Pharmacy alum expanded skill set through PhD, postdoc training
Dr. Amani Hamad remembers being an inquisitive child when she was growing up in Jordan.
“At different points, I was inspired by different people – one day I wanted to be an architect, the next a doctor,” the scientist recalls.
This openness to exploration eventually led Hamad to earn her bachelor of science and master of science, both in pharmacy, at the University of Jordan.
Hamad spent five years as a clinical pharmacist in Saudi Arabia, where she developed a keen interest in maternal and child health and medication safety. Her interactions with patients and physicians regarding drug safety during pregnancy and childhood ignited a passion for research. That led her to pursue doctoral studies at UM’s College of Pharmacy in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
Her PhD focused on the long-term safety of antibiotics used in early life, marking the beginning of her research career in Canada.
“Everything you do, you learn from, even if it’s something that you end up deciding isn’t for you,” she says. “There are skills that are transferable to other environments and careers.”
Early in her doctoral training, Hamad identified her passion for academia. She later undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at UM’s George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation, where she expanded her skill set, working alongside statisticians, data scientists, computer scientists and clinicians.
“I identified gaps in my skill set and used my doctoral and postdoc training to turn those gaps into strengths,” she says.
From presenting at international conferences to mentoring students, Hamad made deliberate choices that prepared her for her current role in academia.
Hamad, who received her PhD in 2020, is now an assistant professor in the newly created College of Community and Global Health, which was formerly the department of community health sciences in the Max Rady College of Medicine.
She holds a Canada Research Chair in population data science and data curation and is affiliated with the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. Her research focuses on two key areas: transforming complex population data into research-ready datasets, and studying determinants and treatment effects related to mental illness in children.
She credits mentorship as a cornerstone in her career. Inspired by the women who supported her during her own academic journey, she is committed to empowering the next generation, particularly women pursuing careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Hamad says she finds joy in the variety of roles she plays. “One moment I’m mentoring graduate students, the next I’m fully engaged in research, and at other times, I‘m serving the university community. Each role keeps me learning and growing.”
She encourages graduate students to think strategically. “Know your goals, understand your strengths and gaps, and actively seek out opportunities that will help you grow into the career you want,” she says.
Hamad also emphasizes the importance of networking and making full use of university resources, such as writing workshops, library support and professional development programs.
When things get hectic, she returns to a simple but powerful mantra that guides her as a scientist and a person: “Approach yourself and others with kindness.”