Same first name. Same major. One very good roommate assignment.

Courtney Gardner and Courtney Riley were first matched as roommates during Clarkson’s Honors Pre-frosh Summer Research program. Both studied biomolecular science, and between movie nights, water balloon fights, and attempts at the Village Diner’s “Flapjack Attack,” they quickly became “The Courtneys”, all before their first fall semester had even started.

Then there was the music. Both were involved in the Golden Knotes, which became a big part of their college experience. Riley remembers its early days as a small group singing together in a classroom, before it grew into an a cappella group ready to take the stage.

“For the last 20 years Courtney has been my family,” Riley shared. “She has been by my side for life’s biggest moments, both good and bad.”

From Lab Coats to White Coats

Both came to Clarkson interested in research, and both ultimately became doctors. Discovering that path, though, was part of the process.

Both credit Honors with helping them build connections and think beyond the next exam. Riley especially valued classes that encouraged students to explore different perspectives and tackle complex problems. “This has a much greater real-world application than memorizing for the next test!” she noted.

For Gardner, getting involved in research early helped her understand what she enjoyed and what she wanted from a career. Honors alumni connections opened doors to summer research at the University of Rochester, where she later completed medical school and residency.

“The ability to participate in research right away at Clarkson through the Honors Program taught me wonderful transferable skills and also helped me realize that while I loved research, it wasn’t what I wanted to do as my career,” Gardner said.

Riley’s decision to move toward medicine came during a late night in the lab. Really late: at 3 a.m. transferring cell lines. Research had taught her how to manage her time, pay attention to details, and keep going when things were difficult. It also helped her figure out what she didn’t want to do forever. Bench research wasn’t it, so she began thinking more seriously about medicine.

And now? 

Gardner works in primary care and enjoys balancing patient care with teaching and mentoring residents in the University of Rochester’s Internal Medicine and Pediatrics program. She’s helping the next generation of physicians learn in the same place where she did so much learning herself. 

Outside of work, she’s traveling with her husband and children and making memories along the way. She also has a podcast, Points Everywhere, where she shares their adventures and discusses how points and miles help pay for those trips.

Riley is Gifford Healthcare’s Chief Medical Officer and a practicing pediatrician in Vermont. She continues to grow as a healthcare leader while staying connected to the pediatric care she loves. She’s also starting an Emory healthcare leadership program this fall, which means the highlighters and four-color retractable pens are coming back out. Some school supplies are worth returning to. Her approach: work hard, stay open to challenges, and leave a little room for serendipity.

After all, a chance roommate assignment brought the Courtneys together in the first place. Their paths have taken them far beyond Clarkson, but 20 years later, their friendship remains a constant. Not bad for a little serendipity.