Research Associate Professor Dr. Sok-Ja Janket lectured at Roseman University of Health Sciences in Nevada March 18 and 19, 2013, on Clinical Research Methodology. The lecture addressed fundamental principles in epidemiology and introductory statistical concepts. She was invited to speak by former student, Dr. Prashanti Bollu. Dr. Bollu is director of dental research and assistant professor at the University’s College of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Janket points out that many GSDM graduates have quickly grown into prestigious positions like Dr. Bollu did, serving to build the School’s international network of renowned researchers.
“Our students are academically gifted and well-connected and they often receive prominent positions soon after graduation,” Dr. Janket says. In 2012, Hyo-Jung Lee DPH 04, PERIO 05 invited Dr. Janket to lecture at the Seoul National University Hospital, where Dr. Lee leads the periodontal research team.
Dr. Janket chose to present the Roseman lecture more like an individual tutoring session. “I presented the rationale for how I had interpreted the concept rather than merely reciting the textbook definition,” she says.
She was happy to learn that many of the attendees were interested in future career options in research. In light of this, she has a challenge for our own GSDM students, staff, and faculty:
Come up with your own interpretation of the textbook definition of P-value below.
“The probability of obtaining a mean as extreme or more extreme than the observed sample mean given that the null hypothesis that µ = µ0 is true.”
The person who presents the best interpretation showing a clear understanding of the concept of p-value will receive a box of chocolates.