Remembering Julie A. Stoner

On April 7, 2022, Dr. Gary E. Raskob, senior vice president and provost, on behalf of the Hudson College of Public Health and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, formally dedicated the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology Conference Room in memory of Dr. Julie A. Stoner, a beloved colleague who lost her battle to cancer in 2020. The Julie A. Stoner Conference Room serves as a reminder of her outstanding contributions to each of the college’s missions of teaching, research, and public health service.

Dr. Julie Stoner was born in 1972 in Garden City, Kansas. She realized early on that she enjoyed and excelled at mathematics, computing, and quantitative sciences. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and statistics from Kansas State University in 1995 and later earned a doctorate in biostatistics from the University of Washington. After receiving her Ph.D., Stoner moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where she worked as an assistant professor in biostatistics at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In 2007 she was recruited to OUHSC, and she and her young family relocated to Oklahoma, where she served many roles, including professor of biostatistics, associate dean for research and chair of the Biostatistics and Epidemiology Department. She excelled not only because of her in¬tellect and drive but also because of her heart for others. 

Stoner held the Edward E. and Helen T. Bartlett Chair in Public Health. She was recognized for her academic excellence as a Presidential Professor and a David Ross Boyd Professor. Stoner was passionate about improving collaborations between biostatisticians and clinical researchers across campus. She was a key contributor and core leader within the Clinical Translational Sciences initiative, and she led the impressive growth of research efforts within the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology. She significantly strengthened our partnerships with the other colleges, the Stephenson Cancer Center, and the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center. 

“Julie was a very impactful, beloved member of our faculty and a great colleague during her esteemed academic career. But what we miss the most is her smile and laugh and how she led with humility and confidence. She was never too busy to listen and was sincere in her love for others. Julie treated everyone with respect. Oklahoma was very fortunate to have her here at the Hudson College of Public Health and OU Health Sciences Center,” said Laura Beebe, chair of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology.