Dr. David Newman

AI and Machine Learning in Nursing: Dr. David Newman's Statistical Approach

Dr. David Newman, an associate professor and biostatistician at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, is exploring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) within health care research.

By combining his lifelong passion for statistics with modern technology, Dr. Newman is working to enhance data analysis and patient care in nursing. His approach bridges the gap between traditional research methods and emerging technological advancements.

“Ongoing development in the areas of statistical analysis and data science with big data analytics and Al is what keeps me excited and engaged in the research,” Dr. Newman said.

Together with Drs. Debarshi Datta and Subhosit Ray, Dr. Newman created an AI/ML Club in 2024, open to all Florida Atlantic students, faculty and staff.

The interdisciplinary club focuses on data science concepts and management, statistical techniques and Machine Learning/AI used in health science research with a focus on various forms of data analysis and research strategies for knowledge development in the discipline of nursing and health sciences.

Dr. Newman explained that the idea of the AI/ML club came to the group during a working lunch while discussing the direction and future of artificial intelligence and machine learning research.

“We talked about traditional approaches to data analysis, as well as new innovations in ML that allow researchers to investigate new complex questions with high dimensional data,” he said.

The discussion quickly evolved into what the group could provide to help the College of Nursing and collaborating research partners at Florida Atlantic take advantage of these technological advances.

“By starting this AI/ML Club, we are hoping to expand the potential research capacity and opportunities of research collaboration within the Florida Atlantic community,” he said.

Dr. Newman teaches advanced statistics and research methodology classes, and his research aligns with both the university's research pillars and the College's primary research areas.

His life-long love of statistics came from his father.

"My father was my role model; he was one of the best statisticians in the country," he remarked. "I grew up coding data for my weekly allowance ever since I was eight years old. As I got older, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him on many complex research projects. It was a thrill to use these techniques to answer critical research questions. I have been hooked ever since."

Dr. Newman's research focuses on the areas of aging across the lifespan, with a concentration on geriatrics and holistic health, as well as investigating physical functioning and pain management. His work supports two of the university's research pillars, primarily the Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention (I-HEALTH) and the Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering (I-SENSE).

With more than 70 scholarly publications, Dr. Newman is the principal investigator or co-investigator on multiple National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants as well as other federal, state and foundation-funded grants, including a $5.4 million grant from NIH titled "In-Vehicle Sensors to Detect Cognitive Change in Older Drivers," a collaborative effort with Christine E. Lynn Eminent Scholar Dr. Ruth Tappen and Florida Atlantic Colleges of Neural Psychology, Engineering and I-SENSE researchers.