Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 8/1/2022 12:00:00 AM

Islam Rasem Younis, PhD, Senior Director, Gilead Sciences, Herndon, VA

What are you looking forward to as the new Vice Chair of the Rare Diseases (RD) Community?
I am looking forward to increasing awareness of rare diseases and the role clinical pharmacology can play in advancing the development of medications for rare diseases. With my colleagues on the steering committee, we are planning on accomplishing these objectives through webinars, Annual Meeting scientific material, and publications.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
I take pride in all activities I participate in that help bring medications to patients directly or indirectly. The research work on improving efficacy in schizophrenia drug development that was published in the prestigious JAMA Psychiatry Journal has a special place in my heart. I was awarded the US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Special Citation Award in recognition of this work in 2018.

What is the most important leadership lesson you have learned the hard way?
One size does not fit all, almost everything has to be tailored to individual needs.

Who has inspired you in your career?
I find inspiration in all successful colleagues. I get to know their success stories and I have been lucky to meet and know many of them. My father, the late Dr. Rasem Younis, has always been the main driving force behind many of the things I accomplished in my life, he is indeed my role model.

Do you have a favorite tip or trick for clinical practice or research that you want to share with fellow members?
Inspire to do impactful work that will end up helping patients. The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step and has to be done step by step, so be patient and never give up.

What is your favorite Society memory?
It all started in 2009, the first time I attended an ASCPT Annual Meeting. I was just starting my career. I was impressed with the quality of the scientific program and the ability to network and meet many prominent clinical pharmacologists. Since then, I have enjoyed the journey of collaborating with colleagues to propose scientific program material, submitting and reviewing abstracts, attending and networking during the Annual Meeting, attending webinars, and participating in other Society activities.

When you aren’t working, how do you spend your free time?
I like reading, traveling, outdoor activities, spending time with family, and playing soccer.

How do you keep focused and motivated?
I set realistic personal goals at the beginning of each year to keep focused and generate motivation.

What was your childhood dream job?
I have two actually: one, I wanted to be an archeologist, and two, I wanted to be the mayor of my hometown, Nabulus in Palestine. I’ve always had a passion for urban planning.

Islam has been a member of ASCPT since 2014.