In 1994, Mr. and Mrs. Harbison established the Harbison Lecture Fund to commemorate Mrs. Harbison’s 50th Class Reunion. Its purpose is “to fund an annual lecture for students at MICDS featuring a prominent local, regional, or national figure whose topic will support the mission and educational goals of the School.” Since the Harbison family strongly values the sciences, MICDS has historically chosen a leading figure in the sciences to speak. For the 2024 Harbison Lecture, the Upper School at MICDS was delighted to welcome Dr. Caiyun Liao P’36 who was introduced with the following words by Paul Zahller, JK-12 Science Department Chair & Upper School Science Teacher:
It is my honor to introduce Dr. Caiyun Liao as this year’s speaker for the Harbison Lecture. Dr. Caiyun Liao is a leading reproductive endocrinologist specializing in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and infertility, currently based in St. Louis. She trained at renowned institutions like Johns Hopkins, Oxford, and Yale, where she completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology. As a reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Liao focuses on the body’s hormonal systems and their role in fertility, helping patients navigate some of the most emotionally charged decisions in healthcare. Her work in reproductive health has garnered numerous accolades, including the Yale Office of Health Equity Research Award. Originally from southern China, she is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. Dr. Liao is also a dedicated educator, having taught at Howard University and the University of Tennessee. Her expertise and compassion have earned her a stellar reputation among patients and peers alike.
Once welcomed to the stage, Dr. Caiyun Liao delivered her lecture, “Facts or Hype? ‘Data’ could produce both. Can you leverage evidence and harness emotion?” To begin, she shared a bit about her life’s journey—growing up in southern China, being raised initially by her resilient grandmother, being inspired to dedicate her life to serving women. Then, in her 20s, she left everything that was familiar to her and went to medical school. For this chapter of her life, she shared a quote by Suze Orman: “We stick to familiar things even if they no longer serve us because the unknown feels risky. But this mindset can lead to missed opportunities.” Without missing an opportunity to grow and help others, Dr. Liao became a physician, statistician, and epidemiologist.
Dr. Liao then spoke about several pioneers in the world of health and shared of a few impactful, published medical research studies. She explained how some of these leaders and their research revealed life-changing impacts on humankind. For example, Alfred Blalock MD was able to save countless lives during WWII by recommending transfusions for hemorrhagic shock. Yet, Dr. Liao also revealed how sometimes data and certain research can be misleading, misused, or biased.
She explained the difference between causation and association when referring to a study published in the British Medical Journal about tobacco smoking and lung cancer. She talked about the Bradford Hill Guidelines for Causality and how the Society of Toxicology used research to withdraw thalidomide medication used by pregnant women experiencing morning sickness when it was proven to cause malformations for their babies. Then, she described how some studies have too small of a sample size for them to show statistical significance. There can also be conflicts of interest that lie in who is sponsoring the medical research or the level of media interest and publication bias.
Dr. Liao asked, “Do falsehoods become facts after being repeated 100 times?” With social media as a catalyst and engineered controversies that spread uncertainty and doubt, falsehoods as facts, and opinions as truth, the ability to spread misinformation is stronger than ever. She encouraged students to learn the researchers’ interests and cautioned them any time something is shared by an “expert opinion.” She shared of one publication that highlighted that sometimes, the important information lies in the fine print. Perhaps the study that reports more medication being more effective for a particular fertility treatment is being funded by the pharmaceutical company that profits when one purchases the medication.
Liao also asked, “How do you define success?” She answered with, “It depends.” In her work in reproductive endocrinology and fertility treatment, patients want to know what the success rates are, yet, the “success rate” changes depending on what numerators and denominators are being considered. In IVF, the numerator one looks at can be obtaining “normal” embryos, pregnancy, or live birth and then have the denominator be the cycle start, egg retrieval, or embryo transfer. The success rate can vary greatly depending on what you’re comparing and how you’re making the comparison. When something is “superior” or “works,” be sure to know what that means.
After answering some student questions, Dr. Liao concluded by saying, “The true value of education is to train someone to think critically and independently. And that’s why, 10 years after finishing my schooling, some really core concepts remain. I can distinguish facts from non-facts and communicate those facts to the people around me. This is how we make sure falsehoods don’t become truths even after they’re repeated 100 times.”
Thank you, Dr. Liao, for taking the time out of your busy day to explore and explain this critical balance between scientific data and the personal emotions people experience. How inspiring it is to see how you ground your care as a physician in solid evidence, empowering your patients to make informed choices and navigate emotional complexities with confidence. As our Mission states, “The next generation must include those who think critically.” Upper Schoolers, may you forever think critically about how data, when used thoughtfully, can shape emotional decisions and how truth and evidence can sometimes be manipulated. Thank you for your great work and profound 2024 Harbison Lecture, Dr. Liao!