The%20University%20of%20Texas%20-%20Houston

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The University of Texas - Houston Health Science
Center School of Public Health
Robert J. Hardy, PhD UT-Houston
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Careers in Biostatistics

• Robert J. Hardy, PhD
• University of Texas-Houston
• School of Public
• Division of Biostatistics

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Graduate Programs in Biostatistics
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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.

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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?

• Bernoulli (Daniel)
• DAlembert
• Laplace
• Others

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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.
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Today this Topic is Referred to as the Analysis
of Competing Risks of Death or Simply
Competing RisksFor r Competing Risks of
Deathh(t) h(t1) h(t2) h(tr)
Instantaneous force of mortality or hazard rate
Additive cause-specific


forces of mortality
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Competing risks of death applied to other problems

• Death due to motor vehicle accidents
• Deaths due to AIDS
• Multiple causes of product failure

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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

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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

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Biostatistics Research (examples)

• Bioinformatics and statistical genetics.
• Occupational and environmental exposures in the
  etiology of 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.

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The Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials

• The Coordinating Center conducts large-scale
• multicenter clinical trials in
• Cardiovascular cell therapy research
• Parkinsons disease
• Early treatment of retinopathy of prematurity
  (ROP)
• Antihypertensive and lipid lowering treatment to
  prevent heart attack
• High dose barbiturate therapy
• and many others

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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

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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
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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
• 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

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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.

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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

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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.
• 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/how-to-apply
  /

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Financial Support

• Following financial support available on a
  competitive basis.
• Training Grant Program
• 20,969 per year stipend plus tuition
• Deans 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
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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.

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University of TexasSchool of Public Health

• Office of Student AffairsThe University of Texas
  School of Public Health1200 Herman Pressler, RAS
  E-201Houston, TX 77030
• Phone [phone]Fax [phone]email
  saffairs_at_uth.tmc.edu