Faculty in the Teaching Statistics in the Health Sciences Hub develop and deliver innovative, health‑centered statistical education tailored to biomedical, epidemiologic, and public health audiences. They design open-source curricula, interactive platforms, and cloud-based learning environments that integrate real-world biomedical data, reproducible workflows, and principled statistical thinking. Beyond coursework, the Hub leads mentorship programs and outreach pipelines to expand diversity in the biostatistics field and strengthen community capacity for health data science.
Hub Faculty
Ruth Etzioni
Mentoring · Pipeline Development
Ruth Etzioni is a nationally recognized leader in biostatistics education and mentoring, with a deep commitment to fostering the next generation of statistical scientists. She co-founded SeattleStatGROWS, a collaborative initiative that introduces high school and college students to careers in biostatistics and data science. Through hands-on learning, real-world data projects, and sustained mentorship, she works to expand access to the field and build a more diverse pipeline of future researchers. Her work in this hub complements her broader research on cancer screening, modeling, and health policy.
Jeff Leek
MOOCs · Reproducible Education · Inclusive Data Science Training
Jeff Leek is a national leader in data science education whose work has transformed how statistical concepts are taught and scaled. At Fred Hutch, he leads the development of open-access, reproducible, and inclusive learning ecosystems that prepare diverse learners for biomedical and public health careers. He has co-created some of the world’s most widely-used massive online open courses (MOOCs) in statistics and data science, generating millions of enrollments through platforms like Coursera and Leanpub. Dr. Leek’s DataTrail and Genomic Data Science Community Network programs aim to democratize access to high-quality training and empower underrepresented communities. Through both hands-on instruction and software development, his work integrates real-world datasets, modern statistical tools, and ethical frameworks to meet the needs of today’s health sciences learners.
Megan Othus
Early-Career Training · STEM Outreach · Statistical Literacy
Megan Othus is a core mentor in SeattleStatGROWS, where she guides students in developing foundational skills in statistical reasoning, coding, and scientific inquiry. Her passion for statistics education extends beyond traditional academic settings, as she helps demystify statistical thinking for young learners through inclusive, project-based experiences. By connecting students with real-world health data and personalized mentorship, Dr. Othus helps spark interest in careers at the intersection of biostatistics and health sciences. She also contributes to graduate education and training through her collaborative work in clinical trial design and cancer research.