Hello, fellow statisticians and data scientists. This month, I want to share more about my focus on building strong, sustainable bridges—both within our community and beyond. We are living and working in a rapidly changing world driven by AI technologies, which presents opportunities and challenges to advance our profession. Under this broad vision, several key initiatives have taken shape from my time as president-elect, and I want to share a few of them with you.
Collaboration with Nature Medicine
One notable effort focuses on building a new relationship with high-impact scientific journals that lack formal statistical editorial boards in their review processes. In May 2024, the ASA and Nature Medicine signed an inaugural memorandum of understanding. Through this partnership, we recruited 33 statisticians specializing in oncology, metabolic diseases, and infectious diseases to serve as the journal’s first official statistical advisory panel. After six months of collaboration, we conducted an evaluation, and the journal expressed strong interest in expanding the partnership to cover additional disease areas with further statistical expertise. It’s worth noting that this advisory work is entirely driven by volunteers, which is a testament to the commitment of our statistical community.
Looking ahead, we’re exploring ways to make our voices heard in this space. This might include submitting collective guidelines, introducing new statistical methods, or highlighting common pitfalls in medical research related to statistical considerations. An interview with the Nature Medicine editors and ASA members will be shared in the March issue.
My goal is to build on this successful model and establish meaningful partnerships with other organizations. I welcome your ideas and suggestions about opportunities for meaningful collaborations.
Tailored Leadership Program
Dionne Price, the 2023 ASA president, passed away on February 22, 2024, at just 52 years old. She left behind a legacy of scientific excellence, dedicated mentorship, and an unwavering commitment to promoting statistics for the greater good. As deputy director of biostatistics at the US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Dionne was not only a remarkable statistician but also a passionate advocate for diversity in our field.
Her work with StatsForward, an ASA initiative aimed at encouraging early-career professionals to develop their skills and knowledge and make a commitment to becoming leaders in our profession, remains one of her most impactful contributions.
I want to build on Dionne’s legacy by expanding the impact of StatsForward.
The Leadership Institute was formally established in 2018 under Lisa LaVange’s presidency, and it has since hosted various leadership programs serving ASA members across different sections, chapters, and special interest groups. It is essential to continue to integrate leadership development into our professional development offerings and proactively communicate their availability to ensure maximum participation and impact.
Sustainable initiatives build on past successes, so I want to focus on a clear dissemination and implementation strategy to better leverage the programs we have. Of course, leadership development programs must also evolve to align with today’s rapidly changing professional landscape.
One of the first offerings of the Leadership Institute explored the need to recognize cultural differences in attitudes toward leadership and to learn how to develop strong and effective leaders in light of these differences. I believe this focus on cultural competence as part of leadership development is particularly important. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. Much like personalized medicine tailors treatment to individual patients, cultural context shapes how we communicate and perceive leadership roles.
Growing up in Korea, humility was emphasized as a core value. When someone praised a child’s achievement, the typical response wasn’t “Thank you!” but “Oh, no, no. She is not that good.” The concern was that acknowledgment might lead to arrogance.
It took me years—and significant intentional effort—to adjust this mindset, especially in professional settings. I had to learn to navigate different communication styles, challenge my own biases, and embrace inclusivity as a leadership strength.
One moment from my early career still lingers in my memory. During a Joint Statistical Meetings conference, I stopped by the Statistical Consulting Section’s business meeting and reception. Marlene Egger, then at the University of Utah, warmly approached me and asked if I would be interested in taking on an office position within the section. I was thrilled to be asked; it felt like a validation of my potential. But my reaction? “Oh no, I’m not good at that.” I declined her offer.
Looking back, I often wonder if I unknowingly turned down an opportunity to learn about the ASA, gain valuable leadership experience, and set myself on a clearer path for growth? I’ll never know. But I do know this: My story isn’t unique. I’ve met many colleagues, especially those from underrepresented or culturally distinct backgrounds, who’ve faced similar internal barriers.
These missed opportunities aren’t just personal losses. They’re collective losses for our ASA community. Every voice that hesitates to lead is a voice we miss in shaping our association’s future. We can’t afford to let cultural barriers hold back potential leaders. It’s time to ensure no talented statistician hesitates to say yes when opportunity knocks.
To address this, I will work with the newly established professional development advisory committee and external experts to design and implement a culturally tailored leadership program. This initiative will honor Dionne’s vision while building a more inclusive, diverse, and effective ASA leadership community.
Rethinking Reviewers’ Role in Grant Review Study Sections
For more than two decades, I’ve served as a statistical reviewer in various grant review study sections. These sections primarily evaluate proposals in fields such as epidemiology, medicine, and basic science research. Typically, a study section consists of 20–30 subject-matter experts and just two to three statistical reviewers in nonstatistical fields. Each proposal is assigned two subject experts and, when necessary, one statistical reviewer.
Statistical reviewers are expected to focus on study design, sample size justification, and analysis plans. But our role doesn’t stop there. As full members of the study section, we also contribute to evaluating broader review criteria essential to funding decisions. After group discussions, every reviewer scores the proposal based on collective feedback.
Despite the importance of statistical input, our comments are often viewed as fixable post-funding, rather than critical for initial evaluation. Statisticians are sometimes seen as slowing down the review process, and communication remains a persistent challenge. Explaining complex statistical issues in plain language to nonstatistical reviewers is no small task, especially under time constraints imposed by study section chairs or funding agency offices.
Junior statistical reviewers often add to this challenge by limiting their contributions. I’ve frequently heard them say, “I am not a content expert; my comments are only about the statistical aspects.” While technically accurate, this narrow framing undermines their influence. To accurately assess the study design and analysis plans, a reviewer must engage with the scientific content at a foundational level.
These challenges have broader consequences. They don’t just affect individual proposals; they shape statistical rigor across scientific research funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and other agencies. It is time to rethink our approach. I propose training initiatives to enhance statisticians’ roles in grant review processes. These will include the following:
- Workshops with external experts to refine communication skills and broaden perspectives
- Panel sessions to share best practices and address common challenges
- Guidelines for new statistical reviewers to clarify expectations and build confidence
Statistical reviewers play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of scientific research. Strengthening our presence and impact in grant review study sections isn’t just a professional responsibility; it’s an opportunity to shape the future of research excellence.
As I shared at the beginning of this column, my priority is to build bridges. Since February is Black History Month, it is important to recognize that the ability to build bridges relies on a diverse community and the inclusion of many perspectives. Thank you for being part of our ASA community. I hope we can count on you.
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