Our Founder:
Dr. XinQi Dong

Advancing
Population Health Sciences

The Institute for Population Health Sciences (IPHS) was founded in 2022 by Dr. XinQi Dong, MD, MPH, with a mission:

“To advance population health sciences through scientific research, adaptive training and coaching, and partnership development to improve the health and wellbeing of diverse populations.”

As a population health epidemiologist and geriatrician, Dr. Dong has more than 300 peer-reviewed publications in circulation. He has written about violence prevention, elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, mental health, health equity, and healthy aging. He has also appeared in many media outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Politico, the Huffington Post, Reuters, CBS Chicago, NBC News, Fox News, Science Daily, International Business Times, New America Media, DNA info, and more.

Studying
Health, Longevity, and Resilience

Dr. Dong has dedicated his career to understanding and improving the health and well-being of older adults through an intergenerational lens. He has worked to understand and synthesize data on how geography, age, ethnic and cultural background, economic status, social status, and even mental health affect longevity.

Dr. Dong has enjoyed over 20 years of continual sponsorship by the National Institute of Health, receiving many research grants that have helped him uncover important associations among many social, psychological factors and life expectancies.
He has spearheaded population-based, epidemiological studies including the New Jersey Population Health Cohort Study, The PINE Study, and The PIETY Study, delving deep into the complex relationships between trauma, resilience, and health outcomes.

As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Dong has empowered numerous faculty and trainees across the country to become independent investigators, thoughtful thinkers, adaptive leaders ultimately shaping the future of senior healthcare.

National and International
Health Awards and Accomplishments

Dr. Dong’s influence extends beyond research. He has received many of the most distinguished awards in the health and sciences, including:

  • The Paul Beeson Award by the National Institute on Aging
  • The National Physician Advocacy Merit Award by the Institute for Medicine as a Profession
  • The Nobuo Maeda International Aging and Public Health Research Award
  • The National Award for Excellence by the American Public Health Association
  • The Maxwell Pollack Award in Productive Aging
  • The Joseph Freeman Award
  • The Powell Lawton Award by the Gerontological Society of America
  • The Rosalie Wolf Award by the National Committee on the Prevention of Elder Abuse
  • The Outstanding Scientific Achievement for Clinical Investigation Award by the American Geriatric Society
  • The Ewald Busse Award by the International Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics
  • The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Equity Award
  • The Scientific Achievement Award, by the Chinese American Medical Society

An Advisor and an Advocate
in the Health and Wellness Sector

Dr. Dong is a highly sought after expert on many areas of policy, legal advocacy, and research. He served as a senior advisor for the Department of Health and Human Services under the Obama administration and as a Commissioner for the Law and Aging in the American Bar Association. As an APSA Congressional Policy Fellow, his policy and advocacy work with the Department of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also shaped the national agenda on surveillance and preventive strategies combating issues of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. He has provided expert numerous testimonies for the state, national and international government entities.

In his career, Dr. Dong has held many prestigious positions including as editor of many distinguished academic journals. He has served as guest editors for the Journal of Gerontology Medical Sciences. He has also served as guest editor for the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, and the Journal of Aging and Health.

In 2011, Dr. Dong was appointed as a member of the Institute of Medicine: Global Violence Prevention Forum. Subsequently, he chaired the institute’s workshop on elder abuse prevention.

In 2017, Dr. Dong was invited to be the planning committee member for the Board on Global Health to chart the future of violence prevention efforts at the National Academy of Medicine.

In 2018, Dr. Dong became a member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) consensus panel: Care Interventions for Individuals with Dementia and their Caregivers. Also in 2018, Dr. Dong was elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigation.

In 2020, Dr. Dong became a member of the NAM consensus panel: Improving Diversity of Women and Underrepresented Minorities in Clinical Trial and Research.

Prestigious Positions
in Medicine and Research

An Impressive Education
in Medicine

Dr. Dong’s story is one of resilience and dedication. Having immigrated to the United States from a rural village near Nanjing, China, he went on to earn several advanced degrees.

XinQi Dong received his bachelor’s degree in Biology and Economics from the University of Chicago with special honors. He earned his medical degree (MD) at Rush University College of Medicine, and a master’s in Public Health in Epidemiology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He completed his Internal Medicine residency and Geriatric Medicine fellowship at Yale University Medical Center.

His journey exemplifies the power of hard work and perseverance in achieving remarkable things.

FAQ

Dr. Dong’s research focuses on issues like violence prevention, elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, health disparity and mental health, which are all major concerns for aging populations.

Dr. Dong advocates for a comprehensive approach that addresses physical, mental, and social health needs not only at the individual level but also family level. He emphasizes the importance of preventive care, access to healthcare, and social support systems.

Dr. Dong is optimistic about the future of aging, pointing to advancements in medical technology, personalized medicine, and a growing understanding of the aging process. He believes that we can create a world where older adults can live healthy, fulfilling lives.