Comments for Amstat News http://magazine.amstat.org Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:55:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Comment on Statisticians and Clinicians: Collaborations Based on Mutual Respect by Karen Messer http://magazine.amstat.org/blog/2012/02/01/collaborationpolic/comment-page-1/#comment-9572 Karen Messer Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:55:29 +0000 http://magazine.amstat.org/?p=23655#comment-9572 A nice model indeed, and helpful to have this appear in a professional journal so that we can wave it under various noses- thank you Dr. Berry. The argument that support for research is necessary in order to attract top-flight faculty is one that resonates with our Dean and other academic leaders. I wonder what are the various models in the biostats community for obtaining institutional support for research time? It would be very useful to have several successful models at hand. A nice model indeed, and helpful to have this appear in a professional journal so that we can wave it under various noses- thank you Dr. Berry. The argument that support for research is necessary in order to attract top-flight faculty is one that resonates with our Dean and other academic leaders. I wonder what are the various models in the biostats community for obtaining institutional support for research time? It would be very useful to have several successful models at hand.

]]> Comment on Annual Fund Drive Reaches Still Higher by megan http://magazine.amstat.org/blog/2012/02/01/funddrive1/comment-page-1/#comment-9571 megan Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:52:40 +0000 http://magazine.amstat.org/?p=23642#comment-9571 Dr. Lott, We apologize for the error. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, the page has been updated. Dr. Lott,
We apologize for the error. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, the page has been updated.

]]> Comment on About by Ron Wasserstein http://magazine.amstat.org/about/comment-page-1/#comment-9568 Ron Wasserstein Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:32:29 +0000 http://magazine.amstat.org/?page_id=81#comment-9568 Lutz, Your point is well taken, and if you can point me to advice about how to do this better, I'd appreciate it. I'm told we've tried to have twice the number of data points needed to estimate the top quantile, but I'm not up on the literature on this subject. We'd welcome your advice for future surveys. Ron Wasserstein Executive Director, ASA Lutz,
Your point is well taken, and if you can point me to advice about how to do this better, I’d appreciate it. I’m told we’ve tried to have twice the number of data points needed to estimate the top quantile, but I’m not up on the literature on this subject. We’d welcome your advice for future surveys.
Ron Wasserstein
Executive Director, ASA

]]> Comment on Statisticians and Clinicians: Collaborations Based on Mutual Respect by Diana Miglioretti http://magazine.amstat.org/blog/2012/02/01/collaborationpolic/comment-page-1/#comment-9567 Diana Miglioretti Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:04:20 +0000 http://magazine.amstat.org/?p=23655#comment-9567 Don - Nice blog! Thanks for sharing. And Steve G. has very good points about the challenges most of us face in this area in terms of time and numbers. Don – Nice blog! Thanks for sharing. And Steve G. has very good points about the challenges most of us face in this area in terms of time and numbers.

]]> Comment on Annual Fund Drive Reaches Still Higher by Juanita Lott http://magazine.amstat.org/blog/2012/02/01/funddrive1/comment-page-1/#comment-9564 Juanita Lott Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:55:08 +0000 http://magazine.amstat.org/?p=23642#comment-9564 Dear colleagues, I'm not sure what your fiscal year is so I may be out of sync but I thought you'd want to know that my records indicate ASA contributions: 2009 - $1,000 2010 - 2,000 2011 - 500 2012 - 500 Thank you for your attention and correction, Juanita Dear colleagues,

I’m not sure what your fiscal year is so I may be out of sync but I thought you’d want to know that my records indicate ASA contributions:

2009 – $1,000
2010 – 2,000
2011 – 500
2012 – 500

Thank you for your attention and correction,
Juanita

]]> Comment on Response to ‘Statistics à la Mode’ by Christian P. Robert http://magazine.amstat.org/blog/2012/02/01/maa-response/comment-page-1/#comment-9563 Christian P. Robert Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:36:06 +0000 http://magazine.amstat.org/?p=23548#comment-9563 I <a href="http://xianblog.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/teachin-math-stat/" rel="nofollow">discussed this post a few weeks ago</a>, finding the mathematician's perspective rather naïve. But also the adverse reaction that statistics (as a field) had nothing to do in math (as a field). I discussed this post a few weeks ago, finding the mathematician’s perspective rather naïve. But also the adverse reaction that statistics (as a field) had nothing to do in math (as a field).

]]> Comment on Statisticians and Clinicians: Collaborations Based on Mutual Respect by Steve Goodman http://magazine.amstat.org/blog/2012/02/01/collaborationpolic/comment-page-1/#comment-9561 Steve Goodman Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:10:17 +0000 http://magazine.amstat.org/?p=23655#comment-9561 There is little doubt that the MD Anderson set-up is the model for how statistical consulting-partnership should be conducted, in no small part due to Don. But Don doesn't mention perhaps the most important locus of respect, which is that of the institution's leadership for the contributions of Biostatistics-Bioinformatics. That you were allowed to build a team of 40 faculty members and 45 analysts at MDA is amazing, and critical to the kind of operation you describe above. Even though most Biostat faculty pay for themselves about five minutes after they join, it is the very rare institution that will provide the space or resources to hire adequate numbers. Every institution I have been familiar with bemoans the lack of statistical resources for collaborative research, yet none will add the #s of statisticians needed to address it. Even if they could come close, they would demand that those hired spend 100% time on collaborative / service activities; not a formula for getting the best people. So, while everything you say above about mutual respect is true, it's a lot easier to be an effective partner when you are working on 5 projects in similar areas than 23 in disparate ones, not counting the grant prep, reviewing, SS calcs and informal consults that can fill up a week. So, institutional recognition of the proper sizing of biostat/bioinformatics depts. is a critical concomitant to the success of the professional respect model you outline above. You are lucky to have that at MDA, and I hope others take the #s you outline above to their own institutions. BTW, how many research protocols did you review and collaborate on each year, and roughly how many per faculty+analyst? There is little doubt that the MD Anderson set-up is the model for how statistical consulting-partnership should be conducted, in no small part due to Don. But Don doesn’t mention perhaps the most important locus of respect, which is that of the institution’s leadership for the contributions of Biostatistics-Bioinformatics. That you were allowed to build a team of 40 faculty members and 45 analysts at MDA is amazing, and critical to the kind of operation you describe above. Even though most Biostat faculty pay for themselves about five minutes after they join, it is the very rare institution that will provide the space or resources to hire adequate numbers. Every institution I have been familiar with bemoans the lack of statistical resources for collaborative research, yet none will add the #s of statisticians needed to address it. Even if they could come close, they would demand that those hired spend 100% time on collaborative / service activities; not a formula for getting the best people.

So, while everything you say above about mutual respect is true, it’s a lot easier to be an effective partner when you are working on 5 projects in similar areas than 23 in disparate ones, not counting the grant prep, reviewing, SS calcs and informal consults that can fill up a week. So, institutional recognition of the proper sizing of biostat/bioinformatics depts. is a critical concomitant to the success of the professional respect model you outline above. You are lucky to have that at MDA, and I hope others take the #s you outline above to their own institutions. BTW, how many research protocols did you review and collaborate on each year, and roughly how many per faculty+analyst?

]]> Comment on Statisticians and Clinicians: Collaborations Based on Mutual Respect by Jeffrey Morris http://magazine.amstat.org/blog/2012/02/01/collaborationpolic/comment-page-1/#comment-9560 Jeffrey Morris Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:31:15 +0000 http://magazine.amstat.org/?p=23655#comment-9560 Great writeup and summary, Don! I totally agree -- mutual respect is crucial to a good collaborative experience. Great writeup and summary, Don! I totally agree — mutual respect is crucial to a good collaborative experience.

]]> Comment on Statisticians and Clinicians: Collaborations Based on Mutual Respect by Dick L http://magazine.amstat.org/blog/2012/02/01/collaborationpolic/comment-page-1/#comment-9559 Dick L Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:53:01 +0000 http://magazine.amstat.org/?p=23655#comment-9559 A very nice model for biostatistics collaboration. A very nice model for biostatistics collaboration.

]]> Comment on Statisticians and Clinicians: Collaborations Based on Mutual Respect by Bill B. http://magazine.amstat.org/blog/2012/02/01/collaborationpolic/comment-page-1/#comment-9558 Bill B. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:19:46 +0000 http://magazine.amstat.org/?p=23655#comment-9558 Based on hearing Dr. Berry's talks, it's too bad he doesn't afford other statisticians (in particular, non-Bayesians) the same respect he gives clinicians. Based on hearing Dr. Berry’s talks, it’s too bad he doesn’t afford other statisticians (in particular, non-Bayesians) the same respect he gives clinicians.

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