UNC Department of Biostatistics
Turns
60
T
he department of biostatistics at The
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
turned 60 in October. More than 300 fac-
ulty, students, friends, and alumni gathered at the
George Watts Hill Alumni Center’s Carolina Club
for a five-day celebration that included lectures on
cutting-edge developments in biostatistical theory
and applications; updates on the department; reflec-
tions on the impact of the department on biostatis-
tics, public health, and medicine; and a festschrift
for Gary Koch.
The university of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings school of Global
Experts in statistics and biostatistics from around
Public Health Biostatistics
the country presented during nine panel discussions
on topics such as categorical data analysis, random-
ing rigorous academic standards and producing
ized trials in clinical research, data analysis using
landmark papers, studies, and research programs.
auxiliary and latent variables, innovative clinical
In 1972, after 23 years as chair of the depart-
trial design, environmental statistics, faculty-student
ment, Greenberg became dean of the school of pub-
interaction in applied research, emerging applica-
lic health. James E. Grizzle, a full professor in the
tions in high-dimensional data analysis, population
department, took over as chair, serving from 1972
statistics, and non- and semi-parametrics. A key theme
to 1987. After a brief interim, Barry H. Margolin,
that emerged was the invaluable role of the student/
then with the National Institute of Environmental
mentor relationship in the department and how many
Health Sciences, became the third chair. When
of these relationships stay vibrant and alive beyond
Margolin resigned in 1997, C. E. Davis was appoint-
campus walls and graduation.
ed interim chair. In October 1998, he was named
A dinner banquet featured Jim Grizzle, who gave a
the fourth chair. Davis retired in 2005 and, after
talk on the department’s history and impact. A break-
a brief interim with Jianwen Cai as chair, Michael
fast in honor of Larry Kupper also was held.
Kosorok, professor of statistics and biostatistics at
A highlight of the festivities was a festschrift in
the University of Wisconsin-Madison, became the
honor of the work of Kocha— UNC-CH biostatistics
fifth chair.
professor, philanthropist, and co-founder of Quintiles
Transnational Corp. Guest editors John S. Preisser, UNC Biostatistics Department Today
Anastasia Ivanova, and William D. Johnson oversaw
The mission of the department today is to forge
the contribution of 23 proposed scholarly articles that
advances in science that benefit human health
will be published in a special volume of Statistics in
through profound and paradigm-shifting innova-
Biopharmaceutical Research to honor Koch. The vol-
tions in biostatistical methodology and theory, as
ume also will include a commentary, biography, and
well as the thoughtful implementation of biostatisti-
excerpts from an interview with Koch.
cal methods in practice. The past decade has seen a
broadening and strengthening of the faculty and a
A Brief History
recommitment to the fundamentals of basic statisti-
Bernard G. Greenberg founded the department of
cal research motivated by scientific collaboration.
biostatistics in 1949 with the support of Gertrude
The department encompasses more than 40 fac-
Cox and Harold Hotelling. The department, initial-
ulty members, 60 staff members, and 150 students
ly a joint venture of the departments of mathemati-
and offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree
cal statistics and experimental statistics, was created
programs that provide a comprehensive and up-to-
primarily to teach service courses and provide sta-
date coverage of applications, methods, and theory.
tistical consulting for the school of public health
For more information about the depart-
faculty and other components of the health affairs
ment or to see pictures of the festschrift, visit
division. The department quickly became a leader
www.sph.unc.edu/bios/bios_60th_and_festschrift_
in the newly emerging field of biostatistics, adopt-
celebration_-_october_2009_13011.html. n
December 2009 AmstAt News 23
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