Jeffrey Heath

BIOGRAPHY

Jeffrey Heath joined Centre’s faculty in 2007. He was named a Centre Scholar in 2011 and received the Kirk Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2019, and his courses consistently get remarkably high praise from students. His research interests include sports analytics and applied statistics in pharmacology, and he has mentored nearly 40 students in undergraduate research projects that have opened the doors to unique careers, including working with the Pittsburgh Steelers as just one example.   

Heath and a student developed a statistical model that produced the appropriate dosage of vancomycin for patients with severe infections based on Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center (EMRMC) patient biometric data, dosages, and vancomycin trough levels in retrospective data. This nomogram was adopted by EMRMC, validated and dosed by over 20 pharmacists, and administered by countless nurses under the direction of multiple physicians. Their nomogram was also adopted by at least one additional hospital. Many of the projects he has collaborated on at EMRMC have resulted in new pharmaceutical and/or hospital protocols. These projects are impactful and make a difference for many in our region and the more than 119,000 people that EMRMC serves. Last year he was published in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists MidYear Clinical Meeting.   

Heath graduated summa cum laude from Georgetown College with a B.S. in mathematics. He earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in applied mathematics and scientific computation from the University of Maryland, where he served as a teaching fellow in the mathematics department. 

AWARDS/GRANTS

• 2020 Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Kentucky Section Distinguished Teaching Award
• Kirk Award for excellence in teaching in 2019
• Centre Scholar in 2011

COURSES TAUGHT

• Probability Theory
• Mathematical Statistics 
• Statistical Modeling
• Introduction to Statistics 
• Numerical Methods
• Modern Calculus I/II/III
• Sports Analytics