Dr. Yang, a distinguished statistician currently serving at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is setting new benchmarks in clinical research with his groundbreaking work. Holding a Ph.D. in statistics and an M.Sc. in a related field, Dr. Yang is not just confined to academic circles. His research ventures beyond theoretical frameworks, aiming to address real-world challenges within clinical trials and communication in healthcare settings.
The innovative methods developed by Dr. Yang have gained significant traction and are reshaping the landscape of clinical research. His procedure based on the average block minima estimator introduces new measures that bridge the theoretical-practical divide. This approach, along with his power calculation method, was instrumental in a grant proposal aimed at studying the impact of a clinical decision support system designed to improve goal-of-care discussions between oncologists and cancer patients.
"I've always believed that the power of statistical methods lies not just in theory but in their ability to address problems that are happening in the real world. It's the possibility of saving and improving people's lives," Dr. Yang states.
Dr. Yang's contributions extend to his collaboration with Cambridge University Press in 2020, resulting in the publication of "A Statistical Methodology for Assessing the Maximal Strength of Tail Dependence". This book underscores his efforts to develop a method that incorporates paths of maximal dependence between risks into extreme co-movement measurements, a tool currently utilized in ongoing NIH grant applications.
His power calculation tool plays a pivotal role in estimating the likelihood of extreme co-movements between random variables, enhancing the precision of subgroup analyses in Cluster Randomized Trials (CRTs) by 10% to 15%. This advancement is crucial for Stepped-Wedge Clinical Trials (SW-CRTs), for which Dr. Yang has developed a comprehensive theoretical framework.
"The ultimate goal of our research is to enhance the precision and applicability of statistical methods across various domains," says Dr. Yang.
Dr. Yang’s focus on improving communication between physicians and advanced cancer patients is evidenced by his work on a grant proposal aimed at assessing the impact of a clinical decision support system on goal-of-care discussions. His statistical tools empower healthcare professionals to make data-driven decisions, ultimately benefiting patient care.
In addition to his academic accolades, Dr. Yang's transition from academia to clinical research at Mount Sinai represents a significant career milestone. His expertise in statistics and its practical applications positions him as a leader in his field, influencing both current practices and future innovations.
"The power of statistical methods lies not just in theory but in their ability to address problems that are happening in the real world. It's the possibility of saving and improving people's lives," Dr. Yang reiterates.
Dr. Yang’s work serves as a testament to the invaluable role that statistical methodologies play in transforming healthcare. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, he continues to drive forward-thinking solutions that not only meet scientific rigor but also offer tangible benefits to society.
