Dr. Marcel Satsky Kerr Earns Prestigious PStat® Accreditation from the American Statistical Association
This month, Dr. Marcel Satsky Kerr, Professor of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education at UNTHSC’s College of Biomedical and Translational
Sciences, achieved a significant professional milestone by earning the Accredited
Professional Statistician™ (PStat®) designation from the American Statistical Association
(ASA). This distinguished credential recognizes statisticians who demonstrate advanced
statistical training, substantial professional experience, and a commitment to ethical
practice and clear communication of statistical findings to both specialized and general
audiences.
To qualify for the PStat® accreditation, applicants undergo a rigorous portfolio review that assesses their formal and informal education, work experience, contributions to the field, ongoing professional development, and adherence to the ASA’s Ethical Guidelines for Statistical Practice. Candidates must also hold an advanced degree in statistics from a regionally accredited institution and have at least five years of full-time experience applying statistical methods. Additionally, two professional references are interviewed, and each portfolio is reviewed by the ASA’s Accreditation Committee, composed of esteemed leaders from academia, healthcare, government, and industry across North America.
Kerr brings more than 30 years of experience in teaching and research in statistical methods. Her accreditation reflects wide-ranging contributions to the discipline, including work in accreditation, assessment, postsecondary teaching, psychometrics, human subjects research, program evaluation, student and faculty mentorship, and leadership in higher education.
“I wish to model lifelong learning to our students, and the ASA’s professional development requirements and opportunities are two avenues that ensure I am providing students the most current and relevant statistical practices in the classroom that they will need in their careers in health care. I want students to see that retooling is not tied just to earning a formal degree but rather a responsibility each professional has to ensure their knowledge and skills evolve with the needs of their students, patients, and society,” Kerr said.
To learn more about Kerr’s work, visit her faculty profile.