William B. Hillegass, MD, PhD
Professor
Department:
SPH-Dept of Data Science
Email:
whillegass@umc.edu
Work Phone:
(601) 815-3479
Biography
William Hillegass, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Data Science and Medicine. As a clinical investigator during 25 years of interventional cardiovascular practice, Dr. Hillegass employed a broad range of research methods including prospective randomized trials, observational studies, and comparative effectiveness analyses. His applied research includes antithrombotic therapies, acute coronary syndromes, peripheral vascular diseases, diabetes, and endovascular interventional therapies. His basic statistical methods research concerns indirect treatment comparison methods. He has focused on quantitative methods to verify the assumptions and validity of indirect treatment comparison methods such as network meta-analysis as well developed methods to improve robustness of indirect treatment effect estimators and hypothesis testing procedures. Additional methodological areas of research include individual patient data meta-analysis, retrospective harmonization of studies; databases, adaptive clinical trial designs, simulated clinical trials, bioinformatics for precision medicine, and health economic analyses.
Dr. Hillegass studied molecular genetics and econometrics as a Yale undergraduate. Medicine and clinical research design & application at Harvard Medical School, Harvard School Public Health, and Brigham and Womens Hospital. He trained in cardiovascular diseases and research at Duke University Medical Center and the Duke Clinical Research Institute. His PhD training in biostatistics was at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Education
| University of Alabama at Birmingham, PhD, Biostatistics | 2017 |
| Duke University Medical Center, General & Interventional Cardiovascular Fellowship, Cardiovascular Disease | 1994 |
| Brigham and Womens Hospital, Internal Medicine Residency, Internal Medicine | 1990 |
| Harvard School of Public Health, MPH, Translational Research | 1988 |
| Harvard Medical School, MD, Medicine | 1988 |
| Yale University, BA, Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry | 1983 |
| Yale University, BA, Economics & Political Science | 1983 |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Licensure, Mississippi Medical License | 02/2024 - Present |
| Re-certification | 10/1995 - 10/2025 |
| Certification, Diplomate, NBME | 07/1988 - Present |
| Certification, Endovascular Medicine, ABVM | 07/2006 - Present |
| Certification, Vascular Medicine, ABVM | 07/2006 - Present |
| Re-certification, Interventional Cardiovascular, ABIM | 07/2011 - 07/2021 |
| Certification, Interventional Cardiovascular, ABIM | 07/2000 - 07/2011 |
| Re-certification, Internal Medicine, ABIM | 07/2011 - 07/2021 |
| Re-certification, Internal Medicine, ABIM | 07/2002 - 07/2012 |
| Certification, Internal Medicine, ABIM | 07/1992 - 07/2002 |
Current Positions
| Professor, School of Population Health, Department of Medicine | 07/2024 - Present |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi 39216 | |
Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments
| Associate Professor, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Population Health, Department of Data Science | 2019 - 06/2024 |
| Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine | 03/2017 - 12/2018 |
| Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Population Health | 03/2017 - 12/2018 |
| Fellow in Comparative Effectiveness Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine | 07/2011 - 06/2013 |
| Interventional Cardiologist/Researcher, Heart South Cardiovascular | 02/2011 - 03/2017 |
| Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine | 07/2005 - 09/2013 |
| Assistant Professor, University of AAlabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine | 11/2000 - 07/2005 |
| Director, Heart Group & Heartcare Health System | 08/1999 - 09/2000 |
| Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, School of Medicine | 1995 - 08/1999 |
Sponsored Program Funding
| Extramural, Spirulina Oral Supplement for Enhancing Host Resilience to Virus Infection, NIH | 07/2024 - 06/2025 |
| Extramural, UAB CTSA Renewal, NIH/NCATS | 05/2024 - 04/2031 |
| Extramural, Reducing CV Risk in Rural MS, AHA | 04/2024 - 03/2028 |
| Extramural, Mississippi Kidney Health Initiative, NIH | 04/2024 - 03/2029 |
| Extramural, Mississippi Practice-Based Research Network EHR Enhancement to Advance Health, NIGMS/NIH | 11/2023 - 10/2024 |
| Extramural, Teen Mom Study: Confirmatory Cluster Randomized Effectiveness Trial, NIH | 10/2023 - 06/2026 |
| Extramural, Maternal Child Health Multicenter Grant, NIH | 09/2023 - 08/2030 |
| Extramural, National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) Supplement YR 4, NIH/NIGMS | 09/2023 - 08/2024 |
| Extramural, Mechanisms of transition from acute to chronic pain in Non-Hispanic Black and White injury patients, NIH | 07/2023 - 06/2025 |
| Extramural, National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) Supplement YR 3, NIH/NIGMS | 08/2022 - 07/2023 |
| Extramural, CLIF-VIP Gun Violence, NIH | 07/2022 - 06/2027 |
| Extramural, Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research, NIH/NIGMS | 10/2021 - 09/2026 |
| Extramural, National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) CTR Consortium YR 2, NIH/NIGMS | 08/2021 - 07/2022 |
| Extramural, National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) CTR Consortium, NIH/NIGMS | 07/2020 - 06/2021 |
| Extramural, Individual- and area-level risk factors for COVID-19 disparities in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, University of Alabama at Birmingham | 06/2020 - 06/2022 |
| Intramural, Innovative Children’s Healthcare Delivery: A Simulation Study, UMMC | 02/2020 - 01/2021 |
| Extramural, Diabetic foot ulcer treatment trial, Corporate Sponsor | 01/2020 - Present |
| Extramural, Simulation to guide implementation of telemedicine cardiorenal interventions to reduce health disparities., Health Resources and Services Administration | 01/2020 - 02/2022 |
| Extramural, Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research, NIH | 10/2016 - 09/2021 |
Publications
Journal Article | |
| Langford AT, Akinyelure OP, Moore TL Jr, Howard G, Min YI, Hillegass WB, Bress AP, Tajeu GS, Butler M, Jaeger BC, Yano Y, Shimbo D, Ogedegbe G, Calhoun D, Booth JN 3rd, Muntner P Underutilization of Treatment for Black Adults With Apparent Treatment-Resistant Hypertension: JHS and the REGARDS Study. Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979) 2020 Sep 14: HYPERTENSIONAHA12014836 | 2020 |
| Zoghbi GJ, Misra VK, Brott BC, Papapietro SE, Dai D, Wang TY, Klein LW, Messenger JC, Hillegass WB. Contemporary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Left Main Culprit Lesions: A Report from the NCDR. Open J Cardiol Heart Dis. 1(3). OJCHD.000513.2018. | 2018 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Gold Research Excellence Award, UMMC | 2022 |
| Silver Research Award, UMMC | 2021 |
| Bronze Research Award, UMMC | 2020 |
| Frank Hildner Elite Reviewer Award, Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention | 2017 |
| Naomi Fineberg Distiguished New Researcher Award, Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham | 2015 |
| Fellow Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (FSCAI), Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention | 2008 |
| Fellow Society of Vascular Medicine and Biology (FSVMB), Society for Vascular Medicine | 2006 |
| Fellow American College of Cardiology (FACC), American College of Cardiology | 2000 |
| Henry Christain Award for Clinical Research, American Federation for Clinical Research | 1993 |
| Young Trainee Investigator Award, American Federation for Clinical Research | 1993 |
| Truman Scholar, Harry S. Truman Memorial Foundation | 1981 |
| Townsend Prize, Yale University | 1980 |
Professional Membership and Service
| Mississippi Chapter, American College of Cardiology, Member | 2019 - Present |
| Mississippi-Alabama Chapter, American Statistical Association, Member | 2019 - Present |
| American Statistical Association, Member | 2017 - Present |
| Society of Vascular Medicine, Fellow | 2006 - Present |
| Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, Fellow | 1995 - Present |
| American College of Cardiology, Fellow | 1990 - Present |
Committee Service
| MEDICAL CENTER-FACULTY SENATE, Member | 2023 - Present |
| SOM-Systems Based Practice, Member | 2021 - Present |
| DEI Committee, Member | 2021 - Present |
| Clinical Learning Environment Committee, Evidence Based Medicine/Epidemiology/Statistics, Member | 2020 - Present |
| Steering Committee MCCTR, Member | 2019 - Present |
| Internal Advisory Committee, Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research/COBRE., Member | 2019 - Present |
Other Service
| Cochrane Comparing Multiple Interventions Methods Group, Member | 2020 - Present |
| Journal of Interventional Cardiology | 2020 - Present |
| Kirklin Institute for Research of Surgical Outcomes (KIRSO), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Statistician/Participant | 08/2017 - 12/2018 |
| National Cardiovascular Data Registry Pinnacle Registry Limited Data Set Workgroup, Chair | 2017 - 12/2017 |
| National Cardiovascular Data Registry Science and Quality Oversight Committee Data Governance Subcommittee, Scientific Oversight of NCDR | 04/2016 - Present |
| Interventional Cardiovascular Maintenance of Certification Exam beta tester, American Board of Internal Medicine., Test and Advise Board Certification Exam Questions | 2014 - 2018 |
| Pharmacoepidemiology and Economics Research (PEER) Group, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Member/Participant | 2011 - 2017 |
| Real World PCI Outcomes Registry, Steering Committee | 2009 - 12/2010 |
| American College of Cardiology Foundation/Brookings Project Longitudinal PCI Registry Internal Workgroup, Member/Participant | 2009 - 2010 |
| Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions | 2008 - Present |
| Ad Hoc Peripheral Vascular Disease Committee, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, Member/Participant | 03/2007 - 03/2011 |
| American College of Cardiology Live Programs Committee., Participant/Member | 2007 - 2010 |
| Research and Publications Subcommittee, American College of Cardiology -National Cardiovascular Data Registry (ACC-NCDR) CathPCI Registry., Reviewed and Graded Research Proposals for CathPCI NCDR Registry | 03/2006 - 03/2013 |
| Peripheral Vascular Disease Writing Committee, BARI 2D Trial, Participant/Member | 2006 - 2010 |
| Quality of Life Writing Committee, BARI 2D Trial, Member/Participant/Researcher | 2006 - 2012 |
| Training Program Standards Committee, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, Member/Participant | 2005 - 12/2010 |
| Sound Wave Inhibition of Neointimal Growth Trial. Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB)., Member | 2000 - 12/2002 |
| Peripheral Atherosclerosis Research Consortium, Founding Member | 1998 - 12/2001 |
| Patient outcomes in acute coronary syndrome registry. (PRO-ACS) Scientific Advisory Group, Scientific Advisory Group Member | 1998 - 12/2000 |
| Lamifiban with thrombolysis in acute MI PARADIGM Trial. Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), Member of DSMB | 1995 - 12/1996 |
| Epic Trial Clinical Endpoints Review Committee, Member Adjudicating Events | 1992 - 12/1993 |
Teaching Experience
| Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Ward | Spring 2024 |
| Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Ward | Fall 2024 |
| Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - McNeill | Fall 2024 |
| Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Christman | Fall 2024 |
| Population Health, Course, Course Director, Bayesian Statistical Methods | Fall 2024 |
| Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - McNeill | Spring 2024 |
| Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Christman | Spring 2024 |
| BDS 750, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Study Design and Clinical Trials | Spring 2023 - 2023 |
| PHS 753, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Systems Science and Economics for Population Health | Spring 2023 - 2023 |
| BDS 750, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Study Design and Clinical Trials | Fall 2023 |
| BDS 797, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Advanced Study Design and Network Meta-Analysis Methods | Fall 2023 |
| BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Ward | Spring 2023 |
| BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Ward | Fall 2023 |
| BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Ward | Summer 2023 |
| BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Christman | Summer 2023 |
| BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Christman | Fall 2023 |
| BDS 750, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Study Design and Clinical Trials | Spring 2022 - 2022 |
| BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Adnan | Spring 2022 |
| BDS 792, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Biostatistical Consulting | Fall 2021 - 2021 |
| BDS 750, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Study Design and Clinical Trials | Spring 2021 - 2021 |
| PHS 753, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Systems Science for Population Health | Spring 2021 - 2021 |
| BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Adnan | Spring 2021 |
| BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Adnan | Summer 2021 |
| BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Adnan | Fall 2021 |
| BDS 792, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Biostatistical Consulting | Fall 2020 |
| BDS 750, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Study Design | Spring 2020 |
| BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Adnan | Spring 2020 |
| BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Adnan | Fall 2020 |
| BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Adnan | Summer 2020 |
| BDS 750, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Study Design | Spring 2019 |
| BDS 792, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Biostatistical Consulting | Fall 2019 |
| BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - Adnan | Fall 2019 |
Directed Student Learning
| Dissertation Committee Member, Environmental Exposures and Health Advised: Lauren Pongetti | 2023 - Present |
| Dissertation Committee Member, Genetic Risk of Dementia Advised: Hunter Sylvester | 2023 - Present |
| Dissertation Committee Member, Cardiometabolic Risk in Children Advised: Quest Whalen | 2023 - Present |
| Dissertation Committee Member, Obesity in Children Advised: Kisa Harris | 2023 - Present |
| Research Advisor, Diagnosis and Progression of CKD Advised: Wesley Zhang | 2022 - Present |
| Dissertation Committee Chair, Count Endpoints in Cluster Randomized Trials Advised: Taylor Ward | 2022 - Present |
| Internship Advisor, Time to Life Insurance Cancellation Advised: Kendall Churchwell | 2022 - 2022 |
| Research Advisor, Factors Associated with Suicidal Behaviors in MS Youth Advised: Brian Christman | 2021 - Present |
| Dissertation Committee Member, QT Prolongation in Sickle Cell Disease Advised: Mengna Zhang | 2021 - Present |
| Dissertation Committee Chair, A Classification and Design Framework for Run-in Phases in Comparative Therapeutic Efficacy (CTE) Trials with Quantitative Performance Assessment Advised: Mohiuddin Adnan | 2019 - 2022 |
| Dissertation Committee Member, Complex Longitudinal and Survival Modeling Advised: Md. Roungu | 2019 - 2022 |
| Preceptor, Clinical Training - 52 students | 2000 - 2018 |
| Research Advisor, Clinical Research - 4 students | 1995 - 1999 |
| Preceptor, Clinical Training - 15 students | 1995 - 1999 |
Fellows supervised
| University of Alabama at Birmingham, Fellowship Director, 21 fellows supervised, Interventional Cardiovascular | 01/2003 - 12/2009 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham, Research Advisor, 6 fellows supervised | 11/2000 - 12/2018 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham, Attending Physician, 78 fellows supervised, Cardiovascular | 11/2000 - 12/2018 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Research Advisor, 3 fellows supervised, Interventional Clinical Research | 01/1995 - 08/1999 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Attending Physician, 39 fellows supervised | 01/1995 - 08/1999 |
Residency Training
| University of Alabama at Birmingham (39 residents), Attending Physician | 2000 - 12/2018 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center (20 residents), Attending Physician | 1995 - 08/1999 |