Latinx/Hispanic Scientists at All Levels Find Success and Satisfaction at BMS

Inclusion and diversity are critical values embedded within the culture of Bristol Myers Squibb, never more so than today as we continue to work toward “more successes in the challenging endeavor of discovering new transformational drugs to help patients,” according to Francisco Ramírez-Valle, MD, PhD, currently Senior Vice President and Head of the BMS Immunology and Cardiovascular Thematic Research Center. His rationale is both concise and astute. “If everybody looked the same, thought the same way, worked the same way,” he added, “there would be no innovation.”

Francisco, along with his colleague Senior Principal Scientist and Translational Medicine Research Team Lead, Noe Ramírez-Alejo, PhD, are two among many Hispanic teammates within BMS and we celebrate each and every one of their successes. Francisco’s and Noe’s career arcs are inspiring stories traversing different educational pathways, but what each of them have in common are an innate curiosity, a love of science and dedicated teachers as mentors along the way, encouraging and guiding them while providing a foundation on which to build their dreams.

“I had extended family members who were teachers,” said Noe. “And my own teachers were approachable and mentored me, even teaching beyond the regular curricula. In fact, one was also a professional chemist at a small Mexican company and that’s what inspired my interest in chemistry and the industry as a young child.”

A Passion for Science of all Sorts

Francisco’s passion for science began early at home as well. “I, too, come from a family of teachers in Mexico,” he said. “The emphasis on education when I was growing up gave me access to many scientific subjects as a kid including paleontology, zoology and eventually virology. I came to the US during high school. Despite my good grades in Mexico, I was put in basic classes until my teachers convinced the counselors that I needed to be in more advanced courses. That experience really instilled in me the value of mentors, advocates and coaches.”

Francisco’s passion for science began early at home as well. “I, too, come from a family of teachers in Mexico,” he said. “The emphasis on education when I was growing up gave me access to many scientific subjects as a kid including paleontology, zoology and eventually virology. I came to the US during high school. Despite my good grades in Mexico, I was put in basic classes until my teachers convinced the counselors that I needed to be in more advanced courses. That experience really instilled in me the value of mentors, advocates and coaches.”

After high school, Noe’s education continued in Mexico, first with a BS in Pharmaceutical Biology and Chemistry, followed by an MS in Immunology, a PhD in Molecular Biomedicine, and finally post-doctoral work in New York City. But after years in academia committed to immunology, he re-discovered an earlier passion for drug discovery. “I discovered that I could use my immunology training and focus on making an impact on patients’ lives,” he said. “I originally thought you had to pick one or the other: biochem and lab, or pharma industry. But like almost everything in life, there are no absolutes, and you can find common ground between two or more things you have a passion for.”

Different Scientific Areas Complimenting Each Other

Like Noe, Francisco discovered that different scientific worlds could complement each other, which unlocked new and exciting opportunities. “During freshman year in college, I got an internship in a dermatology lab where we would obtain and work on samples from real patients. This direct connection between lab research and benefit to the patient gave me a new perspective on the value of science. And from there, my interest was in becoming a physician scientist MD/PhD – so I could think about the diseases affecting my patients and how to solve them through scientific research.”

Francisco’s internship and that connection of science and patient guided his personal and professional career trajectory over the next 20+ years. Upon completion of his MD/PhD degree, 3-year residency and post-doctoral work in immunology, he dedicated himself to translational medicine – connecting medical research with clinical treatment – at biopharmaceutical firm Celgene, which was then acquired by BMS in 2019.

A Culture to Celebrate and Champion

In BMS, Francisco found a culture and mission in sync with his own scientific objectives and values.

“At BMS, the commitment to the patient is the number one priority,” he said. “We create a very collegial, collaborative and kind culture. And humility is a big part of that. Lab work is a trial-and-error process; you’re always learning as you go to move on and accomplish the mission.”

Meanwhile, Noe’s journey from post-doctoral fellow to research investigator in translational medicine came from a desire to explore new avenues where his career might take him – even if it was out of his comfort zone.

People were recommending that I look into BMS because of their incredible pipeline of immuno-oncology research and results,” Noe said. “I was trained in immune response against infectious diseases, but this really piqued my interest, and yes, there is some overlap between the two areas. When I discovered they were opening a new facility in Cambridge, MA, and I read a job description, it felt like it was tailored for me. I gave it a shot and during the interview, I felt I was talking to long-time colleagues. The ambitious objectives and programs were exactly what I was open to. When the offer came, I didn’t hesitate for a second and every day I’m thankful that I did accept.”

Inspiring the Next Generation of Latinx/Hispanic Scientists and Mentors

With Latinx/Hispanic scientists making up less than 10 percent of scientists in the United States according to Zippia, Francisco and Noe value their roles as mentors, coaches, supporters and sponsors to provide inspiration and guidance to the next generation of scientists creating transformational therapies. Their pride in the dedication of BMS to build upon that diversity is obvious.

“I wouldn’t work at a company that doesn’t value diversity and inclusion,” said Francisco. “I believe it makes us stronger as people, and together, stronger as a company. We seek it out.”

“Yes, absolutely,” added Noe. “And the company’s culture encourages participation, speaking up on how we can improve everything from inclusion to processes. In the upcoming years, we’ll have even more diversity within the fantastic minds that drive the science at BMS. I try and give back whenever I can. I do that right now with five junior scientists within my team, and I really try to be a mentor to them.”

Advice to Their Younger Selves

That said, is there any advice either Francisco or Noe might offer to a younger version of themselves, now that they’ve covered a lot of career ground?

“Don’t be afraid to ask teachers, parents, mentors, anyone,” said Noe. “This is critical. They are there to help you, but they can only help if you reach out. Here at BMS, and when I was younger back in Mexico, there were opportunities I was not aware of. You need to ask questions.”

“And have an open mind,” added Francisco. “When I was younger, I thought I had it all figured out – PhD, lab, research, my research papers. Having an open mind and being able to pivot opened me up to the career that I have today. Allow yourself to experiment as you move through life.”