Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 11/1/2025 12:00:00 AM
Ronaldo Morales Junior, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Cincinnati Children’s, Cincinnati, Ohio
What does being a 2025 Presidential Trainee mean to you?
Being selected as a 2025 ASCPT Presidential Trainee is a meaningful recognition for me. This award honors a research project that I personally designed and led as the principal investigator, and it is work of which I am very proud. It feels even more special because the 2025 theme: “Patient-Centric Clinical Pharmacology”, aligns perfectly with what drives my clinical and research career.
The recognition reflects the training I received during my PhD and postdoctoral years, and the support of my mentors. Receiving this honor from a centenary organization like ASCPT shows that they truly recognize and value the work and dedication of trainees.
What was your favorite part of attending the Annual Meeting?
My favorite part was presenting my work during the poster walk session. It was a great opportunity to reach a broader audience and share my research. I had many engaging discussions and received valuable feedback from people who attended.
How do you keep focused and motivated?
During my PhD, I worked as a clinical pharmacist and saw firsthand how our research led to changes in clinical practice. Now, in my postdoctoral training. I am involved in implementing a precision dosing service that came directly from our research. I saw that scientific research is needed for better care, and knowing that our work can directly improve care for patients keep me motivated. The real-world impact of our research on patient care is what drives me to stay focused and keep moving forward.
Who has inspired you in your career?
I could say that all my mentors during my residency, PhD, and postdoctoral training have been very influential. But if I think about what inspired me the most, I believe it was the patients I cared for. During my residency and later as a clinical pharmacist, I worked at a hospital that is a reference center for pediatric liver transplants in Brazil. I was fascinated by seeing how patients arrived in very serious condition and underwent such complex and lifesaving procedures.
As a pharmacist, I was also intrigued by the fact that many of the medications and doses we used had not necessarily been studied in this patient population. This motivated my PhD research on the PK/PD of antimicrobials in pediatric liver transplant recipients. That is when I truly found my passion for research. I am motivated by seeing my research results translated into patient care and improving how medications are used in children.
So, I believe I can say these patients inspired me the most.
When you are not working, how do you spend your free time?
I am a big sports enthusiast. I have been playing soccer since I was a kid, and I still play two-to-three times a week. I believe playing soccer has taught me a lot about teamwork, leadership, discipline, resilience, and determination.
Dr. Morales Junior has been a member of ASCPT since 2023.
