The start of something new - Q&A with Yuan MA
Ms Yuan MA is a doctoral student at The George Institute for Global Health at Peking University Health Science Center. She has been with the Institute for two years as intern and will further her study at Queen Mary University, London.
Yuan was born in Henan, the most populated province in China. After graduating from School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, she continued her study in Peking University Health Science Center and became a PhD student of Professor Wu, majoring in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. That was how she learnt about The George Institute and began her connection with it.
During her two-year at the Institute, Yuan has been fully engaged in the salt reduction study among school children conducted Changzhi, Shanxi province, known as the School EduSalt project. She participated in every step of the study from the very beginning and gained valuable experience.
“This is a brilliant international collaboration,” said Yuan, “the field study has been finished and we are now analyzing the data collected. The result, as we can tell now, will be very positive and I feel so proud.”
“As for me, I’ve made great progress with the help and support from Professor Yangfeng WU and my colleagues, and I’m also very grateful as it provided me a chance to communicate with Professor Gram GREGOR and Professor HE from Queen Mary University and seek for opportunity to further my study in relevant field. I’m glad that I seized this chance and effort will pay off.”
Successfully applied the grant from China Scholarship Council, Yuan will start her one-year study as joint PhD student in the field of cardiovascular epidemiology at Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University from this September.
Congratulations to her and check out below if you want to learn more about this promising student.
What is your professional background?
I have a Bachelor Degree of Medicine, and now am a doctoral student in Epidemiology and biostatistics(cardiovascular epidemiology).
What is your job and what does it involve?
I am currently an intern at the Institute and involved in the School-EduSalt project, a study aiming to reduce the salt intake of children and their family.
How long have you been working at The George Institute?
I have been working at the institute for two years.
What attracted you to working at The George Institute?
I was attracted by the nice and amicable working atmosphere, and the institute’s strong international collaboration which can provide excellent platform for us.
What inspires you in the work you do and why?
I am inspired by my tutor-Professor Yangfeng WU, whose rigorous scientific approach and keen insight deserve all our respect.
What are your research and/or professional interests?
Conducting researches to combat the heavy cardiovascular disease burden in China.
What is your current research focus?
My research focuses on salt reduction and cardiovascular disease
What are examples of other work/projects you been involved with at The George Institute?
In addition to the School-EduSalt study, I am also involved in the follow-up mini study by telephone interview in the CRHI projects.
What impact will your work have on health and how?
Our work is expected to provide scientific evidence to the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease, and to relevant national health sectors for policy making as well.
Why do you enjoy working at The George Institute?
I do enjoy working with so many nice colleagues with different professional backgrounds which can be very inspiring in research design and complement each other’s advantages.
To unwind at the end of the day I… Go swimming or do other sports.
A saying I live by is… If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you wish to go far, go together.
One day I hope to… Travel around the world and to learn different cultures
