Dawson Nailor was diagnosed with leukemia in June 2007, two weeks before his fifth birthday. At age 4, Ellie Koerner received the same diagnosis three days before Christmas that year. Both spent weeks at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and were then treated at CHOP's Specialty Care & Surgery Center in Voorhees, New Jersey, undergoing various procedures and rigorous chemotherapy.
Since then, despite living 10 minutes from each other in South Jersey, the two had no direct contact until Nailor approached Koerner in their first few days in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Nailor, aware of Koerner's cancer-advocacy initiatives in the years since their treatment and remissions, thought he recognized her and took a chance, asking if she was the girl who battled the same disease at the same clinic all those years ago.
“He said, ‘Can I ask you a crazy question? Did you have leukemia as a kid?’” Koerner recalled. “He sits down and then we're catching up, and we know all the same people. We know all the same doctors.”
“It was a crazy scene to be having this conversation,” she added.
Their care teams inspired them to pursue medical school. Nailor feels called to pediatric oncology, not just to give back to the field that saved his life “but to be a source of joy, strength and understanding for children facing the same challenges I once did.”
“I hope to one day provide not only excellent medical care but also emotionally grounded, honest conversations that help families navigate such a difficult time with compassion,” he said.
Until recently, Nailor and Koerner approached their experiences with cancer differently. During elementary and middle school, Nailor didn't talk about it, fearing potential stigma. A high school biology class led him to understand more about the body and ultimately made him proud of what he had overcome. He organized Relay for Life teams in ninth and 10th grades and led the event for his high school in his junior and senior years.
Outgoing and outspoken, Koerner has been much more public about her experience, starting the Ellie Koerner Leukemia Foundation, raising funds, and organizing a major annual toy and supply drive to benefit CHOP and a local Ronald McDonald House. She and her family have also spoken at THON, the massive student-run philanthropy effort and dance marathon at Penn State—her alma mater—to support those affected by childhood cancer. Both she and Nailor are involved in CHOP's Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program.
Upon seeing each other at the start of medical school, they sent a photo to their mothers to share the news of the impromptu reunion. A few weeks later, the families reconnected ahead of the PCOM Class of 2029 White Coat ceremony that formally marks the beginning of medical students' journeys to becoming physicians.
Although running into each other during orientation was a shock, their paths to PCOM aren't a surprise. Nailor's former pediatrician and mentor is a PCOM graduate. Koerner's father, David, and grandfather, Theodore, are both alumni. She is interested in pursuing family medicine or dermatology.
Heading into the recent White Coat ceremony, they reflected on how deeply their care teams impacted them. Social workers, nurses and doctors felt like friends, lifting their spirits.
“I saw firsthand the doctor I want to be,” Nailor said. “A friend first because I saw how important that feeling was as a patient. I want to be the reason a child is not afraid or upset during treatment—to be their light during one of the darkest times of their lives.”
Koerner said their white coats are “a testament to our hard work and our strength and determination.”
“Not only did we fight through cancer for two-plus years,” she said. “We went beyond the diagnosis and are now dedicating the rest of our life to being doctors and giving back in the most hands-on way you pretty much can.”
Established in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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