Sumihiro Suzuki, PhD, Rush University, Investigator Development Core

How did your interest in health equity begin?

My first academic position was in a school of public health [at the University of North Texas Health Science Center]. There, I was introduced to concepts of social justice, population health, social determinants, and health equity through collaborations with various colleagues working in these areas. Everything was new to me and eye-opening, but more so than that, I was captivated by the passion and devotion of my colleagues. No matter how difficult, they were determined to make a difference. Working with such people every day shaped my views and interests today.

What are your current research projects?

As a biostatistician, I believe that I have the responsibility and expectation to conduct two distinct yet equally important types of research. One is as a team biostatistician and methodological expert to conduct research as a collaborator to ensure that researchers from various other disciplines have access to statistical knowledge, resources, and support, which enhance the quality, integrity, and validity of their studies or projects. To this end, I am collaborating on six separate behavioral trials as the senior biostatistician. The second type of research duty is to conduct foundational and methodological research aimed at developing original statistical techniques, which can be applied to open problems or be used to improve existing methodology. My research in this area has been focused on applications of novel statistical methods and big data methods to improve various medical and public health surveillance systems. In a recent publication, my colleague and I used Google search query data to predict flu season onset. In another paper in preparation, we used case notes written in free-form text by probation officers to detect probationers who are more likely to abscond from supervision.

What are you most proud of in your career?

I have graduated seven doctoral students as their major advisor in my career in addition to numerous master’s level students. Every time I cross paths with one of them at a conference or a meeting and see their success, it makes me super proud. Obviously, all the credit should go to them, but it makes me very happy nonetheless.

Do you have any fun facts?

I would describe myself as an introvert. The reason I became a mathematician/statistician was because I thought I would be able to sit in my office and do interesting math problems all day without ever needing to talk to anyone. Yet, after 17 years as a biostatistician, the most enjoyable part of my job is that I get to work all the time with different people from all kinds of disciplines. When people ask me what the most important skills needed to be a biostatistician is, my answer is always “communication skills.”