COMMUNITY ADVOCATE
Serena Mooney’s passion for the elderly led her to medical school
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Serena Mooney leverages her passion for overlooked communities and advocacy as a future health care professional to shape her community.
Mooney will graduate from East Carolina University on May 8 with her Bachelor of Science in public health studies and her Bachelor of Arts in multidisciplinary studies with an international studies concentration. In the fall, she will begin classes at ECU’s Brody School of Medicine.
Pursuing a medical degree is tied to her desire to help forgotten communities, especially the aging population.
“I grew up with my grandma and she’s been influential in my life. She’s part of the reason why I want to go into medicine,” Mooney said.
This led Mooney to creating a campus organization, People Helping the Aging Community Thrive, which focuses on raising awareness and serving the elderly in Greenville, and becoming involved with the American Medical Students Association (AMSA).
“I didn’t know before this club that medical students and physicians could be advocates for their patients, even outside of the clinic, and they have the right to speak out because they see what their patients are going through and the difficulties they face firsthand,” she said.
Through AMSA, Mooney participated in two advocacy days where students visited legislators on Capitol Hill to discuss important health topics such as student loan debt reduction and gun violence prevention research.
Pursuing a medical degree is tied to Mooney’s desire to help forgotten communities, especially the aging population.
“I think as constituents and future health care professionals it’s important that we speak out on topics that affect our community,” she said.
Mooney credits many of her college experiences to her membership in the ECU Honors College and EC Scholars program.
“They allowed me to meet my best friend. They let me study abroad for two summers in a row,” she said. “I was able to get involved with the community and grow my leadership skills. I don’t think I would have been able to find myself or my passions without the Honors College and EC Scholars’ support.”
A few of those experiences include interning at the East Carolina Heart Institute, performing undergraduate research at Brody, and volunteering with the North Carolina Science Olympiad and the Pitt County Care Clinic and Greenville Community Shelter Clinic.
Mooney shadowed doctors in Budapest, Hungary, as part of the Atlantis program.
She also studied abroad, learning Spanish in Granada, Spain, and shadowing doctors in Budapest, Hungary, as a part of the Atlantis program.
Mooney received several scholarships and awards while at ECU but the one that holds the most meaning to her is the Robert H. Wright Alumni Leadership Award.
“It was actually kind of special because my sister won the same award five years ago when she was a senior at ECU,” she said. “Being able to continue that family legacy is really important and special to me.”
STATISTICS
Name: Serena Mooney
College: College of Health and Human Performance; Thomas Harriot College of Arts & Sciences
Major: Public Health Studies (Pre-Health Professions); International Studies (Global Health)
Age: 22
Classification/Year: Senior
Hometown: Winterville, N.C.
Hobbies/Interests: Fashion & beauty, hiking, traveling, and fusion cooking
Clubs and organizations: People Helping the Aging Community Thrive, American Medical Students Association, EC Scholars Roundtable, The ELITE Pirates, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Honors College
FAVORITES
Favorite hangout: The Health Sciences Student Center
Favorite place on campus: The outside tables behind the Rivers building. It’s a great place to study when the weather is nice!
Favorite place to eat: Bangkok Thai or Cinnamon’s Indian Cuisine
Favorite class: ANTH 3252: Medical Anthropology and NUTR 1010: Cultural Foods
Professor who influenced you the most: Dr. Lei Xu and Dr. Abby Schwartz
Favorite TV show: “Parks & Recreation”
Favorite band/musician: BTS
Favorite movie: The entire Harry Potter movie series
MOTIVATIONS
Dream job: Physician. I want to integrate my passions for public health and advocacy to provide the best care for my patients both inside and outside the clinic.
Role model: My grandmother, the strongest and most selfless woman I know!
Your words to live by: Never place your value in the hands of others.
What advice do you have for other students? Never be afraid to ask for help. Everyone at ECU wants to see you succeed and will go out of their way to do so.
What is something cool about ECU that you wish you knew during your first year? The Wellness Center has massage chairs and free coffee for all students!