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Jan 20, 2025, 12:11

Catharine Young: Real progress doesn’t happen in isolation

Catharine Young, Former Assistant Director of Cancer Moonshot Policy and International Engagement at The White House, posted on LinkedIn:

“Today, as my time at the White House and the Biden Cancer Moonshot comes to an end, I am overwhelmed with a sense of deep gratitude and awe for the extraordinary journey I’ve been privileged to take – a journey defined by people, purpose, and the relentless pursuit of hope.

This wasn’t a 9-5 job – it was a mission to make the impossible possible. Every single day, I was inspired by the incredible humans who I was so lucky to cross paths with. Patients who face unimaginable challenges with such courage and grace, sharing their stories to drive change and teaching me about the true meaning of life. Parents and advocates who turn their unimaginable grief into action, pushing for a better future for those they will probably never meet. Scientists, physicians, and innovators who work tirelessly to reimagine the art of possible in cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and care. And the best team, and I mean the best, who poured their ENTIRE hearts and souls into this work, driven by a singular belief: that we can and must do better for humanity.

As an immigrant who grew up in South Africa this was a future I could not have possibly fathomed. And so this chapter has also been a testament to the limitless opportunities America can offer, where doors once unimaginable are opened, and dreams of making a difference become reality.

Through it all, I learned that real progress doesn’t happen in isolation – it happens when people come together, united by a common vision. It happens in those quiet moments of resilience and empathy. It happens through the many tears and overwhelming frustration of trying to change a seemingly unchangeable system. It happens when people refuse to give up, no matter how daunting the road ahead. It happens through the emergence and glimmer of hope.

To everyone who made this chapter of my life SO extraordinary, thank you. Thank you for your vision, your determination, your partnership, and for allowing me to be a small part of your life. You reminded me every day that when we lead with purpose, we create ripples of change far beyond what we can see or feel.

And while this chapter may be closing, the work is far from over. The hope the President and First Lady have created, the lives touched, the possibilities unlocked, will be carried forward because people – amazing, wonderful, incredible people like you who are driven by hope and a will to see a better tomorrow – are unstoppable.”