Statistical Programmers and Analysts
A Year in the Making
New section starts out with strong goals
T
he Section for Statistical Programmers
and Analysts (SSPA) officially
becomes an ASA Section on January
1, 2009. Our membership base is comprised
of early to mid-career professionals who use
statistical methodology and software to
manipulate and analyze data for effective
interpretation and presentation. We hope that
through the formation of this section, we will
be able to bring new members to the ASA
and offer an additional section in which cur-
rent ASA members can get involved.
As stated in our charter, the SSPA aims
to be a forum for fostering broad discussion
of statistical programming concepts, theo-
From left: Jyoti Rayamajhi, Amanda Tweed, Jennifer Borkowsky, Steve Yao, Christine Connolly, and
ries, and techniques that are used by statis-
Monica Johnston
tical analysts within a variety of industries.
Additionally, we include in our scope cross- career-related topics, as well as to attract
functional activities such as data management nonmembers to the ASA.
As we prepare for our first
and pre-analyses data manipulation that affect As 2009 quickly approaches, the SSPA
year as a newly established
our statistical programming work. Another is looking ahead to JSM and preparing to
section, we’ve filled our officer
focus of SSPA is discussion of career oppor- call for topic-contributed and contributed
positions with highly motivated
tunities and paths for statistical programmers. abstract submissions. Aligning with the JSM individuals from a variety of
Finally, we will establish and maintain liaisons 2009 theme of “Statistics: From Evidence to organizations within academia
with other ASA sections as appropriate. Policy,” our topic-contributed section theme and the pharmaceutical and
Our program of activities for 2009 will be “Role of Statistical Programmers in
biotechnology arenas. Our first
includes participation in JSM 2009, pub- Providing Evidence That Affects Policy.”
slate of officers includes
lishing of quarterly newsletters, creating Contributed abstract submissions should
the following:
an SSPA web site, and holding a webinar reflect the interests of the section and can
or teleconference on a leading statistical relate to any issue within the statistical
Jennifer Borkowsky
programming issue. programming and analysis framework. We
Treasurer
The newsletter will keep members encourage anyone with ideas for either a
Monica Johnson
informed of upcoming activities and provide topic-contributed or contributed session to
Representative to the Council of
an avenue for members to contribute articles submit an abstract by February 2, 2009, at 3
Sections
that demonstrate programming techniques p.m. EST to the ASA. Please contact our pro-
and tips, discuss issues that affect statistical gram chair, Jyoti Rayamajhi, at rayamajhi_
Jyoti Rayamajhi
programming work, and explore career devel-
jyoti@lilly.com with questions regarding the
Program Chair
opment issues. It also will give us the oppor- submission of an abstract within the SSPA.
Mike Todd
tunity to attract new members to the ASA by We are excited to officially begin our first
Publications Officer
attracting them to the activities of the SSPA. year as part of the ASA and look forward to
Look for our inaugural newsletter in early participating in JSM 2009. We are grateful to
Amanda Tweed
2009 for a formal introduction of the section all those who have helped us get to this point,
Secretary
and a brief biography of each officer. most notably to the ASA Committee on
Steve Yao
Additionally, we will hold an annual Membership, Retention, and Recruitment for
Chair
webinar or teleconference to discuss a suggesting the formation of our section and
current issue in statistical programming. By officially founding us this past October. We
Nancy Wu
2010, we have plans to own and monitor also are appreciative of the insight and feed- Program Chair-elect
an ASA electronic mailing list (i.e., a bul- back we’ve received from various ASA sections
Liping Zhang
letin board), which will be accessible by and members.
General Section Member
any ASA member or nonmember on a trial We encourage anyone with questions
basis. This electronic mailing list will be a regarding the new Section for Statistical Wendy Zhang
venue to ask and answer questions relating Programmers and Analysts to contact Steve Chair-elect
to statistical programming, statistics, and Yao at
wyao@amgen.com. n
DECEMBER 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 47
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