UTMB - Biostatics and CTSA (Clinical & Translational Science Awards)

Presents

TRCC (Texas Regional CTSA Consortium)

Quantitative Seminar Series

“Selecting Important Variables and/or Genes

Across a Variety of Outcomes”

Michael D. Swartz, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Biostatistics and Data Science

School of Public Health

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Noon – 1 pm

Ewing Hall 1.104

This seminar contributes to achieving one or more of the CTSA core competencies in the category of Statistical Approaches.

Abstract: Variables are everywhere and the problem of variable selection is an active area of research across a variety of fields.  In this talk I will provide an overview of multiple variable selection developments and applications completed by my research group. Most of the early applications are to genetic data, answering the question of what genes area associated with a disease. The first method, Stochastic search gene suggestion, developed in 2006, incorporated genetic structures into the hierarchical priors for model selection. Specifically, we incorporated linkage disequilibrium, a type of genetic correlation. Originally the selection priors were designed to model the biological structure of multiple alleles within genetic loci, common in the genetic markers of the time, known as microsatellites. Then SSGS was updated to analyze more contemporary genetic markers known as Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and applied to search for SNPs associated with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  Originally designed for family trios to be genotyped (both parents and one affected child) SSGS was next developed for case control data and genetic pathway information, and finally updated for computationally intense larger data sets by incorporating the EM algorithm for posterior mode hunting.  And we branched out of genetics to tackle identifying important factors associated with physical activity measured by accelerometers using penalized augmented estimating equations.

*** Lunch Provided ***

Participating TRCC Institutions include: UTMB, UTHSC-Houston, UTHSC-San Antonio, and UT Southwestern

Please Join us for The Academy of Master Clinicians Induction Ceremony

Improved Survival but Continued Disparities in Cancer:

Planning the Future but Looking Through the Rear View Mirror 

Keynote Speaker:

Edith P. Mitchell, MD, FACP, FCPP 

Director, Center to Eliminate Cancer Disparities 

Jefferson Univeristy 

Retired US Air Force Brigadier General 

Honoring:

Pamela G. Watson , RN, ScD

Dean Emeritus of the School of Nursing 

with the Lifetime Achievement Award 

The Influence of Professional Education in the Creation of Master Clinicians 

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

4:00 P.M. 

William C. Levin Hall, Main Auditorium 

Reception to follow in Levin Hall Foyer 

Please responsd by Thursday, April 19, to the Office of University Events at events.oua@utmb.edu or (409) 747-6735. 

The deadline for all health care workers to complete their annual TB screening for FY18 is May 31.

To assist with this institutional requirement, TB testing will be offered on the following days from 7 a.m. to noon in the Jennie Sealy Hospital.

• Tuesday, April 24, and Thursday, April 26

Please be advised that health care workers tested within the last four months do not need to be rescreened at this time. Those who have had a positive TB test must complete and return a TB Evaluation Form to Employee Health; a chest x-ray will only be required if an employee is symptomatic.

For more details about UTMB’s TB surveillance program and testing opportunities, click here or contact Employee Health at (409) 747-9172.

Promising Practices to Improve Hispanic Health

Collaborative interprofessional forum to discuss advancement of Hispanic health

In collaboration with Hispanic Serving Health Professions Schools (HSHPS), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is presenting a new webinar series titled: Promising Practices to Improve Hispanic Health. This series is designed to promote increased awareness, foster discussion, and catalyze further research among health professions faculty on promising practices to advance Hispanic health.

Webinar #1: The State of Hispanic Health and Implications for the Future

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

12:00 – 1:30 PM EDT

The first webinar in this series will provide a foundation for upcoming presentations by introducing the current status of health in Hispanic communities. National leaders in this field will discuss the unique challenges facing Hispanic communities, current local and national public health efforts to address these challenges, and identify existing approaches within academic medicine to advance Hispanic health in the United States.

REGISTER TODAY: https://tinyurl.com/yd2k7wst

Moderated by:

Malika Fair, MD, MPH, FACEP

Senior Director, Health Equity Partnerships & Programs

Association of American Medical Colleges

Panel Members:

David Acosta, MD, FAACP

Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Association of American Medical Colleges

Kenneth L. Dominguez, MD, MPH

CDC, National Center for HIV,

Viral Hepatitis, STD, TB Prevention

Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention

Kyriakos Markides, PhD

Annie & John Gnitzinger Distinguished Professor of Aging Studies

Editor of Journal of Aging and Health

Dept. of Preventive Medicine and Community Health

For more information, please contact:

Patricia Pascoe, AAMC at ppascoe@aamc.org  

Maria Garcia, HSHPS at Maria.GarciaMD@umassmed.edu

Norma A. Pérez, HSHPS at noaperez@UTMB.EDU