image: Michael J. Schell, Ph.D.
Credit: Moffitt Cancer Center
TAMPA, Fla. (April 21, 2025) —Michael J. Schell, Ph.D., interim chief in the Quantitative Science Division at Moffitt Cancer Center, has been elected a Fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA), the world’s largest community of statisticians and data scientists. This prestigious honor recognizes his exceptional contributions to statistical sciences and his commitment to advancing the field.
The ASA Fellow designation has been a significant recognition in the statistical community for nearly a century. Each year, the ASA Committee on Fellows may elect up to one-third of one percent of the association’s membership as fellows. Nominees must demonstrate an established reputation and have made outstanding contributions to statistical science in research, education, industry, government or service to the ASA and the broader profession.
“Dr. Schell’s election as an ASA Fellow is a reflection of his remarkable impact on cancer research through statistics,” said Anna Giuliano, Ph.D., founding director of the Center for Immunization and Infection Research in Cancer at Moffitt. “He has not only developed widely used statistical tools and methods for analyzing complex clinical data, but he has also built and led highly productive biostatistics teams at major cancer centers across the country. His leadership, mentorship and innovation continue to shape the future of statistical science in cancer research.”
Schell has authored over 220 papers, primarily in cancer research, especially colorectal cancer. His statistical methods papers have principally focused on clinical trials, and order restricted inference theory. He wrote two books, “Baseball’s All-Time Best Hitters” (1999), and “Baseball’s All-Time Best Sluggers” (2005), which used statistical methods to adjust batting performance across baseball history. He has served on over 20 National Institutes of Health grant review committees, held offices in the ASA Statistics in Sports section, two regional ASA chapters and led the hosting of the Statistical Practice in Cancer Conference six times at Moffitt.
“This recognition is a testament to Dr. Schell’s extraordinary career and his commitment to scientific rigor,” said Xuefeng Wang, Ph.D., chair of the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Department at Moffitt. “His work has strengthened the statistical foundation of cancer research and helped translate data into discoveries that improve patient outcomes.”
Founded in 1839, the American Statistical Association serves members in more than 90 countries, advancing research, science, and technology; promoting sound statistical practice; informing public policy; and contributing to a world in which decisions are data driven.
For more information about the ASA Fellow Award and the American Statistical Association, please visit www.amstat.org.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 57 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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