PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Katrina Holdren
Associate Director, Senior Clinical Research Manager, Pediatric Hematology Oncology at Merck

When Katrina’s Holdren’s niece was diagnosed and later died of a particularly aggressive pediatric brain tumor eight years ago, it set her on a course to focus her career in pediatric oncology.

Graduating from Chatham University with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a master’s from Drexel University in clinical research organization and management, she now manages clinical trials for pediatric cancer at Merck. A single mother, she also is a member of ChadTough Defeat DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma) Foundation and a volunteer for Moms Demand Action, a nonprofit against gun violence.

Even though she wears many hats, she is grateful to have so much passion for all that. “It really is in honor of my niece,” Holdren says. She hopes that one day her work will lead to effective treatments for pediatric brain cancer.