July 17 2009 - American Statistical Association Presents Course for Journalists

Media Advisory: "Making Sense of Medical Research" will facilitate communication of research results to the general public

Why is there a "blacks-only" medicine for heart failure? Does Avandia, the blockbuster diabetes drug, cause heart attacks? If you're having a hip replacement, shouldn't you make sure the doctor is a Gemini?

Working reporters are deluged with medical factoids and research studies -- and often, millions of lives and billions of dollars hinge on getting it right. In this free course, Mary Foulkes and Keith Winstein will use case studies and recent controversies to help you make sense of medical research and communicate findings to the general public. The course will take you through the basics of statistics -- even if you have no statistical background -- and explain its application to several examples from the presenters' experience. Leaving this class, you should feel better prepared to read and research a new medical study and report its findings, responsibly and in context, to your readers or viewers. There session also includes lunch.

WHAT:
A course for journalists, editors and other writers covering health/biopharm/science
The course uses three case studies to provide insight into some of the major topics and issues that will help journalists to critically judge new research results and facilitate the communication of those results to the general public. There is no charge for the session.

WHO:
Presenters will be:
Keith Winstein, Wall Street Journal
Mary Foulkes, George Washington University

WHEN:
Friday, July 17, 2009
9:30 am to 3 pm

WHERE:
American Statistical Association (ASA) Headquarters
732 N. Washington St., Alexandria VA
Directions to ASA are available at this link:
http://www.amstat.org/directionstoASA.cfm


Who attends: Journalists, editors, freelancers and others who must interpret and write about health research for the general public. Please feel free to share this invitation with your colleagues.

Schedule: Coffee will be served 9:30 to 10 am, and the course runs from 10 am to 3 pm, with a complimentary lunch.

Registration: Although the course is free, registration is required. You may register online through July 14 or until the course is full. The registration form is available at http://www.amstat.org/education/msmr/registration/index.cfm?fuseaction=main