Stephanie Hicks, an associate professor of biomedical engineering and biostatistics affiliated with the Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare, was recently selected to attend the 2024 National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Emerging Leaders Forum, to be held in Washington, D.C., April 16–17.

The invitation-only forum is an annual assembly of outstanding early- and mid-career professionals with exceptional professional promise, achievement and leadership in biomedical science, health, health care, and related fields. The attendees will explore some of the most pressing challenges in health and medicine, with the aim of considering and stimulating collaborative interdisciplinary solutions.

Invited emerging leaders must be nominated by a NAM member to attend the prestigious forum; Hicks was nominated by Scott Zeger, John C. Malone Professor of Biostatistics and Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University.

Hicks’ research addresses statistical and computational challenges in single-cell genomics, epigenomics, and spatial transcriptomics leading to an improved understanding of human health and disease. Specifically, she develops fast and scalable computational methods and open-source software for biomedical data analysis.

“I am honored to be selected for the 2024 NAM Emerging Leaders Forum,” says Hicks. “As my research and work is focused at the intersection of biomedical data science, genomics, and human health, I am excited to attend and expand my perspectives, skills, and relationships in biomedicine. As the digital transition of biomedicine accelerates, I hope my training and expertise will help the NAM community to address important challenges and opportunities in biomedicine to better serve the American people.”