Sarah Gilbert, a 59-year-old British doctor is a co-developer of the AstraZeneca laboratory’s vaccine, and, for this reason, Mattel decided to honor her. “Barbie is committed to lifting up role models.”
Those who make great contributions to humanity deserve to be recognized at the highest level. During the COVID-19 pandemic, which has changed the way we live since March 2020, the scientists who developed the vaccine that is currently restoring normality in many territories deserve to be paid tribute to, and one of those specialists is Sarah Gilbert.
This 59-year-old British scientist is the co-developer of the AstraZeneca laboratory’s vaccine, one of the most widely applied vaccines worldwide that has played an important role in preventing coronavirus infections. For this reason, the toy company Mattel announced a new figure in its popular Barbie doll line that honors Gilbert.
“Barbie is committed to lifting up role models who are making a positive impact during this challenging time. Today we are proud to honor six frontline workers from around the world with one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls in their likeness,” the doll line reported on its Instagram account.
“From an ER nurse to a biomedical researcher and more, these heroes continue to rise up to serve their communities in this time of need and are inspiring current and future generations to follow their lead. Thank you, heroes,” they added in the release.
These new figures are led by the doll inspired by Gilbert, who joined a select group after Mattel made a Barbie doll in her honor. The other people are Beyonce, Marilyn Monroe, and Eleanor Roosevelt, according to Reuters. The scientist was honored and hopes it will be a motivating example for other generations.
“It’s a very strange concept to have a Barbie doll created in my likeness. I hope it will be part of making it more normal for girls to think about careers in science,” Gilbert said in an interview for Mattel.
In addition, Gilbert asked that the Women in Science & Engineering organization, dedicated to inspiring girls to enter the world of science and technology, receive a donation from the proceeds generated by these dolls.
The other honorees in this new Mattel line are emergency room nurse Amy O’Sullivan, who treated the first patient with COVID-19 at Wycoff Hospital in New York, and Dr. Audrey Cruz, a top doctor in Las Vegas who fought against discrimination, according to Reuters.
Also featured are Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a Canadian psychiatry resident at the University of Toronto known for rejecting racism in health care, as well as Brazilian biomedical researcher Jaqueline Goes de Jesus, who worked on tracking the COVID-19 variant originating in this South American country.
