Haley Ward '18
Bachelor's degree in biology and pre-med
Pathology Resource Technologist at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
When Haley Ward started her collegiate career, she didn’t just bring her intelligence and a passion for her sport, she brought ambition, resilience and determination to make a difference. Today, as a Pathology Resource Technologist at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, she’s using her passion to make an impact by helping discover new treatment options in the fight against cancer.
A 2018 Pitt-Bradford graduate in biology and pre-med, Haley went on to earn her master’s degree in pathology from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 2021. This path wasn’t easy, though. The medical field demands focus, long hours, and constant preparation, but Haley balanced it all while competing as a collegiate athlete and excelling academically.
Her love for bowling began at age five, inspired by her mom and dad. Pitt-Bradford felt like the perfect fit. It was close to her home in Machias, N.Y., and a chance to continue her athletic career.
“I loved Pitt-Bradford because of the small class sizes; it made professors more approachable,” she said. She also appreciated how the athletics program supported academics. One of her proudest moments was winning the AMCC title as a freshman, an experience that bonded her team and left lasting memories. In addition, Haley hopes to coach collegiate bowling and give back to student-athletes like herself.
Balancing athletics and a pre-med load taught her discipline, time management, and how to thrive under pressure. These qualities carry into her work every day. Haley had always felt drawn to healthcare, but her father’s cancer diagnosis made that calling personal.
“When my dad was diagnosed with cancer, I knew I wanted to help other families and be someone who could help them through it,” she said.
Now, her lab studies tissue from cancer surgeries to help find new treatments. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that her work helps other labs publish research that may lead to life-saving breakthroughs. For Haley, oncology isn’t just a career, it’s a passion rooted in adversity and her family’s story.