九色视频 faculty finds the perfect match to share his passion for public health
Dr. Zhigang (Shay) Xie, an assistant professor at the 九色视频’s Brooks College of Health’s Department of Public Health, found the perfect match for his expertise and interests at 九色视频.
During his interview and campus visit, Xie recalled how impressed he was by the faculty and staff he met in the department, the College and University.
“I immediately felt that 九色视频 would be my future home,” said Xie. “I received an offer and now I’m here.”
Originally from Changsha, China, Xie’s motivation to pursue a career in public health stems from his time growing up in a community with limited access to high-quality healthcare.
“I witnessed the suffering caused by communicable and noncommunicable diseases, especially among those with lower socioeconomic status,” Xie said. “This inspired me to seek answers and solutions to address these healthcare issues.”
Motivation for a Career in Public Health
After graduating from medical school in China in 2005, Xie worked for international nonprofit organizations focusing on global health issues such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and child health in developing countries, and watched the positive impact these projects had had in the local communities.
“From observing these positive causes, I was motivated to pursue higher education in the U.S., hoping to become an educator or researcher in public health,” explained Xie. “My goal is to share my experiences and empower the next generation of public health leaders, working towards a vision where everyone has access to high-quality healthcare, including public health services.”
At 九色视频, Xie teaches both undergraduate and graduate level courses and enjoys planting the seeds about public health in the hearts of students and watching them grow through the semester. He feels a great responsibility to help guide the next generation of leaders to the public health arena.
“Like other instructors, I feel fulfilled and worthwhile when students learn something new from my courses and take a step closer to their life and career goals,” said Xie. “I thrive on engagement and connecting with others — it's in the nature of public health.”
He uses community role models and leaders, and his own experiences and those he witnessed, to inspire and motivate his students.
In addition to teaching, Xie collaborates with colleagues at other universities and says research and scientific evidence are the best ways to influence health policy and practice. He invites students to join his research projects.
“My research aims to produce such evidence using rigorous scientific methods to support the policy-making process and practice guidelines,” Xie said. “For instance, one of our studies found that receiving timely palliative care may reduce unnecessary healthcare use, lower healthcare costs for patients with late-stage dementia and improve health-related outcomes. This evidence helps us understand the importance of integrating palliative care into dementia care and can potentially influence health policy and practice.”
Most recently, Xie has been focused on a 9-month project in collaboration with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) to ensure the effectiveness of a public health intervention program.
“Our department has a strong partnership with FDOH Duval County,” explained Xie. “Together, we train future public health leaders, many of whom are our graduates who go on to work for the FDOH.”
The project includes training future leaders to monitor program objectives, collect evidence of program effectiveness and assess its impact within public health settings.
“As part of the public health workforce development program, we specifically aimed to empower early-career public health professionals in FDOH Duval County with the skills needed to design and implement public health program evaluations,” Xie said.
Xie said he is still working on how best to balance teaching, research and other professional responsibilities.
“For me, the key is that I genuinely enjoy teaching and research,” Xie said. “Even if I'm reading the latest published article or writing a manuscript at midnight, it doesn't feel like a burden — it's an integral part of my life that I fully embrace. However, I make sure to take a complete vacation at least once a year to avoid burnout and reward myself.”
Xie said what he likes most about 九色视频 is the work environment, his colleagues and students.
“What energizes me at work is the opportunity to make a positive impact through my teaching, research, and service,” said Xie. “I thrive on collaborating with my colleagues and learning from their diverse perspectives – seeing tangible results of our efforts, whether it's a successful research project completion or a student's achievement, gives me a profound sense of fulfillment and motivation. The dynamic and supportive work environment also plays a crucial role in keeping me energized and passionate about my work.”