Yi Wang

40 Under 40 Class of 2019

Indianapolis, Indiana

Assistant Professor

Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health
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The health of a nation relies on population health prevention as much as improving the health of individuals. We are better off if we improve both simultaneously and don’t only advance one at the expense of the other.

BOLD SOLUTION: Marion County in Indiana has a long history of high-polluting industries, yet no information is available for health burden of hazards across communities. Yi created the Multilayer Data Community Action Tool (MDCAT), a data platform showing a clear picture of health burden and vulnerability related to environmental and social determinants of health in Indianapolis, and led a team in collaboration with the City of Indianapolis and community organizations to advance the inclusion of health equity in the Indy2020 Urban Plan. The tool accounts for social and health disadvantages, providing critical information to assess vulnerability for communities. It utilizes data extracted from publicly available local governmental websites and can be easily replicated to other U.S. counties.