IU Northwest Mathematics Professor to Present Lecture on January 23

ihozo wIndiana University Northwest invites the campus and community to a lecture about “Mathematical Models in Medical Decision Theory” at 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23 in the John W. Anderson Library Conference Center, Room 105ABC.

Iztok Hozo, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Actuarial Science, and recipient of the 2014 Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Distinguished Research/Creative Activity Award, will summarize the various mathematical models used in medical decision making based on topics from his various research publications.

Hozo will explain how he used, developed and/or applied various concepts from mathematics in medical settings. For example, Hozo said developing Acceptable Regret as an addition to the already established Expected Utility Theory can help lead to a better informed decision making. He will explain how a game theory concept can model several interactions in medical practice, from competing patient-doctor interests in deciding whether to participate in a randomized clinical trial to modeling the roles of trust, guilt and regret in modern health care.

“In most cases, the methodology and mathematical background needed for the models is fairly simple,” Hozo said. “We start with an explanation of Expected Utility Theory, and develop the Acceptable Regret Theory, go through various applications of the regret theory and end with one of our most recent concepts, the Acceptable Regret in Dual Processing Model.”

Hozo obtained his Ph.D. in 1994 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He came to IU Northwest in 1994, was promoted to associate professor in 1998 and to full professor in 2003.

He has won numerous research and teaching awards, including the Founder’s Day Teaching Award (1997), President’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2003), College of Arts and Sciences Research Award 2006, and the University Research Award (2006).

His main research interests are mathematical modeling in medical decision making; designing easy to use tools for medical doctors that enable them to analyze the influence of various parameters on their decisions in various models.

He has published 52 refereed publications in various Scientific Research Journals.

For more information about the presentation, contact Liz Romeo at (219) 980-6707.

For information about parking policies at IU Northwest, including how to obtain a temporary permit, visit http://www.iun.edu/parking/parking-permits/index.htm.

About Indiana University Northwest
As one of seven Indiana University campuses, IU Northwest leads the region as the premier, urban campus dedicated to serving the needs of more than 6,000 students from the state’s most diverse and industrialized region. Committed to helping its local Northwest Indiana communities thrive, IU Northwest is best-known for providing a personal, quality and affordable education close to home. IU Northwest positions its students to be leaders with more than 70 undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional degree options available from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health and Human Services, the School of Business and Economics, and the School of Education. The campus is also host to IU School of Medicine-Northwest, which actively involves students in research and local healthcare needs through its four-year medical doctorate program. For more information, please visit www.iun.edu.