We are proud to announce that Dr. Jingwen Zhang was the inaugural recipient of the Annual Lingnan Award for Excellence in Health Informatics. This distinguished honor was presented by CITRIS Health, a division of CITRIS and the Banatao Institute at the University of California, in partnership with the First Affiliated Hospital at Sun Yat-sen University, China. Dr. Zhang’s selection for this award reflects her exceptional contributions to the fields of health communication and health informatics and her innovative research aimed at advancing digital health solutions and promoting better health outcomes across diverse communities.

Dr. Zhang received the award and presented her work in a keynote talk at Sun Yat-sen University, where she was joined by collaborators from CITRIS Health and UC Davis Health. As the first recipient of this prestigious award, Dr. Zhang is recognized for her scholarly leadership in health informatics and her groundbreaking research on digital interventions for health promotion, including studies on the impact of social media, mobile technology, and other digital communication platforms in shaping health behaviors and outcomes.

The Lingnan Award for Excellence in Health Informatics underscores the importance of international collaboration in tackling global health challenges. By partnering with institutions like the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, CITRIS Health aims to foster knowledge exchange and develop innovative approaches to public health through technology.

Dr. Zhang leads the Communication and Health Technology Research (CHATR) Lab at UC Davis, where she focuses on understanding and improving health outcomes through innovative communication technologies. Her lab’s research explores how digital communication can positively influence individual and public health, with specific interest in designing effective health interventions for communities across the globe. In recent projects, Dr. Zhang’s team has developed technology-driven solutions to encourage healthier lifestyles, using data and insights to shape tailored health recommendations and support systems that engage users in their health journeys.

Dr. Zhang’s visit to Sun Yat-sen University not only provided an opportunity to share her expertise but also laid the foundation for further collaborative research between UC Davis, CITRIS Health, and the First Affiliated Hospital at Sun Yat-sen University. This partnership demonstrates UC Davis’s leadership in health informatics and its commitment to fostering international relationships that support advancements in public health worldwide.