Student: Natalie McBryde

Senior Natalie McBryde has combined her passion for helping others with interests in exercise, psychology and mental health at East Carolina University.

McBryde, who is earning a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology in the College of Health and Human Performance and a minor in psychology, will graduate in December. She will enroll in graduate school with a career goal of becoming a physical therapist in an underserved area.

“In my surrounding communities, I noticed that there were a lot of gaps within the quality of health care that was being provided to those in need, especially in underserved communities,” said McBryde, who is from Holly Springs.

Her path to medicine wasn’t always clear, she said. She was interested in the psychological aspects behind exercise, mental health and the quality of life that people experience after undergoing medical treatment.

“While having a passion for helping others and pursuing medicine, I also had a passion for exploration in exercise research and the impacts that mental health can have on one’s ability to exercise and perform,” she said. “After evaluating my career path, it made me think. Why can’t I have both?”

Studying exercise physiology at ECU was a perfect fit. A high school athlete, McBryde said she struggled with her own self-efficacy both on and off the court.

Natalie McBryde works in the STAR lab at ECU.

“I’m familiar with experiencing the highs and lows that can come with participating in a sport, and they seemed to affect me both mentally and physically,” McBryde said. She said family, coaches and friends provided valuable support during those setbacks.

“I wouldn’t be the person that I am today, which is why helping others is so important to me,” she said. “In my future career, I would like to implement impactful rehabilitation strategies, positive thinking and affirming mental health practices to help patients focus on the mental aspects that come along with the improvements associated with their own physical health.”

ECU was at the top of McBryde’s list when she applied to college. She grew up spending Saturdays at football games in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, falling in love with Pirate Nation. Her parents, Susan and Victor, met at ECU where her father played football, graduating in 1993.

On campus, McBryde has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to health and exercise, working in several research labs at ECU.

She’s an undergraduate research assistant in the Department of Physical Therapy’s Sensorimotor Testing and Rehabilitation (STAR) lab, working with Dr. Chia-Cheng Lin and Dr. Stacey Meardon on a study about fall risks and intervention strategies in older populations.

“Working in the STAR Lab has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” McBryde said. “It has given me the tools to succeed in my future career.”

McBryde also has been a student research assistant intern at the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, studying the effects of statin medication on exercise with Dr. Darrell Neufer.

And she’s been a research volunteer in the TEAM-OPPS (Optimizing Psychology in Performance Settings) laboratory at ECU, applying what she’s learned in her program in a clinical setting. The lab is focused on helping athletes become the best version of themselves on and off the field. “It has definitely had the biggest impact on my experiences as an undergraduate student today,” McBryde said.

What advice do you have for other students? Always believe in yourself, you are much more capable than you may make yourself out to be. Believe in yourself and DO IT ALL!

What is something cool about ECU that you wish you knew during your first year? ECU has an immense amount of on-campus opportunities for students looking to get involved in their interests and to join communities that foster positive and serving environments. I would encourage first-year students to try and get involved in clubs, sports and volunteer organizations before they graduate.