Samira Islam

1939 –

Pioneering Arab Pharmacologist: Advocate of Drug Safety and Women’s Education

Pharmacologist

Drug Safety

Women's Education

Samira Ibrahim Islam is an eminent Saudi Arabian pharmacologist and advocate for women’s education. Born April 28, 1939, in al-Hafuf, al-Ahsaa, Saudi Arabia, she is the Founder and Head of the King Fahd Medical Research Center’s Drug Monitoring Unit at King Abdulaziz University and a board member of the Arab Science and Technology Foundation.

Samira is consistently described as a trailblazer and pioneer in her scientific field and for her advocacy for Arab women’s education. She has been featured as one of the most influential women in science in the Islamic world and one of the most powerful Arab women.

Samira attributes her journey to becoming an influential Arab woman, a respected scholar in pharmacology, and an advocate for women's education as the “result of inspiration and perseverance” and acknowledges the pivotal role played by her family's support,

“I was blessed with parents who believed in the importance of education at a time when formal education for women was practically non-existent in my country, Saudi Arabia.”

(Islam, 2015)

Samira’s efforts have resulted in an impressive list of first-time achievements following her secondary education. She went to Egypt for her undergraduate education due to a lack of educational opportunities for women in Saudi Arabia and later travelled to Britain to complete her research in Pharmacology — becoming the first Saudi woman to gain both a bachelor's and a doctoral degree.

Charting new territory for Saudi women in education and academia, Samira was the first Saudi woman to earn a Ph.D. (1970), to become a Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine (1974), to become a full professor in any discipline and specialty (1983), and to hold an official staff position in the World Health Organization (1996–1998).

She was also the first person from Saudi Arabia, man or woman, to become a full professor in the field of Pharmacology (1983).

*Persisting through challenges — gender barriers prevail for women in the Arab Region.*

In remarks about her career path and the impact of being a woman in her culture and field of study, Samira wrote that the glass ceiling still exists for women in the Arab region and globally,

“Graduate women attempt to pursue career or postgraduate degrees are often excluded on bases of their gender and marginalized therefore much less apt to enter and remain in the job, few achieve leadership positions. In principle, there are equal opportunities for both genders in many Arab States, but social perception and prejudice determine which types of employment are particularly suitable for women or men.”

(Islam, 2017)

Samira remains dedicated to paving the way for women to attain educational and academic success, leveraging her leadership roles in academic settings to propel advocacy for women's education and integration into the regional workforce.

Half a Century of Advocating for Women’s Education

Samira’s firsts in her educational and academic pathway suggest the challenges of Saudi women establishing themselves in academia. Samira stated that after her education,

“I returned to my country determined to serve my society the best I can and to make my parents proud. However, establishing myself in a male-dominated society, that had lacked the infrastructure for university education for women or for scientific research was not easy. Supported by those who believed in me, I was able to slowly influence changes in our educational system that finally allowed Saudi women to be accepted into formal university education”

(Islam, 2015)

Samira’s challenges during her educational journey along with her aspirations for women’s education, led her to establish and advance formal university education opportunities for women in Saudi Arabia. In 1973, as Academic Advisor for the girl’s section of the Makkah and Jeddah branches of King Abdulaziz University and as Head of the Science Departments, Samira introduced official, regular daytime university education for women. She also established new educational programs for women that allowed women to enroll into science subjects and conduct research in laboratories. As one of the founders of the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, in 1975 and 1976, Samira established a Bachelor of Arts degree program in Natural Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine for women as well as developed a nursing program for women. In addition, Samira founded a specialized secondary school program for women, the School of Health Sciences, in support of the Health Sector of the Armed Forces and Aviation.

*Samira pioneered educational initiatives for women, facilitating their enrollment in scientific disciplines and enabling hands-on research in state-of-the-art laboratories.*

In 1998, Samira received a request from the late Queen Effat to establish the first private university college for women. Samira established Effat National College and became the Establishing Dean, with the institution focusing on programs aimed to “expand the horizons of women in Saudi Arabia” and “prepare women for the job market and increase their chances of finding work opportunities.”

Samira has highlighted the promising state of Arab women's education, noting that women comprised 62% of all Saudi university students in 2015. Despite a commendable enrollment percentage of Arab women in STEM fields that surpasses figures in the United Kingdom and the United States, Samira has pointed out that significant challenges exist post-graduation. Women encounter gender-based exclusion when aspiring to pursue postgraduate degrees or careers in STEM fields.

“Removing the barriers that hinder women from working would release the enormous potential of educated Arab women, and foster major social and economic benefits for every Arab State… Education alone does not fully protect or prepare women in the Arab region for gaining economic equality. Investment in education must be matched with national efforts to tackle all barriers to Arab women entering the job market, staying in it, and having access to positions of increasing responsibility.”

(Islam, 2017)

Advocating for Drug Safety in the Saudi Arabian Population

*Pharmacogenomics: the study of how an individual's genetic makeup influences their body's response to drugs.*

As a scientist, educator, and researcher, Samira has also made significant research contributions to pharmacogenomics, drug safety, and personalized medicine for the Saudi population. Her research into how drugs and genetics interact has influenced the global understanding of pharmacological efficacy. Samira’s work defined the Saudi population’s polymorphism traits concerning metabolic pathways for drugs (Toumi, 2012). As Founder and Head of the Drug Monitoring Unit at King Fahd Medical Research Centre of King Abdulaziz University, Samira and her team analyze the blood of patients receiving medication. They study the efficacy and ideal dose of different medications (Mowbray, 2000).

Her research goes on to highlight the importance of understanding the unique characteristics of populations and demographics when considering drug dosage, usage, and effectiveness. Samira has published over 130 research articles on drug efficacy and impact and has given almost 100 presentations focusing on drug safety, adverse drug reactions and addiction, and therapeutic drug monitoring (About Her, 2022; World Science Forum, 2019). Samira shared the rationale and overall goal of her research,

“Our country is an open market for imported drugs from East and West and none of the producers have studied the ethnic influences on the effects of these drugs. With regard to medication, we were vulnerable in not having enough specific information about the normal biological and physiological constitution of our population, with the consequence that physicians would use the empirical values for calculating drug doses, which may be extremely risky when prescribing certain drugs because there are many hereditary factors which distinguish the different populations of the world and consequently their needs for specific drug doses, these differences are not critical for all drugs. In any event my research is the first of its kind in the international literature which defines the Saudi profile in drug metabolism and is an important contribution to drug safety.”

(Islam quoted by Mowbray, 2000)

For her research in drug metabolism and safety, Samira was the first Arab and Muslim woman to be nominated as one of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Award for Women in Science (2000) and in 2009 the Makkah Award for Excellence, Scientific and Technical Excellence Award, for significant contributions to safe drug use and her research on the hereditary impact of and reaction to drugs among Saudis.

The Matilda Effect

While her research contributions have been recognized and celebrated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), her country, and the region, the breadth of her impact has yet to receive international visibility and accolades.

In a 2019 article for the World Journal of Education, Samira stated:

“Women are clearly capable of doing well in STEM fields traditionally dominated by men, and they should not be hindered, bullied, or chastened for pursuing careers in such fields.”

(Islam, 2019)

We have authored and illustrated this entry with care and respect, aiming to achieve the highest standards through diligent, balanced research. We also strive to maintain the highest standards of accuracy and fairness to ensure information is diligently researched and regularly updated. Please contact us should you have further perspectives or ideas to share on this article.

About Her. (2022). Leading Ladies: A look at Samira Islam, a Saudi Arabian pharmacologist and scholar. https://www.abouther.com/node/41366/people/leading-ladies/look-samira-islam-saudi-arabian-pharmacologist-and-scholar
Al-Saadi, S. (2009, May 19). Makkah Excellence Awards announced. Arab News. https://www.arabnews.com/node/324329
Arabian Business. (2015). The 100 most powerful Arab women: Samira Islam. https://www.arabianbusiness.com/lists/the-100-most-powerful-arab-women-2015-583884-htmlitemid583692
Effat University (2024). History and heritage. https://www.effatuniversity.edu.sa/English/About/Why-Effat/pages/history_heritage.aspx
Islam, S. I. (2007). Women in science: The regional perspective [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Women Leaders in Science, Technology and Engineering, Kuwait. https://slideplayer.com/slide/725480/
Islam, S. I. (2014). Saudi women: Opportunities and challenges in science and technology. Education Journal, 3(2), 71–78. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20140302.15
Islam, S. I. (2015). Glimpse of my scientific path: The quest continues. In H. N. Cheng, M. L. Wu, & B. D. Miller (Eds.), Jobs, Collaborations, and Women Leaders in the Global Chemistry Enterprise (pp. 353-372). https://10.1021/bk-2015-1195.ch030
Islam, S. I. (2017). Arab women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields: The way forward. World Journal of Education, 7(6), 12–20. https://doi.org/10.5430/wje.v7n6p12
Islam, S. I. (2019). Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM): Liberating women in the Middle East. World Journal of Education, 9(3), 94–104. https://doi.org/10.5430/wje.v9n3p94
Mowbray, J. (Ed.). (2000, September). Women in science. Al Shindagah. https://www.alshindagah.com/sept2000/women.htm
Muslim Science. (2014). Infographic: Muslim Science.com’s Twenty most Influential Women in Science in the Islamic World. Retrieved from https://signsofmyrab.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/20-influential-muslim-science-womemn.jpg.
Toumi, H. (2012, August 31). Saudi women excel in science and medicine. World Gulf News. https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-women-excel-in-science-and-medicine-1.1068301
World Science Forum (2019). Prof. Samira Islam. https://2019.worldscienceforum.org/participants/islam-samira-34303
Website Name: The Matilda Project
Title of Entry: Samira Islam
Authors: Sara Fulmer & Dale Lackeyram
Illustrator: Amy Zhang
Editors: Sandy Marshall & Shehroze Saharan
Original Publication Date: February 16, 2024
Last Updated: March 31, 2024
Copyright: CC BY-NC-ND
Webpage Specific Tags: Samira Islam; Pharmacologist; Drug safety; Saudi Arabian scientist; Women in science in the Middle East; Founder of the Drug Monitoring Unit; King Fahd Center for Medical Research; University of King Abdulaziz; Clinical pharmacology; Medication safety in pregnancy; Cultural barriers in STEM; Female pioneers in pharmacology; International contributions to drug safety; Women's health advocacy; Cross-cultural medicine; Educational reform in Saudi Arabia; STEM education for women in Saudi Arabia; Role model for Muslim women in science; Public health policy; International pharmacy standards; Personalized medicine in the Middle East.
Website Tags: The Matilda Project, The Matilda Effect; Margaret W. Rossiter; Matilda Joslyn Gage; Implicit bias; Unconscious bias; Gender attribution bias; Scientific recognition bias; Gender discrimination in academia; Stereotype threat; Pay gap in STEM; Glass ceiling in science; Sexism in scientific research; Gender stereotypes in education; Gender bias in peer review; Bias in STEM hiring practices; Impact of gender bias on scientific innovation; Underrecognition of female scientists; History of women in science; Women scientists in history; Notable women in science; Pioneering women scientists; Women Nobel laureates; Female role models in science; Gender disparities in scientific research; Women's suffrage movement; Historical women's rights leaders; Historian of science; STEM gender gap; Women in STEM; STEM education; Challenges faced by women in STEM; Representation of women in tech; Initiatives to support women in STEM; Gender equity in STEM education; Encouraging girls in STEM; STEM outreach programs; Diversity in STEM curriculum; Equity, Diversity, Inclusion; Equity in education and workplace; Diversity training; Inclusion strategies; Inclusive leadership; Gender equality; Racial equity; Pay equity and transparency; Representation in media.
APA Citation
Fulmer, S., & Lackeyram, D. (2024, March 31). Samira Islam. The Matilda Project. https://www.thematildaproject.com/scientists/samira-islam

Authors

Dr. Sara Fulmer

Acting Director - Office of Teaching and Learning at the University of Guelph

Dr. Sara Fulmer is the Acting Director of the Office of Teaching and Learning at the University of Guelph, where she partners with faculty, staff, and students to advance initiatives centred on inclusive, evidence-informed, and promising teaching, learning, and assessment practices. Fulmer’s distinctive expertise in educational development stems from her experiences as a faculty member, elementary school educator, and educational researcher. Prior to joining the University of Guelph in 2017, Fulmer was an Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at SUNY Oneonta. She also held educational development positions at the University of Louisville, Wellesley College, and the University of Notre Dame. She holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Notre Dame, and an M.A., B.A., and B.Ed. from Brock University. A fervent research collaborator across disciplines, Fulmer’s scholarship focuses on student motivation and emotions, effective teaching, assessment of learning and motivation, and professional development for teachers and educational developers. Fulmer’s work is motivated by a dedication to nurturing close collaborations that holistically address instructors’ goals and needs while embracing and honouring the intricacies of how students learn.

Dr. Dale Lackeyram

Director - Centre for Teaching and Learning at Queen’s University

Dr. Dale Lackeyram is the Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at Queen’s University. He has extensive experience in working to improve student learning environments, addressing student transition and retention issues, curriculum design and assessment, and inclusive design principles. In this role, he supports the academic priorities of the university and guides initiatives that promote teaching excellence, pedagogical innovation, inclusive curriculum, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. In addition to numerous publications and classroom hours dedicated to enhancing student learning, Lackeyram has also dedicated his time to supporting student engagement and success, such as advocating for campus spaces for racialized students, developing a Student-Athlete Mentorship program, and implementing student success early-warning initiatives. Lackeyram holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition and Intestinal Physiology, an M.Sc. from the Department of Animal Bio-Sciences, and a B.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Guelph.

Illustrator

Amy Zhang

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