Inspiring future data scientists through the legacy of Florence Nightingale

The famous nurse Florence Nightingale is remembered for her tireless work during the Crimean War of the 1850s, where her innovations saved countless lives. While her legacy includes drastically improving sanitation and patient care, many don’t know about her leadership in data and statistics — or how the ripples of that work are still felt today.

Nightingale stands as an influential figure in both science and health care, whose lasting impact can help inspire future generations interested in embarking on careers in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine (STEMM). In 2024, the St. Jude Department of Biostatistics and STEMM Education and Outreach Program joined forces to celebrate Florence Nightingale Day for the first time at St. Jude. The event inspired high school students by sharing the legacy of this remarkable woman and introducing them to real-world applications of data science and exciting career opportunities in the field.

Florence Nightingale is regarded as the founder of modern nursing; however, her improvements to her field were largely driven by using data to improve patient care —  making her both a nurse and statistician. She collected and analyzed statistical data on soldier mortality rates, revealing that poor sanitation was a major cause of death. By visualizing this data in a series of compelling charts, notably pioneering the pie chart, Nightingale convinced military officials to implement sanitation reforms, dramatically reducing deaths. Her use of data to drive change laid the foundation for integrating data science in health care, showcasing its power to inform decisions and improve outcomes.

In 2018, Florence Nightingale Day was established to celebrate her legacy by inspiring students, highlighting career opportunities in statistics and data science, and recognizing women’s vital contributions to these fields. The nonprofit organization Florence Nightingale Day for Statistics and Data Science was formed in 2021 to establish supporting event sites to promote statistics and data science to students. 

“Our main mission is to show young people, especially girls, that data science and statistics are viable and exciting career options, explained Jessica Kohlschmidt, PhD,  senior lecturer at The Ohio State University and executive director of Florence Nightingale Day for Statistics and Data Science.

The event brought around 60 high school seniors taking AP Statistics to St. Jude, offering them the opportunity to learn about Nightingale’s legacy while interacting directly with the fields of statistics and data science. The students networked with peers from other schools, attended career panels and explored how data science is integrated into fields such as artificial intelligence. Panel discussions featured experts from various St. Jude departments, including Information Services, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Biostatistics, Structural Biology, Developmental Neurobiology, Radiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Pathology, with the keynote address delivered by Andrew Smith, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Radiology. Through engaging activities and discussions, the students gained valuable insights into Nightingale’s profound impact on health care and data science while also being inspired to consider how they might contribute to shaping the future of data science.

Inspiring the next generation of data scientists

As an experienced biostatistician, Tomi Mori, PhD, MBA, St. Jude Department of Biostatistics chair, has contributed to numerous clinical trials and research studies. Mori played a key role in coordinating and orchestrating the data science events the students participated in, as her impressive background makes her uniquely qualified to guide and inspire students about careers in data science. 

Mori emphasized the significance of mathematics, viewing it not just as a tool for solving problems but as a fundamental framework that transcends all boundaries. She wanted the students to understand that data science is not restricted to technical fields but can be integrated into many career options. 

“Math is a universal language,” Mori shared. “It’s all about numbers and understanding basic formulas and rules. Once you grasp these fundamental concepts, you can use them to solve many problems across different fields.” 

Students saw how St. Jude uses data science to advance pediatric cancer care right in their hometown. For example, when clinical trials testing new treatments for children with cancer are being developed, a biostatistician plays a key role in designing how data is collected and analyzed to ensure researchers optimize their approach and gain valuable insights. 

Anna Seffernick, PhD, a former postdoc in the Department of Biostatistics, previously organized a Florence Nightingale Day event at The Ohio State University and played a significant role in bringing the event to St. Jude. She wanted to create an opportunity for students to connect with the field of data science and see how it contributes to their community. 

“Many of these students have lived in the Memphis area for years, and while they’re familiar with St. Jude, they’ve never had the chance to visit and fully grasp the impact of the work done here,” said Seffernick. “Hosting the event on the campus helped showcase the importance of data science in all facets of research conducted at St. Jude to further the institution's mission of finding cures and saving children.”

Seffernick hopes that by showcasing the intersection of biostatistics and real-world applications, the event will spark students’ interest in pursuing data science careers. Just as Florence Nightingale revolutionized nursing and saved countless lives by leveraging data science, this next generation of students has the potential to transform health care with data and statistics by their side. 

This event marked the inaugural Florence Nightingale Day event at St. Jude, and plans are already underway to expand the initiative. Next year, the team aims to engage more schools and reach an even greater number of students, providing them with exposure to data science and statistics.