The Professional and Career Achievement Awards recognize two different aspects of professional success.

The Professional Achievement Award acknowledges an outstanding accomplishment that has brought about significant change, inspired others, and opened up new possibilities. On the other hand, the Career Achievement Award is a testament to an individual's enduring excellence and their substantial contributions over the course of their professional journey.

Dr. Ariel Ash-Shakoor is an exceptional leader and distinguished biomedical engineer. During her tenure as a research scientist intern at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), she conducted innovative research.

Currently serving as a senior biomedical engineer and lead scientific reviewer at the FDA, Dr. Ash-Shakoor plays a critical role in evaluating and approving medical devices.

Her expertise in interventional cardiovascular devices has led to the clearance of numerous devices and clinical trials. She is committed to promoting health equity and is passionate about fostering diversity and inclusion.

"When I started working at the FDA, I was one of only three Black women engineers in the Office of Cardiovascular Devices," she said in her acceptance speech at the WOC STEM Awards gala in October 2023. "Reading the book "Hidden Figures" while in graduate school, I had not realized that the representation of women of color in my field had not improved significantly two generations later. I was surprised when I was selected to lead the first diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging team for the Office of Product Evaluation and Quality. The lack of representation of women of color in STEM inspired me to create the first FDA employee resource group for women of color. I recognize that change doesn't happen overnight, but I encourage younger women to lead and take risks in projects that will help the next generation of women of color succeed."