in his articles include:

• Interdisciplinary analysis of environmental and policy impacts on public health
• Quantitative exploration of mediation/moderation effects in health disparities
• Focus on marginalized populations through intersectional lens

Dr. Gao actively advocates for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives targeting underrepresented AAPI scholars. His work bridges epidemiological research with pedagogical innovation in health education programs.