Serena Kim is a second-year medical student at Baylor College of Medicine with a strong background in research, leadership, service, and patient advocacy. She graduated from Rice University with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Biochemistry & Cell Biology, earning a 3.98 GPA and a 521 MCAT score. Her work bridges medicine, research, and community engagement. Serena has contributed to translational and clinical research at institutions including MD Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine, with projects focused on breast cancer therapeutics, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord stimulation, opioid safety, and gender disparities in pain medicine. She has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented research nationally at conferences including AACR, KAMA, APAMSA, and ASN Kidney Week. Beyond research, Serena is deeply committed to community outreach and humanistic medicine. She volunteers through programs including Kidney Koaches at Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor’s Longitudinal Community Care Practice, and Rusk Academy health fairs, where she develops accessible health education initiatives for underserved populations. As a bilingual Korean-English speaker, she is passionate about reducing healthcare disparities and improving communication for patients facing language barriers. Serena hopes to continue integrating clinical medicine, research, mentorship, and advocacy to improve patient care and advance health equity. She is interested in specialising in pediatric oncology or pain management.

• PSYC 480 Grader Communicated with students regarding grading and course expectations while assisting faculty with exam development and course administration.

  Higher Education · Rice University

  Jan 2022 – Jan 2023

• PSYC 202 Teaching Assistant Graded assignments and exams, developed midterm questions, and provided individualized academic support and course guidance to students.

  Higher Education · Rice University

  Jan 2021 – Jan 2023

• CHEM 212 Grader Supported the instructional team through exam grading, course logistics, and assessment coordination for undergraduate organic chemistry students.

  Higher Education · Rice University

  Jan 2022 – Jan 2022

• Head Fellow: Provided individualized tutoring in psychology, organic chemistry, and Korean while mentoring students on effective study strategies and leading exam review sessions.

  Higher Education · Brown College Academic Fellow

  Jan 2021 – Jan 2023

• Medical Assistant

  Medicine · NuAdvance Orthopedics and Hand Center

  Jan 2022 – Jan 2023

• Advocacy
• Politics
• Volunteering
• Philanthropy
• Entrepreneurship

• Cross-Country Running

  Intramural

  2008 – 2015

• Selected Research Contributor

  Baylor College of Medicine · Medicine

  2026 – Present

  Research topic:

  Medical Education Research

• Student Researcher / Co-Author

  MD Anderson Cancer Center · Medicine

  2024 – Present

  Research topic:

  Neuromodulation and Pain Medicine Outcomes

• Welch Summer Scholar / Research Assistant

  University of Texas at Dallas · Chemistry

  2018 – 2018

  Research topic:

  Solid phase peptide synthesis and gastric inhibitory peptides

• Research Assistant

  Baylor College of Medicine · Medicine

  2020 – 2022

  Research topic:

  Mental health disorders in children and adolescents, including OCD and anxiety

• Full-Time Research Assistant/ Co-author

  MD Anderson Cancer Center · Medicine

  2022 – Present

  Research topic:

  Breast cancer therapeutics, CDK2/CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance

• Sustainable Fashion Designer and Jewelry Artist

  Freelancer · Visual Arts

  2015 – Present

  Productions:

  * Handmade bags created from repurposed secondhand clothing * Handmade jewelry and wearable art pieces * Upcycled fashion and accessory designs

• Classical Violinist and Orchestra Performer

  Houston Youth Symphony; Texas Regional Orchestra · Music

  2015 – 2023

  Productions:

  * Orchestral concert performances * Regional ensemble performances * Youth symphony concerts and seasonal showcases

• Secretary, Volunteer: Coordinated volunteer communication, organized fundraisers, and prepared STEM activity kits supporting hospitalized children and pediatric patients.

  Volunteering · Project Sunshine

  2020 – 2023

  Mission:

  Coordinated volunteer communication, organized fundraisers, and prepared STEM activity kits supporting hospitalized children and pediatric patients.

• Co-chair: Led large-scale community service initiatives, volunteer coordination, and outreach events serving underserved children and families in Houston.

  Advocacy · Rice Student Volunteer Program

  2021 – 2023

  Mission:

  • Oversee budget allocation, discuss and execute volunteer-events with internal and external committee heads, and correspond with marketing chairs to advertise events • Resolve conflict or concerns between executive board members and committee • Correspond with Student Association and organization sponsor to realign vision and goals at the beginning of academic semesters • Organized and hosted “Project Pumpkin,” a fall-themed educational event that provides a safe space for underprivileged children in the Houston community to trick-or-treat • Organized a fundraiser booth for the Ronald McDonald House at Project Pumpkin • Collaborated with more than 50 different organizations and 200 student volunteers at Rice University to provide a variety of fun and educational activities for attendees at Project Pumpkin • Organized and hosted “Outreach Day,” an event connecting Rice University students to volunteer opportunities in the greater Houston Area • Learned about the missions of Project CURE, Plant It Forward, and the Humane Society and packaged over 100 medical kits for Project CURE

• Patient Transporter; Patient Care Volunteer: Assisted with patient transport, discharge logistics, and patient support while providing companionship and contributing over 300 volunteer hours in a hospital setting.

  Volunteering · Houston Methodist Hospital

  2019 – 2023

  Mission:

  • Worked under the patient transportation department to assist in discharging patients using wheelchairs and trans-carts • Assisted the nursing staff by running errands for patients and companioning patients suffering from loneliness • Volunteered over 300 hours over three years

• Volunteer: Created STEM educational materials and mentored underprivileged middle school students through individualized science fair preparation and support.

  Volunteering · BrainSTEM

  2020 – 2021

  Mission:

  Increase access to STEM education for underprivileged middle school students by developing engaging science learning materials, providing individualized mentorship, and supporting students in preparing for academic and science fair success.

• President, College Representative: Led campus mental health initiatives, wellness events, and advocacy programming aimed at reducing stigma and supporting student well-being.

  Advocacy · Rice Alliance for Mental Health Awareness

  2019 – 2023

  Mission:

  • Planned, advertised and hosted multiple study breaks such as “Destress Dead Days” in the school library to provide relief from academic stress • Planned and executed “Mental Health on Display,” an event aimed to destigmatize mental illnesses through the promotion of creative artworks related to mental health • Worked with the Director of the Wellbeing Center to brainstorm event ideas to reduce burdens faced by students due to academic and COVID-19 related stressors • Interviewed wellbeing advisor candidates with other staff members of the Wellbeing Center at Rice University • Collaborated with Baylor College of Medicine to educate students on college students’ common mental health concerns • Research project under the guidance of the well-being director: “The effects of family relationship, familial stigmatization of mental illness, and cognitive-emotion regulation on the depressive and anxiety symptoms of undergraduate students

• Support educational accessibility and academic success for students with disabilities by providing organized, high-quality course notes and learning resources for challenging science courses including physics and organic chemistry.

  Volunteering · Disability Resource Center at Rice University

  2019 – 2023

  Mission:

  Notetaker: Provided organized course notes for students with disabilities to support accessibility and academic success in rigorous science courses.

• President, Music Volunteer: Performed live music for hospitalized patients and coordinated healthcare music volunteer opportunities to promote comfort, connection, and emotional well-being.

  Volunteering · Rice Music MDs

  2019 – 2023

  Mission:

  • Played live music of various genres for patients in their rooms bimonthly to provide relief from boredom, low-spirit, and stress of their hospitalization • Connected members of the organization to music volunteer opportunities at Houston Methodist Hospital, Ben Taub Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital, and various nursing/care homes in Houston • Recorded and sent personalized video recordings embedded into cards of music performances to various medical facilities in Houston during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Performer: Performed live music for patients and community members to promote emotional well-being and humanistic connection through the arts.

  Volunteering · Baylor Art and Music in Patient Care

  2024 – Present

  Mission:

  • Perform live music for patients, residents, and community members at assisted and independent living facilities to promote well-being and therapeutic connection. • Participate in special events, including the Donor Honor Ceremony for the anatomy program, highlighting the role of music and art in fostering humanism in medicine. • Strengthen patient–practitioner relationships by integrating artistic expression into patient care and community outreach.

• Volunteer; Booth Leader: Developed interactive community health education activities focused on preventative care, health literacy, and youth engagement in healthcare.

  Volunteering · Rusk Academy

  2024 – Present

  Mission:

  Promote health literacy and preventative healthcare education for underserved children and families through interactive community health activities and screenings.

• Volunteer: Participated in longitudinal community health initiatives addressing healthcare access, health education, and social determinants of health.

  Public Service (Politics) · Houston Health Department

  2024 – Present

  Mission:

  Support underserved communities through longitudinal community health initiatives focused on health education, social determinants of health, and improving access to care.

• Volunteer; Site Ambassador: Provided mentorship and companionship to pediatric dialysis patients while supporting program development and patient experience initiatives.

  Volunteering · Texas Children’s Hospital

  2024 – 2026

  Mission:

  Provide companionship, mentorship, and emotional support to pediatric dialysis patients