Q&A: AbbVie Immunology Scholarships Provide Support for Students With Chronic Immune-Mediated Diseases

AbbVie recently announced the recipients of its 2024-2025 Immunology Scholarship, supporting 45 students living with chronic inflammatory diseases in pursuing higher education.¹ The scholarship, divided equally across dermatology, gastroenterology, and rheumatology areas, is awarded based on academic achievement, community leadership, and personal essays.

AbbVie aims to alleviate the financial burden on students facing challenges due to their conditions. Recipients like LaWanda McCraney, a PhD candidate at Adler University, highlight the significance of this support in validating their determination and perseverance in achieving personal and professional goals despite daily health struggles.

The scholarship is open to students across various degree programs and is not contingent on the use of AbbVie products. Applications for the 2025-2026 period will be available on the newly relaunched AbbVie Immunology Scholarship website.

Elyse Love, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at GlamDerm in New York City, recently shared insights into the scholarship with Dermatology Times, including its impacts for individuals with chronic skin conditions who are also striving for academic success.

Elyse Love, MD | Image Credit: GlamDerm

Q&A

Q: Can you describe some of the common challenges faced by patients with dermatological conditions when pursuing educational and professional goals?

A: Patients living with dermatologic conditions face unique challenges in both educational and professional settings. Physical discomfort, such as itching or pain, can make it difficult to focus on work or studies, especially when compounded by exhaustion from sleep disturbances. On top of that, the visible nature of skin conditions can lead to social stigma, causing anxiety or self-consciousness, which undermines confidence and can affect academic or career performance.

For many, like Viva Rasé, an AbbVie Immunology Scholarship recipient, it feels like constantly pushing a boulder uphill—balancing academic and professional responsibilities with the emotional weight of a chronic illness.

Q: In what ways do you think the AbbVie Immunology Scholarship supports students living with chronic dermatological conditions? How does it address both financial and emotional challenges?

A: The AbbVie Immunology Scholarship eases financial pressure faced by students living with chronic disease by covering tuition and educational expenses, which allows students to focus on their academic goals rather than the costs of higher education.

Beyond financial relief, the scholarship provides emotional validation and encouragement to the students, recognizing the resilience and determination required to succeed despite the challenges posed by a chronic condition. By empowering students to pursue their academic goals, the scholarship fosters a sense of hope and confidence, showing that their condition doesn’t have to define or limit their future.

Q: How does receiving this scholarship validate the resilience and dedication of students who are dealing with chronic skin conditions?

A: This scholarship is a powerful acknowledgment of the perseverance and hard work these students exhibit every day despite the challenges of living with a chronic condition. They are capable of achieving their academic and career goals and this kind of validation motivates them to continue pushing forward with confidence.

Q: Do you have any stories or examples of students whose lives have been positively impacted by receiving the AbbVie Immunology Scholarship?

A: The AbbVie Immunology Scholarship has made a remarkable impact on students' lives since its inception in 2016. Recipients have shared how it has alleviated their financial stress and has been transformative in catalyzing their futures, allowing them to concentrate fully on their studies andaspirations.

For scholarship recipients like Lauren Leung, the award made her feel recognized and supported as a student excelling in her studies while managing a chronic condition. For others, like Viva, who I mentioned previously, it was an acknowledgment of the extra effort it takes to balance schoolwork and health, making her journey with disease feel less isolated.

These stories reflect the broader impact of the scholarship—it empowers them to focus on their long-term goals with renewed determination.

Q: How do you see initiatives like the AbbVie Immunology Scholarship influencing the broader conversation about chronic illness and higher education?

A: The AbbVie Immunology Scholarship helps shift the conversation about chronic illness in higher education. It highlights the achievements of students facing additional challenges due to their health, showing that with the right support, they can excel academically and professionally.

This scholarship encourages a broader discussion about the importance of offering more inclusive support within higher education for students with chronic conditions, and ultimately extending patient care to every aspect of their lives- including academics.

Q: What advice would you give to students with dermatological conditions who are considering applying for this scholarship or pursuing higher education despite their health challenges?

A: My advice is to apply and take advantage of the opportunity. This scholarship provides an opportunity for not only financial support, but also to feel supported in your academic and health journey.

Q: What role do health care providers play in supporting students with chronic conditions who are pursuing higher education, and how can they best support these students?

A: Health care providers are essential in offering both medical and emotional support to students with chronic conditions. Beyond managing their treatment, providers can help students balance their health with their academic responsibilities, offering guidance on how to manage flare-ups or other health-related obstacles with minimal disturbance to their studies. By connecting students to resources like the AbbVie Immunology Scholarship or patient advocacy groups, health care providers can better support the whole patient.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with dermatology clinicians?

A: Dermatology clinicians should remain mindful of the broader impact that chronic conditions have on patients’ lives, especially for young adults pursuing higher education. Listening carefully to their needs and providing holistic care—considering both the physical and emotional challenges they face—can help empower patients outside the clinical setting.

Reference

1. AbbVie awards scholarships to 45 US students living with chronic immune-mediated diseases. News release. PR Newswire. August 27, 2024. Accessed September 19, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abbvie-awards-scholarships-to-45-us-students-living-with-chronic-immune-mediated-diseases-302230956.html