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Sara J. Beck

Sara J. Beck

Law Clerk

Sara Beck is a law clerk at COJK, where she devotes her time to drafting software-related patent applications. Sara collaborates with attorneys at the firm on matters related to machine learning and artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, image processing, communications, and medical devices.

Prior to entering law school, Sara worked across Fortune 500 companies and startups as an AI engineer and leader defining enterprise AI strategy and building production-ready ML systems. She led teams delivering LLM-driven automation, optimization, forecasting, and network analysis products that improved user experience and the organizations’ financial outcomes. She has also consulted with academic and public health institutions, applying data science to support research initiatives.

Sara is currently a 2L student at Seattle University School of Law, with an expected graduation date of Spring 2028. She is a member of the Seattle University's Law Review and Moot Court Board. She has a Master of Science in statistics from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor of Science in physics and mathematics from the University of Puget Sound. She also holds an advanced paralegal certificate.

  • Seattle University School of Law, 2L
  • M.S., Statistics (emphasis Biostatistics and Bioinformatics), Texas A&M University, 2013
  • B.S., Physics and Mathematics, University of Puget Sound, 2008

  • Christensen O’Connor Johnson KindnessPLLC
    Law Clerk, Seattle, WA, 2026 - present

  • Head of Data Science and AI
    Craft.co, 2022 - 2024
  • Head of Data Science
    Slated, Inc., 2021 – 2022
  • Data Science Leader and Consultant
    Independent and Slalom, Inc., 2017 - 2021
  • Machine Learning Adjunct Instructor
    University of Washington, 2016 – 2017
  • Research Consultant/Statistician
    University of Washington Medical Center Dept. of Surgery, 2012 - 2014
  • Systems Analyst II
    Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 2008 - 2011

Presentations

  • “Is it the data or the algorithm? Common pitfalls in data science and deep learning,” Hanselminutes Podcast (February 2025).
  • “Disruptive Sentiments,” Facebook Women Analytics Conference (Menlo Park, CA, April 2019).
  • “Measuring impact of interprofessional communication training on inpatient clinical adverse events: The Washington State experience,” AcademyHealth, Annual Research Meeting (San Diego, CA, June 2014).
  • “Using clustering algorithms to examine patterns of healthcare use in large administrative databases,” AcademyHealth, Annual Research Meeting (San Diego, CA, June 2014).

Publications

  • “Communication training, adverse events, and quality measures: Two retrospective database analyses in Washington State hospitals,” Journal of Patient Safety, Vol. 17, Issue 5, pp. 393–400, 2021, Slade, I. R., Beck, S. J., Kramer, C. B., Symons, R. G., Cusumano, M., Flum, D. R., Gallagher, T. H., Devine, E. B.
  • “Preliminary validation of the Claudication Symptom Instrument (CSI),” Vascular Medicine, Vol. 22, Issue 6, pp. 482–489, 2017, Edwards, T. C., Lavallee, D. C., Clowes, A. W., Devine, E. B., Flum, D. R., Meissner, M. H., Thomason, E. T., Barbic, S. P., Beck, S. J., Patrick, D. L.
  • “Ketorolac use and postoperative complications in gastrointestinal surgery,” Annals of Surgery, Vol. 263, Issue 1, pp. 71–75, 2016, Kotagal, M., Hakkarainen, T. W., Simianu, V. V., Beck, S. J., Alfonso-Cristancho, R., Flum, D. R.
  • “The impact of endoscopic sinus surgery on total direct healthcare costs among patients with chronic rhinosinusitis,” International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, Vol. 5, Issue 6, pp. 498–505, 2015, Purcell, P. L., Beck, S., Davis, G. E.
  • “Longitudinal resource use for low back pain in commercially insured patients in the United States,” ISPOR: Value in Health, Vol. 17, No. 3, 2014, Bresnahan, B. W., Rundell, S., Beck, S., Hansen, R., Jarvik, J. G., Sullivan, S. D., Flum, D., Alfonso-Cristancho, R.
  • “Patterns of blood product use among patients with myelodysplastic syndrome,” Vox Sanguinis: The International Journal of Transfusion Medicine, Vol. 102, Issue 4, pp. 331–337, 2012, Ramsey, S.D., McCune, J.S., Blough, D.K., McDermott, C.L., Beck, S.J., Lopez, J.A., Joachim Deeg, H.
  • “Patterns of care and survival trends in elderly metastatic colorectal patients: A SEER-Medicare analysis,” Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol. 29, p. 520, 2011, Shankaran, V. Beck. S.J., Blough, D.K., Yim, Y., Yu, E., Ramsey, S.D.
  • “Blood product use in recently diagnosed persons with myelodysplastic syndrome: A population study,” Blood: American Society of Hematology, Vol. 114, Issue 22, p. 4849, 2009, Ramsey, S.D., McDermott, C.L., Beck, S.J., Lopez, J.A., Dinwiddie, S.C.
  • “SAS State of Mind: A Guide to Learning SAS for the Stata User,” Coders’ Corner, No. 098, 2010,
    Beck, S. J.
  • “American Airlines’ Next Top Model,” Undergraduate Mathematics and Its Applications Journal, Vol. 28, Issue 3, p. 304, 2007, Beck, S., K’burg, S., Twist, A.
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