Alumni Profile
George W. Williams
PhD Class of 1972
Vice President of Global Biomedical Data Sciences and Head of the Center for Observational
Research, Amgen Incorporated*
PhD Biostatistics, UNC, 1972
MA Statistics, George Washington University, 1970
BS Mathematics, Bucknell University, 1968
The UNC Biostatistics program graduates not only insightful
researchers, but dynamic leaders: people who bring out the
best in the colleagues whom they guide.
One example is Dr. George W. Williams, a leader at Amgen.
As the head of a global group responsible for biostatistics,
statistical programming, and data management in Research and
Development, Williams manages teams based California,
Seattle, India, South Africa, and England.
“The Center for Observational Research” Williams observes,
“consolidates epidemiology, pharmacovigilance, and health economics observational research
in support of Amgen’s mission to enhance and extend lives of patients with serious illnesses.”
Reminiscing about his time as a UNC graduate student, Williams recalls “the excellence and
passion of the faculty.” He found their involvement in clinical trial data coordinating center
activity and major NIH-funded epidemiological studies “an inspiration.” He is especially grateful
for the strong support provided by his Ph.D. advisor and mentor, Prof. Pranab K. Sen. He
adds “The solid training in biostatistics and epidemiology which I received at UNC provided
me with a firm foundation for all aspects of my professional career.”
Williams continues to interact with several members of the UNC Departments of Biostatistics
and Epidemiology. “They have advised and consulted on key projects in which I have been
engaged, particularly at Merck and Amgen.”
“I am so pleased to have been able to contribute in a variety of small ways to the
advancement of public health. Most of those contributions have been to the design, conduct,
and analysis of clinical trials and observational health research,” he claims. “Some of those
contributions have been by my personal engagement but most of those contributions have
been in my role as a leader of teams of individuals.”
*In January 2013, Dr. Williams retired from his position at Amgen.