Sorry for the previous post that did not have the text....

This is a preliminary announcement for:

     ***************************
     ***Statistics and Health***
     ***************************

  Edmonton Statistics Conference 2000
Shaw Conference Center, June 11-13, 2000


The Biostatistics Research Group, Statistics Center, University of Alberta,
proudly announces its international conference and workshop on Statistics
and Health.

     The conference will create a forum where statisticians can interact with
health researchers and analysts to identify statistical issues and their
solutions in health research.
     Issues ranging from analysis recognizing the hierarchical nature of health
data to evidence-based health policy decisions will balance theoretical and
applied statistics in our invited and contributed sessions.
     The workshop on hierarchical models provides hands-on experience in
analysing health care and other nested data.


Intended Audience
-----------------
Theoretical and applied statisticians, health services researchers,
epidemiologists, policy analysts, clinicians and students in respective
graduate programs.


Workshop on Hierarchical Models
-------------------------------
The workshop emphasizes the technology transfer aspect of statistical sciences
and provides a catalyst toward understanding and discussing the role of
statistical research in relation to health services and decisions. The
workshop sessions will be held by Constantine Gatsonis of Brown University.
Part I: Theory, Concepts and Interpretations of Hierarchical Models
Part II: Data Analysis using MLn and BUGS software


Confirmed Speakers to Date
--------------------------
Jesse Berlin, University of Pennsylvania; Ron Brookmeyer, Johns Hopkins;
Heather Bryant, Alberta Cancer Board; Shelley Bull, University of Toronto;
Charmaine Dean, Simon Fraser University; Constantine Gatsonis, Brown
University; Jane Gentleman, National Center for Health Statistics;
Sander Greenland, UCLA; Patrick Heagerty, University of Washington;
K-Y Liang, Johns Hopkins; Willard G. Manning, University of Chicago;
Charles McCulloch, Cornell University; David Moher, Children's Hospital
Eastern Ontario Research Institute; Kenneth Morgan, McGill University;
Sharon-Lise Normand, Harvard University; Tomas Philipson, University of
Chicago; JNK Rao, Carleton University; Lance Waller, Emory University;
Stephen Walter, McMaster University; MC Wang, Johns Hopkins


Sessions
--------
Meta Analysis and Errors in Estimation; Epidemiology and Methods; Categorical
Data in Health Research; Cost Effectiveness and Decision Analysis; Spatial
Mapping and Small Area Estimation; Hierarchical Models in Health Services
Research: New Developments.


Edmonton in the Summer
----------------------
Edmonton is known as the City of Festivals. Usually, June's weather is
wonderful - a warm and dry 22C. This accommodates outdoor festivals, walking
along the beautiful system of river valley trails and parks or simply enjoying
the atmosphere at a cafe. Additionally, the picturesque Rocky Mountains are a
mere 4 hours away and a great way to spend some vacation time.


Sponsors
--------
We shall gratefully acknowledge the support and funding for this conference
when they become finalized. These include local and nationwide pharmaceutical
companies, research funding agencies, health research centers and other
statistics and health research communities.


Contact Information
-------------------
Organized by: Biostatistics Research Group (BRG),
                    Statistics Centre
                    Department of Mathematical Sciences,
                    Faculty of Science, University of Alberta

Program Committee: K.C. Carriere (Chair), Peter Hooper,
                    Subhash Lele, NGN Prasad

Advisory Board: Allan Donner, David Feeny, Vivek Goel, Patrick Hessel,
                    Philip Jacobs, R. Karunamuni, Leslie L. Roos

Webpage: http://www.stat.ualberta.ca/~brg

Contact: [log in to unmask] or K.C. Carriere at
                    phone: (780) 492-4230 fax: (780) 492-6826