AbbVie Unveils Unique Contest to Support Migraine Sufferers in Their Careers

AbbVie has launched a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower individuals living with migraine to advance their professional development and career aspirations. The AbbVie Migraine Career Catalyst Award™ contest invites migraine sufferers to participate for a chance to win financial prizes of up to $2,500, which can be used for career support, including counseling, professional development programs, and networking opportunities.

AbbVie Unveils Unique Contest to Support Migraine Sufferers in Their Careers
AbbVie Unveils Unique Contest to Support Migraine Sufferers in Their Careers

AbbVie has launched a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower individuals living with migraine to advance their professional development and career aspirations. The AbbVie Migraine Career Catalyst Award™ contest invites migraine sufferers to participate for a chance to win financial prizes of up to $2,500, which can be used for career support, including counseling, professional development programs, and networking opportunities.

The launch of this contest underscores AbbVie’s commitment to addressing the significant impact of migraine in the workplace. With over 113 million workdays lost annually in the U.S. due to migraine and its symptoms, the need for supportive measures is evident. Jag Dosanjh, Senior Vice President of AbbVie and President of Neuroscience and Eye Care, emphasized the company’s dedication to the migraine community, stating, “With the launch of the AbbVie Migraine Career Catalyst Award, we're taking our commitment to the migraine community beyond the medicine and hoping to empower migraine patients to pursue their career goals with confidence.”

Migraine is recognized as the second leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting millions globally and nearly 40 million people in the U.S. alone. Studies such as the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) study and the more recent CaMEO-International study reveal the substantial stigma faced by migraine sufferers in the workplace. Many individuals feel that their migraine attacks are perceived by colleagues and supervisors as excuses to shirk responsibilities, contributing to a challenging work environment.

Dr. Dawn Buse, Clinical Professor of Neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, a Fellow of the American Headache Society (AHS), and a board member of the Headache Cooperative of the Pacific (HCOP), highlighted the debilitating nature of common migraine symptoms. These include heightened sensitivity to lights, sounds, and smells, nausea, intense pain, and difficulty thinking clearly, all of which can severely impact an individual's ability to work. Dr. Buse noted that recent advances in migraine management provide more options than ever before for sufferers to live their lives as they wish, both professionally and personally. This contest, she remarked, is a significant step towards supporting migraine sufferers in their career journeys.

Individuals living with migraine are encouraged to enter the contest by visiting the official website at migrainecareercatalyst.com. Participants can submit their entries in one of three formats: an essay of up to 3,000 characters, a video no longer than three minutes, or an audio clip of the same length. Submissions should describe their personal experience with migraine, their career goals, and how the award could help them achieve these aspirations.

The submission period for the AbbVie Migraine Career Catalyst Award™ is now open and will close at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on September 3, 2024. The winners will be announced on or around November 15, 2024. For complete contest rules, interested individuals should visit migrainecareercatalyst.com.

No purchase is necessary to enter the contest. It is open to legal residents of the fifty United States, D.C., and Puerto Rico, who are 18 years of age or older. The approximate retail value of each prize is $2,500. The odds of winning depend on the number and quality of entries received. All entries must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. ET on September 3, 2024. Eligibility requirements and restrictions apply. Full contest rules are available at MIGRAINECAREERCATALYST.COM. The contest is sponsored by AbbVie Inc.