Photo Illustration: Save As/Medium; Source: Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, a viral immunologist at the National Institutes of Health, in Wheaton, Md., Sept. 25, 2020.
Photo: Timothy Nwachukwu/The New York​ Times/Redux

ZORA Celebrates: Dr. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” S. Corbett

Kizzmekia S. Corbett, PhD, or Dr. Kizzy as she’s known to her followers, is a viral immunologist and one of the National Institute of Health’s top scientists behind the development of the Covid-19 vaccine. Dr. Kizzy’s online presence has been a source of knowledge and hope for her followers throughout the pandemic.

“I think my love of discovery in science melded with my empathetic nature for people,” she said in an interview with CNN. “If I’m going to be asking questions, I might as well ask some questions that inform vaccine development so that I can really have a translatable way that can help people en masse.’”

Dr. Kizzy’s consistent care for our community and brilliant mind are worthy of celebration this Women’s History Month and beyond. She is living history.

President Joe Biden spea​ks with Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett ​at a visit to the Viral Pathoge​nesis Laboratory at the Nation​al Institutes of Health in Bet​hesda, Md., Feb. 11, 2021. Photo: Pe​te Marovich/The New York Times​/Redux

For Women’s History Month, ZORA is celebrating Black women who are making history today! Follow ZORA for more Women’s History Month content.