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Big Data Analytics Program Links Physicians With Machine Learning
TAMPA (January 25, 2022) –- More than two dozen front-line practicing physicians spent a year in a business classroom studying how big data analytics and machine learning could help heal the people they see every day, including high-risk heart surgery patients, those suffering from COVID-19, or someone undergoing immunotherapy for colorectal cancer.
These big data projects were the result of a transformational gift from the Florida Blue Foundation in 2019, which helped launch a one-year big data analytics certificate program for health care providers at the USF Muma College of Business.
The foundation donated $500,000 to the University of South Florida in December 2019. Business educators used part of the funds to develop a Data Science for Healthcare Providers Certificate program, giving practicing physicians the unique opportunity to learn how big data and analytics could be used to improve patient outcomes in different health care fields.
“This generous gift from Florida Blue Foundation swung open the interdisciplinary doors between big data analytics and the medical research community. It’s exciting to see how machine learning can solve everyday health problems and improve patient outcomes,” said Moez Limayem, the Lynn Pippenger Dean at the USF Muma College of Business. “This grant is a great example of how a university and a business can work together to address real societal challenges.”
The 31-member cohort — 26 participants earned a certificate — recently concluded its one-year study. The program was hosted by the School of Information Systems and Management within the Muma College of Business.
Researchers tackled topics that tied big data and machine learning that solved health-related problems that would directly benefit patients. Topics included:
- A machine learning approach to high-risk cardiac surgery risk scoring
- Biologic pathway modeling to predict radiation sensitivity
- Predictors of severe disease in COVID-19
- Using machine learning to identify predictors of response to immunotherapy in colorectal cancer
Dr. Mauricio Valenzuela, an assistant professor in medicine at USF Health and a member of the inaugural program, said the year of study open his eyes to the potential of big data.
“It made me realize the potential of data analytics — that this is the future of medicine to optimize patient care and reduce costs,” he said. “I am looking forward to continuing to learn more about machine learning and data analytics.”
Proponents say the ties between Florida Blue, the USF Muma College of Business, and the community make sense.
“We believe that long-term partnerships with educational systems and communities are a business imperative for helping people and communities achieve better health,” said David Pizzo, market president, Florida Blue. “We are thrilled to engage with USF leadership and students and to collaborate with Florida Blue across Guidewell Health on several collaboration projects to improve public health in the State of Florida.”
Balaji Padmanabhan, a professor in the School of Information Systems and Management and director of the Center for Analytics and Creativity, described the college’s link with Florida Blue as a “next-generation” partnership. This one-of-a-kind data science for health care providers program is just one example of the kind of value that can be co-created when there is a greater connection and engagement between donor and recipient.
“It’s not just the financial support – the time that Florida Blue leaders have been giving us on a near weekly basis to move ideas forward is an exceptional gift as well. We are building a truly unique kind of partnership that actively engages our industry partner, so we can jointly make a difference in improving health care through analytics and AI for our community at large,” Padmanabhan said, who helped lead the program.
Although the inaugural data science program has concluded, the gift continues to fund independent study research projects on health care topics conducted by graduate and undergraduate students within the Muma College of Business.
The partnership also helps fund three students in the PhD in Big Data program that USF launched two years ago. A portion of the gift will also be used to design and deliver a health care analytics course for graduate students.
In addition, the gift will support community events like the State of the Region and the Business Analytics Forum where health care analytics are promoted.
More importantly, Florida Blue Foundation’s gift will continue to boost the community’s overall public health, because it lays the groundwork for innovation with the infusion of analytics, machine learning, and AI, he said.