Robert Yao is one of seven graduate students in SCI’s new Ph.D. program in the Department of Biomedical Informatics. He completed his undergraduate studies with a bachelor’s of science in biology and started his graduate training in medicine in his hometown, Chicago, IL.

While on leave from his medical studies, Yao strengthened his proficiency in computers. He took the medical information he learned from his lectures and created a template for disease management. He then applied that template to other diseases and conditions.

After several people saw the template that he developed, they pointed out that his work was within the field of biomedical informatics. From there, Yao decided to do two things. The first thing was to get a patent for the template he created to organize information about disease management. The second was to apply for admission to graduate programs in biomedical informatics. He noticed a trend during his application process about the key faculty members, explaining, “I decided to come to ASU simply because it seemed like all the top people in the field were being attracted here.” Prior to coming to ASU, Yao explored his interest in computers by taking them apart and putting them back together as a hobby. His academic work exposes him to the underlying theories that explain how the hardware and software of a computer works. Using computer science theory and his practical experience, he is poised to expand his research into applications health care providers use on a daily basis.

As an undergraduate student, Yao excelled in the math and sciences. He advanced from most of the introductory math and skipped to his favorite kind of math class—advanced calculus. His biology coursework such as genetics helped provide the foundation for Yao’s interest. “What fascinated me most about genetics is that it was computer programming on a biological level. The genes and proteins interaction were in the same biologic form of the same “if…then” statements that computer programmers use. I ended up picking a biology route that was very much like computer programming,” said Yao. His previous training gives him added perspective about the tools physicians and health care providers need to organize health information. In the coming year, Yao will be working as a research assistant under BMI Chair Robert Greenes. He adds, “I would like to take advantage of the partnerships ASU is forming and continue my medical education and training while doing research here in Arizona.” For now he has his research on information management for disease to look forward to en route to achieving his goal of obtaining a M.D. and Ph.D.