Hallo!

My name is Mckenna Bowes, and I am a rising senior molecular biology major with minors in chemistry, creative writing, and German. In a couple of days, I will be traveling to Graz, Austria for the Comparative Healthcare in Graz program. I am thrilled for this upcoming month, and I cannot wait to share my experiences with you, but first a quick introduction!

A large part of my identity, both personally and professionally, is tied to my autoimmune disease. Towards the end of high school, I received a lupus diagnosis. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can flare at unexpected points. It impacts everyone differently, but often involves joint pain, fatigue, and, in severe cases, organ involvement. My experiences receiving a diagnosis and working alongside my team of physicians to navigate this disease has largely motivated me to pursue a career as a doctor. The first area I sought involvement in was research. During my first year at Pitt, I joined Dr. Sawalha’s lab, which examines genetics and epigenetics in autoimmune diseases. Working the lab has not only provided me with the opportunity to grow as a scientist but has also allowed me to grow as a patient advocate and appreciate/value the patient voice in lupus care. Over the last couple of years, I have traveled to numerous lupus research conferences to participate in patient advocacy groups and speak with physicians to learn more about their approaches to lupus care. These experiences have been incredibly valuable and meaningful. Overall, my involvement with research has provided me with a unique blend of scientific knowledge and patient advocacy work, which continue to motivate me to pursue a career in healthcare.

While lupus and science are a large part of my life, I cannot image my undergraduate career without my involvement with the German department. I have always been passionate about learning a second language. I think it is fun, challenging, and exciting to be able to communicate with someone in their native language. I’ve taken 3 German language classes at Pitt and participated in the Pitt in Munich study abroad program, where I spent 4 weeks focused on German language. The program was incredible; I was able to apply what I learned in the classroom and completely dedicate my time to learning German. This past semester, I also served as a department student ambassador, which provided me with the chance to get even more involved. I presented to German classes about studying abroad, attended department events (intended to promote German), and spoke to high school students about taking German in college. My experiences learning German have sparked an interest in continuing to learn languages, travel to new places, and take risks.

Ultimately, my interests in science/healthcare and German have led me to the Comparative Healthcare in Graz program. During this program, I will spend 3 weeks in Austria, where I will learn about the history of healthcare in the United States. I will also learn about the healthcare system in Austria, ultimately allowing me to compare the two systems. Even though there is no language aspect to this program, I will be able to practice my German outside of the classroom, whether it be ordering at restaurants or navigating the public transportation systems. Then, I will travel to Slovenia for 1 week, exposing me to another healthcare system. Given that my experiences in with healthcare have been limited to the United States, I am excited to see how similar (or different) other systems are. I anticipate that what I learn will provide me with new and unexpected perspectives, which will be valuable as I continue towards a career as a physician. I do not doubt that this study abroad experience will allow me to grow both as a student and person. Beyond this, I am excited to explore a new part of the world, and I am fortunate that I will be able to experience it alongside fellow Panthers.

Overall, I am incredibly fortunate for the community that the Frederick Honors College and the University of Pittsburgh have given me. This community has fostered an environment that has allowed me to continue to explore my interests, pushes me to discover new areas and take risks, and blend my personal and academic goals. In addition, I want to express how much I appreciate the Martinson Elevate Award, which helps make wonderful opportunities such as these a reality. 

Thanks for reading and be sure to check back in a couple of weeks. Until then! 

Bis bald, Österreich!