Department of Biostatistics and Data Science Celebrates 55 Years of Excellence

This fall, the Department of Biostatistics and Data Science at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health proudly marked its 55th anniversary. Since its establishment in 1969 as the Division of Biometry, the department has been a cornerstone of academic innovation and collaboration in the evolution of biostatistics and data science.  

Past and present faculty have spent half a century pioneering advancements in biomedical research and real-world practice, highlighted by the department’s ranking as one of the top five  largest PhD programs in biostatistics in the nation. Since the school opened, over 600 biostatistics and data science students have graduated.  

“Our faculty and students’ commitment to excellence in research, education, and service has been the driving force behind our ascent. From humble beginnings, we have evolved into a vibrant and diverse academic community, united by a common goal: to push the boundaries of biostatistics, improve public health, and advance scientific knowledge,” said Hulin Wu, PhD, Department Chair and Betty Wheless Trotter Professor. 

To celebrate this milestone, the department hosted a conference inviting speakers from academia, government and industry to foster and share findings in the field. The conference, focusing on the new era of data-driven sciences, drew over 150 researchers, alumni, and current faculty and students to this event.  

During this two-day conference, the event featured keynote speakers, invited sessions, research poster sessions, and career panels. Attendees explored and discussed emerging biostatistics and data science challenges, methods, and applications in healthcare. At the end of the conference, two distinguished alumni and three students were awarded for their efforts and highlighted work. 

Distinguished Alumni Awards: 

• Jill Barnholtz-Sloan, PhD, Acting Director at the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology
•  Susan Halabi, PhD, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics at Duke University 

Winning Student Posters: 

• 1st place – Xinran Huang 
• Tied for 2nd place – Wenting Liu and Xiaona Li

As the Department of Biostatistics and Data Science celebrates its history and legacy from the past 55 years, it remains steadfast in its mission to educate future public health leaders. By continuing to address complex healthcare challenges and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, the department remains at the forefront of biostatistics and data science education and research. 

Samiran Ghosh, PhD, the Chair of the conference and Vice Chair of the department, expressed special thanks to the Dean's office of the School of Public Health for their support, as well as to sponsors of the event for their generous contributions.