We enjoyed and appreciated Dr. Myrtle Davis’ visit with us as she shared her scientific and professional journey with students on June 5!
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Dr. Davis gave the Curtis Harper Distinguished Lecture and visited with students during a daylong visit.
Dr. Davis’s career journey from a college student to a renowned scientist is a testament to the importance of aligning one’s passion with their profession. Her first advice to trainees is to keep an open mind and not set their sights too early on a specific career path. Instead of saying, “I am going to become a [specific profession],” she encourages students to explore what truly sparks their interest.
Dr. Davis obtained her undergraduate degree in chemistry and mathematics from Tuskegee University. During her undergraduate studies, chemistry was always viewed as a “problem-solving” science, while biology was seen as more memory-based. However, her perspective on the applicability of biology as a tool for problem-solving changed during her time in veterinary school. This shift in perspective, brought about by hands-on experiences, led her to pursue graduate school after veterinary studies, where she discovered her passion for toxicology and pathology.
Faced with a choice between the two fields, Dr. Davis undertook an internship to observe pathologists at work. This experience confirmed her passion for research and revealed that toxicology aligned more closely with her background and problem-solving inclinations. After completing grad school and an internship at a pharmaceutical company, she noticed that the positions offered to fresh Ph.D. graduates were not research-oriented, which did not align with her goals.
Keeping an open mind, Dr. Davis accepted a postdoctoral position at the University of Maryland to continue her training. It was during this time that toxicology rose to the forefront of pharmacology. She witnessed people suffering from diseases without available treatments, which fueled her desire to push the boundaries of toxicology for better clinical applications. Although it seemed likely that she would continue her research after earning tenure, an opportunity to take on a role as a research advisor at Eli Lilly changed her course. At Eli Lilly, she used her insights in investigative toxicology to guide pharmaceutical development, selecting the best drug candidates for patients.
Unlike most scientists who follow a linear path between academic institutions and industry companies, Dr. Davis’s career was dynamic and multifaceted. After seven years at Eli Lilly, she was offered a position at the National Cancer Institute. There, she led the development of mechanistic toxicology expertise for drug discovery and development teams, creating and leading major research initiatives. Her career culminated in her current role as the Scientific Vice President of Discovery Toxicology at Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Davis quickly responded with a resounding “No” when asked if she had any regrets. She explained, “I merely made the decisions that seemed right at the time. Opportunities came, I made decisions, and it worked out.” Her career is a powerful example of aligning one’s passion with their profession, and she continues to follow her passion, setting no limitations for herself.
Addressing the challenges she faced, Dr. Davis did not point to a specific moment of difficulty. Instead, she acknowledged that while there are people who jump to assumptions based on her identity, she does not absorb the negativity around her to make it her problem. She referenced the lyrics of Beyoncé’s “Cozy”: “Comfortable in my skin, cozy with who I am… I love myself.”
Dr. Myrtle Davis and Dr. Curtis Harper, alumni from Tuskegee University, both enthusiasts of toxicology, and both dedicated to bringing more smiles into the world, converged across time’s expanse to unite in purpose. Their kindred spirits will ignite countless others.
Our congratulations to Morgan Narain and Nehemiah Stewart, who received Harper Family Graduate Student Awards and to Emmie Modlin and Nolan Johnson, who received Dr. Curtis Harper Fellow’s Summer Research Awards!Ìý We are grateful to the Harper family for their generosity in supporting and honoring student scholarship by providing these awards!ÌýÌý
~Authored by Runfan Yang