Dr. Mary T. Hawn presents the 2019 Kirby I. Bland, M.D., Visiting Lectureship on Tuesday, Feb. 26, in Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium. (Photo courtesy of @danileacm on Twitter)

Stanford University’s Mary T. Hawn, M.D., MPH, FACS, stressed the importance of careful interpretation when handling big data in her talk last Tuesday, as this year’s Kirby I. Bland, M.D., Visiting Professor. Hawn talked about the importance of interpretation in finding results at the 2019 lectureship, held in Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium at Surgery Grand Rounds.

Drs. Herbert Chen, Gregory Kennedy, Kirby I. Bland and Selwyn Vickers attend the 2019 Kirby I. Bland, M.D., Visiting Lectureship, where Dr. Mary T. Hawn spoke as this year's visiting professor. (Photo courtesy of Megan Yeatts)

Now Stanford Medicine Professor of Surgery and Chair of the Stanford University Department of Surgery, Hawn formerly served as the director of the UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery from 2001 to 2015. It was also due to Hawn’s generosity that the UAB Department of Surgery was able to establish the Mary T. Hawn Award for Outstanding Woman Medical Student, an annual award for women enrolled in medical school at UAB that is presented at the UAB School of Medicine Birmingham Campus Awards’ Luncheon every spring.

This annual lectureship was created in honor of Professor of Surgery Kirby I. Bland, M.D., who served as chair of the UAB Department of Surgery and surgeon-in-chief at UAB Hospital for 15 years. During his tenure, Bland mentored countless medical students and residents, set the bar for patient care and pioneered surgical research.

Dr @maryhawn at UAB Surgical Grand Rounds speaking about big data and how careful interpretation is important to prevent finding what we want instead of what actually is there. @UABSurgery @uabmedicine @WomenSurgeons pic.twitter.com/bB1osIZA9U

— Danilea Carmona (@danileacm) February 27, 2019