20th Anniversary Symposium

We thank everyone who attended the symposium in person and online! 

View the videorecording of the symposium.

Ethical Healthcare through Innovations in Biostatistics: Advancing Informative Analysis, Data Coordination, and Health Equity

Friday, September 29, 2023 ♦ 8:30am–12:30pm Central Time

Free and open to the public ♦ On campus and online

We are celebrating our 20th anniversary with a symposium in Langford Auditorium at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (see below for directions and parking info). We'd love to see you there! (Your RSVP will help us with preparations.) Walk-ins are welcome, and the event is being streamed and recorded. Stay afterwards to socialize and to vote for your favorite poster.

13 headshots - symposium speakers and panelists

The program will feature prominent biostatisticians, healthcare leaders, and innovative thinkers:

Opening remarks by Jennifer Pietenpol, Vanderbilt University Medical Center 

Clinical Trials and Data Coordination (8:35 a.m.)

  • John Crowley, Cancer Research and Biostatistics (CRAB): "The Ethical Imperative of Getting It Right: One Coordinating Center's Quest for Data Quality, Efficiency and Inclusivity"
  • Wesley Self, Vanderbilt University Medical Center: "VUMC As the Center of Clinical Research"
  • Patrick Heagerty, University of Washington: "Statistical Contributions to Pharmacosurveillance"

Ethics, Statistics, and Health Equity (9:35 a.m.)

  • Nandita Mitra, University of Pennsylvania: "It’s All about the Estimand: Tackling Health Equity Questions from the Top Down"
  • Ellen Wright Clayton, Vanderbilt University Medical Center: "Equity and Trustworthiness Calls Us to Rethink Research Ethics" 
  • Bradley Malin, Vanderbilt University Medical Center: "Why Synthetic Data May Solve Our Bias Woes… and Why It Might Not"

ChatGPT/AI (10:55 a.m.)

  • Peter Embi, Vanderbilt University Medical Center: "Advancing Algorithmovigilance for AI-Driven Healthcare Equity and Effectiveness" 
  • Xihong Lin, Harvard University: "Embracing Generative AI in Biostatistics" 
  • Yaa Kumah-Crystal, Vanderbilt University Medical Center: "Dawning of Digital White Coats: AI Implications in Medicine" 
  • Yaomin Xu, Vanderbilt University Medical Center: "Boosting Data Science Productivity with ChatGPT and AI" 
  • Yu Shyr, Vanderbilt University Medical Center: "What Keeps Me Awake at Night with ChatGPT"

Q&A (11:45 a.m.) moderated by Bryan Shepherd, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Closing remarks by Yu Shyr

Poster session (12:30–2:00 p.m.)

Langford Auditorium entrance

Photo: Susan Urmy / Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Free parking for this event is available in the 25th Avenue Garage. This garage is shared with Vanderbilt University. Please park on the Medical Center side by entering from the 24th Avenue or the Highland Avenue entrance. When entering from the Highland Avenue entrance, proceed through the internal parking gates to access the Medical Center parking area. Parking is available on levels 3–10. Spaces are limited, and first-come first-served.

The nearest bus stop is at 21st Avenue South & Medical Center Drive.

Additional information on directions to and parking for Langford Auditorium can be found here.

Details subject to change.