Meet Jameelah Aziz,
Senior Manager, Clinical Data Management
Enthusiastic is the word that captures Jameelah Aziz’s outlook toward her job, her staff, and life in general. This trait came across clearly in a recent conversation. Her five years at Cubist has fostered her naturally enthusiastic spirit, and it has served to motivate her to even higher achievement.
Q: What was it that originally attracted you to Cubist?
Jameelah: I worked for a contract research organization before joining Cubist. When I was looking to make my next move I didn’t take it lightly. I was not anxious to get out of my old position. I knew that I needed something different, so I looked at a lot of places before I chose Cubist. What was so attractive was that it was pharma, it was small pharma, and it was a management position. I was really looking for the challenge that managing a small department would provide. Also, I love mentoring people, and this was an ideal opportunity to be a mentor.
Q: How did you prepare for your current position?
Jameelah: I don’t think anyone really goes to school to be a data manager; it just happens. I went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and I have a degree in biology. One of my goals was to go to medical school, but by the time I graduated I had a lot of debt to pay off. At school, there were a few jobs that caught my eye. I applied and within a few days I received calls to come in for interviews. I interviewed with a CRO and received an offer, which I accepted. It was something I stumbled on that suited my needs.
Q: What does a data manager do?
Jameelah: A data manager is the most important job in a clinical trial [said with a big smile] — of course I would say that. But seriously, it’s really a team approach that has made Cubist successful. All the data that is collected during a clinical trial has to be analyzed in a database. Before that happens, the data manager has to make sure that the data has a consistent format. Once the format is correct, the data is stored in a database. A data manager then reviews and addresses any inconsistencies within the data. This can take a long time depending on the type of study, however once complete, the database is considered clean. In the end our output is used by the statisticians in their analysis. The data management group at Cubist has prepared a pretty intricate set of specifications (we are constantly thinking of how to handle different scenarios) which are then followed by all the data providers. This is important for the sake of consistency.
Q: What is the most satisfying part of your job?
Jameelah: My staff. Just seeing them work and learn is very satisfying for me. They are comfortable working with me, and this is confirmed for me when we introduce perspective candidates to the group. After they have had a chance to talk to the members of the department about what is like to work at Cubist and for me, I always hear back favorable comments and an increased eagerness to work here.
Q: What is the major piece of work that you are working on right now?
Jameelah: We have a lot of clinical studies right now. When I first started five years ago, we had just completed our NDA. Right now we have about 10 trials, some of which are closing and some are just beginning. That is the most at one time since I have been here. Providing data management support to each of the clinical trial teams takes up most of our time.
Q: What do you want to do next?
Jameelah: I am currently working on my master’s thesis at Harvard and I still have aspirations of attending medical school. Right now I am focused on growing with the organization and managing my department. It has been very exciting. I started with just one staff person and now I have five staff members. I am focused on contributing and learning as much as possible. At the same time, my thesis is keeping me very busy. At some point, when I feel I can go back and take the MCATs, I will consider it.
Q: You obviously come from a family that values education — can you tell us about that aspect of your life?
Jameelah: My parents both went to college, but only one of my grandparents went to college. So my parents worked really hard to make sure me and my siblings went to college. They sacrificed a lot to send seven of us to private schools. We never went on family vacations — all of the money they ever had was put into our education.
Q: What do you do outside of work?
Jameelah: I have three passions: Duke basketball, softball, and turtles. I can explain. I became a Duke basketball fan when I was young and remain a fan, even to the point that when there’s a game on, I plan my evening so that I am watching — I hardly ever miss a game. Softball controls my life when the season arrives. I play in four leagues and on the Cubist team. Every year I plan on dropping out of a league, but I never do. My third passion, turtles, started when I was a child growing up around the corner from the grandparents on East Long Island. They had a field next to their house where my grandpa grew fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries, and the field always had turtles in it. Whenever I see a turtle, it makes me smile. I have a pet turtle and a collection of turtle figurines.
Jameelah’s favorite movie: “A Few Good Men”
Jameelah’s favorite book(s): “Catcher in the Rye” and “Kite Runner”