Yan Du, PhD, MPH, RN
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
I have an interdisciplinary training background in Nursing, Community Health and Behavioral Science, and Aging Studies. I am dedicated to improving chronic disease management (metabolic and mental health), and promoting physical and cognitive function for healthy aging through health technologies and lifestyle interventions. My research agenda focuses on: 1) developing precision lifestyle interventions that integrate social factors, lifestyle modifications, and biomarkers for chronic disease management; 2) promoting healthy aging through a whole-person health approach using mind-body exercises; and 3) implementing technology-assisted lifestyle interventions in clinical and community settings. During my postdoctoral training, I was honored as a CAST/NIH TL1 scholar in translational science. As a faculty member, I was selected as a Mentored Research Career Development RL5 scholar through the NIH/NIA-supported San Antonio Claude D. Pepper Center in aging research and implementation science. With extensive experience in digital health and lifestyle interventions, I collaborate across disciplines to advance evidence-based lifestyle care that enhance chronic disease management and promote healthy aging.
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Professional Background
Education
- 2017 - PhD - Aging Studies - School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
- 2012 - MS - Public Health - Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
- 2005 - BS - Nursing - School of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Chengdu, China
Highlights
Licensures and Certifications
- CDC Lifestyle Coach Certificate
- Entering Mentoring Certificate
- Research Coordinator Certificate of Excellence
- Registered Nurse, State of Texas
Honors and Awards
- 2025 - Early Career Scholar Award, 2025 Claude D Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (OAIC) National Coordinating Center, Rockville, MD
- 2024 - Travel Scholarship, 2024 NIH/NIA R13 Workshop: Evidence to Impact: Accelerating Implementation of Aging Research, Chicago, IL
- 2023 - 2023 Best 25 Nurses of South-Central Texas, San Antonio Nursing Consortium, San Antonio, TX
- 2023 - 2023 Top 100 Nominees of Best 25 Nurses of South-Central Texas, San Antonio Nursing Consortium, San Antonio, TX
- 2023 - 2025 Mentored Research Career Development RL5 scholar, San Antonio Pepper Center (NIH/NIA, P30AG044271)
- 2022, 1st place abstract presentation, the 7th Cardio Renal conference
- 2019 - current Translational Science Training TL1 Award (TL1 TR002647), NIH
Appointments
- 2020 - 2025 - Assistant Professor - School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
- 2020 - Postdoctoral Researcher - School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
- 2017 - Postdoctoral Researcher - School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
- 2010 - Staff Nurse - Intensive Care Unit, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, China
- 2007 - Staff Nurse - Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (Fellowship Training Program), Beijing ChaoYang Hospital, Beijing, China
- 2005 - Staff Nurse - Clinical Rotation, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, China
- 2004 - Nurse Intern - Clinical Rotation, Sichuan People’s Hospital, Chengdu, China
- 2021-2022 - Interim co-director, Center on Smart and Connected Health Technologies - School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
- 2025-current - Associate Professor - School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
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- Instruction & Training
- Research & Grants
- Service
- Publications