Epi Alumnus Datta Patil, Award of Distinction

After completing his MPH at the Rollins School of Public Health, Dattatraya Hari Patil became the lead biostatistician in the Department of Urology, where he has had a tremendous impact on urological research and education.

Patil holds exceptional skills in statistical analysis and data management and has employed them for a number of projects. For example, he successfully instituted a statistics and clinical data repository and provides an analytic perspective to urological investigations ranging from health services research in cancer and reproductive medicine, to the development of biomarkers for guiding clinical decision-making, to interrogating the immune response in cancer.

His work has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed journal articles as well as grants from the National Institutes of Health and the American Cancer Society. He has contributed to more than 100 scientific publications and has given numerous research presentations at institutional, regional and national meetings. His presence also has been pivotal to the recruitment of several faculty who now constitute a vibrant critical mass of investigators.

Patil has contributed to Emory’s educational mission by helping train others in biostatistics and clinical trials. He has impacted urology graduate medical education through his partnership with 11 different urology residents on research projects. Nearly all of his collaborations have led to the learners presenting their work at regional or national meetings and in peer-reviewed publications. He also leads an annual didactics course which has been very well-received by the residents.