Creating and Sustaining Effective Pipeline Initiatives to Increase Diversity in Biostatistics: The ENAR Fostering Diversity in Biostatistics Workshop

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: EKT Benn, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; LP Tabb, Drexel University; P Exum, SAS Institute, Inc.; Renee Moore, Emory University; KH Morales, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; FR Simpson, Winston-Salem State University; SA Lawrence, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; SL Bellamy, Drexel University
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-01-01
• Publisher: 2023 Informa UK Limited
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2020 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10691898.2020.1820409
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Statistics Education
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 295
• End Page: 303
• Grant/Funding Information: The ENAR Fostering Diversity in Biostatistics Workshop is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number R13GM075338
• Keywords: diversity; statistics; pipeline; Biostatistics; mentoring; STEM
• Research Categories: Mathematics

Abstract

Biostatisticians with advanced degrees are highly sought after. Employment opportunities in the fields of mathematics and statistics are expected to increase dramatically by 2028. Underrepresentation of minorities in biostatistics has been a persistent problem, yielding a demographic landscape that differs substantially from the general U.S. population. In some instances, students may have the appropriate quantitative skills, but are unaware of biostatistics and in other instances, students may not yet have the appropriate quantitative background, but are intellectually capable and willing to shore up those skills once they learn about biostatistics as a viable, exciting career option. Therefore, to ensure robust scientific advancement, there must be a concerted effort to increase the pipeline of intellectually talented persons available with exposure to the appropriate quantitative skills who are interested in careers in biostatistics. The overarching goal of this article is to discuss the development, implementation, and impact of a federally funded pipeline initiative aimed at increasing the number of underrepresented minorities successful in graduate training and professional careers in biostatistics as well as establishing effective mentoring and networking relationships. Our findings provide a roadmap for the development of sustainable initiatives to promote diversity in biostatistics and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields more broadly. Supplementary files for this article are available online.