Not all famous people are important; a cursory glance of pop culture landscape will confirm that.
Nor are all important people famous. Dr. Doris Taylor, who will give the commencement address Saturday at Mississippi University for Women, is evidence of that.
Certainly The W has had commencement speakers with far greater name recognition than Taylor, herself a MUW alumnae, who lived in Columbus from age 6 until she graduated from The W.
Yet among her peers in the scientific community, Taylor is a household name.
Taylor, director of regenerative medicine research at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, is one of the leading scientists in the medical field for her work in cell therapy, stem-cell biology and tissue engineering. Her research focuses on the use of cell and gene therapy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, tissue engineering of bioartificial organs and vasculature, cell-based prevention of disease, stem cells and cancer and holistic approaches to using cell therapy for treating chronic disease.
She has been featured on 60 Minutes, where her work in identifying the differences between organs in human males and females has help redefine treatments. The implications of these discoveries are recognized as significant steps forward, particularly when it comes to women’s health.
Likewise, her work in cell replacement procedures are a major achievement in the fight against heart disease.
As a woman who works in a field that remains dominated by men, Taylor may well be a pioneer, but she is not a crusader.
Studies show that, at age 15, girls outperform their male peers in math and science everywhere but in the U.S., the U.K. and Canada. The study suggests the reason is cultural, where many fields are often considered “male” or “female.”
Taylor’s achievements are a strong argument against that notion and while she encourages girls who have an interest and aptitude for math and sciences to defy the cultural norms. She notes that every student will have obstacles. For some it is gender roles, for others it may be other factors.
The key, she believes, is acknowledging those obstacles without yielding to them.
Taylor says a quote from Mahatma Gandhi has been a source of inspiration: “First they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.”
Certainly, Taylor is an example to be admired and emulated.
And while she may never be “famous,” as it is defined by our popular culture, she is certainly important.
The world will never lack for famous people, but important people have always been too few.
For that reason, Columbus, along with The W, should be very proud for the role it played in nurturing this accomplished scientist.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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