Maryse Waldron is a financial analyst at HonorHealth Research Institute. She had a background in finance but knew there was more to explore. When she volunteered at Arizona State University for contact tracing at the end of the pandemic, that experience opened a new door for her.
“What that did was, it enabled me to expand my job search criteria,” said Waldron. When she interviewed with the research institute, “We both agreed that I had easily transferable skill sets, and the healthcare side that I would support would be something that I could learn on the job.”
Even with no prior medical experience, Waldron finds inspiration in the clinical trials being done at the institute. For more than a year, she has worked with clinical trial agreements, allowing her to see how small parts of the process are connected to create a larger picture.
“It’s a humbling experience to be able to be a part of it in some small fashion,” she said.
While Waldron grew up in New Jersey, her first job out of high school was as a bank teller in one of the largest banks in New York, located in Midtown Manhattan.
“It was a couple blocks south of Central Park and in a building where they did a lot of filming for daytime television,” said Waldron. “It was just really an exciting place to be right out of high school because you’re bright eyed and bushy tailed, so to speak.”
For Waldron, past jobs provided her with an opportunity and a way to grow. She believes that every experience has led her to her current job, which she describes as her dream job.
“If I want to give back to my community or the world around me in some form, I think this job checks that off,” said Waldron. “The work that I support is going to impact the larger global community. I’m not the type of person where my name must be on anything, but just knowing that I helped in some small way warms my soul.”
A large contribution to her optimism is Waldron’s team at the institute.
“Even though each individual has an expertise, we’re looking to see how everyone’s skills overlap so we can support each other,” she said. “I like the fact that we’re learning, and we’re being exposed to what everyone else does.”
She believes young and diverse audiences should consider a career in research, not only for the impact it can have on a community, a country — or even the world — but also the personal connection and passion research can generate to make a difference for future generations.
