Black women are healers. Whether we hold the title of doctor or not, we tend to make people and things better when we're around. That's why it should come as no surprise that one of the main scientists behind the COVID-19 Moderna vaccination is a Black woman.
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, an immunologist at the US National Institute of Health, helped develop an mRNA-based vaccine in early 2020. Before trials began, Corbett designed the vaccine tests on animals and measured its effectiveness in clinical trials. More recently, she's been using her free time to educate Black and brown communities on the truth about the life-saving medicine and dispelling myths that can keep them at-risk. Our world has looked so different for the last 12 months, and we can thank Dr. Corbett for making history in real-time that will change our lives from now on.
As we give her her flowers today, here are five quick facts on Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett.
Even before COVID-19, Dr. Kizzy was focusing on coronavirus biology and vaccine development.
Talk about truly being prepared for when the world would need her.
Her and her team created the vaccine over one weekend.
Kizzmekia said, "all we needed were the sequences, and the reason for that is because we knew exactly what to do." I know that's right!
She is invested in inspiring the next generation of young Black scientists.
"If there is any task that I would ever be ready to take on, it would certainly be the one to ensure that for generations we have scientists that look like me who are going to do things that are better than I could have ever imagined," she told PEOPLE.
Kizzmekia is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and will return this spring to give a commencement speech alongside Dr. Fauci.
That's one hell of an alumni moment.
Outside of, you know, saving the world, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is a regular girl, serving looks, hanging with friends, and quoting Beyoncé on Instagram.
We love a down to earth life-saving, world-changing Queen.