Scholars@Duke
Sean Michael O'Brien

Sean Michael O'Brien

Associate Professor of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics
Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Division of Biostatistics
sean.m.obrien@duke.edu
Duke Box 3850, Durham, NC 27710
200 Morris Street, 7816 200 Morris, Durham, NC 27701

Overview

Statistical methods for healthcare provider profiling; observational studies; Bayesian data analysis.

Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations

Associate Professor of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics · 2014 - Present Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Division of Biostatistics, Biostatistics & Bioinformatics
Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute · 2004 - Present Duke Clinical Research Institute, Institutes and Centers

Recent Scholarly Works

Improving Variance and Confidence Interval Estimation in Small-Sample Propensity Score Analyses: Bootstrap Versus Asymptotic Methods.

Journal article Stat Med · July 2026 Propensity score (PS) methods are widely used to estimate treatment effects in non-randomized studies. Variance is typically estimated using sandwich or bootstrap methods, which can either treat the PS as estimated or fixed. The latter is thought to be con ... Full text Link to item Cite

A point-based system to determine authorship eligibility in a large clinical trial: Insights from the ISCHEMIA trial's authorship nomination system.

Journal article J Clin Transl Sci · 2026 BACKGROUND: In team science, invitation to writing groups can be subjective and secretive. Confronted with this challenge in the ISCHEMIA trial, with 320 participating sites, 4 coordinating centers, 6 core laboratories, and numerous committees, we adapted ... Full text Link to item Cite

Use of coronary artery bypass graft surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention and associated outcomes in the ISCHEMIA trial.

Journal article Am Heart J · November 2025 BACKGROUND: In the ISCHEMIA Trial, 5,179 patients with stable coronary disease were randomized to initial invasive or conservative management. METHODS: PCI was recommended with a SYNTAX score 0 to 22 (low) and CABG with a SYNTAX score ≥33 (high). Either co ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants

iPediHeart: Interdisciplinary Research Training Program for Pediatric Heart Disease

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2025 - 2030

2/2 IMPRroving Outcomes in Vascular DisEase - Aortic Dissection (IMPROVE-AD)

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2023 - 2030

RECOVER Infrastructure Modification 11 (Yr 3)

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Research Triangle Institute International · 2022 - 2027

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Education

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · 2002 Ph.D.