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This is your daily reminder to go follow @KizzyPhD, the scientist leading the COVID-19 vaccine development and overall great follow. Learn more about her
https://abc7.com/black-scientist-dr-kizzmekia-corbett-praised-covid-vaccine-kizzy-facui/8794247/
https://abc7.com/black-scientist-dr-kizzmekia-corbett-praised-covid-vaccine-kizzy-facui/8794247/
Let's spend some time today talking about why @KizzyPhD is awesome:
@KizzyPhD is a Meyerhoff Scholar- the most successful STEM pipeline effort for Black and Brown folx in the country- and she majored in biology AND Sociology, which is important: https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs-md-umbc-grad-vaccine-fauci-shoutout-20201215-ij7rdgdd6jewperzkobxkc6c7u-story.html
@KizzyPhD is a Meyerhoff Scholar- the most successful STEM pipeline effort for Black and Brown folx in the country- and she majored in biology AND Sociology, which is important: https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs-md-umbc-grad-vaccine-fauci-shoutout-20201215-ij7rdgdd6jewperzkobxkc6c7u-story.html
Afterwards, @KizzyPhD obtained her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology @UNC where she studied human antibody responses to dengue virus in Sri Lankan.
When she graduated and went to @NIH, her early work consisted of studying SARS (and MERS) vaccine antigens, which are similar to:
When she graduated and went to @NIH, her early work consisted of studying SARS (and MERS) vaccine antigens, which are similar to:
So coronavirus is basically an offshoot of SARS (I think?), specifically SARS-Cov. Therefore, @KizzyPhD, if she began her journey in really understanding SARS in 2014, then her research in the field that is needed to develop the COVID-19 vaccine has been ongoing for SIX years:
It's important to note that @KizzyPhD grew up in a rural town and has an understanding of biology and sociology.
She understands people and the hesitation so she's spending A LOT of her freetime (which is already limited) on social media communicating the science:
She understands people and the hesitation so she's spending A LOT of her freetime (which is already limited) on social media communicating the science:
@KizzyPhD is actually a science communicator by definition, but let's get back to why she's leading this coronavirus team and why it matters.
At the very beginning of this year, Dr. Corbett was tapped to lead the COUNTRY'S COVID-19 research team: https://www.blackenterprise.com/meet-the-black-woman-taking-the-lead-to-develop-a-vaccine-for-covid-19/
At the very beginning of this year, Dr. Corbett was tapped to lead the COUNTRY'S COVID-19 research team: https://www.blackenterprise.com/meet-the-black-woman-taking-the-lead-to-develop-a-vaccine-for-covid-19/
Basically @KizzyPhD six and counting years of experience as a researcher of SARS prepared her for this watershed moment in global (public health) history: They needed her because she was literally the best person for the job.
Her being a Black woman is really just:
Her being a Black woman is really just:
I'm going to flex here a bit and share that speaking with @KizzyPhD, she shared that her and her team have been working very hard since they knew about the virus impact.
We're talking LONG hours, COUNTLESS meetings... like the whole nine, y'all. This isn't a game.
We're talking LONG hours, COUNTLESS meetings... like the whole nine, y'all. This isn't a game.
Here's my overall point: If you trust Dr. Fauci, then you 10000% need to trust @KizzyPhD who knows 1) how the vaccine was developed, 2) understands the virus itself, and 3) has been doing everything in her power to communicate the science to the world. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/kizzmekia-corbett-african-american-woman-praised-key-scientist/story?id=74679965
@KizzyPhD just corrected me: she has been leading the team that is now studying the pandemic.... BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
So what does that mean? Vaccine development research around coronavirus has been happening before coronavirus became a global crisis. @KizzyPhD, I love it.
So what does that mean? Vaccine development research around coronavirus has been happening before coronavirus became a global crisis. @KizzyPhD, I love it.
So let's talk about why it matters that its @KizzyPhD leading the charge here. As my good twitter friends @uche_blackstock @Theresa_Chapple @RheaBoydMD (all worthy follows btw) have pointed out, the medical system is historically racist: https://twitter.com/RheaBoydMD/status/1337845021567897603?s=20
Black people globally don't trust Western medical professionals because racism has manifested in very ugly ways regarding our health, e.g. Tuskegee experiment, Henrietta Lacks, etc.
But that's why it matters that @KizzyPhD, an BLACK WOMAN, is at the forefront of this:
But that's why it matters that @KizzyPhD, an BLACK WOMAN, is at the forefront of this:
A Black woman and other Black medical and science experts are telling us that this vaccine is safe. They know it's safe because they've been part of the development from before the start till now.
We can and should trust @KizzyPhD & Black health experts: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/09/us/african-american-scientists-vaccine-development-trnd/index.html
We can and should trust @KizzyPhD & Black health experts: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/09/us/african-american-scientists-vaccine-development-trnd/index.html
This is all to say that @KizzyPhD should receive every award because her dedication to use her science for the world birthed a world-saving vaccine, that has been in the making for 6+ years under her leadership.
And to that I say, @KizzyPhD, thank you. Thank you for everything.
And to that I say, @KizzyPhD, thank you. Thank you for everything.
For those who may be wondering, is this thread accurate? This thread is indeed @KizzyPhD approved.
And I am grateful to know her through our mutual mentor, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski III, @UMBC president, who participated in the vaccine trials: https://www.wbaltv.com/article/umbc-president-freeman-hrabowski-jacqueline-hrabowski-get-trial-covid-19-vaccine/34787446
And I am grateful to know her through our mutual mentor, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski III, @UMBC president, who participated in the vaccine trials: https://www.wbaltv.com/article/umbc-president-freeman-hrabowski-jacqueline-hrabowski-get-trial-covid-19-vaccine/34787446
I will be asking people (as usual tbh) to boost this important thread and I will also keep pin this thread for easy access.
Tagging a couple of twitter folx with reach to please RT so people can learn who @KizzyPhD is: @kairyssdal @cmclymer @biologistimo @SusannaLHarris @AyannaPressley @MsPackyetti @ReignOfApril @Noahpinion @KarenAttiah and anyone else really!
WOW I aint even realize that its WOMEN CRUSH WEDNESDAY. @KizzyPhD you are my WOMEN CRUSH everyday because sis has been KILLING IT.
I am so surprised that there are people who *weren't* following @KizzyPhD. Sis has been serving us science knowledge from jump.
Keep RT, Keep sharing, Keep Liking. GO GO GO GO GO and moving forward ill be amplifying some Black women involved with COVID-19 and public health. Stay tuned!
If you want to share on instagram, you can refer to my instagram post that is a truncated version of this thread https://www.instagram.com/p/CI3ZuqDAxi5/ :
Happy to see that @KizzyPhD was not my only #WCW yesterday and literally was thinking about @itsgabrielleu #WCW campaign when this thread started being shared widely: https://twitter.com/itsgabrielleu/status/1339301391743893504?s=20
