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The Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (VEC), in collaboration with our partners, the Public Health Association of British Columbia, Kids Boost Immunity, Immunize Canada and the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), are pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Maurice R. Hilleman Essay Contest. Eight winners were celebrated during a virtual event hosted by Dr. Paul Offit, VEC Director and Dr. Hilleman biographer. The students composed their essays in response to the writing prompt, “Dr. Hilleman made his impact on the world through the development of vaccines. What scientific issue would you take on if given the chance and why?” Entries were diverse in the topics they described, including essays about medical research for conditions including Alzheimer’s and dementia, cancers, diabetes, rare genetic disorders, addiction, and mental health. Some students wrote about engineering solutions for fusion energy, improved medical equipment, vehicle engines, Artificial Intelligence, and nanotechnology. Others focused on the intersection of science and society, considering topics such as climate change, women’s health equity, health insurance, the ethics of human experimentation and organ donation, and misinformation and distrust in science, among others.

The winners from Canada are:
 

 
The winners from the Unites States are:
 

In their consideration of the impact they would make on the world, the student winners addressed a variety of issues: 

• Jade Amberg wrote her original essay in French and spoke about her desire to “join the fight against dementia.” She shared a personal tragedy of losing a loved one to the affliction and noted its growing threat, observing: “It's only a matter of time before we have neither the infrastructure, resources or personnel needed to accommodate this colossal wave of people living with dementia.” But she also urged hope because “the positive side of dementia is that it is partly preventable,” saying, “Let's act right now, for the next generation.”
   
• Lexie Gordon wrote that she would “take on the scientific issue of creating reliable BCI [Brain Computer Interface] technology that is accessible to all who need it.” She highlighted existing research, noting that, “These successes demonstrate the potential this technology possesses to change the lives of those with neurological disorders and provides faces for why this research is so important.” She also reflected on the current situation, stating that although there are cost and access concerns, “this scientific issue is the perfect avenue to create a better world and advance understanding of the brain.”
   
• Mara McClellan asked, “How can we develop cancer treatments that harm the cancer, not the person?” By sharing a personal story about a family member’s cancer, Mara illustrated the challenges of cancer treatment today, writing “Each option was an effective weapon in the battle against her cancer, but each treatment would inflict collateral damage on her entire body.” In her essay, Mara explored ways in which reality can match her “dream of a future where such treatments exist, do not cause major side effects, and are affordable and accessible for all cancer patients.”
   
• Pramathas Paul examined mechanisms and potential treatments of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) “because the disease does not have a therapeutic cure.” Although the disease can be severe, he noted that prevention is possible and considered the benefits of “researching the disease’s weakness and using that to create a cure.” Pramathas cited a quote from Alice Morse Earle to end on a positive note, pointing out that, “To have a fulfilling life, it takes determination, but we also need to look at the positive side. ‘Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day. Focus on the good, no matter how diminutive it is.’”
   
• Jacob Rogers spoke of his desire to "study how neuroplasticity can help children with ADD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) overcome their symptoms without taking medication.” He discussed how human brains heal through the lens of his family and noted that “Medications come with side effects.” With this understanding, Jacob wrote of his hope that research in neuroplasticity “could lead to a low cost and accessible treatment option for children with attention disorders worldwide.”
   
• Kai Salgado wondered, “What if the problem doesn’t look like a problem at all?” He imagined taking on the challenge of regulating technology “in a more balanced way,” expressing that it “has many benefits that, if used properly, could be very beneficial for learning, connecting, and innovating.” In considering the risks of technology use, Kai wrote that he, hopes for “more honesty about the dangers so that parents can make healthier choices for their children.”
   
• Esther Schonberger would "work on solving the problem of clean drinking water for all.” She compared the relative ease of finding safe water near her home to the difficulties of others around the world, reflecting that, “Knowing that people struggle with this when I live so close to what appears to be all of the water in the world is powerful.” She looked to Dr. Hilleman as a role model in this crisis, saying “When Dr. Hilleman observed a catastrophe spiraling downhill around him, that of children dying from illnesses, he did something about it.”
   
• Hayden Wu aspired to “to contribute to the treatment of neurological diseases and propel the progress of artificial intelligence through discovering the brain.” He pointed out that, “Despite rapid medical advancements in the past decade, the human brain remains an intricate puzzle waiting to be solved,” and considered how such knowledge could be applied to “push the limits of scientific knowledge and improve health outcomes.”

The celebratory event, held virtually on May 3, 2024, marked the sixth year of the contest and included a keynote address from Dr. Andrew Steenhoff, Medical Director at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Global Health Center. Dr. Kirstin J. Milks, President-Elect of the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), Craig Thompson from the Public Health Association of British Columbia, and Lorraine Hilleman, Dr. Hilleman’s wife, also offered remarks. Along with presenting their winning essays during the event, the students attended an informal virtual gathering with the event speakers prior to the celebration.  

Teachers named in each student’s winning entry received a signed copy of a book written by Paul A. Offit, MD, and a 1-year, complimentary membership to the National Association of Biology Teachers, graciously provided by NABT.

Read the 2024 winning essays here.

Learn more about Dr. Hilleman’s life and work.