By: BHS Features Staff
February 22, 2023
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is an African-American immunologist. She is an Assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Shutzer Assistant Professor at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. Dr. Corbett is considered one of the medical heroes from the Covid-19 pandemic, helping to create one of the very first preventative vaccines for the virus.
Dr. Corbett was born on January 26, 1986, in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina. She was raised by her mother, Rhonda Brookes. She grew up in a very large and extended family with step-siblings and foster children.
At the age of 9, “Kizzy’s” knowledge was advanced, and her middle school teachers began placing her in advanced classes that continued all throughout her schooling. In high school, Dr. Corbett realized that she wanted to pursue a scientific career, and as part of an American Chemical Society-sponsored program called Project SEED, she spent her Summer breaks working in research laboratories, one of which was at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan Labs with organic chemist James Morkin.
Finally in June of 2004, she graduated from Orange High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
After high school, Dr. Corbett was an intern at Stony Brook University in Gloria Viboud’s lab where she studied Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis Pathogenesis.
Later, she attended the University of Maryland where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences (2008) and Sociology (2014). She also received a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of North Carolina.
Dr. Corbett has 15 years of expertise studying the Dengue virus, the Respiratory Syncytial virus, Influenza viruses, and now, the Coronavirus.
With many degrees under her belt and a wealth of knowledge, Dr. Corbett led one of the top research teams for the recent Covid-19 pandemic. She was among the first team to begin researching and studying the virus’ bacteria.
Dr. Corbett was the scientific leader of the National Institutes of Health Coronavirus Vaccines and Immunopathogenesis team at the Vaccine Research Center. Her team can be acknowledged and credited for their discovery of the Covid-19 vaccine, marking one of the biggest turning points in the global pandemic.
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is a hero and an inspiration to all who aspire to work in the medical profession. With all her achievements as an African-American woman, she gives hope to women and children of all colors, ethnicities, and backgrounds that any dream can be achieved with tenacious effort.
We hope that you enjoyed our features for Black History Month. Next month, we will feature women as we celebrate Women’s History Month.
[Information for this feature can be located at Harvard.edu and Wikipedia.]
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