I had the opportunity to speak to Courtney Ketchum, a student here at the AbbVie Innovation Center. She has one goal: to find the cure for brain cancer. If there were to be anybody fit to accomplish this feat, I believe it would be a passionate, curious, and talented individual like herself: “I know and I hope that the work I am doing makes an impact on the world around me. Since I love the work I am doing, I feel that when I am working, I can really get into the flow of it all as I am constantly motivated to discover new things,” Courtney said.
After her graduation from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Courtney will be joining the Laboratory of Pathology through the Center of Cancer Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland where she will be investigating epigenomic alterations in brain tumors while working with some of the world's leading physicians and scientists in a field that she is so passionate about. Courtney is grateful for what she has learned at AbbVie and even notes that she has AbbVie to thank for her recent success in this field: “As someone who wants to go to medical school, I did not even realize coming how much opportunity there is for doctors in the pharmaceutical industry… I worked with physicians and scientists who were eager to share their experiences with me and offer advice, all of which helped me realize what I am truly passionate about and broadened my perspective on all of the different areas of medicine,” Courtney explained. She specifically touched on how learning about the regulatory environment and FDA as it relates to drug development was especially useful for the field she is pursuing and has even given her a “leg up” in the industry.
However, her experience does not stop at there as Courtney is involved in many organizations where she has accomplished a great deal such as starting an RSO on the UIUC’s campus for the Gifts of Life Marrow Registry, building a catheter device for brain cancer research through her senior design project, and volunteering for Illinois Medical Screening Society. From these experiences, Courtney feels confident that she is a well-rounded individual, ready to take on medical school in a couple of years.
Although Courtney is sad to be leaving AbbVie in May, she is hopeful for what is to come: “I have spent a lot of time here [at AbbVie] and I have learned so much…working at AbbVie has actually helped me solidify my path in this realm because I've always known I wanted to go into some type of medicine, but I didn't know exactly in what area. It wasn't until I worked on projects and had one-on-ones with people at AbbVie that I
realized what kinds of opportunities are out there,” Courtney said when asked about next steps.
She deemed it a “stretch” for her to be directly involved in finding the cure for brain cancer, but I believe any person who has witnessed her passion and her diligence for research and innovation would be confident in her capabilities. The team at the AbbVie Innovation Center and I cannot wait to see what is in store for Courtney, and we wish her good luck with her future endeavors. Learn more about Courtney’s journey by watching her video interview and click here to read about more talented AIC students. For more information on the AbbVie Innovation Center email [said email].