Donald E. Mercante

Dr. Donald E. Mercante is a Full Professor of Biostatistics at the LSU School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, with adjunct roles in Experimental Statistics at LSU Baton Rouge, Genetics at the School of Medicine, and Nursing. He leads the Biostatistics and Epidemiology Key Component for the Louisiana Clinical & Translational Science Center (LA CaTS). His academic leadership includes serving as Program Director for Biostatistics (2006–2013) and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (2013–2018).

**Education**:

• PhD in Statistics, Virginia Tech (1990)
• MS in Applied Statistics, Louisiana State University (1983)
• MS in Fisheries Management, Mississippi State University (1980)
• BS in Marine Biology, Nicholls State University (1977)

**Research Focus**: Specializes in biostatistical methods for clinical trials, linear models, permutation tests, and addressing health disparities through statistical rigor. His work spans oncology, HIV/AIDS, and interprofessional education outcomes. Recent publications emphasize Bayesian methods in healthcare disparities and interprofessional collaboration in curricula.

**Awards**: Recipient of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (2003). Active in professional service, including editorial boards and grant reviews for the DoD and NIEHS.

**Grants & Leadership**: Spearheads multi-disciplinary research projects, including the New Orleans Alcohol Use in HIV Study. Oversees academic programs and chairs committees on accreditation, graduate studies, and strategic planning.

**Labs/Teams**: Leads the Biostatistics and Epidemiology unit in LA CaTS, fostering collaborative translational research across Louisiana institutions.