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  • Hero in Pharmaceutical Sciences—An Outstanding Researcher, Accessible to Humanity:Dr. Karam F. A. Soliman
  • Kinfe Ken Redda, PhD (bio)

The 2010 Frederick C. Greenwood Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) National Research Awardee, an extraordinary neuroscientist, a creative and prolific writer of scientific articles, an outstanding mentor and a man who truly believes in excellence with caring . . . a man who I have known and worked with as a supervisor, a colleague, and a friend for more than a quarter of a century: Dr. Karam F. A. Soliman! This extraordinary man is my friend, a 3M Distinguished Professor and the RCMI Program Director at Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, the capital city of the Sunshine State of Florida.

Here is a man who, as the distinguished recipient of the prestigious Fredrick C. Greenwood RCMI National Research Award, exemplifies scientific excellence with caring. Dr. Fred Greenwood was another extraordinary scientist and administrator. Knowing Fred very well as a Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) Director for nearly 20 years, he represented the best in us. Fred was not only a decorated biomedical scientist but also an ardent fighter for the cause of faculty development and expanded student training, tirelessly advocating for increased federal funding from different agencies. Dr. Soliman was often at the side of Dr. Greenwood during this long journey of pushing for increased funding of our institutions, expanding and elevating faculty research activities on our campuses, increased level of mentoring of our students, expanding and strengthening collaboration among institutions, and publishing of refereed and indexed articles in scientific journals. Thus, it is entirely appropriate that this prestigious award went to this man who truly deserves it, an unsung hero whose numerous implemented ideas have so markedly improved the lives of others.

Dr. Soliman was born in Cairo, Egypt, North Africa a few years ago—a place often referred to as the cradle of ancient civilization. Young Karam was a gifted and bright student who excelled highly in math and biology in his elementary and high school days. He was such a child prodigy that he was admitted to the University of Cairo at the age of 15. Imagine a 15-year old freshman in college! He received his bachelor of science (BS) degree in biology and agricultural sciences at the age of 19. The youngest student in the graduating class, he was among the top 5% in his academic performance. Because of his academic credentials, the young graduate was admitted for his graduate [End Page 5] education to the University of Georgia in Athens and received both his master's of science (M.S.) and doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in the areas of physiology in 1971 and 1972, respectively.


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In 1972, Dr. Soliman accepted a position as an assistant professor of physiology and pharmacology with the School of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University (then Institute) in Tuskegee, Alabama. At Tuskegee, Dr. Soliman was completely immersed in holistic academia—teaching, research, and community service. In 1975, he moved to the Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CoPPS), where he served as an associate professor of physiology and pharmacology until 1979, when he was promoted to full professor.

At FAMU, Soliman's saga continues . . . from classroom coaching to facilitating lab experiences, to becoming Chairman of the FAMU Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences. Rising through the ranks within the FAMU CoPPS, Dr. Soliman became Associate Director of the MBRS Program, Assistant Dean for Research and Graduate Education, Co-Program Director, and eventual Program Director, RCMI at FAMU. One of the highest contributions this extraordinary man made was playing a major role in establishing FAMU's graduate program in the Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences in the CoPPS.

Dr. Soliman helped forge history at FAMU when our institution bestowed its very first PhD degree in 1989 in the person of Dr. Hyacinth C. Akunne, who is currently employed as a Senior Pharmacologist with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. The faculty advisor and mentor was Dr. Karam F.A. Soliman. All told, Dr. Soliman has trained 24 PhD and 20 MS degree recipients, and is considered to be this nation's top trainer of African American PhD...

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