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She came to the United States of America and joined Georgetown University Medical Center to complete a post-doctoral training in the Department of Cell Biology. |
Dr. Hakima Amri
Born and raised in Constantine, east of Algeria, Dr. Amri received her early education from both Catholic and public schools. After finishing her undergraduate education at the University of Constantine earning a Bachelor of Science in Animal and Developmental Biology, she competed for a scholarship by taking the national board exam in the field of Embryology and Artificial Insemination. Dr. Amri ranked first nationwide and chose to pursue her graduate studies in France. Thus, she received the Franco-Algerian scholarship and joined the University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris, to prepare her Master’s of Science in Reproductive Physiology and Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Steroid Biochemistry.
Since her age of 11 and first biology class, that she clearly remembers even today, Dr. Amri knew that biological science was her goal in life and her dream was to pursue research and teaching in this field. It is important to note that from that age, Dr. Amri has always considered Maria Sklodowska (Marie Curie) as her role model. She realized that graduating from University Pierre and Marie Curie, the largest Science and Medicine University in France was as if one of her dreams was being fulfilled.
After receiving her PhD, Dr. Amri was still eager to continue her journey seeking knowledge and excellence. She came to the United States of America and joined Georgetown University Medical Center to complete a post-doctoral training in the Department of Cell Biology. There, she was charged with the task of deciphering the mechanism of action of the Ginkgo biloba plant extract. At this point, Dr. Amri started to realize that nothing in our lives happens without a reason. In fact, her plan B, in case she did not receive the scholarship, was to study the medicinal plants of the Mediterranean region. Although challenging, she welcomed working on this project with great enthusiasm. With her colleagues she indeed found a new mechanism of action of this plant and the team was among the first to demonstrate the effect of plants at the cellular, molecular, and gene transcription levels on stress and cancer conditions in the animal and cellular models.
At that time the public-driven movement of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use was gaining momentum and several publications were showing its importance and impact on healthcare. Dr. Amri, having acquired experience from different educational systems and cultural backgrounds, envisioned her role at bridging her knowledge in conventional biomedical research and expertise in phytomedicine, in order to contribute in the advancement of the field of evidence-based CAM. Therefore, she co-founded the NIH-funded CAM-educational initiative at Georgetown University Medical Center that centered on incorporating CAM material to the medical school curriculum. The initiative also included the design and implementation of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Master of Science Degree in Physiology and Biophysics. Dr. Amri is the co-Director of this unique of its kind MS program. She is also the principal investigator of the CAM research program in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics. Her research focus is on the use of medicinal plants on prostate cancer and the stress reducing effects of acupuncture and massage used for acute stress conditions. Dr. Amri’s academic and research work is published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at national and international conferences, and funded by the federal and private sectors.
As an Algerian American, Dr. Amri is close to her community and has always been present when needed. She was among the organizers of the relief/Aid Plan to Algeria when the earthquake hit Algiers in 2003, is a member of the election monitoring committee, and a member of the newly formed American Algerian Foundation. Dr. Amri is always reaching out to her community and would like to establish collaborative projects in graduate education and research with the Algerian Universities.
Dr. Amri expresses her gratitude to her parents and family who believed in her and never stopped their support, to all her outstanding teachers, professors, and mentors who each one in his/her way helped her pave her path. A path that she certainly knows was by far trouble-free but each time she encounters a roadblock she remembers this quote from her role model, Marie Curie, “I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy.”
AlgerianAmericans.com May 01 2010
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a guest
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Congratulation!!! Very proud to learn that an Algerian woman has achieved so much and has been able to succeed. I wish you best of luck and I hope you will help other Algerian women in the US to reach their goals. We definitely need the support of the Algerian community in the region. Best of luck with your future endeavors! |
a guest
said:
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Bravo Hakim : you are smart inside brainy and ouside. but my discret question are you married or still single and weant to be like that. (sory for any inconvenience , hchouma) |
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