Dr. Yanjun Gao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She leads the Language, Reasoning, and Knowledge (LARK) Lab, where her research focuses on developing and evaluating foundational natural language processing (NLP) methods, particularly large language models (LLMs), for healthcare applications. With expertise spanning computer science, NLP, and healthcare informatics, Dr. Gao’s work aims to transform complex data, such as electronic health records (EHRs), into actionable insights to improve decision-making and patient outcomes. Her broader vision is to ensure AI systems are safe, trustworthy, and effectively aligned with human needs.