Nursing major Serena Fox advocates for those with chronic illness

For many college students, the independence gained by living away from home is undoubtably exciting. But for students with chronic illnesses, the experience can be daunting. This is a fact that nursing major Serena Fox ’23 knows all too well.

Fox has type 1 diabetes, and rather than seeing it as an obstacle, she has learned to view it through a lens of positivity. “I have always wanted to work for other people, simply because I know what it’s like to deal with a chronic illness,” she said. “I have always wanted to be able to give back to people.”

Creating a community of support

Fox is the president of Salve Regina’s chapter of the College Diabetes Network (CDN), which supports students with diabetes in periods of transition. “It’s often someone’s first time away from home, and they have to take care of themselves alone for the first time, which is really daunting,” Fox said. “We offer support and guidance to people that need help, and CDN offers so many resources.”

Fox was recently selected from a national pool of applicants for a NextGen Fellowship, offered by the national chapter of CDN. “I applied on a whim, and it turns out it was actually really selective,” she said. “Only 20 students were chosen nationally, so I am representing Salve as one of the fellowship recipients.”

Through the NextGen Fellowship, Fox is learning to advocate for and educate others about chronic illnesses. There are weekly meetings, and she must organize a community project. There are also opportunities for professional network and mentorship, paid internships and sponsored attendance at a national conference.

Helping others at Hasbro Children’s Hospital

SalveTHON is an annual fundraiser on campus that benefits Hasbro Children’s Hospital. The goal each year is to support Hasbro patients with a chronic illness or disease. As the hospital and family relations chair, Fox is the liaison for families attending the event. This year’s SalveTHON raised more than $17,000.

“It’s a twelve-hour day, and each hour has a certain theme, with a different activity every hour,” Fox said. “This year we had a paint hour, a riff-off and an escape room. We also learn a dance throughout the day.”

Fox’s dedication to Hasbro Children’s Hospital goes beyond her work with SalveTHON. As a Hasbro patient for her diabetes, she strives to be a role model and support others who are following in her footsteps. For the past three years, she has mentored teenagers through Hasbro’s Adolescent Leadership Council.

Through the council, Fox works alongside social workers and psychiatrists in group meetings with teenagers who are being treated at Hasbro or have a chronic illness. Each meeting has a theme, such as planning for the future, advocacy and how to approach medical appointments. The goal is to build the confidence for teens to independently manage their illness.

Fox hopes to carry these experiences into her career as she aims to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. She has a clear goal in mind, and she is finding unique ways to gain the knowledge she needs to achieve her dreams.

Fox (left) serves on Hasbro Children’s Hospital’s Adolescent Leadership Council as a mentor for teens with chronic illnesses.

Article by student writer Anna Downes ’22