Patrick J. Heagerty

Patrick J. Heagerty is Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Washington School of Public Health and former Chair of the Department of Biostatistics. He also serves as Director of the Center for Biomedical Statistics, a core partially funded by the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award. His leadership extends to the NIH Health Care Systems Research Collaboratory and the NIH Mental Health Research Network, with membership on the Executive Committee for the FDA Sentinel Innovation Center.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Biostatistics from Johns Hopkins University
• MS in Statistics from State University of New York (Albany)
• BS in Biology from Cornell University

Dr. Heagerty specializes in longitudinal data analysis, prognostic model evaluation, and the design of cluster-randomized trials within healthcare systems. His research focuses on developing rigorous methods for evaluating medical procedures and biomarkers, with significant impact on clinical practice through studies that demonstrated vertebroplasty and epidural steroid injections offered no benefit beyond placebo. His work bridges statistical methodology with practical applications in back pain research, neonatology, depression, and nephrology.

His publication record shows consistent contributions to methodological development in longitudinal data analysis, with recent work focusing on treatment effect heterogeneity, dynamic decision making, and biomarker validation. His research demonstrates a clear trajectory from foundational methodological work to practical applications in healthcare delivery systems and clinical trials.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Snedecor Award (2000)
• International Biometrics Society Best Paper Award (2005)
• UW SPH Outstanding Teacher Award (2009)
• Election to the American Statistical Association as Fellow
• Election to the National Academy of Medicine (2020)
• Election to the Washington State Academy of Sciences (2021)

As an educator, Dr. Heagerty has received the UW SPH Outstanding Teacher Award and is known for mentoring students by gradually "taking the training wheels off" until they become independent researchers. His Center for Biomedical Statistics coordinates numerous NIH-funded projects including GARNET, BOLD, LIRE, and PCORI-funded trials evaluating surgical interventions and psychiatric treatments. The center has previously conducted high-impact multi-site randomized trials such as INVEST, the Carpal Tunnel Surgical Trial, and LESS.

He maintains active collaborations with research partners across Seattle, including the UW Department of Statistics, Fred Hutch, Group Health Research Institution, and various departments within the Schools of Public Health and Medicine.