Fei Yu has been contributing to research at Carolina for 10 years.
Fei Yu has worked for UNC-Chapel Hill in a variety of roles, most recently as assistant professor at the UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS). She also serves as a core faculty member in the Carolina Health Informatics Program (CHIP), an interdisciplinary graduate program supported by nine academic units on campus.
What brought you to Carolina?
My family moved to the Research Triangle when my husband accepted a new position in North Carolina. Shortly after we settled in, my 4-year-old son fell off his bike and was rushed to Duke Children’s Hospital with an injury to the same arm he had broken once before. Before we moved, I had requested his medical records, including his X-ray images, but during the chaos of the move they were lost. I felt guilty and helpless, not only as a mother, but as someone who believed in access to vital health information for high-quality care.
While my son was being treated at Duke, I encountered something interesting: a website where I could schedule appointments, pay bills, and even view my son’s medical records online anytime and anywhere. It felt transformative and opened my eyes to the power of health informatics, though I didn’t know the term at that time. I just knew I wanted to understand and work with this type of information system, building on my research background in library and information science.
Once my children were in school, I began searching for part-time research opportunities that involved electronic health records and information systems. One day, a Google search led me to CHIP. It felt like a sign. I reached out to the program director, Javed Mostafa, and within days I had an interview. That moment marked the beginning of my journey in health informatics at Carolina.
Impact Report
UNC-Chapel Hill’s $1.55 billion research enterprise wouldn’t be possible without its 10 libraries, the UNC School of Information and Library Science, and numerous librarians, archivists, and staff members. These resources are vital for the entire research lifecycle, from idea generation to data retrieval to preservation and access.
88.2 % of U.S. office-based physicians use electronic health records systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fei Yu’s research focuses on strengthening eHealth platforms to improve communication between doctors and patients.
How has your role here changed over the years?
My roles have always been grounded in research, teaching, and service. I began as a part-time research associate in the Laboratory of Applied Informatics Research at SILS, working on Dr. Mostafa’s NSF-funded MindsEye project. I conducted a Phase II usability evaluation — testing the viability of the design concept — with physicians from both Carolina and Duke. Additionally, I contributed to the development and successful launch of the CHIP PhD program.
Most importantly, I enrolled as a part-time student in the master’s program for biomedical and health informatics to deepen my expertise. Upon completing this program, the UNC Health Sciences Library hired me as a health informatics librarian, and I served in that position for seven years.
During that time, SILS, the N.C. Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute (NC TraCS), and the library created a joint appointment for me. I taught one course per semester at SILS, offered informatics support to the health affairs schools and campus units, and supported the NC TraCS evaluation team with bibliometrics network analysis — a method for analyzing and visualizing patterns within academic research.
As my research interests, skills, and collaboration further grew, I was fortunate to receive a tenure-track faculty position in health information at SILS that started in July 2024. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to launch new research initiatives and design new courses.
One of these classes introduces students to systematic review methods and bibliometric network analysis, core techniques for evidence synthesis and evidence-based practice. The course drew students from both Carolina and NC State University across a range of disciplines, and several have credited it with helping them develop their first systematic review or bibliometric review publications.
What’s kept you at Carolina?
As the first public university in the U.S., Carolina’s continued commitment to academic excellence and research resources means a lot to me. SILS has been consistently ranked among the top three information and library science programs in the nation. Additionally, the health sciences librarianship is ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report. Working with exceptional colleagues and students, I am proud to be part of the community.
Carolina also offers plenty of opportunities for interdisciplinary research. I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with world-renowned, hard-working researchers across domains and disciplines. Their work ethic and dedication consistently inspire and motivate me to grow and improve every day.
What contribution are you most proud of?
For the past four years, I have worked on a grant-funded research project to develop an eHealth platform for prostate cancer patients and their caregivers with Dr. Lixin Song, the lead investigator and a researcher at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
I conducted interviews and helped shape the design of the first module, which focused on multimedia health information. I also ensured the platform reliably supported informed decision-making and facilitated communication between families and physicians. Hearing patients and caregivers say they would recommend this eHealth platform to their families and friends affirmed that my work was meaningful.
I’m also proud of supporting NC TraCS’ evaluation efforts through bibliometric analysis. Working closely with the evaluation team, I help advance translational research by assessing programs and communicating the real-world impact of our Carolina research community. While doing so, I’ve championed the role of librarians as essential partners in the research enterprise.
What is a uniquely Carolina experience you’ve had?
Having lived in Pittsburgh for nearly a decade, I was no stranger to snow. I learned how to drive on snowy days and icy roads pretty well. After moving to North Carolina, I was surprised — and even amused — by how quickly everything shut down at the first sign of snow. Schools closed, meetings were rescheduled, and people were advised to stay indoors, even during the lightest flurries. On January 17, 2018, the Research Triangle was hit by a rare snowstorm, dumping up to a foot of snow.
My car, parked on Lenoir Drive, was quickly buried. By the time I realized I was stuck there, all the other vehicles in the lot had already left. I had no shovel, no tools, no idea what to do. Then something wonderful happened. Several students from nearby dorms went outside for snowball fights and noticed my struggle. Without hesitation, they ran over to help. They dug out my wheels and pushed my car out of the lot. Many thanks to them, I made it to the main road and drove home safely.
It’s an experience I’ll never forget, not just for the weather, but for our excellent students. Their spontaneous act of kindness reminded me why I love Carolina: People here show up for one another, often without being asked. And now fully understand why light snow here means staying indoors — the snowplows are few, and the snow days are rare!
Rooted recognizes long-standing members of the UNC-Chapel Hill community who have aided in the advancement of research by staying at Carolina. They are crucial to the UNC Research enterprise, experts in their fields, and loyal Tar Heels. Know someone we should feature? Nominate a researcher.