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| Santina Johnson |
“Being selected as an ASPET Washington Fellow is an honor that deeply resonates with my journey in science and policy,” Johnson said. “This recognition goes beyond personal success; it symbolizes a meaningful opportunity to engage in and contribute to a wider dialogue about the interplay between scientific insights and effective policymaking.
“I am thrilled about the chance to learn from and add to discussions on science and health policy, particularly focusing on drug safety and efficacy.”
Johnson, a native of Alabama’s Black Belt region, discovered her passion for science and healthcare early on. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at Spring Hill College, where she was actively engaged in academic research and served as a volunteer to promote health education in the community.
Following her undergraduate studies, Johnson worked as a teacher and behavioral specialist at AltaPointe’s BayPointe Hospital, an adolescent psychiatric facility. She credits this experience to steering her toward graduate studies and deepening her resolve to make a meaningful impact in healthcare.
“While my early education and experiences laid the foundation, it was during my time at Spring Hill College and my role at BayPointe Hospital that I recognized the significant impact of science on public health and policy,” she said. “My work in an academic setting, coupled with my involvement in pharmacology research, highlighted the importance of integrating scientific understanding with policy-making, especially in areas like pharmacovigilance/drug safety.”
Johnson is pursuing a Ph.D. in basic medical sciences in the Department of Pharmacology. Under the mentorship of Thomas Rich, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacology and member of the USA Center for Lung Biology, and Silas Leavesley, Ph.D., a professor of chemical and biomedical engineering, she is studying the intricacies of second messenger signals by employing advanced imaging and analysis techniques to understand how information is encoded within these signals.
“Santina’s research is both timely and scientifically provocative,” Rich said. “However, there is more to being a complete scientist than experimental design and research goals. We as scientists also need to engage with the community. The ASPET Washington Fellows Program will provide Santina with practical experience in the development and implementation of science policy at the national level and help her to develop the skillsets to be an effective ambassador for science in her community.”
She plans to use the ASPET Washington Fellow opportunity to further her interests in health and science policy with a focus on pharmacovigilance.
“My focus will be on ensuring that drug safety and monitoring policies are informed by robust scientific evidence and tailored to address real-world challenges,” Johnson said. “Through this, I hope to contribute to the development of policies that not only safeguard public health but also enhance the effectiveness and reliability of treatments.”
Through the program, fellows learn how public policy decisions are made and how to advocate effectively on Capitol Hill and in their home districts. Ultimately, they develop the skills and insights to become future leaders in science.
ASPET is a 4,000-member scientific society whose members conduct basic and clinical pharmacological research in academia, government, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and nonprofit organizations.
