I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, where I lead research at the intersection of technology, economics, and global health. My work bridges rigorous academic research with practical applications through innovative digital health solutions.
As Co-Principal Investigator of the Digital Health Economics and Policy Lab (DHEP Lab), I conduct interdisciplinary research on AI applications in healthcare, telemedicine quality and access, and health policy evaluation. Simultaneously, as Co-Founder and CEO of CollectiveGood, I translate research insights into scalable technology solutions that advance global health equity.
My academic journey began with economics and international studies, was shaped by a Fulbright Fellowship in China, and evolved to focus on how digital health innovations can improve outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. With 89 peer-reviewed publications, my research has influenced policy discussions at national and international levels.
Education & Training
🎓 Academic Credentials
PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics (Development Economics)University of Maryland, 2014 Dissertation: “Health Technology Adoption and Outcomes in Rural China”
MS in Agricultural and Resource EconomicsUniversity of Maryland, 2012 Concentration: International Development Economics
BA in Economics and International Studies(Magna Cum Laude)University of Alabama, 2006 Phi Beta Kappa, International Studies Honor Society
🌍 International Experience
Fulbright Fellow | China, 2007-2008 Research on healthcare access and quality in rural Chinese communities
Current Positions & Affiliations
🏛️ Academic Positions
Associate Professor(2020-Present) Department of Health Policy and Management UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
Faculty Fellow(2018-Present) - Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research - Carolina Population Center - Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
🏢 Leadership Roles
Co-Founder & CEO(2021-Present)CollectiveGood Social enterprise advancing global health equity
Associate Editor(2025-Present) BMJ Global Health
Advisory Positions - WHO Digital Health Technical Advisory Group - NIH Health Services Research Study Section - CMS Innovation Center Advisory Board
Research Areas & Expertise
🔬 Primary Research Domains
🤖 Digital Health & AI
Telemedicine quality and access evaluation
AI-powered diagnostic tool development
Digital health intervention effectiveness
Health technology economic evaluation
Clinical decision support systems
🛡️ Antimicrobial Resistance
Antibiotic prescribing pattern analysis
Behavioral economics interventions
Stewardship program evaluation
Pediatric antimicrobial use studies
Policy impact assessment
👶 Early Childhood Development
Intervention design and evaluation
Child health outcome measurement
Parenting program effectiveness
Nutritional intervention studies
Long-term developmental tracking
📊 Health Economics & Policy
Causal inference methodology
Health technology assessment
Cost-effectiveness analysis
Policy evaluation frameworks
Global health economics
Technical Skills & Methodologies
💻 Programming & Analysis
Programming Languages: - Python (Advanced): pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch - R (Advanced): tidyverse, causal inference packages, Shiny - SQL (Intermediate): PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigQuery - Julia (Beginner): Statistical computing and modeling
Statistical Methods: - Randomized controlled trials design and analysis - Quasi-experimental methods (IV, RDD, DiD) - Machine learning and predictive modeling - Bayesian statistics and hierarchical modeling - Time series analysis and forecasting - Causal inference with observational data
Tools & Platforms: - Cloud computing: AWS, Google Cloud Platform - Version control: Git/GitHub, collaborative development - Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes - Experiment tracking: Weights & Biases, MLflow - Data visualization: matplotlib, ggplot2, plotly, D3.js
🌐 Language Proficiencies
English Native speaker
Chinese (Mandarin) Professional working proficiency HSK Level 6
Japanese Intermediate proficiency JLPT Level 2
Recognition & Awards
🏆 Recent Honors
2025 - Research Excellence Award, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health 2024 - NIH Early Career Investigator Award for Digital Health Research 2023 - AHRQ Outstanding Research Achievement in Health Services 2023 - Digital Health Innovation Award, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 2022 - Rising Star in Health Services Research, AcademyHealth 2022 - Young Investigator Award, International Health Economics Association 2018 - Rising Scholar Best Paper Award, China Health Policy and Management Society 2007 - Fulbright Fellowship, U.S. Student Program to China 2006 - Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
Global Impact & Collaborations
🤝 International Partnerships
Academic Collaborations
Harvard T.H. Chan School - Global health economics
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School - Digital health policy
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Global health initiatives
Indian Institute of Public Health - Early childhood development
Peking University School of Public Health - Health technology assessment
Industry & Foundation Partners
Technology: Google Health, Microsoft Healthcare, IBM Watson Health
Healthcare Systems: Kaiser Permanente, Geisinger, Intermountain Healthcare
Foundations: Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Pharmaceutical: Pfizer Global Health, Novartis Access, GSK Global Health
📰 Media & Policy Engagement
Media Coverage: Featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and The Economist for research on digital health policy and AI in healthcare.
Policy Testimony: - Congressional subcommittee hearings on telehealth regulation - WHO advisory panels on digital health guidelines - State legislature testimony on antimicrobial stewardship - CMS advisory committee participation on value-based care
Public Speaking: Regular speaker at international conferences including HIMSS, World Health Assembly, American Public Health Association, and AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting.
Personal Philosophy & Approach
💡 Research Philosophy
I believe that the most impactful health research emerges at the intersection of rigorous scientific methods and practical real-world applications. My approach combines:
Evidence-Based Innovation: Using randomized controlled trials and causal inference to evaluate what works
Technology for Equity: Ensuring digital health solutions reduce rather than exacerbate health disparities
Global Perspective: Designing interventions that are culturally appropriate and locally sustainable
Collaborative Science: Building interdisciplinary teams that bridge academia, industry, and practice
Policy Translation: Converting research findings into actionable policy recommendations
This philosophy guides both my academic research at UNC and our technology development at CollectiveGood, ensuring that our work creates measurable improvements in health outcomes, particularly for underserved populations.
Contact & Collaboration
I welcome opportunities for collaboration, particularly projects that combine rigorous research methodology with practical applications for improving global health outcomes.
Academic Office: 1101-D McGavran-Greenberg Building University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7411
---title: "About Sean Sylvia"description: "Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management at UNC Gillings School, Co-PI of DHEP Lab, and Co-Founder & CEO of CollectiveGood"about: template: trestles image: ../assets/profile.jpg image-width: 20em image-shape: round links: - icon: envelope text: Email href: mailto:sean.sylvia@unc.edu - icon: telephone text: "+1 (919) 445-0886" href: tel:+19194450886 - icon: building text: UNC Office href: https://maps.unc.edu/ - icon: globe text: DHEP Lab href: https://dhep.org/ - icon: building-gear text: CollectiveGood href: https://www.collectivegood.io/ - icon: linkedin text: LinkedIn href: https://linkedin.com/in/seansylvia - icon: github text: GitHub href: https://github.com/sysylvia - icon: graduation-cap text: Google Scholar href: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=YOUR_ID - icon: download text: Download CV href: content/cv.qmdtoc: true---## Professional OverviewI am an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, where I lead research at the intersection of technology, economics, and global health. My work bridges rigorous academic research with practical applications through innovative digital health solutions.As Co-Principal Investigator of the [Digital Health Economics and Policy Lab (DHEP Lab)](https://dhep.org/), I conduct interdisciplinary research on AI applications in healthcare, telemedicine quality and access, and health policy evaluation. Simultaneously, as Co-Founder and CEO of [CollectiveGood](https://www.collectivegood.io/), I translate research insights into scalable technology solutions that advance global health equity.My academic journey began with economics and international studies, was shaped by a Fulbright Fellowship in China, and evolved to focus on how digital health innovations can improve outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. With **89 peer-reviewed publications**, my research has influenced policy discussions at national and international levels.## Education & Training::: {.content-card}### 🎓 Academic Credentials**PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics (Development Economics)***University of Maryland*, 2014Dissertation: "Health Technology Adoption and Outcomes in Rural China"**MS in Agricultural and Resource Economics***University of Maryland*, 2012Concentration: International Development Economics**BA in Economics and International Studies** *(Magna Cum Laude)**University of Alabama*, 2006Phi Beta Kappa, International Studies Honor Society### 🌍 International Experience**Fulbright Fellow** | *China*, 2007-2008Research on healthcare access and quality in rural Chinese communities:::## Current Positions & Affiliations::: {.row}::: {.col-md-6}::: {.content-card}### 🏛️ Academic Positions**Associate Professor** *(2020-Present)*Department of Health Policy and ManagementUNC Gillings School of Global Public Health**Co-Principal Investigator** *(2019-Present)*[Digital Health Economics and Policy Lab](https://dhep.org/)**Faculty Fellow** *(2018-Present)*- Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research- Carolina Population Center- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute::::::::: {.col-md-6}::: {.content-card}### 🏢 Leadership Roles**Co-Founder & CEO** *(2021-Present)*[CollectiveGood](https://www.collectivegood.io/)Social enterprise advancing global health equity**Associate Editor** *(2025-Present)*BMJ Global Health**Advisory Positions**- WHO Digital Health Technical Advisory Group- NIH Health Services Research Study Section- CMS Innovation Center Advisory Board:::::::::## Research Areas & Expertise### 🔬 Primary Research Domains::: {.row}::: {.col-md-6}::: {.content-card}#### 🤖 Digital Health & AI- Telemedicine quality and access evaluation- AI-powered diagnostic tool development- Digital health intervention effectiveness- Health technology economic evaluation- Clinical decision support systems::::::::: {.col-md-6}::: {.content-card}#### 🛡️ Antimicrobial Resistance- Antibiotic prescribing pattern analysis- Behavioral economics interventions- Stewardship program evaluation- Pediatric antimicrobial use studies- Policy impact assessment:::::::::::: {.row}::: {.col-md-6}::: {.content-card}#### 👶 Early Childhood Development- Intervention design and evaluation- Child health outcome measurement- Parenting program effectiveness- Nutritional intervention studies- Long-term developmental tracking::::::::: {.col-md-6}::: {.content-card}#### 📊 Health Economics & Policy- Causal inference methodology- Health technology assessment- Cost-effectiveness analysis- Policy evaluation frameworks- Global health economics:::::::::## Technical Skills & Methodologies### 💻 Programming & Analysis::: {.content-card}**Programming Languages:**- **Python** (Advanced): pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch- **R** (Advanced): tidyverse, causal inference packages, Shiny- **SQL** (Intermediate): PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigQuery- **Julia** (Beginner): Statistical computing and modeling**Statistical Methods:**- Randomized controlled trials design and analysis- Quasi-experimental methods (IV, RDD, DiD)- Machine learning and predictive modeling- Bayesian statistics and hierarchical modeling- Time series analysis and forecasting- Causal inference with observational data**Tools & Platforms:**- Cloud computing: AWS, Google Cloud Platform- Version control: Git/GitHub, collaborative development- Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes- Experiment tracking: Weights & Biases, MLflow- Data visualization: matplotlib, ggplot2, plotly, D3.js:::### 🌐 Language Proficiencies::: {.row}::: {.col-md-4}::: {.content-card}**English**Native speaker::::::::: {.col-md-4}::: {.content-card}**Chinese (Mandarin)**Professional working proficiency*HSK Level 6*::::::::: {.col-md-4}::: {.content-card}**Japanese**Intermediate proficiency*JLPT Level 2*:::::::::## Recognition & Awards::: {.content-card}### 🏆 Recent Honors**2025** - Research Excellence Award, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health**2024** - NIH Early Career Investigator Award for Digital Health Research**2023** - AHRQ Outstanding Research Achievement in Health Services**2023** - Digital Health Innovation Award, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)**2022** - Rising Star in Health Services Research, AcademyHealth**2022** - Young Investigator Award, International Health Economics Association**2018** - Rising Scholar Best Paper Award, China Health Policy and Management Society**2007** - Fulbright Fellowship, U.S. Student Program to China**2006** - Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society:::## Global Impact & Collaborations### 🤝 International Partnerships::: {.row}::: {.col-md-6}::: {.content-card}#### Academic Collaborations- **Harvard T.H. Chan School** - Global health economics- **Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School** - Digital health policy- **London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine** - Global health initiatives- **Indian Institute of Public Health** - Early childhood development- **Peking University School of Public Health** - Health technology assessment::::::::: {.col-md-6}::: {.content-card}#### Industry & Foundation Partners- **Technology:** Google Health, Microsoft Healthcare, IBM Watson Health- **Healthcare Systems:** Kaiser Permanente, Geisinger, Intermountain Healthcare- **Foundations:** Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation- **Pharmaceutical:** Pfizer Global Health, Novartis Access, GSK Global Health:::::::::### 📰 Media & Policy Engagement::: {.content-card}**Media Coverage:**Featured in *The New York Times*, *Washington Post*, *Wall Street Journal*, and *The Economist* for research on digital health policy and AI in healthcare.**Policy Testimony:**- Congressional subcommittee hearings on telehealth regulation- WHO advisory panels on digital health guidelines- State legislature testimony on antimicrobial stewardship- CMS advisory committee participation on value-based care**Public Speaking:**Regular speaker at international conferences including HIMSS, World Health Assembly, American Public Health Association, and AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting.:::## Personal Philosophy & Approach::: {.content-card}### 💡 Research PhilosophyI believe that the most impactful health research emerges at the intersection of rigorous scientific methods and practical real-world applications. My approach combines:- **Evidence-Based Innovation:** Using randomized controlled trials and causal inference to evaluate what works- **Technology for Equity:** Ensuring digital health solutions reduce rather than exacerbate health disparities- **Global Perspective:** Designing interventions that are culturally appropriate and locally sustainable- **Collaborative Science:** Building interdisciplinary teams that bridge academia, industry, and practice- **Policy Translation:** Converting research findings into actionable policy recommendationsThis philosophy guides both my academic research at UNC and our technology development at CollectiveGood, ensuring that our work creates measurable improvements in health outcomes, particularly for underserved populations.:::---## Contact & Collaboration::: {.content-card}I welcome opportunities for collaboration, particularly projects that combine rigorous research methodology with practical applications for improving global health outcomes.**Academic Office:**1101-D McGavran-Greenberg BuildingUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC 27599-7411**For Research Collaborations:** [sean.sylvia@unc.edu](mailto:sean.sylvia@unc.edu)**For CollectiveGood Inquiries:** [info@collectivegood.io](mailto:info@collectivegood.io)**For Media & Speaking:** [media@dhep.org](mailto:media@dhep.org)[Schedule a Meeting](https://calendly.com/seansylvia){.btn .btn-primary} [Download Full CV](content/cv.qmd){.btn .btn-outline-primary}:::*Last updated: September 2025*
