Professor Yuehwern Yih
Purdue University
Human, Technologies, and Innovations in Health and Humanitarian Relief
Abstract
Technologies and innovations are advancing rapidly to meet human needs. However, in complex environments, such as health care and humanitarian relief, the interplay between human, technologies, and innovations could present unintended consequences that lead to suboptimal outcomes. In this seminar, Dr. Yih will use examples from her research in healthcare and humanitarian relief operations to illustrate the systemic gaps embedded in the original design (intended use) and implementation of technologies and innovations, especially when there are multiple stakeholders/users, each holds different role, responsibilities, and priorities. For example, in a study on the therapeutic drug management (TDM) of a popular antibiotic, Vancomycin, for pediatric patients, we illuminate the complexity of TDM processes where nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and laboratory technicians interact with “smart” device, information system, and population-based model to manage its dosing. The misalignment of IT implementation and user’s workflow may create discrepancies that impact patient outcomes. Similarly, in the case of managing supply chains for emergency response or in a low-resource setting, the use of IT applications without comprehensive considerations limits the data quality and its usefulness for effective decision making (by human or by AI/ML).
Biography
Dr. Yuehwern Yih is the Tompkins Professor of Industrial Engineering at Purdue University. She previously served as the Director of LASER PULSE ($70 million USAID funded program) and the Associate Director of Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering. Dr. Yih’s core research focuses on understanding system dynamics and improving the outcomes of complex systems under volatile environments including manufacturing systems, supply chains, humanitarian assistance, health care delivery, and global development. Dr. Yih received the IISE David F Baker Distinguished Research Award, the NSF Young Investigator Award, the Melinda and Bill Gates Grand Challenge Award, the inaugural Faculty Engagement Fellow (highest honor for engagement at Purdue), and multiple Outstanding Teaching Awards and the Most Impactful Faculty Inventors at Purdue. She has vast experience in interdisciplinary collaboration to address global development challenges, e.g. integrated food system for HIV patients in Kenya, medical supply chain for maternal/child health in Uganda, humanitarian supply chain in South Sudan and Ukraine. Dr. Yih received her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is an IISE Fellow and an ELATE Fellow.
MIE’s Distinguished Seminar Series features top international researchers and leading experts across major areas of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering. The speakers present about their latest research and offer their perspectives on the current state of their field. The seminars are part of the program requirements for MIE Master of Applied Science and PhD students. The Distinguished Seminar Series is coordinated for 2024-2025 by Associate Professor Enid Montague.
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Interested members of the U of T community who would like to attend the seminars can email Kendra Hunter at hunter@mie.utoronto.ca