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Hometown: Türkiye (Turkey)
Tell us about your journey into medicine or science and what inspired you to pursue your career.
My journey into science was not something I planned. In fact, it started almost by accident. I came to the United States from Türkiye (Turkey) as an ESL student, without knowing English. I was trying to learn the language while also figuring out how to support myself, so after my ESL classes, I worked every day in the university cafeteria as a waitress. At the same time, I was working as a student-worker in a biochemistry laboratory.
It was a challenging time financially and personally, and I was also trying to find a way to continue my education. My first real opportunity in science came through my adviser, Dr. Dawn Luthe, an incredibly successful female scientist and an important mentor in my life. Her laboratory had been struggling for almost a year to produce sterile corn callus tissue for their research.
She asked me if I wanted to try tissue culture. I said yes! I still remember one of my first days in the laboratory—I cleaned the entire lab with bleach and alcohol before I even started. After training, I was able to produce clean, sterile corn callus when the laboratory had been struggling to do so.
That opened the door to a research scholarship and the start of my master's degree in biochemistry. That experience taught me something I have carried throughout my career: sometimes you don't need to know exactly where you are going. You need to recognize an opportunity, be willing to try, and give it everything you have.
I went on to earn my master's and PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology, followed by postdoctoral research in cancer biology, where I worked on pancreatic cancer and CRISPR gene editing. Today, I have the privilege of bringing that scientific background into medical education at the UTRGV School of Medicine, where I teach and mentor the next generation of physicians and scientists.
What do you enjoy most about your work at UTRGV School of Medicine and UT Health RGV, and what keeps you inspired?
I enjoy the people the most.
I love teaching, but what really keeps me inspired is seeing students grow. I enjoy taking something that may seem complicated or intimidating—biochemistry, molecular biology, metabolism—and finding a way to make it understandable and meaningful for medical students.
I also love UTRGV's collaborative environment. I have had the opportunity to contribute not only through teaching, but also through course leadership, curriculum development, mentoring, and service. I currently serve as the director of Foundations of Medicine and have served on several curricular and institutional committees.
And I have to admit, I bring a lot of personality to my work. I love to laugh and joke around with my colleagues. If you walk through our hallway, there is a good chance you will hear me talking—or laughing—before you see me. I genuinely enjoy the people I work with, and I think that joy makes a difference.
After so many years in research, it is especially rewarding to help students develop the scientific foundation they will use throughout their medical careers. I feel very fortunate that my career has allowed me to keep learning while also helping others learn.
How has the landscape for women in medicine and science changed throughout your career?
When I started my career in science, I did not spend much time thinking about whether I belonged in the field. I was focused on learning, working hard, and proving to myself that I could do it. Looking back, however, I recognize how important it was to have women mentors and role models who showed me what was possible.
The landscape has changed in many positive ways. I see more women taking on leadership roles, contributing to research, medicine, education, and decision-making. I also think there is greater recognition of the importance of mentorship and creating opportunities for women to grow.
At the same time, I believe we still have work to do. Women should not feel they have to choose between professional success and being themselves. We can be scientists, educators, leaders, mothers, wives, mentors—and we can still laugh, be ourselves, and enjoy the journey.
For me, that has become increasingly important. Success doesn't have to look like one particular version of a scientist or physician. There is room for all of us to bring our own personality, experiences, and strengths to the profession.
Who has inspired you most in your career, and what is one piece of advice you would give to the next generation of women in medicine and science?
I have been fortunate to have women mentors at different stages of my career who have influenced me in very different but equally meaningful ways.
One of the people who inspired me most was Dr. Dawn Luthe, my adviser. When I began my journey in science, she saw potential in me even as I was still learning English, working to support myself, and trying to find my place in a new country. She gave me my first real research opportunity and believed in me before I fully believed in myself. I have never forgotten that.
Later, when I started my career in medical education at the UTRGV School of Medicine, Dr. Kelsey Baker became another important mentor and role model. She helped me navigate those early years of teaching and made me feel comfortable and confident in a new environment.
I especially appreciate her warmth and bubbly personality. I know I can rely on her if I make a mistake or find myself in a difficult situation. She has always made me feel that it is okay not to have all the answers and that there is always someone willing to help you figure things out.
Both of these women taught me something I now try to pass on to others: sometimes the most important thing you can give someone is the confidence to believe that they belong.
My advice to the next generation of women in medicine and science would be: Don't wait until you feel completely ready. Say yes to opportunities, even when they scare you. Work hard, find people who believe in you, and don't be afraid to ask for help.
And most importantly, don't lose yourself along the way. You don't have to change your personality to be successful. You can be ambitious and kind. You can be a scientist and still be funny. You can be a leader and still laugh loudly in the hallway.
My own career certainly did not follow the path I originally imagined. I came to this country without knowing English, and I never expected an opportunity in a corn tissue culture laboratory to lead me to a master's degree, a PhD, cancer research, and ultimately medical education. Sometimes the unexpected path turns out to be the right one.
If someone had told me when I first arrived in the United States that I would one day be mentoring students and encouraging the next generation of physicians, I probably would not have believed them. That is why I believe so strongly in giving people opportunities and believing in them—because sometimes someone else's belief in you can change the entire direction of your life.
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