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Meghan Dryburgh is Living in the Moment

As a COVID-19 shutdown-era teen, Meghan Dryburgh has made a mission out of turning challenging circumstances into fuel for success. A graduate of Baldwin High School in 2021, Dryburgh experienced the loss of many teenage milestones in those isolating years, but emerged with an attitude that “when circumstances are beyond our control, we can continue to grow and make the most of the opportunities we are given.” 

And she’s done just that—she triumphed as a basketball athlete at Washington & Jefferson College, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in biology. Now, she works at UPMC in the Hipwell Laboratory as a Research Assistant in Basic Science, and as assistant coach for the women's basketball team at Oakland Catholic High School. 

Dryburgh’s interest was first piqued by an internship at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts, full of fascinating hand-on research. Her current position helps support the Pittsburgh Girls Study, a long-term research project examining how biological, social, and environmental factors influence health across the lifespan of mothers and children. Her work includes processing human biospecimens according to strict research protocols, the detail work for the large study. “What I enjoy most is knowing that my work contributes to something bigger than myself and has the ability to make a meaningful impact on people's lives,” she declares.

Her impact isn’t just in the science world—Dryburgh’s college athletic career has a litany of awards, including 4x All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) selection, 2x PAC Player of the Year, and 2 PAC Championships. And most excitingly, her team (25–26) won the first-ever NCAA Tournament game in Washington & Jefferson’s women's basketball history!

Taking stock of her time in Baldwin-Whitehall School District and in college, Dryburgh encourages today’s students to “cherish every practice, game, and moment because those opportunities don't last forever.” To her student athletes, she promises to bring positivity as well, saying, “I hope to not only help these girls learn and grow as players, but also encourage them to live in the moment and cherish it all along the way.” Wise words from the Baldwin alum!