2026
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday Mon
Alice Whittemore Memorial Symposium
The memorial symposium honoring Alice S. Whittemore brings together colleagues, trainees, and friends to celebrate a scholar whose work helped shape modern epidemiology. A pioneering figure in cancer research, Whittemore spent her career bridging mathematics and biology to better understand how genetic and environmental factors interact in diseases such as breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. Her influence extended far beyond her own research, as she trained generations of scientists and helped build the intellectual foundations of Stanford’s Epidemiology and Population Health community.
This symposium is both a tribute and a continuation of that legacy. Through reflections, scientific talks, and shared memories, the gathering highlights not only Whittemore’s groundbreaking contributions, but also the enduring spirit of curiosity and rigor she instilled in others.
Dr. Mary Beth Terry, Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University, will present a keynote speech titled “From families to populations: Alice Whittemore and the Architecture of Genetic Risk.”
Location
Schwab Residential Center
Stanford, CA 94305
USA
Vidalakis Dining Hall
Schwab Residential CenterStanford, CA 94305
Speaker
Mary Beth Terry, PhD, professor of epidemiology and environmental science, Columbia University
Mary Beth Terry, PhD, is a Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University. She also serves as Executive Director of Silent Spring Institute, a non-profit research institute, committed to discovery and translation of the role of environmental chemicals on cancer risk. For over 25 years, she has led molecular epidemiologic studies focusing on the role of genomics, epigenomics, and other biomarkers in modifying the effects of environmental exposures on cancer risk and outcomes. She has led some of the first studies of prenatal exposures and their effects on mammographic density as well as breast cancer risk and conducts research focused on understanding gene-environmental interactions during windows of susceptibility. She leads multiple, multi-institutional studies focused on reducing cancer health inequities in New York City communities. In addition to the community-centered consortia, she serves as the contact PI for the international Breast Cancer Family Registry (BCFR). She has received awards for her research, mentoring and community service. In addition to her PhD in Epidemiology, Professor Terry has a Masters Degree in Economics and previously served as an econometrician evaluating government programs.