Creative Approaches: Faculty Spotlights

Lisa Sullivan
Professor and Chair,
Biostatistics
Associate Dean, Education,
School of Public Health

"The most important thing I do in teaching biostatistics is to take articles and stories from the news to make the material relevant. Clinical trials are a perfect example. We read stories every day about new drugs to prolong life in patients with cancer, drugs to lower blood pressure or to raise our good cholesterol, new stents or heart monitors. The efficacy of these drugs and devices is determined by carefully designed studies and appropriate biostatistical analysis. When students see these applications it really helps them to understand the principles they’re learning in the classroom."

Lisa Sullivan teaches elementary biostatistics for MPH students and was instrumental in developing a minor program in public health that is open to undergraduate students in the BU College of Arts and Sciences. She is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including the Norman A. Scotch award and the Metcalf Award. She is active in multidisciplinary research projects including the Framingham Heart Study as well as projects in cardiovascular disease, cognitive function, HIV/AIDS, emergency medicine, prenatal diagnosis and autism.

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