Samira Islam

Samira Ibrahim Islam (Arabic: سميرة إسلام, romanizedSamīrah Islām) is a Saudi Arabian pharmaceutical Scientist. She heads King Fahd Medical Research Center's Drug Monitoring Unit at King Abdulaziz University. She was instrumental in securing formal university education for women in Saudi Arabia.

Samira Islam
Alma materUniversity of Alexandria
Scientific career
FieldsPharmacology
InstitutionsKing Adulaziz University

Early life and education

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Islam was born in al-Hafuf, al-Ahsaa, Saudi Arabia.[1] Following her secondary education, Islam was sent to Egypt to finish her schooling. She initially enrolled at the Medical School of the University of Alexandria but transferred to the School of Pharmacy after a year.[2] Here she obtained a BSc in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1964, followed by a Masters in 1966. Islam continued to study pharmacology, becoming the first Saudi woman to earn a PhD in 1970.[3][4]

Career

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In 1971, Islam began to lecture at King Abdulaziz University. She was appointed Academic Advisor for the girl's section of the Makkah and Jeddah branches of the university in 1973. She worked to establish formal university education for Saudi women. She became Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in 1974.[5] In 1983, she was appointed as Professor of Pharmacology, becoming the first person from Saudi Arabia to achieve this.

Islam has been recognized as an advocate of the nursing profession and founded the first faculty of nursing in Saudi Arabia in 1976.[1][6]

Research

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Islam has investigated drug metabolism as it pertains to the Saudi population.[7] She founded and heads the Drug Monitoring Unit of King Fahd Medical Research Center at King Abdulaziz University.[8][9] Islam is on the board of the Arab Science and Technology Foundation.[4]

Islam received a Makkah Award of Excellence for her research on the effects and impact of medication on Saudis.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Publications, Publitec (2011-12-22). Who's Who in the Arab World 2007-2008. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110930047.
  2. ^ Roy, Chaitali B. (4 April 2018). "A '2030' from the '1970s' – Saudi pioneer sets the pace for progress" (PDF). Arab Times. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  3. ^ سلامة, رانية (1 May 2000). "عربيات تستضيف العالمة السعودية البروفيسور سميرة إسلام". مجلة عربيات الدولية (in Arabic).
  4. ^ a b "Two Saudis among top 20 Muslim women scientists". Arab News. 1 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Women in Science: Samira Ibrahim Islam". Al Shindagah. September 2000.
  6. ^ Miller-Rosser, Kolleen; Chapman, Ysanne; Francis, Karen (2006-07-19). "Historical, cultural, and contemporary influences on the status of women in nursing in Saudi Arabia". Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. 11 (3): 8. ISSN 1091-3734. PMID 17279862.
  7. ^ Toumi, Habib (August 31, 2012). "Saudi women excel in science and medicine". Gulf News.
  8. ^ Ham, Becky (23 February 2007). "AAAS News and Notes". Science. 315 (5815): 1090–1091. doi:10.1126/science.315.5815.1090.
  9. ^ "World's 100 Most Powerful Arabs: Samira Islam". Arabian Business. 2014.
  10. ^ "Emir gives away Makkah Awards of Excellence". Arab News. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2021.