Brenda M. Booth, professor of psychiatry and biostatistics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. A nationally recognized expert in substance abuse epidemiology and addiction health services research, Booth earned an M.S. (1985) and a Ph.D. (1990) in biostatistics. In addition to authoring more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and serving as principal investigator on numerous grants, she is highly regarded as an outstanding mentor and leader. Her current research interests include cost-effectiveness of reducing drug treatment barriers and rural stimulant use and mental health.

Shannon D. Putnam, head of the Bacterial Diseases Program, Naval Medical Research Unit No. 2, Jakarta, Indonesia. Putnam earned a Ph.D. in epidemiology in 1999 and currently is a commander in the microbiology community of the Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy. Regarded as a leader in international infectious disease epidemiology, including avian influenza, Putnam is noted for his scholarly research, public health service and laboratory leadership. He frequently serves on committees guiding international policy or training for infectious diseases. He maintains ties to the College of Public Health by mentoring graduate students and collaborating on multinational infectious disease epidemiologic studies.

Colin P. West, assistant professor of medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. West earned an M.S. (1995) and a Ph.D. (1999) in biostatistics, as well as an M.D. (1999), from the UI. Drawing on his unique combination of training in medicine and biostatistics, West has made notable achievements as a scholar, instructor and medical researcher and has completed an impressive number of publications, presentations and workshops. His current research interests include physician well being, the educational connections between medicine and biostatistics, and evidence-based medicine.