Acuitas: (noun) insight, perception, sharpness.

Why I Work at Acuitas – A New Series

This is the first post in our new series: “Why I Work at Acuitas.” It will highlight some of the incredibly talented, intelligent and innovative people who work at Acuitas – and explain why they have chosen to be a part of this great team. Our first post is written by Ruth Atherley, a member of our communications team and the writer of this series.

We will interview people on the team in a range of roles. We will speak to some of our newest hires and even to a few on the senior executive and management teams so that anyone considering joining us will get a real sense of what it’s like to work at Acuitas.  

About Acuitas

Founded in February 2009, Acuitas is a private company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Acuitas partners with pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies and academic institutes to advance nucleic acid therapeutics to the clinic and to the marketplace. What this means is that the Acuitas team is focused on advancing human health by developing safe and effective treatments for illness and disease. At the heart of our work is a clear focus on making the world a better place – a healthier place.

Why I Love My Job

I enthusiastically volunteered to introduce this new series because I know first-hand why Acuitas Therapeutics is a great place to work. Please allow me to tell you a little bit about myself. I am a communications professional with more than two decades of experience in corporate communications, public relations, content strategy and development, and social media. Prior to my communications career, I was a journalist and I’ve written for a range of national publications including Maclean’s and The Globe and Mail.

I have been working with Acuitas for just over two years and it is the best organization and team I have ever worked with. That says something because in my career, I have worked with some amazing professionals and great companies. Let me tell you why I feel this way about Acuitas.

Our President & CEO, Dr. Thomas Madden, is an exceptional leader. He is a smart, strategic and innovative professional who provides a clear organizational vision to the team. He is also collaborative, engaged, encouraging and supportive – as is everyone at the senior level and throughout the organization. (And I don’t have to tell you – this is not always how it is at other organizations.)

The culture at Acuitas comes from the team – it’s full of heart. We support one another and we truly like and take care of each other. From the senior executives to the management group to the newest staff member, Acuitas provides an opportunity for each of us to do our best work.

I don’t know about you, but in my experience, it is rare to find a workplace that authentically engages with its employees in a way that makes you feel valued, where you are encouraged to learn and grow, and where you are rewarded. And I’m not just talking financially – although, the leadership at Acuitas believes strongly that when the company does well, we all do well. But let’s face it, while money is important, there are other elements that matter in your professional life – you need to be happy and fulfilled in your job and in your career. You get all of this and more at Acuitas.

The Acuitas team does important work. The scientists are involved in projects that advance human health and that make a difference in the world. I often work with the scientists in my role and I get to see what it’s like in the lab. And they patiently explain all of the complex science to me in a way that I can comprehend (believe me, that takes patience!). The Acuitas scientists develop therapeutics that help to address serious diseases and illnesses. Beyond successfully ensuring that the Acuitas lipid nanoparticle delivery system worked perfectly with the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine COMIRNATY®, right now the team is working on key initiatives that they hope will be effective in addressing serious illness and diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and more.

Acuitas has a range of in-house expertise – from scientists to finance and operations to business/legal affairs to administration to communications and PR. Every role at Acuitas is seen as important – because we all have a role to play in advancing human health through the work that we do here.

The magic of it all is that all of people who work here feel an ownership and responsibility to protect and maintain our positive company culture. We believe in each other, the leadership team, and the organization. These days, we hear a lot about the importance of a good company culture. The team at Acuitas walks the talk in this area – and that’s important.

For my part, what I can tell you about why I work at Acuitas and why I feel so fortunate in my role is that I feel valued, engaged and respected. I am always made to feel like I am an important part of the team – and that my skills and expertise are sought out and put to use. Most of all, I think what makes me so appreciative of being on the Acuitas team is that I have a shared purpose with a kind, compassionate and really, really smart group of people. It’s a company that has a big purpose, a lot of heart, and people who take their jobs – but not themselves – seriously. That’s why I work at Acuitas.

Next up – we will be speaking with Baishakhi Datta, Sr. Associate, Project Manager.

(Editor’s note: Please see the next post here.)

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