Dr. Abdul J. Sankoh: “Work hard and you shall surely succeed.”

Anthony Abdul Karim Kamara, Jnr.

Modern Ghana recently profiled Dr. Abdul J. Sankoh who was recently honoured with the American Statistical Association's Fellow award. Journalist Anthony Kamara, Jnr. sits down for a One on One interview.

Anthony Kamara (AK): What can you tell my readers about your background?

Abdul Sankoh (AS): Well, first off, I have been married for the last thirteen years to Serap Sankoh and we have been blessed with two lovely boys; Samir and Aroon with ages 13 and 11 respectively. My wife Serap is Turkish.

I came from a very large family and I was the 11th to my father, the first of 5 children and only boy to my mother. Out of 19 brothers and sisters, 8 of us are the first generation on my father's side to receive western form of education.

Our father could read and write Quranic script but not interpret it. None of our mothers could read or write. My third oldest brother, Dr. Minkailu Sankoh, MD, is a cardiologist, and Mr. Watson Abu B. Sankoh, the sixth oldest, holds an MS in nursing and both are living here in the USA. The fifth in the family was the late Hon. PC Bai Kelfa II, while the ninth oldest brother, Karim Sankoh, is a chemist and in Sierra Leone. The rest of my living brothers and sisters are in Sierra Leone. I am the 7th oldest boy.

None of the sisters including Tha Yainkain, Kadie Marie, the late Haja Isatu, Tha Asiatu, Memuna, Kadie Amie, Fatu, Mafereh, Mbambay and Fatmata never had a chance to attend school.

AK: What is it about school that changed your life?

AS: I believe the first visible change in my life took place during the first year of school when my teacher took special interest in me. From that moment on, I have always had at least a teacher paying me special attention. It was more so in high school, Kolenten Secondary School. I can recall vividly my math teacher's (Dr. Bampia Bangura) disappointment with me for coming 2nd in the second term test and telling me about the consequence of not taking full advantage of my potentials. These special relationships I have had during my schooling and professional life has shaped my life.

AK: What is the motivating factor that has compelled you to reach the highest levels of education?

AJ: The desire to learn all that there is to learn. I am never satisfied with an incomplete answer, an unfinished task or inefficient methodology. Thus, I am always driven to keep going till there is nowhere else to go or no further improvements to be made. I find real pleasure in learning and searching for the unknown. As a school kid, I was fascinated by detective and science fiction books; I can recall being absorbed in reading The Sherlock Homes and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series!!

AK: The American Statistical Association Fellow recognition is an honor by all measures. Why is it important to you?

AJ: It is what it represents, the ultimate recognition by your peers for all your professional work. I have had the fortune of receiving a few awards over the years (Excellence in Statistical Publishing from the Drug Information Association, Excellence in Review Science and Outstanding Achievement from the FDA, etc.) as recognition by my employer or some other entity.

ASA Fellow recognition reflects a global valuation of my contribution to the statistical profession by ASA Fellows. For this one, you have to be nominated, recommended, and selected by Fellows who have complete appreciation of your research work, ability to apply and educate others on the use of existing methodologies. This says to me your research work and other professional activities like serving as an associate editor for perhaps 2 of the most popular journals (Statistics in Medicine and Journal of Biopharmaceutical Statistics) in the pharmaceutical industry have made a major impact to the profession.

AK: What were your responsibilities as a reviewer at the Federal Drug Administration?

For 8 years, I worked as a reviewer. In that role, I had the opportunity to advice sponsors on trial designs, influence the decision to market new medicines through critical statistical assessments and research emerging statistical and clinical issues to improve trial design and review process. I also advised pharmaceutical companies on the design and analysis of clinical trials for investigating the safety and effectiveness of new medicines before they are authorized by the FDA for marketing to the public.

AK: I was made to understand that you were a very valued employee and in fact, you won a couple of awards. Tell me about that if you would, please.

AJ: Well, I was awarded the FDA outstanding Achievement Award in 1997, FDA Scientific Track Promotional to Expert Mathematical Statistical Reviewer and FDA Excellence in Review Science Award in 1998. In 1994, my presentation at the FDA scientific Advisory committee meeting deliberating the safety and efficacy of PepcidAC was given broad coverage in the August 1, 1994 Wall Street Journal, Technology Section, as well as the FDIC Pink and Tan Sheets Journals. I also was awarded the Drug Information Association Excellence in Statistics.

AK: You are very well published. Please share with our readers in which publications your work has appeared.

AJ: My research activities have appeared in several major peer-reviewed statistical and medical journals including Statistics in Medicine, journal of Biopharmaceutical Statistics, Drug Information Journal, Communication in Statistics, Biometrics, and the New England Journal of Medicine. I am also currently associate editor for Statistics in Medicine and Journal of Biopharmaceutical Statistics.

AK: Tell me about your responsibilities at Vertex – the Massachusetts based company you currently work for?

AJ: As senior director and head of department of Biometrics, I supervise a staff of 25 Ph.D. and 19 M.S./M.A. statisticians in researching critical statistical and clinical issues to enhance the efficiency of drugs being developed. I have worked on a number of drugs including Allegra, Lovenox, Incivek and Kalydeco.

AK: Share with me the toughest thing(s) you have had to endure particularly since your arrival in the USA?

There are many of course but I would it was the death of my dad. He passed away while I was taking my Ph.D. comprehensive exams and so was not able to be at his funeral let alone see him again. Following my dad's passing, it would be the death again of my mother as the rebel war ravaged Sierra Leone. I was also not able to go home to see my mother who died literally running from rebels in 1999. Both parents passed away in my absence before I could thank them for their sacrifice in seeing him through school.

AK: Who has been an inspiration to you?
AJ: There are indeed many in my life. But the greatest is my late father who taught all his children by many examples the true meaning of selfless existence and unconditional love for one's family and relatives regardless of whether or not you experienced love as a child or not. He lived his life as the ultimate family man, caring for all.

AK: What message do you have for the youth of Africa in general?

AJ: Work hard and you shall surely succeed. Take advantage of the number opportunities available to you. Know that your passport to a successful future anywhere, especially overseas (USA), depends on a solid GCE result at a minimum; your chances increases exponentially with a first degree. Education is too expensive in the USA to come here to pursue undergraduate education unless you secure a scholarship. Your relatives in the USA or anywhere overseas can comfortably sponsor your education in Africa. But may not be able to even provide you with a place to stay in the USA, let alone pay your school fee.

AK: What has life taught you?
AJ: Life has taught me to be humble regardless of your position and abilities. There is also a great need to be able to persevere because life has its challenges. Be focused! Add hard work to all the three attributes mentioned and nothing is impossible!

AK: To whom do you owe this great success story?
I owe it to my parents, relatives (especially my sisters who never stood a chance of going to school). Indeed, there are also many others like Dr. Bampia Bangura, who introduced me to the love of mathematics, along with the late Dr. A. N. D. Koroma, the first and true Sierra Leonean statistician. A mathematician is as good as his/her mastery of the medium of instruction and the science of mathematics. Thus the role of such mentors like Dr. Charm, the late Mr. Justin Bangura, and Mr. HH Kamara in molding our minds is invaluable. Like most of us who came to this and other faraway lands for a better life, our parents often pass away before realizing the fruits of their labour. But the truth is, without their blessings and sacrifices, all this could not have happened.

AK: Thank you for according me this unique opportunity.

AJ: Many thanks to you Mr. Kamara for taking time to do this interview.