Hui Shao, M.D., Ph.D.

Hui Shao is an Associate Professor in the Hubert Department of Global Health at Emory University, with joint appointments in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and the Department of Health Policy and Management. He is also Director of the Emory AI and Causal Lab. Trained in medicine and health economics, Dr. Shao’s research focuses on advancing precision medicine and precision public health by generating evidence that improves healthcare delivery, reduces health disparities, and informs health policy. His work integrates artificial intelligence (AI), causal inference, health economics, and real-world data to support more effective and equitable healthcare decisions.

Dr. Shao leads multiple NIH- and CDC-funded research programs focused on diabetes, chronic disease, and population health. He has pioneered AI-driven approaches to identify patients most likely to benefit from interventions, evaluate their long-term clinical and economic value, and inform more targeted healthcare coverage and reimbursement policies. His research has contributed to national conversations on diabetes care, prescription drug affordability, value-based healthcare, and the use of AI to strengthen evidence-based policymaking. He has also contributed scientific expertise to federal initiatives focused on diabetes prevention, prescription drug affordability, and innovative healthcare payment and delivery models.

Beyond his research, Dr. Shao is committed to developing future leaders and strengthening the connection between research, education, and public policy. He serves as an advisor to the CDC’s Steven M. Teutsch Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship and is Director of the Data, AI, and Dissemination Core of the Georgia Center for Diabetes Translation Research, where he leads training and dissemination initiatives for researchers and public health professionals. In these roles, he develops innovative training programs in artificial intelligence, health economics, and decision science, mentors junior faculty and early-career investigators, and helps equip the next generation of scientists to generate evidence that informs healthcare policy and improves population health.

Dr. Shao received his medical training from Shandong University in China and a PhD in Health Services Research and Health Economics from Tulane University.