PHS Insider - Winnie Kwong

| 16 July 2025

“Regardless of whether I’m working as a biostatistician or clinical data scientist in the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, public health agencies, I have always had a strong desire and passion to contribute meaningfully and effectively to improving patient outcomes.”

In this edition of the PHS Insider, we are thrilled to feature Winnie Kwong, a 2024-2025 Master’s of Science student in Biostatistics at Queen's University. Winnie is currently undergoing her summer internship as a Statistical Programmer Intern at a contract research organization (CRO) company.

First, to answer what everyone is thinking: What is biostatistics? We were offered a wonderfully clear explanation by the future biostatistician herself. "In biostatistics, we gather and investigate health data to answer important research questions in the health science field, solve health problems, and support decisions that can improve lives.” She elaborates further, stating the vital role of biostatistics in determining how diseases spread, evaluating the effectiveness of new treatments, comparing patient survival between treatment groups, and identifying risk factors for health issues or mortality.

Winnie's introduction to biostatistics began in her undergraduate degree at Queen's Biology and Mathematics Specialization program. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, that her interest began flourishing. She had been impressed by Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, which was led by a group of independent researchers to help guide the Ontario government on how to navigate the pandemic. In this, she saw the use of statistical modelling and data predictions to answer complex questions, concerns and decision-making on public health issues. In addition to the experience of her undergraduate program, Winnie was excited to pursue a career in Biostatistics as she found it to be a unique combination of her favorite subjects—biology and math.

"I was inspired by how mathematical and statistical concepts could also help public health crises from escalating!"

Even with a strong foundation in biology and math, transitioning into the Biostatistics program came with challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was adapting to the health science aspects of the curriculum. Winnie recalled that it took her some time to overcome challenges when understanding epidemiological and clinical concepts and terminology, especially in her work on case studies.

Despite initial difficulties, she successfully completed the intensive eight months of coursework prior to her summer internship, giving her the needed skills for her work at her CRO company that provides statistical and data management support services to pharmaceutical companies conducting clinical trials. Her role involves programming, cleaning, and analyzing clinical trial data, as well as validating results to ensure they meet clinical research standards. She credits her Queen's training, especially in SAS programming and clinical trial methodology, as instrumental in her preparation to complete her job duties now.

With her lessons learned during her summer practicum, in the future she hopes to continue a career as a biostatistician or clinical data scientist in a health, pharmaceutical, or research organization. Specializing in statistical modelling and/or data sciences roles are what she finds most interesting. In explaining her passion for biostatistics, she said, "While I may never be on the frontlines like physicians or nurses, I believe my skills and strengths in biostatistics can play an equally important role in advancing healthcare and ultimately improving and saving people’s lives as well!"

As Winnie's time at Queen's University draws to a close, she had two great pieces of advice to share with future biostatisticians. First, she recommends reaching out to peers, colleagues and mentors outside of the biostatistics cohort, and especially to those in the Master’s of Public Health and Master’s of Science Epidemiology programs. Social events, such as those organized by PHSSA (Public Health Science Student Association), are as she puts it "wonderful opportunities to build connections and enrich your overall graduate experience!"

Secondly, she emphasizes that there is no requirement to go through your journey alone. "Don’t hesitate to reach out for help, whether it’s to professors or fellow classmates. I find that the PHS department is incredibly supportive and welcoming, so taking advantage of this environment can truly enhance both your learning experience and overall well-being during this fast-paced, intense, rigorous 12-month program!"

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MSc Biostatistics

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PHS Insider - Winnie Kwong

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