the global AIDS pandemic. The culmination data first hand, and to weigh conflicting and Reaching Out on Global Health
of this sabbatical was a month-long trip to and sometimes contradictory evidence to Policy, Thursday, August 7, at 8:30 a.m.
Africa, involving time in Zambia, Uganda, arrive at actionable conclusions. I sup- The purpose of this session is to bring
and South Africa. I, along with research pose we could consider these elements of together statisticians interested in global
partner Presha Neidermeyer of West “statistical thinking.” health care issues to share experiences and
Virginia University, visited several nongov- Relative to statistical methods, my GE discuss opportunities to get more involved
ernment organizations, orphanages, clinics, colleague Huaiyu Ma and I are evaluating in reaching out beyond our profession,
and AIDS activists, meeting numerous peo- uncertainty estimates of published HIV/ with the ultimate goal of having greater
ple suffering from AIDS along the way. By AIDS infection models, research that will be impact on public policy related to global
design, we tended to avoid the official gov- presented at JSM. [Session 50, “Statistical health crises. I will share my experiences
ernment establishments and focused more Methods in Public Health,” 4:00 p.m., in Africa, and Donna Stroup of Data for
on interacting with people from all walks of Sunday, August 3.] Solutions, Inc. will discuss her experienc-
life who are on the ‘front lines’ of the battle Neidermeyer and I are currently working es in the Caribbean and Eastern Europe,
against AIDS in Africa. As can be imagined, on a book to document our findings and researching the consequences of obesity
it was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experi- recommendations, and hopefully to influ- and smoking in the population. Also,
ence, but also disturbing. ence public policy. In it, we will discuss five Steve Pierson, the new ASA director of
We obtained a tremendous amount of macro issues we think must be addressed to science policy, will share his insights into
information. We also came away convinced produce a solution to the AIDS pandemic. how statisticians can become more active
that the AIDS crisis will not be solved any- If you would like to read more about my contributors to public policy.
time soon—but it can be solved. Somewhat trip to Africa or the book we are working In summary, the ASA and the glob-
unexpectedly, my statistical background on, visit
www.grcblog.com/?author=51. al statistical community have much to
proved invaluable, not so much from a For those interested in HIV/AIDS, or offer public health policy. I urge my fel-
mathematical point of view, but rather by global health policy in general, I invite you low members to join me and the ASA in
enabling me to take an objective view of to attend session 473 at JSM in Denver these efforts. n
a very emotional topic, to gather relevant this August—Statisticians: Speaking Out
32 AMSTAT NEWS JULY 2008
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