Biostatistics Student Sibelle Aurelie Yemele Kitio Finds Her Place at SLU

Public Health Researcher & Biostatistician Sibelle Aurelie Yemele Kitio has developed a passion for data and public health.

Kitio’s love of data and public health began in her home country of Cameroon where she earned an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the Catholic University of Cameroon and an MPH from the University of Buea.

She began working as a data clerk and later as a Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. There, her love for data flourished.

Kitio was searching for another way to grow her passion within the context of public health. So, she went searching for a biostatistics program that could help foster that career path.

My involvement with data handling ignited my passion for improving my data analysis skills and allowed me to continue to pursue my interest in the field of public health. As a result, I opted to pursue an M.S. in Biostatistics and Health Analytics,” she said.

That’s when she found Saint Louis University’s (SLU) Biostatistics and Health Analytics program.

Kitio chose SLU for its history as being one of the nation’s oldest and most renowned Catholic universities. She was also drawn to the Biostatistics program, and the opportunities to thrive.

SLU’s M.S. in Biostatistics and Health Analytics program is designed for students interested in a field that combines quantitative reasoning, coding and scientific skills to solve problems in health and medicine. 

The program is suited for those with strong quantitative abilities and a desire to apply mathematics, statistics, computer programming and data analysis to health-related issues.

“One aspect that set SLU apart was its distinguished faculty in Biostatistics. I believed that pursuing my degree at SLU would provide an exceptional opportunity for me to thrive and achieve my professional aspirations,” says Kitio.

The range of skills gained in SLU’s health analytics programs make students marketable for diverse, competitive-paying jobs in a quickly growing field. Students are well prepared for jobs in government, industry, the nonprofit sector, and academia including STEM jobs such as data analysts, data managers, research associates, biostatisticians and statisticians.

Kitio fell in love with SLU and the surrounding area for its standard of living, prestigious higher education institutions, and plethora of recreational activities to enjoy. 

“Moreover, with over (thousands) of SLU alumni residing in Saint Louis, you'll have a well-connected network of fellow Billikens to engage with both before and after graduation,” she said.

Kitio has taken several courses here at SLU that have made her excited for her future career. One of those includes ‘BST 5500: Statistical Learning.’

“I found the course, ‘Statistical Learning,’ to be particularly exciting, as it delved into the field of machine learning, a current hot topic in the job market and a prominent branch of artificial intelligence,” she said.

Kitio is currently a graduate research assistant for Dr. Nancy Weaver in the College for Public Health and Social Justice. Upon graduation, her aspiration is to pursue a PhD in Biostatistics and Health Analytics.

For more information about the Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice’s Health Analytics programs, visit our website.

College for Public Health and Social Justice

The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities. It also is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. Guided by a mission of social justice and focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health problems, the college offers nationally recognized programs in public health and health administration.