Bernard P. Chang

Bernard P. Chang
Occupation(s)	Emergency physician, psychologist, researcher, entrepreneur
Known for	Research on stroke risk, mental health consequences of COVID-19, suicide prediction; co-founder of Mighty Health
Notable work	Over 70 scholarly articles on stroke risk, PTSD, suicidal behavior, emergency medicine

Bernard P. Chang is an American emergency physician, psychologist, researcher, and entrepreneur. He holds multiple roles at Columbia University, including Vice Chair of Research in Emergency Medicine, the Tushar Shah and Zion Endowed Associate Professorship, Associate Director positions at both the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and TRANSFORM, as well as Associate Dean of Faculty Health and Research Career Development at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

His research conducted at Columbia University Irving Medical Center centers on stroke risk within populations such as young women and veterans, explores mental health consequences linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, and utilizes machine learning techniques to enhance prediction and intervention strategies for suicidal behavior.

Together with James Li and Felipe Lopes, Chang co-established the digital wellness platform Mighty Health, which has attracted investment from Y Combinator alongside various other financiers.

Early life and education

Chang earned his BA in psychology from Cornell University with magna cum laude honors and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He obtained a PhD in psychology from Harvard University and an MD from Stanford University. His residency training in emergency medicine was completed at both Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

In 2023, he further advanced his expertise by acquiring an Executive MBA from the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, aiming to strengthen his leadership capabilities within healthcare. During this program, he co-founded the Healthcare Innovator Network, designed to foster connections among physicians, researchers, and entrepreneurs through events such as lectures, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Poets & Quants honored him as one of the Best and Brightest Executive MBAs of 2024.

Career

In October 2023, Chang was named Associate Dean of Faculty Health and Research Career Development at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He also holds Associate Director roles at both the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and TRANSFORM, a critical educational and training resource. Additionally, he serves as Vice Chair of Research within the Department of Emergency Medicine while occupying the Tushar Shah and Zion Endowed Associate Professorship.

Chang is a member of both the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research and the New York Academy of Medicine. His service includes a position on the board of directors for the New York state chapter of the American College of Physicians, as well as prior involvement with Stanford University Medical Center’s Alumni Board of Governors. He has authored over 70 scholarly articles addressing topics such as stroke risk, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal behavior, and emergency medicine. With nine studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), he ranks among the top ten emergency medicine researchers in terms of NIH funding. Notably, he was the youngest emergency medicine physician awarded a premier NIH grant.

Mental health research

In 2017, Chang contributed to a meta-analysis synthesizing 365 studies spanning five decades on suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). This comprehensive review highlighted that conventional research inadequately predicts suicide risk due to reliance on single risk factors. The analysis advocated for employing machine learning methods to process large-scale health data sets to enhance predictive accuracy for suicide.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic at Columbia University Medical Center, Chang observed substantial psychological strain affecting healthcare professionals subjected to sustained high-stress environments. He participated in a cross-sectional investigation assessing mental health outcomes among healthcare workers and first responders during this period. The survey included 118 participants; findings indicated that 31% likely contracted COVID-19 themselves, 19% had family members affected by the virus, and 12% experienced family fatalities related to COVID-19.

Evaluation through PTSD symptom checklists revealed that 26% demonstrated PTSD symptoms; mild depression was present in 60%; insomnia affected 28%; while mild anxiety was reported by 67%. A significant portion also expressed reduced intentions to continue working in their respective fields. These results emphasized an urgent need for improved workplace conditions for frontline healthcare personnel. This peer-reviewed study was published in 2021 within the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Stroke Research

In 2018, Chang spearheaded a study emphasizing the need for improved assessment, diagnosis, and management of ischemic stroke in young women, particularly those who are premenopausal. The investigation urged the creation of clinical decision-making guidelines, educational initiatives aimed at young female patients and emergency healthcare providers, as well as preventive measures implemented within emergency departments.

By 2020, Chang collaborated with Joshua Z. Willey on a publication in Stroke that evaluated hemorrhagic stroke risk among military veterans. Their research focused on the long-term effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on cardiovascular health, analyzing hemorrhagic stroke mortality over a 13-year veteran cohort. The findings indicated no meaningful association between PTSD or the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and elevated hemorrhagic stroke risk; however, they noted confounding variables such as hypertension and substance abuse. The authors affirmed that SSRIs remain suitable for PTSD management but recommended further studies targeting hemorrhagic stroke risk factors, especially in younger populations at greater risk.

In 2022, Chang took part in a case–control investigation examining the previously unexplored link between influenza-like illness (ILI) and stroke susceptibility. Utilizing data from 2008 to 2014 for patients aged 18 to 65, the study assessed 24,103 cases aged 18–44 and 141,811 cases aged 45–65. It accounted for ILI exposure within 30 days prior to hospital admission and vaccination status within the preceding year. The results demonstrated that ILI heightened stroke risk in both younger and middle-aged groups, whereas vaccination was associated with a reduced stroke risk among younger individuals. These conclusions suggest that immunization may help lessen the influence of ILI on stroke occurrence.

Mighty Health

In 2018, Chang joined forces with James Li and Felipe Lopes to establish Mighty Health, a digital wellness platform designed to integrate exercise, nutrition, and health guidance specifically for older adults. The Los Angeles Times characterized it as:

... the first app dedicated to exercise, nutrition, and wellness tailored exclusively for individuals over 50. It offers customized nutrition plans, gentle exercise routines, and personalized support from physicians, occupational therapists, and coaches to aid seniors in alleviating joint pain, enhancing mobility, and achieving weight loss... Mighty Health also provides access to a community of peers and resources for adult children caring for aging parents.

Supported by Y Combinator in 2019, Mighty Health has attracted funding from investors including RRE Ventures, Liquid 2 Ventures, NextView Ventures, Soma Capital, among others. In 2023, it secured $7.6 million in seed capital led by Will Ventures and GFT Ventures to broaden its services targeting Medicare-eligible adults.

Awards

• Early Investigator Award from the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (2019)
• Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Research Award (2020)
• Outstanding Researcher Award: Established Researcher (2020)
• Executive MBA Director's Award from University of Oxford Saïd Business School (2023)

Personal Life

Chang is married to fellow emergency physician Anisa Heravian; their paths crossed in 2012 at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Together they have three children.

He is proficient in six languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, Italian, Farsi, French, and Spanish.