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Python for Healthcare

Most Technology Training classes will be delivered online until further notice.

Before each sesson, Tech Training will provide a Zoom link for live online classes, along with any required class materials.


 

This six-hour course provides a better understanding of how Python can be leveraged to assist Healthcare professionals in the practice of medicine, encompassing Clinical Research, Patient Care, and Hospital Management. Python is an open-source (free) programming language that is used in web programming, data science, artificial intelligence, and many scientific applications. Learning Python allows the programmer to focus on solving problems, rather than focusing on syntax.

Pre-Requisites: Users will be expected to be comfortable with downloading and running programs on their computers. Some experience with Terminal is desired. No prior experience with Python is necessary for the course.

Target audience: Physicians, Medical Researchers, and Hospital administrators

Course goal:
For participants to develop a better understanding of how Python can be leveraged to assist Healthcare professionals in the practice of medicine. The course will be divided into three topic areas encompassing Clinical Research, Patient Care, and Hospital Management.

Scope: By the end of this course participants will have had a chance to practice the basics of working with Python with hands-on experience developing some real-world applications, all while equipping themselves with the context and awareness for how such tools are leveraged in state of the art solutions.

Course Details:

This six-hour course will be broken into three modules.

Module 1: Leveraging Python's Data Analytics for Clinical Research

Python was born as a language for data analytics, and its core functionality still revolves around manipulating data. For researchers, Python can be an invaluable tool in their arsenal. In this module we will showcase its potential to work on clinical data. We will introduce you to some of the powerful applications Python has for handling and manipulating data, conducting statistical analyses, and generating graphs and other visuals. We will be leveraging sample clinical data to power real examples throughout the session.

Data Analytics

  • NumPy arrays
  • Pandas DataFrames
  • Importing data from CSV files
  • Basic data manipulation functions:
    • Sorting
    • Merging
    • Grouping
  • Visualizing data
    • MatPlotLib
  • Statistical Functions
    • Regression analysis
    • T-Test, P-Test, R2 values etc.
  • Case Studies:
    • Data Analysis of a Clinical Trial dataset

Module 2: Predictive Modeling and Patient Care

In this module we will explore how python's extensive tools can harness the power of Machine Learning for the practice of patient care. We will provide you with a brief overview of some of the most powerful machine learning approaches and then employ python libraries to conduct end-to-end machine learning exercises. This module will culminate in us creating a model to predict disease progression in patients, and diagnose a disease based on symptoms.

Introduction to Machine learning and predictive analyses

  • Key machine learning concepts for classification and regression
  • Data preparation
  • Regression Modeling
    • Linear Regression
    • KNN
  • Classification
    • Logistic regression
    • Support vector machines, Random Forests
    • Neural Nets
  • Measuring success of the model
  • Feature selection
  • Miscellaneous

Case Studies:

  • Predictive Model of Disease Progression
  • Classification Model of Disease Diagnosis

Module 3: Simulations Management and Hospital Administration

In this module we'll explore some of Python's additional capabilities, particularly as they relate to hospital management. We will explore Python's abilities to run simulations, as well as Python's capabilities to serve as a functional programming language for SAAS applications like hospital administration. This module will be coding heavy, oriented around 2 larger coding projects.

  • Simulation in Python
    •  SimPy
  • SAAS
    • Linking Python functional programming to Graphical User Interfaces
    • Structure of more complex python programs

Case Studies:

  • Simulation of Patient case load and hospital resource utilization
  • Hospital Admin dashboard with business function software
Lionel Levine

Lionel Levine is an independent educator with over 5 years of training experience. Lionel has developed and taught courses and seminars at the undergraduate and graduate levels, in topics ranging from computer programming, algorithms, Data Science, Machine Learning, and Population Health.

Custom training workshops are available for this program

Technology training sessions structured around individual or group learning objectives. Learn more about custom training


University IT Technology Training sessions are available to a wide range of participants, including Stanford University staff, faculty, students, and employees of Stanford Hospitals & Clinics, such as Stanford Health Care, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, Stanford Medicine Partners, and Stanford Medicine Children's Health.

Additionally, some of these programs are open to interested individuals not affiliated with Stanford, allowing for broader community engagement and learning opportunities.