Karan P. Singh, PhD, FMSSANZ, FSMS, FASA, brings a wealth of experience and research to The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, where he serves as professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics for the School of Community and Rural Health. Adding to his multitude of accolades, he has garnered yet another international recognition. Dr. Singh was recently elected Fellow of the Indian Society for Medical Statistics (ISMS), the society’s highest honor.
The ISMS is a scientific body consisting of biostatisticians, medical teachers, researchers, demographers and scientists from other related disciplines. This society of scientists working in the medical field is the only one of its kind in the southeast Asia region. The society provides a common platform to medical researchers, statisticians and computer specialists working in medical institutions to interact and benefit mutually toward development and application of biostatistical techniques.
“This is the highest award of the society, awarded annually to an eminent member by recognizing their contribution to the cause of medical statistics,” noted ISMS General Secretary N. Sreekumaran Nair, PhD.
Awarding only two fellowships per year, and on occasion none at all should the nominee pool not be deemed worthy, the selection process for Dr. Singh’s award is an extensive and rigorous one. The competitive process is comprised of nominations, fellowship committee votes, as well as a 20-year minimum of experience in the field and prior prestigious academic eminence. Moreover, the fellowship closely examines a nominee’s contribution to medical statistics in the realms of teaching and dissemination of biostatistical knowledge, mentoring, impact of statistical research, service to the statistical profession and their leadership role in biostatistics on a national and international scale. Congruently, the committee even evaluates a nominee’s breadth of reach within their research, analyzing the quantity and quality to which the work is cited and built upon by peers.
“It is a true honor to be recognized by my home country,” commented Dr. Singh. “I am undoubtedly grateful to the ISMS for their selection. Being elected fellow by such a prestigious society brings great pride as I join the ranks of such esteemed colleagues. I am excited to continue my work and contributions to the field of medical statistics.”
The award ceremony was held in December at the society’s national conference at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India. While in India, Dr. Singh continued to embody the aforementioned tenets of contribution, lecturing at the Indian Spinal Injuries Center and Bihar Animal Sciences University, as well as presenting at the International Conference on Agricultural Statistics.
This award is in addition to Dr. Singh’s election as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and the Modeling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand. He is also an elected member of the International Statistical Institute.