Valerie caught up with CCF President Tasha Museles via Zoom in August 2021.
(August 2021) An update from Valerie Nguyen, who is beginning her senior year as a Carolina and Innovation Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Biology.
She graduated from Centreville High School in June 2018 where she founded Wildcats vs. Cancer club to help others battling cancer. That club began in October 2015 and during her time there she raised over $35,000 for the childhood cancer community. She has shaved her head, spoken on Capitol Hill to congressmen and women, and given a TEDx talk on the topic of childhood cancer.
Today at UNC, she works in the research laboratory of Dr. Ira Davis, as a research fellow, studying epigenetics in Ewing’s sarcoma. Valerie remains in contact with Jeff Toretsky, M.D. Chair of CCF’s Scientific Advisory Board.
Cecilia Nguyen, Valerie’s sister, passed away in October 2016 at the age of 13, after a fierce battle with osteosarcoma, a form of childhood cancer. Valerie continues to honor her sister through her work every day. Today, she is a member of C-Pals at UNC, which partners pediatric cancer patients in the UNC Health Care System with ‘buddies’ and partners. No doubt, Valerie’s experience watching her sister battle cancer has led her to be so involved with the local cancer community.
Childhood cancer can happen to anyone and impacts the entire family. Valerie continues to raise awareness for childhood cancer and promote awareness for siblings of cancer patients –“oftentimes it is the siblings who live in their siblings’ shadows”. During her battle, Cecilia made sure to include Valerie, even though as the ‘sibling of a cancer patient, she was often ‘left out’. Today, Valerie includes Cecilia in her thoughts, her plans and notes that ‘being present’ is part of the path.
Upon graduating from UNC Chapel Hill in Spring 2022, Valerie will be headed to the Netherlands as a Fulbright Research Scholar – the only Fulbright program focused on pediatric cancer, and Valerie bested the entire application pool to secure this highly prestigious position. She adds, “I will be studying Ewing Sarcoma, which first started through my interaction with Dr. Toretsky my junior year in high school! I have focused my research on this sarcoma throughout college because of the connection that Dr. Toretsky made with my PI here at UNC, Dr. Ian Davis. I just wanted to reach out because had it not been for CCF and Dr. Toretsky, I probably would not have gotten to where I am today. Thank you!”
Valerie Nguyen speaks with keynote Dr. Greg Reaman of the FDA at the CCF Research Symposium in 2017
CCF is proud to partner with Valerie in bringing attention to the siblings of childhood cancer and for watching her launch her career as a pediatric oncologist. Hear Valerie speak at our 2019 CCF Research Symposium where you can learn more about her personal experience and journey.
