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Mika Sifuentes, PhD

What year did you graduate from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio? What degree do you have?

I graduated in 2017 with a PhD in Pharmacology and a Certificate in Translational Science.

What is your specialty?

My dissertation project focused on better understanding a potential treatment for stroke. I worked to understand how thyroid hormone protects the brain against stroke in mice, in the hope of one day translating that protection to human patients.

What was the most valuable lesson – inside or outside the classroom – you learned at UT Health San Antonio?

One of the biggest changes for me in graduate school was that I learned how to step outside my comfort zone and take a more leading role in shaping the world around me. If I saw a need somewhere, I became more confident that I could be the right person for the job. This motivated me to become more active in science communication, outreach, policy, and student leadership. That boost in confidence, and the practical experience I gained in graduate school, will help me maximize the impact of my scientific expertise.

What inspired you to want to become a health care professional?

Ever since I can remember, I have been drawn to scientific discovery, and I knew that this was something that I could do very well. At the same time, it was also important for me that my work have a real impact on helping people. When I was making the decision to go to graduate school, the health aspect of the research being done at UT Health drew me to the Integrated Biomedical Sciences doctoral program.

What do you remember most vividly about your time at UT Health?

One thing that really stood out to me in my experience at the university is how the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences’ leadership was so supportive of student achievement. I can list so many examples in which the administration went the extra mile to help students who went on to achieve great things inside and outside the lab. Sometimes that meant just taking a step back and allowing students to step forward with an ambitious project unobstructed, but that goes a long way in building student trust and confidence, and I think that’s a quality of a school that trains excellent graduate students.

What was your most rewarding experience at the university?

My most rewarding experience at UT Health has been the opportunity for science outreach in the greater San Antonio community. Making science more accessible to the public has a huge impact on building public trust and it empowers communities to make better decisions regarding health and education. The draw toward science is almost innate in response to our natural curiosity, and exposure to the scientific process can be helpful to everyone, regardless of their eventual career path. Helping kids, especially in underserved communities, get an early exposure to science is especially rewarding.

What is your greatest professional achievement?

As a recent graduate, my greatest professional achievement has been the successful defense of my Ph.D. Standing in front of your department and defending 5½ years of research can be overwhelming, but once I started speaking the story flowed like it was the most natural thing in the world. After my presentation, I received so much positive feedback from friends and faculty, which felt incredible.

What is your current occupation and where? What’s a day on the job like for you?

I am currently a medical writer for Acelity, a company that develops medical devices for use in wound care. I work with doctors and nurses using these products in their clinical practice, who then report back their findings on what works or how to make things better. I use this information to publish manuscripts in medical journals so that this research can be accessed by clinicians practicing evidence-based medicine worldwide. I really enjoy working with a more clinical level of research, and I can directly see how getting out information about medical products impacts people’s lives. On a typical work day, I’m communicating with health care consultants, reviewing the existing literature, writing new material, and editing work from other members of my medical writing team.

What advice do you have for current students?

My advice to students is that maximizing your time at graduate school doesn’t mean disappearing into lab and only focusing on academic achievements. It’s important to develop other professional skills that you’ll find are just as important to your success as your scientific expertise. Part of that is knowing when to ask for support when you need it. There are many people invested in helping you to succeed; give yourself every opportunity to advance to the next stage of your career.

Why do you give back to the university?

Getting through a doctoral program is a difficult experience, but UT Health goes beyond the norm when it comes to supporting students and enabling them to succeed. That’s why even as a graduate student I was always one to volunteer to help with recruiting at conferences or meet with visiting students. I want future students to have the same opportunities for a career in science as I’ve had. It’s for that reason that I’ve also returned to the graduate school as a member of the Career Advisory Council, which is a team of biomedical professionals who provide insight into career pathways for UT Health trainees. Post-graduate career support is an excellent example of the many ways that the graduate school has risen to meet student needs and interests.