Prof. Samira Ibrahim Islam

Head - Drug Monitoring Unit - King Fahd Medical Research Center's - King Abdulaziz University

Biography

Professor Islam’s achievements include a number of firsts. She was the first Saudi woman, with respect to all subjects and specialties, to obtain a Bachelor’s and a doctoral degree. She was also the first Saudi woman to become a full professor, and the first (male or female) to become a Professor of Pharmacology. Upon the inception of the Faculty of Medicine at King Abdulaziz University, she was appointed as the Vice-Dean of the Faculty, the first time a woman had ever been given the title. Under her leadership, she has established and served as the dean of several programs, as well as actively pursuing research in the field of pharmacogenetics, pharmacokinetics, and phenotyping, which is focused on defining the drug metabolism pathways specific to the Saudi population. Her research has become a source of reference in literature, and she has published over 35 research articles in scientific and specialized journals. She has presented at over 50 scientific forums, both nationally and internationally, including the World Health Organization (WHO), and has also played an active role in presenting and discussing the topic of drug efficacy to the society at large.

Professor Islam founded the Drug Monitoring Unit (DMU), which provides data on drug blood levels for research and serves as a source of information for physicians, in relation to drug dosage for patient safety. She has served as the Regional Advisor of the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) at the WHO. She is the recipient of many awards, including the "Makkah Award for Excellency", the highest recognition given for exemplary contributions to science and research in Saudi Arabia. Throughout her career, she has continued to devote her time and support towards the advancement of education in Saudi Arabia, with an emphasis on women education and empowerment, by initiating formal higher education for women in Saudi Arabia.