Jennifer Yang - The Globe and Mail

Jennifer Yang

StaffReporterHealth science reporterToronto

JenniferYang@globeandmail.com

Jennifer Yang covers health science for The Globe and Mail, a beat that aims to demystify medical research and connect it to our everyday lives. As a health science reporter, Jennifer strives to capture and communicate the wonders of scientific discovery, while also highlighting the people at the heart of these stories.

Prior to joining the Globe, Jennifer worked at the Toronto Star for 15 years, most recently as an investigative reporter. Her past beats include covering the COVID-19 pandemic, global health, and the intersection of identity and inequity. As a global health reporter, she learned to scuba dive for a story on antibiotic drug discovery and traveled to Sierra Leone in 2014 to cover the West Africa Ebola outbreak.

Jennifer's journalism has earned her multiple nominations and awards, including a National Newspaper Award for her explanatory piece on the 2010 Chilean mining disaster.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Jennifer now lives in Toronto with her husband and two daughters.

Why did you become a journalist?

The driving force behind my journalism has always been a genuine care and curiousity for people, and an insatiable fascination with all that humanity is capable of — for good or bad.

18

Years in Journalism

Education

Toronto Metropolitan University (Bachelor of Journalism)

University of Toronto (Honours Bachelor of Arts)

Honours & Awards

Canadian Association of Journalism Award nominee, FOI Journalism, 2022

National Newspaper Award nominee, Explanatory Work, 2021

Canadian Association of Journalism Award nominee, Labour Reporting, 2021

Canadian Association of Journalism Award nominee, Daily Excellence, 2021

Alliance for Healthier Communities Media Award recipient, 2021

National Newspaper Award nominee, Explanatory Work, 2020

Canadian Online Publishing Awards winner, Best Article or Series, 2015

National Newspaper Award winner for Explanatory Work, 2010

National Newspaper Award co-winner for Breaking News, 2010

Languages spoken

English, conversational Mandarin

Jennifer Yang abides by The Globe and Mail Editorial Code of Conduct

Latest articles

March 2, 2026

Patrons sit for lunch as Blue Jays baseball plays on the TV in downtown Toronto bar on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. (Cole Burston/The Globe and Mail)

Patrons sit for lunch as Blue Jays baseball plays on the TV in downtown Toronto bar on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. (Cole Burston/The Globe and Mail)

Ontario helpline saw increase in gambling-related requests after province opened regulated market, study finds

4 min read

February 19, 2026

Brian Reeve, a private equity investor and lawyer, at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto on Wednesday. Mr. Reeve has made a $10-million donation to Sunnybrook’s OCD treatment centre, where he himself received treatment for four months.

Brian Reeve, a private equity investor and lawyer, at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto on Wednesday. Mr. Reeve has made a $10-million donation to Sunnybrook’s OCD treatment centre, where he himself received treatment for four months.

Sunnybrook receives $10-million donation for OCD treatment and research

4 min read

February 10, 2026

FILE PHOTO: Two 15-year-olds use social media on their mobile phones in Arinaga, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Borja Suarez/File Photo

FILE PHOTO: Two 15-year-olds use social media on their mobile phones in Arinaga, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Borja Suarez/File Photo

About half of Canadians are turning to AI for health information, survey says

4 min read

January 25, 2026

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Headquarters in Ottawa on June 26, 2019. The organization confirmed that it would be shuttering seven federal research sites across Canada.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Headquarters in Ottawa on June 26, 2019. The organization confirmed that it would be shuttering seven federal research sites across Canada.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is closing seven of its research operations

4 min read

January 16, 2026

Allison Chang in Toronto on January 16, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Globe and Mail)

Allison Chang in Toronto on January 16, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Globe and Mail)

Lancet study refutes claim of a link between Tylenol and autism

4 min read

November 8, 2025

Alfred Lam, left, Academic Program Manager at the Michener Institute interacts with students in the Community Health and Social Medicine program, a new college certificate program for community health workers offered by UHN's Michener Institute, in Toronto on Oct. 28, 2025.

Alfred Lam, left, Academic Program Manager at the Michener Institute interacts with students in the Community Health and Social Medicine program, a new college certificate program for community health workers offered by UHN's Michener Institute, in Toronto on Oct. 28, 2025.

New program aims to create pathway to credentials for community health workers

5 min read

October 28, 2025

John Dalrymple-Fraser in front of family photos at his home in Peterborough Ontario. John's biggest concern is that he may forget the faces or names of his family as his disease progresses. October 27 2025.

John Dalrymple-Fraser in front of family photos at his home in Peterborough Ontario. John's biggest concern is that he may forget the faces or names of his family as his disease progresses. October 27 2025.

Excitement around Alzheimer’s treatment tempered by questions about efficacy, accessibility

4 min read

October 8, 2025

Lab staff use a microscope stand and articulated hand controls to extract cells from 1-7 day old embryos, shown on the monitor at right, that are then checked for viability at the Aspire Houston Fertility Institute in vitro fertilization lab Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Lab staff use a microscope stand and articulated hand controls to extract cells from 1-7 day old embryos, shown on the monitor at right, that are then checked for viability at the Aspire Houston Fertility Institute in vitro fertilization lab Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Ontario says 25 fertility clinics to get first round of funding as part of plan to reduce IVF wait lists

3 min read

September 21, 2025

Over the past 50 years, the measles vaccine is estimated to have saved nearly 94 million lives.

Over the past 50 years, the measles vaccine is estimated to have saved nearly 94 million lives.

It’s a scientific marvel, so why does the measles vaccine face apathy and anxiety?

6 min read

September 12, 2025

Tylenol is displayed for sale at a pharmacy in New York City, New York, U.S., September 5, 2025. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper

Tylenol is displayed for sale at a pharmacy in New York City, New York, U.S., September 5, 2025. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper

What the research says about Tylenol, pregnancy and autism

5 min read

September 10, 2025

Dr. Sean Cleary, who specializes in heptobiliary and pancreatic surgery at the Toronto General Hospital, poses for a photo in Toronto on Tuesday, May 28, 2013. Ground is being gained on many fronts in the war against cancer, but one of the deadliest - liver cancer - is still on the rise, the Canadian Cancer Society said Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michelle Siu

Dr. Sean Cleary, who specializes in heptobiliary and pancreatic surgery at the Toronto General Hospital, poses for a photo in Toronto on Tuesday, May 28, 2013. Ground is being gained on many fronts in the war against cancer, but one of the deadliest - liver cancer - is still on the rise, the Canadian Cancer Society said Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michelle Siu

Surgical oncologist Sean Cleary was building a highly advanced robotic surgery program in Toronto

6 min read

August 16, 2025

SACKVILLE, NB-JULY 18, 2025-VpVettLloyd03-Vett Lloyd, professor and tick researcher in the Department of Biology at Mt. Allison University works in the molecular biology lab in Sackville, NB on July 18, 2025.
VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

SACKVILLE, NB-JULY 18, 2025-VpVettLloyd03-Vett Lloyd, professor and tick researcher in the Department of Biology at Mt. Allison University works in the molecular biology lab in Sackville, NB on July 18, 2025.
VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

N.B. professor aims to broaden tick research after battling Lyme disease

5 min read

August 11, 2025

Obesity Canada's new medication guidelines include 13 recommendations for when and how doctors can offer weight-loss drugs to patients.

Obesity Canada's new medication guidelines include 13 recommendations for when and how doctors can offer weight-loss drugs to patients.

Obesity Canada’s updated medication guidelines say weight-loss drugs are safe and effective, lead author says

4 min read

July 26, 2025

Dr. Jane Rylett, the scientific director of the CIHR Institute of Aging, announced $44.8-million in new funding for dementia and aging-related research Saturday.

Dr. Jane Rylett, Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Aging and Professor at Westin University, photographed in Toronto. (Della Rollins/The Globe and Mail)

Canada is hosting the world’s biggest dementia conference for the first time in a decade. What’s changed since then?

4 min read

July 14, 2025

What you should know about Canada’s growing tick problem

July 8, 2025

Ottawa Hospital Head and Chief of Mental Health Dr. Jess Fiedorowicz pose for a portrait July 8, 2025 in Ottawa. Dave Chan/The Globe and Mail

Ottawa Hospital Head and Chief of Mental Health Dr. Jess Fiedorowicz pose for a portrait July 8, 2025 in Ottawa. Dave Chan/The Globe and Mail

Ottawa Hospital receives US$2.3-million in funding for bipolar disorder research

3 min read

July 7, 2025

HUNT, TEXAS - JULY 6: Vehicles sit submerged as a search and rescue worker looks through debris for any survivors or remains of people swept up in the flash flooding on July 6, 2025 in Hunt, Texas. Heavy rainfall caused flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas with multiple fatalities reported. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

HUNT, TEXAS - JULY 6: Vehicles sit submerged as a search and rescue worker looks through debris for any survivors or remains of people swept up in the flash flooding on July 6, 2025 in Hunt, Texas. Heavy rainfall caused flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas with multiple fatalities reported. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

Why flash floods are so common – and deadly – in Texas’s Hill Country

4 min read

July 3, 2025

Mason Tanner, right, 8, who has been diagnosed with Lyme disease following a tick bite, walks with his mother Stephanie, centre, and sister Emily, 6, near their home in Mahone Bay, N.S. on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
Both Mason's mom and dad have contracted Lyme disease with his sister having 12 ticks picked off her body following an outing last weekend.

Darren Calabrese/The Globe and Mail

Mason Tanner, right, 8, who has been diagnosed with Lyme disease following a tick bite, walks with his mother Stephanie, centre, and sister Emily, 6, near their home in Mahone Bay, N.S. on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
Both Mason's mom and dad have contracted Lyme disease with his sister having 12 ticks picked off her body following an outing last weekend.

Darren Calabrese/The Globe and Mail

Nova Scotians watch their backs – and each other’s – during another tick-infested summer

12 min read

June 30, 2025

Dr. Grant Bruno recently completed his PhD at the University Of Alberta. He has done a remarkable job of bringing Indigenous ways of living and creating to co-creation research, particularly in Indigenous youth and children living with autism and accessing support in community. (06/24/2025)

Dr. Grant Bruno recently completed his PhD at the University Of Alberta. He has done a remarkable job of bringing Indigenous ways of living and creating to co-creation research, particularly in Indigenous youth and children living with autism and accessing support in community. (06/24/2025)

Meet Canada’s next generation of researchers

11 min read

June 6, 2025

To save this baby, doctors had to kill part of her brain