William B. Hillegass, MD, PhD

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, Biostatistics2017
Duke University Medical Center, General & Interventional Cardiovascular Fellowship, Cardiovascular Disease1994
Brigham and Womens Hospital, Internal Medicine Residency, Internal Medicine1990
Harvard School of Public Health, MPH, Translational Research1988
Harvard Medical School, MD, Medicine1988
Yale University, BA, Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry1983
Yale University, BA, Economics & Political Science1983

Specialty Certification Licensure

Licensure, Mississippi Medical License02/2024 - Present
Re-certification10/1995 - 10/2025
Certification, Diplomate, NBME07/1988 - Present
Certification, Endovascular Medicine, ABVM07/2006 - Present
Certification, Vascular Medicine, ABVM07/2006 - Present
Re-certification, Interventional Cardiovascular, ABIM07/2011 - 07/2021
Certification, Interventional Cardiovascular, ABIM07/2000 - 07/2011
Re-certification, Internal Medicine, ABIM07/2011 - 07/2021
Re-certification, Internal Medicine, ABIM07/2002 - 07/2012
Certification, Internal Medicine, ABIM07/1992 - 07/2002

Current Positions

Professor, School of Population Health, Department of Medicine07/2024 - 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 Science2019 - 06/2024
Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine03/2017 - 12/2018
Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Population Health03/2017 - 12/2018
Fellow in Comparative Effectiveness Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine07/2011 - 06/2013
Interventional Cardiologist/Researcher, Heart South Cardiovascular02/2011 - 03/2017
Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine07/2005 - 09/2013
Assistant Professor, University of AAlabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine11/2000 - 07/2005
Director, Heart Group & Heartcare Health System08/1999 - 09/2000
Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, School of Medicine1995 - 08/1999

Sponsored Program Funding

Extramural, Spirulina Oral Supplement for Enhancing Host Resilience to Virus Infection, NIH07/2024 - 06/2025
Extramural, UAB CTSA Renewal, NIH/NCATS05/2024 - 04/2031
Extramural, Reducing CV Risk in Rural MS, AHA04/2024 - 03/2028
Extramural, Mississippi Kidney Health Initiative, NIH04/2024 - 03/2029
Extramural, Mississippi Practice-Based Research Network EHR Enhancement to Advance Health, NIGMS/NIH11/2023 - 10/2024
Extramural, Teen Mom Study: Confirmatory Cluster Randomized Effectiveness Trial, NIH10/2023 - 06/2026
Extramural, Maternal Child Health Multicenter Grant, NIH09/2023 - 08/2030
Extramural, National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) Supplement YR 4, NIH/NIGMS09/2023 - 08/2024
Extramural, Mechanisms of transition from acute to chronic pain in Non-Hispanic Black and White injury patients, NIH07/2023 - 06/2025
Extramural, National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) Supplement YR 3, NIH/NIGMS08/2022 - 07/2023
Extramural, CLIF-VIP Gun Violence, NIH07/2022 - 06/2027
Extramural, Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research, NIH/NIGMS10/2021 - 09/2026
Extramural, National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) CTR Consortium YR 2, NIH/NIGMS08/2021 - 07/2022
Extramural, National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) CTR Consortium, NIH/NIGMS07/2020 - 06/2021
Extramural, Individual- and area-level risk factors for COVID-19 disparities in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, University of Alabama at Birmingham06/2020 - 06/2022
Intramural, Innovative Children’s Healthcare Delivery: A Simulation Study, UMMC02/2020 - 01/2021
Extramural, Diabetic foot ulcer treatment trial, Corporate Sponsor01/2020 - Present
Extramural, Simulation to guide implementation of telemedicine cardiorenal interventions to reduce health disparities., Health Resources and Services Administration01/2020 - 02/2022
Extramural, Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research, NIH10/2016 - 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: HYPERTENSIONAHA120148362020
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, UMMC2022
Silver Research Award, UMMC2021
Bronze Research Award, UMMC2020
Frank Hildner Elite Reviewer Award, Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention2017
Naomi Fineberg Distiguished New Researcher Award, Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham2015
Fellow Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (FSCAI), Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention2008
Fellow Society of Vascular Medicine and Biology (FSVMB), Society for Vascular Medicine2006
Fellow American College of Cardiology (FACC), American College of Cardiology2000
Henry Christain Award for Clinical Research, American Federation for Clinical Research1993
Young Trainee Investigator Award, American Federation for Clinical Research1993
Truman Scholar, Harry S. Truman Memorial Foundation1981
Townsend Prize, Yale University1980

Professional Membership and Service

Mississippi Chapter, American College of Cardiology, Member2019 - Present
Mississippi-Alabama Chapter, American Statistical Association, Member2019 - Present
American Statistical Association, Member2017 - Present
Society of Vascular Medicine, Fellow2006 - Present
Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, Fellow1995 - Present
American College of Cardiology, Fellow1990 - Present

Committee Service

MEDICAL CENTER-FACULTY SENATE, Member2023 - Present
SOM-Systems Based Practice, Member2021 - Present
DEI Committee, Member2021 - Present
Clinical Learning Environment Committee, Evidence Based Medicine/Epidemiology/Statistics, Member2020 - Present
Steering Committee MCCTR, Member2019 - Present
Internal Advisory Committee, Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research/COBRE., Member2019 - Present

Other Service

Cochrane Comparing Multiple Interventions Methods Group, Member2020 - Present
Journal of Interventional Cardiology2020 - Present
Kirklin Institute for Research of Surgical Outcomes (KIRSO), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Statistician/Participant08/2017 - 12/2018
National Cardiovascular Data Registry Pinnacle Registry Limited Data Set Workgroup, Chair2017 - 12/2017
National Cardiovascular Data Registry Science and Quality Oversight Committee Data Governance Subcommittee, Scientific Oversight of NCDR04/2016 - Present
Interventional Cardiovascular Maintenance of Certification Exam beta tester, American Board of Internal Medicine., Test and Advise Board Certification Exam Questions2014 - 2018
Pharmacoepidemiology and Economics Research (PEER) Group, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Member/Participant2011 - 2017
Real World PCI Outcomes Registry, Steering Committee2009 - 12/2010
American College of Cardiology Foundation/Brookings Project Longitudinal PCI Registry Internal Workgroup, Member/Participant2009 - 2010
Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions2008 - Present
Ad Hoc Peripheral Vascular Disease Committee, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, Member/Participant03/2007 - 03/2011
American College of Cardiology Live Programs Committee., Participant/Member2007 - 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 Registry03/2006 - 03/2013
Peripheral Vascular Disease Writing Committee, BARI 2D Trial, Participant/Member2006 - 2010
Quality of Life Writing Committee, BARI 2D Trial, Member/Participant/Researcher2006 - 2012
Training Program Standards Committee, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, Member/Participant2005 - 12/2010
Sound Wave Inhibition of Neointimal Growth Trial. Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB)., Member2000 - 12/2002
Peripheral Atherosclerosis Research Consortium, Founding Member1998 - 12/2001
Patient outcomes in acute coronary syndrome registry. (PRO-ACS) Scientific Advisory Group, Scientific Advisory Group Member1998 - 12/2000
Lamifiban with thrombolysis in acute MI PARADIGM Trial. Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), Member of DSMB1995 - 12/1996
Epic Trial Clinical Endpoints Review Committee, Member Adjudicating Events1992 - 12/1993

Teaching Experience

Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - WardSpring 2024
Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - WardFall 2024
Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - McNeillFall 2024
Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - ChristmanFall 2024
Population Health, Course, Course Director, Bayesian Statistical MethodsFall 2024
Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - McNeillSpring 2024
Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - ChristmanSpring 2024
BDS 750, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Study Design and Clinical TrialsSpring 2023 - 2023
PHS 753, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Systems Science and Economics for Population HealthSpring 2023 - 2023
BDS 750, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Study Design and Clinical TrialsFall 2023
BDS 797, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Advanced Study Design and Network Meta-Analysis MethodsFall 2023
BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - WardSpring 2023
BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - WardFall 2023
BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - WardSummer 2023
BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - ChristmanSummer 2023
BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - ChristmanFall 2023
BDS 750, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Study Design and Clinical TrialsSpring 2022 - 2022
BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - AdnanSpring 2022
BDS 792, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Biostatistical ConsultingFall 2021 - 2021
BDS 750, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Study Design and Clinical TrialsSpring 2021 - 2021
PHS 753, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Systems Science for Population HealthSpring 2021 - 2021
BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - AdnanSpring 2021
BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - AdnanSummer 2021
BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - AdnanFall 2021
BDS 792, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Biostatistical ConsultingFall 2020
BDS 750, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Study DesignSpring 2020
BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - AdnanSpring 2020
BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - AdnanFall 2020
BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - AdnanSummer 2020
BDS 750, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Study DesignSpring 2019
BDS 792, Population Health, Course, Course Director, Biostatistical ConsultingFall 2019
BDS 798, Population Health, Course, Preceptor, Dissertation Research - AdnanFall 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 Cardiovascular01/2003 - 12/2009
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Research Advisor, 6 fellows supervised11/2000 - 12/2018
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Attending Physician, 78 fellows supervised, Cardiovascular11/2000 - 12/2018
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Research Advisor, 3 fellows supervised, Interventional Clinical Research01/1995 - 08/1999
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Attending Physician, 39 fellows supervised01/1995 - 08/1999

Residency Training

University of Alabama at Birmingham (39 residents), Attending Physician2000 - 12/2018
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (20 residents), Attending Physician1995 - 08/1999