Creating Good Odds: Supporting Future Biostatisticians

Biostatisticians have a reputation for being skilled quantitative thinkers, and the secrets of their success, argues alum Frank W. Rockhold, Ph.D., are more unquantifiable skills like collaboration and the ability to distill and clearly communicate complex data and results.

“Anybody can make a presentation that you don’t understand,” Dr. Rockhold said. “It takes a skilled team to make one that everyone can understand — those are the essential skills.”

Dr. Rockhold’s early knack for math added up to a fulfilling career that bridges industry and academia. He began his doctoral studies in biostatistics at Johns Hopkins University, where he earned his master’s degree, but shifted to the MCV Campus to complete his Ph.D. after funding for JHU’s program was eliminated. He notes that this was when personal computers were a decade away and running complex problem sets meant handing over a box of punch cards to an operator and waiting hours for a printout of results. 

Because of the culture, because of the environment, the department gave me a good education, but it also gave me the ability to expand and stand out from the next student.

Frank W. Rockhold, Ph.D.

Before completing his doctorate, Dr. Rockhold had seven job offers, and he believes that his VCU training prepared him for a challenging and rewarding career in senior research positions at pharmaceutical companies Lilly, Merck and GlaxoSmithKline, where he retired as chief safety officer and senior vice president of global clinical safety and pharmacovigilance. Today, he’s a full-time professor of biostatistics and bioinformatics at Duke University, where, in addition to his research in clinical trials, he mentors junior faculty and works to ensure the kind of environment and culture that enabled him to thrive in the field. 

“If you look at the biggest impacts made in cancer care and cardiovascular medicine, or during the pandemic,” Dr. Rockhold said, “they were all made through collaboration with statisticians working with clinicians and other health care providers to validate and answer questions through data and evidence.”

To help encourage that culture at VCU, he made a gift to create the Frank W. Rockhold, Ph.D., Fund for Excellence in Biostatistics Education and Collaboration at the VCU School of Public Health. Dr. Rockhold also included a gift through his estate plans to endow this fund to ensure that the department can continue developing these essential skills in students, providing them with professional development, and creating opportunities to hear from outside experts on how to consult.

“We are deeply grateful for Dr. Rockhold’s powerful investment in our students and their future,” said Robert Perera, Ph.D., interim chair of the Department of Biostatistics. “His leadership in the field stems not only from his statistical expertise, but also from his exceptional skills in collaboration, communication and mentorship. Recognizing the importance of fostering these qualities in our students, his gift will empower them to lead breakthroughs in biostatistics and the health sciences that will transform public health for years to come.”

On the MCV Campus, Dr. Rockhold says he learned not only how to develop his biostatistical skills, but also how to come in as a consultant, which he sees as the essential role of a biostatistician on any project. He remembers the close relationships the senior graduate students had with the faculty and their ability to interact with colleagues in disciplines like oncology, surgery, pharmacy, toxicology and cardiology.

“Collaboration is important to me. MCV gave me a chance to develop my communication and collaborative skills,” said Dr. Rockhold, who has taught guest seminars and served as adjunct faculty in the department. “Because of the culture, because of the environment, the department gave me a good education, but it also gave me the ability to expand and stand out from the next student.” 

If you would like to support the VCU School of Public Health, please contact Laura Keller, director of development in the Office of Medical Philanthropy and Alumni Relations, at 804-628-8907 or KellerL3@vcu.edu.