About

The Fostering Excellence in Biostatistics Workshop at ENAR was founded over 25 years ago by Drs. Louise Ryan and Amita Manatunga, who were driven by a shared vision to expand the reach within the field of biostatistics. Their collaboration began when Dr. Ryan visited Emory and expressed interest in meeting Dr. Nagambal Shah, a faculty member at Spelman College known for mentoring minority students. This meeting laid the groundwork for the first informal gathering at the ENAR 1999 Spring Meeting in Atlanta, where they discussed the challenges of lowering barriers to entry recruiting and retaining students of broad backgrounds in graduate programs. 

The first official workshop was held in 2000 in Chicago, spearheaded by Dr. Manatunga with Dr. Ryan's support during her ENAR presidency. The workshop featured keynote speaker Dr. William Jenkins, known for his advocacy against the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, and included a student panel moderated by Dr. Manatunga. The workshop quickly became a crucial platform for minority students to share their experiences and receive support. 

Over the years, the workshop has continued to thrive, with participants often transitioning from student to leadership roles, ensuring its sustainability and relevance. The workshop has significantly impacted the biostatistics community, fostering a more inclusive environment and producing leaders who continue to champion the workshop's values in the field.