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I am ASCPT: Ateka Saleh

Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 8/1/2024 12:00:00 AM

Ateka Saleh

Ateka Saleh, RPh, Research Trainee, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
I will be starting my PhD at the Mayo Clinic in July. I was a little girl who was forced to leave home, family, and friends because of war. As a child, I went from being the new girl in Jordan to being the new girl in Canada at 8 years of age—both were unfamiliar worlds where school and learning were the only constant, so I strived to be great at it. I loved being in school, my dream job was to be in a white coat. I am proud to have been a pharmacist in Jordan and in Toronto, but I am most proud of the white coat I will wear in the lab in hopes of contributing to advancing science to help people live better, longer lives, without the burden of disease.

Who has inspired you in your career?
My mentor, Dr. Richard Weinshilboum! I sent out many emails before receiving a yes to entering the world of research. I am not only inspired by his dedication to science, but by his love for it. I am inspired by his humanity and his love for giving people from very different scientific backgrounds the chance to enter the world of clinical pharmacology research. I am also inspired by his eloquence, always.

What was your favorite part about attending the Annual Meeting?
My favorite part about attending the meeting was meeting scientists from very different backgrounds, dreams, and endeavors but all sharing a love for science. I met a scientist who is also a poet and from the Arab world like me. I also met an inspiring woman scientist who turned her loss and pain into creating a way to a better world for women and children, those we call “vulnerable” and “special” which are words I will no longer use—they are just underrepresented.

What does being the 2024 Jason Morrow award recipient mean to you?
It is the highlight of my year—it felt like an acknowledgement or a heartfelt welcome to the research world as I transition from being a community pharmacist to a career in research.

Ateka has been a member of ASCPT since 2023.
 

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