Dr. Geng completed medical school in China in 1999, and then did an internal medicine residency, also in China, finishing in 2003.

Afterwards, she and her husband, Dr. Yue Teng, emigrated to the United States, and Yan worked at the Arkansas Children's Hospital doing nutrition studies. In 2006, she and Yue moved to Cedar Rapids, so that Yue could do residency at CRMEF. Yan herself completed a number of observerships in Cedar Rapids during that same time, prior to joining CRMEF as a resident.

Yan enjoys jogging, swimming, cooking, reading and, with Yue, fishing. Among her favorite TV shows are those on the Food Network and the Travel Channel, including Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations and Iron Chef America.