Past meets future: Motivated by her experiences, PhD student strives to improve health systems
Growing up in Shanghai, China, Xiao “Lilac” Li learned about health care management long before she went to school for it.
Lilac volunteered at an overcrowded, under-resourced hospital for low-income patients where her mother, aunts, and grandmother worked as physicians. She remembers long lines of people waiting for care with no doctor in sight, conflicts between physicians and patients, and the tremendous physical and emotional toll on nurses and doctors to provide care, which drove many to leave the hospital or the medical profession entirely.
“These experiences really gave me a deep humanistic influence and an eagerness to help create an exemplary health care system that serves all people without disparity,” says Lilac, a PhD candidate in the Healthcare Management and Health Policy program at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health.
She set out to learn health care management after seeing the rapid changes in health systems brought on by technological advances and demographic changes. Wanting to stay at the forefront of these shifts, she sought an education that would prepare her to work in streamlining operations, implementing better management practices, and ultimately enabling more timely and effective patient care.
The emphasis in public health on preventing disease and prioritizing community involvement and empowerment also appealed to Lilac.
“In the end, I want to use what I learn here to drive positive changes—whether by enhancing patient experiences, improving resource allocation, or promoting interdisciplinary collaborations in health care,” she says.
Lilac chose the School of Public Health because of its reputation for pioneering research, commitment to global health initiatives, and multidisciplinary approach to public health challenges. She also appreciated the school’s tradition of producing public health leaders who have made local and global contributions and its curriculum that integrates real-world experience with academic study.
“I was confident that I would graduate not only with a degree, but with the skills, experiences, and network to contribute to public health significantly,” she says.
Lilac has already published 39 articles in scientific publications, and she serves as a graduate research assistant with a project focusing on diagnosing anemia. Recognizing her achievements and potential, the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health selected her for its All of Us Scholars Program, which provides training for promising student researchers. Lilac was also chosen as one of the recipients of The Beryl Institute’s 2024 Patient Experience Research Grants.
She holds leadership roles in student organizations and has accumulated nearly 750 hours of community service for organizations including the Houston Food Bank, Houston Methodist vaccination events, World Transplant Games Federation, Center for Success and Independence, and Hermann Park Conservancy.
“Pursuing this education comes from a deeply held commitment to improving the health of communities of all sizes,” Lilac says. “It is more than just a field of study for me. It is a way of life.”
She received the John W. Galeener Jr. Scholarship in Healthcare, which helps cover the costs of tuition, textbooks, and research materials for her studies in health care management.
“This scholarship is more than just financial relief for me,” Lilac says. “It is a vote of confidence in my capabilities and dreams.”
After she graduates in 2025, she hopes to obtain a faculty position to become an educator and scholar in the field. Over the longer term, she would like to combine academic research with practical consulting roles to influence policy, foster innovation, and contribute to improving health care management practices on a broad scale.
“I am committed to making the most of my opportunity to study at the School of Public Health and giving back in every way possible,” Lilac says.