With an undergraduate degree in neuroscience, Kayleigh Adamson (BIOST ‘20) has always been fascinated by the intersection of health research and statistics, but it wasn't until she came to Pitt that she developed her true passion for biostatistics. It was a good fit with her heavy science background.
"I was really nervous about starting a degree in biostatistics, because I didn't have a statistics undergrad degree," Adamson recalls. "But Pitt Public Health teaches you in-house, which was fantastic for me. I wouldn't have been able to enter another program without that type of ability."
Despite her initial nerves, Adamson thrived in the MS in Health Data Science program. She credits the faculty in the program with giving her crucial guidance and support throughout her studies. She also worked in the department, both as a student and after she graduated. "Dr. Buchanich asked me to join her research team, and I just continued on from there," Adamson says of Vice Dean and Associate Professor Jeanine Buchanich. "I've never left Pitt, and I don't think I would have stayed if I didn't enjoy my time here."
Adamson's experience working with Buchanich on the Pennsylvania Opioid Evaluation Contract was particularly rewarding. "I evaluated the effectiveness of activities to curb the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania," she explains. "It's a big umbrella, and the specific work could depend on what project you're working on. But I think what makes me stand out is that I can really transfer the information to the lay person. I'm able to take this difficult, complicated statistics model and say, 'Okay, this is what this means.'" She worked on various projects as a biostatistician in the department after she graduated, including the evaluation of the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse Prevention Program. This work is crucial to understanding the effectiveness of interventions and informing data-driven decisions to address the opioid epidemic.
Adamson stresses the value of interpreting complex statistical models and effectively communicating them to non-technical stakeholders. "I think that's kind of where I thrive," she says. "Being able to interpret interpretability is a big thing that I think employers are looking for."
Today, the expertise she built in the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science lies in collaborating with researchers to design and analyze studies, particularly in medicine and public health, and developing statistical models to analyze data. She primarily works with stakeholders such as government grants, tuition and fees, and private donations.
Adamson also credits some of her career skills to her experience as a teaching assistant. “I had to teach an intro stats course and I really had to know my stuff. You have to stay on top of it and be able to explain things to a lay person who doesn't necessarily know statistics."
Adamson encourages students to get involved and take advantage of opportunities outside of the classroom. "Be involved as much as you can," she says. "I had a good rapport with Dr. Carlson, and she said, 'You know, I have a TA position. Do you want to do it?' And I did, and it snowballed from there." Jenna Carlson, assistant professor in both biostatistics and human genetics, was instrumental in Adamson’s development, encouraging her to get involved beyond the TA position. Adamson also served as the secretary for the ASA Pittsburgh Chapter, which helped her build connections and a sense of purpose.
Adamson remains committed to making a difference in the world through her work, and it doesn’t hurt that she enjoys it. "I like being a workhorse, I like doing the work, being hands-on, diving into the data, solving these complicated problems," she explains. And she would pursue the MS in health data science again if she had it to do over again. " I had a weird route to get to where I am, but it was exactly what I was looking for."
Adamson was interviewed in the spring of 2023. She now works as a biostatistician at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Suicide CPR Initiative.
-Calvin Dziewulski