Ask Away! Blog Series featuring Dr. Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir (JAM)
In this month’s Ask Away! blog series, we are honored to spotlight Dr. Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir (JAM), an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of California San Diego. Dr. Abdul-Mutakabbir's remarkable journey, from earning her Doctorate in Pharmacy to completing a research fellowship in Infectious Disease Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics, showcases her unwavering dedication. Renowned for her pioneering work in combating health disparities, particularly in marginalized communities, she has been recognized by the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases for her groundbreaking research on antimicrobial resistance. Beyond academia, she leads as the Lead Pharmacist and Educator for Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement-Health Equity Collaborative, furthering her impact in addressing health equity.
As we delve into her interview, Dr. Abdul-Mutakabbir offers profound insights into her innovative approaches to vaccine equity and community engagement. Her emphasis on accessible vaccine education and empowering communities to make informed decisions exemplifies her dedication to fostering agency and dismantling systemic barriers. Moreover, her commitment to magnifying the contributions of African Americans and the Black community in science during Black History Month underscores her belief in the transformative power of representation.
Dr. Abdul-Mutakabbir's journey is not just about research; it's a testament to resilience, empathy, and a relentless pursuit of equity. Her impactful work transcends the boundaries of academia, inspiring us to reimagine the role of science in advancing social justice and health equity. Join us as we celebrate the remarkable achievements of Dr. Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir and explore the transformative potential of her research and advocacy efforts. Let’s dive right in!
Regarding the strategies that I’ve employed in increasing vaccination rates, it’s important to me that access be treated as a two-fold process. By that, I believe that it’s important to not only make receiving vaccinations easily accessible but it’s also important to provide access to vaccine-related education and to translate it in a way in which everyone can readily receive the information. I think that it’s important to prioritize agency in self-decision making, especially for racially/ethnically minoritized communities where this has not always been the case. I work hard to serve as a guide into the science surrounding vaccinations, but I leave the vaccination decision in the hands of the community members. Regarding challenges, the landscape of vaccine uptake and confidence is ever-evolving so it’s important for me to take a passenger seat and allow for the community to drive the interventions. As an investigator and clinician this can be intimidating, however, I am blessed to work with a great faith-based community organization, Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE), and the leaders of COPE have been instrumental in teaching me how to engage in community-based work.
As a Black woman in science, what does Black History Month mean to you personally, and how do you feel your work contributes to the celebration and recognition of Black contributions in science?
As an Black woman researcher, Black History Month feels like a grand celebration and acknowledgement of Blackness, and everything that encompasses. More than anything, it’s a time to showcase the experience of Black people in the country and to highlight how we have prevailed irrespective of insurmountable trials and tribulations. Ultimately, my research agenda was developed by my strong desire to make the world a bit better for people that look like me. Through God’s grace, I stand on the shoulders of the Black scientists that have come before me and that have paved a direction for me to follow.
What inspired you to focus your research on fighting antibiotic resistance? And how do you think this research could help improve public health?
During my time as a pharmacy resident at the Howard University Hospital, I spent a lot of time with the Infectious Disease team. I would also note the number of resistant infections that the patients had, but it was the fact that these infections were predominantly in racially/ethnically minoritized patients. This motivated my interest in research inequities in antimicrobial resistance and I believe that a major gap in public health is adequately identifying where health disparities (which specific communities) and ideal interventions to execute. Moreover, there is a need for research that informs ways to include the community as a part of research designed to change public health. It is my hope that my research will fill this gap.
Your dedication to magnifying and rectifying health inequities is evident and we commend you for that. How do you navigate the intersectionality of race, medicine, and public health in your research and community engagement efforts?
I navigate this in many aspects. My research is focused in identifying disparities in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and stewardship whether that be racial/ethnic, sex/gender, ability status, and other areas of marginalization. As I engaged in this research, I couldn’t help but think to myself that I was “chasing the problem” rather than addressing it head on. Vaccinations(or preventative therapeutics) have such a big role in preventing infections and hospitalizations, so I knew that being able to increase uptake would potentially have an impact on AMR in the long term. Understanding the need for trusted messengers and the lack of information and allocation of vaccines in communities of color, I placed my focus there. Working with the community, we were able to really identify pathways for forward movement and sustainable change. Further, I write a lot of commentaries about enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in medicine and pharmacy educational and training programs. For the continuation of research and interventions as the one that I have described, it’s imperative that we address structural barriers in the pathway to STEM professions for racially/ethnically-minority individuals.
Mentorship and sponsorship programs play a crucial role in reducing disparity gaps for underrepresented students. Could you share some insights into your experiences with these programs and their impact on fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in your profession?
I myself have had amazing mentors and sponsors, with Drs. Victor Nizet, Linda Awdishu, and Adri Tremoulet being some of my biggest advocates. Due to their mentorship and commitment to my success, I am a NIH-funded investigator here at UCSD. More importantly, I have the opportunity to also mentor and sponsor other individuals due to my position. To be candid, it’s been an absolute pleasure to work with and build relationships with students of color. I have the privilege of mentoring a young Black woman through her PhD program, and it’s been the honor of my life to watch her step into her place as a powerful and brilliant scientist. I also have had the honor of mentoring eight racially/ethnically minoritized PharmD trainees through writing commentaries that address major issues that impact their respective communities. A major part of diversity, equity, and inclusion is training up the next generation of healthcare advocates.
Could you discuss some of the key findings or successes from the low-barrier community vaccination clinics you've led within underserved communities?
First and foremost through the community-academic three tiered approach that I collaboratively developed with COPE, we have been able to provide 3,600 COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in racially and ethnically minoritized communities. More than 80% of those vaccines were provided to Black or Hispanic/Latino individuals who had been the most disparaged in San Bernardino County, CA. Further we found that the provision of vaccine-focused education can shift attitudes pertaining to vaccine uptake. In a published study measuring education intervention, 39.8% of the attendees of the education session stated that they would receive the COVID-19 vaccine if offered to them. In a post-survey given following the education session,52.4% of attendees stated that they would receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Can you highlight a particularly challenging moment in your career journey and how you overcame it?
When I was recruited to UCSD, I was in the initial stages of my career at Loma Linda University. I had developed very important relationships with the community and with the students. It was very hard for me to consider leaving the great people and the experience that I had there. However, I had to trust in God and the plan that was charted for me. Through placing my desire to serve the Black population at large and considering the research infrastructure that UCSD provides, I was able to put my fears to rest and invest in this new era of my research journey. I also invest heavily in my mental health, and have a therapist who was very helpful to me during the transition. I also have a very supportive spouse, who I am extremely grateful for.
How do you balance all of your responsibilities? Tell us about your work/life balance.
Balance is something I’m working on at the present. I do find time to work in my hobby of reading romance novels. I am a major romance enthusiast and will always work in time to read a good book when I wrap up work.
In what ways do you envision your research and advocacy efforts evolving in the future, especially in the context of addressing health disparities and advancing health equity?
I hope that my research is expanded in a way that focuses on the inclusion of students in each element. I believe that as an educator, I have a role in training the next generation of ehealth equity advocates and researchers and it’s my hope to build upon my research with that in mind.
What would you like the research community to know about you?
I’m extremely passionate, and I enjoy researching tremendously. I am a frequent collaborator and I love workshopping ideas with fellow colleagues. I also really enjoy donuts and I’m always willing to talk about research with them on hand.
Dr. Abdul-Mutakabbir's multifaceted dedication to research, education, and community engagement serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring us all to strive for a future where health equity is not just a goal but a reality for every individual and every community.
Don't forget to email us at: researchcomm@health.ucsd.edu or v3chavez@health.ucsd.edu if you have any additional questions for her.
UC San Diego ACTRI Communications