The Power of Biostatistics Beyond the Data with Dr. Amy Herring

In this episode of Plugged In to Public Health, Lauren sits down with Dr. Amy Herring, Professor of Statistical Science and Dean of Natural Sciences at Duke University, to explore how biostatistics shapes real-world public health research. From her early interest in applying math to meaningful problems to her current work across a wide range of health topics, Dr. Herring shares what it really looks like to build a career at the intersection of data and impact. The conversation highlights how statisticians collaborate with scientists and clinicians to translate complex questions into usable evidence. Dr. Herring walks through examples from her work, including global health research on sepsis in Tanzania, where differences in patient populations challenged assumptions built from studies in the United States and Europe. These experiences reveal how context, culture, and data quality all influence the conclusions we draw. This episode also touches on what makes collaboration effective, why understanding how data are collected is just as important as analyzing them, and how the field of biostatistics is evolving as data become larger and more complex. For students and early-career professionals, Dr. Herring offers practical advice on staying curious, getting involved in real-world data collection, and finding meaning in work that is not always linear. Whether you are interested in data, global health, or interdisciplinary research, this episode offers a grounded look at how biostatistics helps answer some of public health’s most challenging questions. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-the-power-of-biostatistics-beyond-the-data/ Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected] You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthcare #biostatistics #statisticalscience #naturalscience #dukeuniversity #datacollection #globalhealth #research #iowacity