Tian headshot

Emerson Fellow

David Tian

14th Class, 2007-2008

David graduated with honors from Yale University in 2007 with a degree in biology.  David coordinated the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project and an afternoon drop-in center for the homeless, interned at the Hill Health Center’s Homeless Health Care Program, and served as a voting member of New Haven’s Homeless Advisory Commission.  David also chaired the Asian American Studies Task Force and volunteered at a free health clinic.  David was born in Harbin, China and grew up in Georgia with his family.

Field placement: Food & Friends

Washington, D.C.

Food & Friends is an organization that provides nutritional counseling, prepared meals, and groceries to individuals living with life-challenging illnesses such as HIV/AIDS and cancer.  David conducted Food & Friends’ first focus group study assessing the cultural appropriateness of current services for African American clients with diabetes.  He also created a toolkit to evaluate Food & Friends’ potential involvement in diabetes prevention.

Policy placement: Families USA

Washington, D.C.

As a member of the Health Policy Department, David focused on access and cost issues in the private health insurance market.  He researched and assessed the differences in state regulations of health insurance and the effect of un-insurance on American cities.

Publications