Howard Friedman

Last updated
Howard Friedman
Born
Howard Steven Friedman

(1972-06-10) June 10, 1972 (age 51)
New York City
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Scientist
Professor
Artist
Writer
Employer(s) United Nations
Columbia University

Howard Steven Friedman (born June 10, 1972) is a prominent American statistician, data scientist, health economist, and writer who teaches at Columbia University [1]

Contents

Friedman is widely known for his role as a lead statistical modeler on a number of key United Nations projects and for his wide-ranging publications in the fields of statistics, data science and health economics.

Biography

Career

Friedman was born in New York City and received his bachelor's degree from Binghamton University in applied physics in 1993, where he was a National Merit Scholar. He received a master's in statistics in 1998 and PhD in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 1999. His thesis work focused on neural representations of object color through neurophysiological records of awake, behaving monkeys. This research leveraged a visual phenomenon known as Troxler's fading which is related to the phenomena of color filling-in to explore how object color is represented in the visual cortex. He has also contributed to areas of changepoint detection as it applies to neurophysiology.

Friedman was awarded a number of awards during his undergraduate and graduate career including the National Merit Scholarship, Whitaker Foundation Fellowship [2] and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship NSF-GRF

Following his dissertation work, Friedman took a position as a director at Capital One where he led teams of statisticians, analysts and programmers in various areas of operations and marketing. He left Capital One to form Analytic Solutions LLC in 2003 which provided consulting services in areas of designing, developing and modeling data and served as Chief Data Scientist for DataMed Solutions LLC and Sygeny LLC. He also guided start-up companies and private equity firms in a diverse set of industries.

He has worked with the United Nations where he led a large number of research projects related to data analytics and health economics. He is credited with being the lead developer of the Integrated Health Model (used for costing the Health-related Millennium Development Goals within UNDP) and the Reproductive Health Costing Tool in UNFPA [3] He is a lead scientist for the interagency collaboration among UNICEF, World Bank, World Health Organization, UNFPA, UNAIDS and UNDP for the development of the OneHealth Tool, a project sponsored by the IHP+. [4] In 2014, he was a Visiting Researcher at Oxford University's Department of Economics.

Friedman is the author of over 100 scientific articles and book chapters in areas of applied statistics, health economics and politics and has created data science courses using R, Python, SQL and SAS software.


Literature and artwork

In addition to his scientific career, Friedman is an accomplished artist [5] [6] and writer. His formal art training was at both Binghamton University and the School of Visual Arts. His first book, Angels and Stardust, featured original poetry and artwork. In his doctoral thesis, he quoted both Ozymandias and Angels and Stardust in the preface. His paintings have been displayed in a number of New York City venues.

His recent writing is focused on political analysis leveraging his statistics and United Nations experience have been published in numerous online venues including the Huffington Post, [7] and cnbc.com. [8]

In June 2012, Prometheus Books released his book Measure of a Nation. This book focuses on how to improve America by first comparing its performance with thirteen competitive industrial nations, then identifying the best practices found throughout the world that can be adopted here in the United States. Measure of a Nation was named by Jared Diamond as the best book of 2012 in an interview [9] published in the New York Times.

Friedman released an e-book, A Modest Proposal for America, in May 2013 through Foreword Literary that combines an opening satire on America with an analysis of US federal government finances.

In 2020, the University of California Press published Ultimate Price, a book that examines how human life is valued which was translated into numerous languages and featured on National Public Radio. His 2024 book, Winning with Data Science, was published by Columbia University Press.

He has published textbooks on applied data science including 'Establishing Causal Inferences: Propensity Score Matching, Heckman's Two-Stage Model, Interrupted Time Series, and Regression Discontinuity Models', 'Propensity Score Matching, Adjustment, and Randomized Experiments', and 'Strategic Thinking with Data'

Selected publications

Selected Peer-review publications

Book publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asthma</span> Long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs

Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. These may occur a few times a day or a few times per week. Depending on the person, asthma symptoms may become worse at night or with exercise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Respiratory therapist</span> Practitioner in cardio-pulmonary medicine

A respiratory therapist is a specialized healthcare practitioner trained in critical care and cardio-pulmonary medicine in order to work therapeutically with people who have acute critical conditions, cardiac and pulmonary disease. Respiratory therapists graduate from a college or university with a degree in respiratory therapy and have passed a national board certifying examination. The NBRC is responsible for credentialing as a CRT, or RRT,

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corticosteroid</span> Class of steroid hormones

Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex of vertebrates, as well as the synthetic analogues of these hormones. Two main classes of corticosteroids, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, are involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including stress response, immune response, and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte levels, and behavior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family planning</span> Planning when to have children

Family planning is the consideration of the number of children a person wishes to have, including the choice to have no children, and the age at which they wish to have them. Things that may play a role on family planning decisions include marital situation, career or work considerations, financial situations. If sexually active, family planning may involve the use of contraception and other techniques to control the timing of reproduction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhinitis</span> Irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose

Rhinitis, also known as coryza, is irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose. Common symptoms are a stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, and post-nasal drip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fluticasone/salmeterol</span> Formulation used in the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Fluticasone/salmeterol, sold under the brand name Advair among others, is a fixed-dose combination medication containing fluticasone propionate and salmeterol. It is used in the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is used by inhaling the medication into the lungs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nasal spray</span> Spray that delivers medications locally in the nasal cavities or systemically

Nasal sprays are used to deliver medications locally in the nasal cavities or systemically. They are used locally for conditions such as nasal congestion and allergic rhinitis. In some situations, the nasal delivery route is preferred for systemic therapy because it provides an agreeable alternative to injection or pills. Substances can be assimilated extremely quickly and directly through the nose. Many pharmaceutical drugs exist as nasal sprays for systemic administration. Other applications include hormone replacement therapy, treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Nasal sprays are seen as a more efficient way of transporting drugs with potential use in crossing the blood–brain barrier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salmeterol</span> Chemical compound

Salmeterol is a long-acting β2 adrenergic receptor agonist (LABA) used in the maintenance and prevention of asthma symptoms and maintenance of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms. Symptoms of bronchospasm include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and chest tightness. It is also used to prevent breathing difficulties during exercise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Budesonide/formoterol</span> Medication for asthma & chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Budesonide/formoterol, sold under the brand name Symbicort among others, is a fixed-dose combination medication used in the management of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It contains budesonide, a steroid and formoterol, a long-acting β2-agonist (LABA). The product monograph does not support its use for sudden worsening or treatment of active bronchospasm. However, a 2020 review of the literature does support such use. It is used by breathing in the medication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formoterol</span> Chemical compound

Formoterol, also known as eformoterol, is a long-acting β2 agonist (LABA) used as a bronchodilator in the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Formoterol has an extended duration of action compared to short-acting β2 agonists such as salbutamol (albuterol), which are effective for 4 h to 6 h. Formoterol has a relatively rapid onset of action compared to other LABAs, and is effective within 2-3 minutes. The 2022 Global Initiative for Asthma report recommends a combination formoterol/inhaled corticosteroid inhaler as both a preventer and reliever treatment for asthma in adults. In children, a short-actingβ2 agonist is still recommended.

Beta<sub>2</sub>-adrenergic agonist Compounds that bind to and activate adrenergic beta-2 receptors

Beta2-adrenergic agonists, also known as adrenergic β2 receptor agonists, are a class of drugs that act on the β2 adrenergic receptor. Like other β adrenergic agonists, they cause smooth muscle relaxation. β2 adrenergic agonists' effects on smooth muscle cause dilation of bronchial passages, vasodilation in muscle and liver, relaxation of uterine muscle, and release of insulin. They are primarily used to treat asthma and other pulmonary disorders. Bronchodilators are considered an important treatment regime for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and are usually used in combination with short acting medications and long acting medications in a combined inhaler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fluticasone propionate</span> Medication

Fluticasone propionate, sold under the brand names Flovent and Flonase among others, is a steroid medication. When inhaled it is used for the long term management of asthma and COPD. In the nose it is used for hay fever and nasal polyps. It can also be used for mouth ulcers. It works by decreasing inflammation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronchoconstriction</span> Constriction of the terminal airways in the lungs

Bronchoconstriction is the constriction of the airways in the lungs due to the tightening of surrounding smooth muscle, with consequent coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonist</span> Drug prescribed for asthma patients

Long-acting β adrenoceptor agonists (LABAs) are beta-adrenergic agonists usually prescribed for moderate-to-severe persistent asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They are designed to reduce the need for shorter-acting β2 agonists such as salbutamol (albuterol), as they have a duration of action of approximately 12 hours in comparison with the 4-to-6-hour duration of salbutamol, making them candidates for sparing high doses of corticosteroids or treating nocturnal asthma and providing symptomatic improvement in patients with COPD. With the exception of formoterol, long-acting β2 agonists are not recommended for the treatment of acute asthma exacerbations because of their slower onset of action compared to salbutamol. Their long duration of action is due to the addition of a long, lipophilic side-chain that binds to an exosite on adrenergic receptors. This allows the active portion of the molecule to continuously bind and unbind at β2 receptors in the smooth muscle in the lungs.

In medicine, patient compliance describes the degree to which a patient correctly follows medical advice. Most commonly, it refers to medication or drug compliance, but it can also apply to other situations such as medical device use, self care, self-directed exercises, or therapy sessions. Both patient and health-care provider affect compliance, and a positive physician-patient relationship is the most important factor in improving compliance. Access to care plays a role in patient adherence, whereby greater wait times to access care contributing to greater absenteeism. The cost of prescription medication also plays a major role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mometasone</span> Steroid medication

Mometasone, also known as mometasone y 3 s, is a steroid medication used to treat certain skin conditions, hay fever, and asthma. Specifically it is used to prevent rather than treat asthma attacks. It can be applied to the skin, inhaled, or used in the nose. Mometasone furoate, not mometasone, is used in medical products.

Recurrent airway obstruction, also known as broken wind, heaves, wind-broke horse, or sometimes by the term usually reserved for humans, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or disorder (COPD) – it is a respiratory disease or chronic condition of horses involving an allergic bronchitis characterised by wheezing, coughing and laboured breathing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease</span> Medical condition

An acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB), is a sudden worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms including shortness of breath, quantity and color of phlegm that typically lasts for several days.

Fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium bromide/vilanterol, sold under the brand name Trelegy Ellipta among others, is a fixed-dose combination inhaled medication that is used for the maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The medications work in different ways: fluticasone furoate is an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), umeclidinium is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), and vilanterol is a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toreforant</span> Antagonist of the histamine H4 receptor.

Toreforant (JNJ-38518168) is an orally-dosed selective antagonist of the histamine H4 receptor that has been studied for various health conditions. It is the successor of a number of H4-selective compounds developed by Johnson & Johnson. Phase IIa clinical trials completed as recently as November 2018 continue to suggest that toreforant is safe.

References

  1. "Howard Friedman". SIPA Columbia University. Archived from the original on 2010-06-05. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  2. "Whitaker Foundation Report". Whitaker Foundation. Retrieved 2010-03-27.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. "Review of Costing Tools Relevant to the Health MDGs" (PDF). PMNCH. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  4. "IHP+ Report" (PDF). International Health Partnership. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  5. "Selected Artist Jewcy". Jewcy. 10 January 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  6. "Angels and Stardust". Angels and Stardust. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  7. "Huffington Post". HuffPost . Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  8. "Bullish on Books Blog at CNBC". CNBC . 29 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  9. "Jared Diamond - By the Book, New York Times". The New York Times. 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  10. "The coding of uniform color figures in monkey visual cortex". Journal of Physiology. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  11. Zhou, Hong; Friedman, Howard S.; Heydt, Rüdiger von der (September 2000). "Coding of Border Ownership". Journal of Neuroscience. 20 (17): 6594–6611. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.20-17-06594.2000. PMC   4784717 . PMID   10964965. S2CID   11326064 . Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  12. "Smoothing Bandwidth Selection for Response Latency Estimation". Journal of Neuroscience Methods.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  13. "Donor Support Report 2008 (published 2009)" (PDF). UNFPA. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  14. "The Case for Asia and the Pacific" (PDF). WHO. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  15. "A Guide for Tools For Assessments in Sexual and Reproductive Health 2009". UNFPA. Archived from the original on 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  16. "Contraceptive Projections and the Donor Gap (Meeting the Challenge" (PDF). Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-05. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  17. "Donor Support Report 2007 (published 2008)" (PDF). UNFPA. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  18. "Contraception: An Investment in Lives, Health and Development" (PDF). UNFPA and Guttmacher Institute. Retrieved 2010-03-27.