Name: Hadley Hilgenhurst
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Undergrad: Georgetown University
What brought you to Georgetown? I went to Georgetown for undergrad and worked in DC before coming to medical school here. I was very grateful to be able to stay in the area where I already had a community.
What are your post-med school career or specialty goals?: I am particularly interested in psychiatry, and this interest is what drew me to medicine in the first place. I have also enjoyed doing oncology work this summer, so I am continuing to explore that interest.
What are you working on as a BellRinger Fellow this summer?: I am working with Dr. Leila Shobab studying Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). ATC is one of the most aggressive and deadly types of hormone-related cancers, and scientists still don’t have enough data connecting patients’ health outcomes with their tumor’s genetics and immune response. This study will look at a group of 15 to 20 thyroid cancer (ATC) patients, using their full medical histories, detailed genetic testing, gene expression data, and stored tissue samples. We will look closely at how patients’ cancer first showed up, what treatments they received (like targeted drugs and immunotherapy), how well those treatments worked, and how long patients lived. At the same time, we will use advanced imaging to map out where immune cells are located near the tumor and match those pictures with the cancer’s genetic data.
Why are you passionate about cancer research?: Several close family members of mine were diagnosed with cancer, and I was able to witness their treatment process firsthand. Witnessing this prompted me to gain a better understanding of current treatments for cancer, as well as where treatments fall short. I wanted to be able to contribute to cancer research while I was still a student, and I wanted to be able to contribute to the field that has impacted me and my family so greatly.
How do you plan to be involved in BellRinger this year?: I plan to volunteer!
