Transcript Graduate Programs In Biostatistics

The University of
Texas - Houston
Health Science
Center
School of Public
Health
Robert J. Hardy, PhD
UT-Houston
Careers in Biostatistics
Robert J. Hardy, PhD
University of Texas-Houston
School of Public
Division of Biostatistics
Graduate Programs
in Biostatistics
WHAT IS BIOSTATISTICS?
• Applies mathematics, statistics, computational
biology, and computer science to biological,
biomedical and public health research.
• Plays a key role in the design, implementation
and data analysis of research studies.
• Develops new statistical methods to address
emerging problems.
Historical Example of
Applications of Mathematics to
Study Health Problem
What would be the impact eliminating
smallpox as a cause of death would have on
the population structure?
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Bernoulli (Daniel)
D’Alembert
Laplace
Others
Impact eliminating smallpox as
a cause of death
• Mortality in a population can only be observed in
the presence of all competing causes of death
• Mathematics was required to extract information
about what cannot be observed
Since smallpox epidemics were rampant,
mathematical models were needed to address
the problem.
Today this Topic is Referred to as
the Analysis of Competing Risks of
Death
or
Simply “Competing Risks”
For r Competing Risks of Death:
h(t) = h(t;1) + h(t;2) + … + h(t;r)
Instantaneous force of mortality or hazard rate
Additive cause-specific
forces of mortality
Competing risks of death
applied to other problems
• Death due to motor vehicle accidents
• Deaths due to AIDS
• Multiple causes of product failure
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE
CENTER AT HOUSTON
• UT School of Public Health is one of six schools within The
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• Housed in the Texas Medical Center --- the largest medical
complex in the world
• 18 health care institutions and six supporting organizations,
including The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center and Baylor College of Medicine
• Five regional School of Public Health campuses:
• Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, El Paso, and San Antonio
BIOSTATISTICS DIVISION DEGREES
• Master of Science (MS)
• 2 years to complete (includes a sequence of courses in basic statistical
theory and methods, research design, and data analysis)
• Minor in a field other than biostatistics
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Basic professional degree in public health with concentration in
biostatistics
• Doctors of Philosophy (PhD) - post MS or direct admit from BS
• Requires at least two additional years beyond the master level program
• Emphasizes advanced statistical theory and application, statistical
consulting, and independent research
• Two minors in fields other than biostatistics
• Dissertation
BIOSTATISTICS RESEARCH (EXAMPLES)
• Bioinformatics and statistical genetics.
• Occupational and environmental exposures in the etiology of
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adult leukemia.
Inter-uterine growth through ultrasound measurement.
Analysis of infant mortality in developing countries.
Queuing models for emergency medical services.
Stochastic modeling of movement through the health care
system.
Health effects of air pollution.
Analysis of health services utilization and health care
technology assessment.
THE COORDINATING CENTER FOR
CLINICAL TRIALS
The Coordinating Center conducts large-scale
multicenter clinical trials in:
• Cardiovascular cell therapy research
• Parkinson’s disease
• Early treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)
• Antihypertensive and lipid lowering treatment to prevent heart
attack
• High dose barbiturate therapy
• … and many others
BIOSTATISTICS FACULTY
• 22 Full-time UTSPH faculty members
• Biostatistics Division Faculty members from other UTSPH
divisions
• Faculty members from outside institutions with joint
appointments
• Faculty research interests and curriculum vitae
are available on the division website
http://www.sph.uth.tmc.edu/bios/faculty.aspx
Dr. Barbara C. Tilley, Ph.D.
Lorne Bain Professor & Director, Division
of Biostatistics
Research: Clinical trials, Parkinson's
Disease, health disparities research,
minority health, and movement disorders
CAREERS IN BIOSTATISTICS
• Statisticians were recently ranked number 3 among the best
occupations in the U.S, conducted by JobsRated.com
• Career opportunities
• Academia, Industry, and Government
• Examples
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Pharmaceutical industry
Management consulting firms
Computer software companies
Chemical industry
Medical research centers
Schools of Public Health
Government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health,
Center for Disease Control, state and local health agencies, and the
World Health Organization
COMPUTING RESOURCES
• The school operates its own computer facility,
including high-performance computing resources.
• Numerous desktop computers for student use are
located throughout the building and in the computer
laboratory.
• A Computer Services staff is available to aid students in
using the equipment, the various analytical and data
management software packages, and the large library
of health information research databases.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES
• MS Program
• Undergraduate degree in statistics, mathematics, computer
science, or one of the physical, biological, or social sciences
• At least an overall B average (on a 4.0 system) in prior academic
work
• MPH Program
• Should have strong interest in public health applications
and in quantitative methods
• PhD Program
• M.S. degree in the theory and applications of biostatistics
or its equivalent is required
• Minimum prerequisites: calculus and linear algebra
FALL -FEBRUARY 1
SPRING -AUGUST 1
How to apply
Visit SOPHAS.org to complete the online application for the
Schools of Public Health Application Service.
• Make sure all supporting documents for the SOPHAS online
application are submitted to SOPHAS.
• Two letters of recommendation.
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All post-secondary and professional school transcripts (Transcripts
from non-US institutions will need to be verified by the World
Education Services (WES) or Education Credential Evaluators (ECE)
and submitted directly to SOPHAS. A course-by-course transcript
evaluation is required.)
• GRE Scores. (GRE scores may be waived for applicants holding
doctoral letter degrees or ECFMG certification).
Please visit http://www.sph.uth.tmc.edu/admissions/howto-apply/
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Following financial support available on a competitive basis.
• Training Grant Program*
• $20,969 per year stipend plus tuition
• Dean’s Scholarship Program*
• $5,000 per year stipend+
• Teaching Assistantships**
• $20,000 per year stipend+
• Research Assistantships**
• $15,000 per year stipend+
*US citizens or permanent residents only
**No citizenship required
+Provides eligibility for in-state tuition {paid by student}
Tuition and Fees
• In-state tuition and fees
• 12 months (9 hours in the fall and spring semesters
and 6 hours in the summer semester)
• basic fees: less than $6,300 (does not include
mandatory health insurance).
• Out-of-state tuition and fees
• 12 months: $17,000
• Competitive scholarships greater than $1,000 and
traineeships allow non-resident students to qualify for
in-state tuition.
University of Texas
School of Public Health
Office of Student Affairs
The University of Texas School of Public Health
1200 Herman Pressler, RAS E-201
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: (713) 500-9032
Fax: (713) 500-9068
email: [email protected]