The Center for Causal Inference held a virtual short course that provided a non-technical introduction to concepts in causality.
Registration is now CLOSED.
Program Overview & Target Audience
In just two half-days on December 3 & 4 top experts from Penn, Rutgers, Johns Hopkins, and Vanderbilt will taught a variety of fundamental topics in causal inference including propensity score matching and weighting, instrumental variables, difference-in-differences study designs, and machine learning approaches. All methods were illustrated using real clinical examples.
The course was specifically aimed towards clinical researchers who had a basic understanding of statistics, but who perhaps had not had formal training in causal inference concepts and methods.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this activity, learners were able to:
- Review the history of causality in the context of clinical research
- Explain the difference between association versus causation
- Describe various observational study designs
- Apply analytical strategies for measured and unmeasured confounding
Two-day Agenda
December 3
| Time | Title | Presenter |
| 9:00-9:10 am | Opening Remarks and Introductions | Nandita Mitra, PhD University of Pennsylvania |
| 9:10-9:50 am | A Brief History of Causality | Elizabeth Ogburn, PhD Johns Hopkins University |
| 10:00-11:20 am |
An introduction to causal concepts: Potential outcomes, DAGs, confounding |
Alisa Stephens-Shields, PhD |
| 11:30-1:00 pm | Propensity scores: matching, weighting | Andrew Spieker, PhD Vanderbilt University |
December 4
| Time | Title | Presenter |
| 9:00-10:20 am | Instrumental Variables and Unmeasured Confounding | Nandita Mitra, PhD University of Pennsylvania |
| 10:30-11:30 am |
Causal Study Designs: Difference-in-Differences and Regression Discontinuity |
Luke Keele, PhD University of Pennsylvania |
| 11:40-1:00 pm | Machine Learning Approaches to Causal Inference |
Jason Roy, PhD |
Registration is CLOSED
Standard rate: $325
Trainee/student rate: $175
Questions? Contact Lisbeth Dennis.
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, Penn Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Designation of Credit
Penn Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.