Brooke Gillespie, Pre Award Research Grant Project Manager
Question: How long have you been with HonorHealth?
Answer: I onboarded July 22, 2025; 8 months.
Q: At what point in your early life did you decide you wanted to go into a career in research?
A: Since I was a child, I have always been the person to ask “why” a million times until the response would become “that’s just the way it is”. Although this was frustrating at the time, it helped me develop thought processes to understand how things work and how they could possibly work differently. This is why subjects related to science and math always made sense to me and intrigued me to dive deeper.
After my MPH (Masters in Public Health), I entered the workforce where I got my first taste of research. Although this career path was not planned, it ended up being the perfect fit to satisfy my personal desires for diving deeper into science and following my career ambitions. Having a career in research allowed me to pair my innate curiosity, problem solving skills, and strategic thinking with my passion for improving the lives of others. This is why my career in research has been very fulfilling.
Q: What is a work-related accomplishment you are proud of?
A: Although I am newish to HRI I am most proud of the advancements we have made towards submitting grant applications to support our research. In just Q1 of 2025, I have been able to submit for more funding than the entire year of 2024. Throughout my tenure at HRI, I have met some very skilled and passionate individuals at all levels. The more grant submissions we can complete, and awards obtained, the more I know that passion and talent can grow our research programs, which will help inevitably improve the lives of our friends, families, and communities.
Q: Why is it so important to encourage younger and diverse groups to pursue a career in research?
A: Growing up in a military family and moving every 1-2 two years afforded me the opportunity to meet a lot of different individuals from around the world. This experience made it apparent to me that we as a society need to value the strength that diversity brings. Encouraging diverse groups of individuals to enter research will bring in different perspectives, passions, problem solving skills, and outlooks.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?
A: I recently moved to the great city of Scottsdale with my fiancé and three pets (golden retriever and 2 cats) after living all over Texas for the past 17 years (Hook’em Horns). Although, it is a big change, I am excited to embrace this new stage in my life and explore the state of Arizona and everything it has to offer. I love to travel, attend festivals and try new restaurants. Feel free to reach out with suggestions if you feel so inclined. 😊
