I am delighted
to be the director of the Center for Health Statistics at
the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). As you can
see from this site, we have a richness of statistical talent
that is rarely found in a single department, let alone a
Center.
I came to UIC in 1981 after completing
my training at the University of Chicago where I had the
great fortune to work with Darrell Bock, David Wallace,
and Jim Heckman. In many ways, the precursor to this Center
was founded by my rich collaboration over the years with
friend and colleague Don Hedeker, the products of which
include the many advanced computer programs for linear and
non-linear mixed-effects regression models which we have
distributed freely over the Internet for many years. Over
the years, my interests have included non-linear mixed-effects
models, item response theory, environmental regulatory statistics,
laboratory calibration, and statistical issues in health
services research. With the constant help and guidance from
Ann Hohmann at NIMH we have received continuous funding
for our statistical work for many years, ranging from R01s
to a Career Scientist Award.
I have also been very fortunate to have
become a fellow of the American Statistical Association,
to have received the ASA Youden Prize for interlaboratory
calibration with friend and colleague Dulal Bhaumik, and
to have become a member of the Institute of Medicine of
the National Academy of Sciences. Working with Andy Pope
and others at the IOM has taught me the tremendous value
of applying statistical principles and methods in solving
some of the leading health policy questions of our time.
I would like to thank Joe Flaherty and Boris Astrachan,
chair and former chair of the Department of Psychiatry at
UIC, for suggesting the idea of a Center for Health Statistics
and for their never ending support in its creation and development. |
