Mehrin ("Mir") Masud-Elias, Executive Director of Legal Affairs & Immunotherapy Collaborations, Abramson Cancer Center
- In what year did you start in your current position?
2011.
- In what year did you first work in-house?
2007.
- What law school did you attend?
Columbia University School of Law.
- Where did you attend college and graduate school? What degrees do you hold?
California Institute of Technology and (transfer student) Amherst College, BA
University of Pennsylvania, Master of Bioethics and Certificate in Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
- What do you consider to be your most pivotal career move?
Moving in-house to the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center.
- What's the best thing about your current job?
High-degree of autonomy and participation in directing both legal and business strategy for our cancer center and the innovative discoveries arising from there that will actually improve our lives.
- What's the worst job you've ever had?
Interning as an the editorial assistant to a now-defunct home and garden magazine in Manhattan, NY while in college.
- What's the most valuable life lesson you still apply today?
Stay curious for there is always something more to learn.
- What do you consider to be the best thing about ACC membership?
Networking with like-minded people and perhaps find my next ideal job through the process.
- How do you achieve work/life balance?
By having hobbies that I make time for and pursue seriously.
- If I were not practicing law, I'd...
...be a mental health counselor and poet.
- My favorite vacation spot is...
...Granada, Spain.
- A place I've never been but would most like to visit is...
...Bosnia.
- My all-time favorite movie is...
...The Princess Bride.
- Even people who know me might be surprised to learn that…
...I like spending a lot of time alone.
- If applicable, please tell us about your pet(s):
My husband and I have two purebred dogs of the Silken Windhound breed from friends who are dog breeders. One is a retired show dog, 6-year-old Sierra, who has graced our lives for 3 years. She is an empath and my emotional support in times of stress (especially during this Pandemic). We have a joyful 2-year-old, Soleá, who we’ve raised since she was a puppy. She lights up the house with her indomitably sweet and mischievous spirit. As a child-free couple, our dogs are our family. They’ve taught me the most valuable lesson of all – patience.😊
