I ALWAYS WANTED TO work in a field where I could help people live healthier lives,” says Professor Gabriela Wilson. But she figured out early on that a traditional route to that goal—like becoming a nurse or a doctor—wouldn’t work for her. After a long journey to find her ideal career path, she finally landed in the field of computational biochemistry and academic work as a pharmaco- informatics specialist. “I am always inspired by the unknown,” Dr. Wilson says. “It is about taking on large and complex challenges that only multidisciplinary teams can solve. I draw my energy from working with others, and this is what keeps me passionate about anything I do.”
What past success makes you proudest?
I measure success by how I inspire and help others. My proudest achievement is when I see my students succeed despite challenges because they took one of my courses or worked on a research project with me.
What are you most excited about right now?
Recent advances in technology and digitalization across all industries accelerated change and benefited many, but not necessarily equitably. I am excited about our opportunities to understand better how social determinants of health, health literacy, health information exchange, artificial intelligence, and mobile technologies can improve quality of care and positively impact our communities.
What are you most looking forward to?
Educating my students about emerging health care trends and contributing to larger-scale community partnerships that will help identify areas that experience health inequities and racism. Now is the time to take these bold steps, as only by working together can we promote health equity and social justice.
