FAIRFIELD, Conn.—Sacred Heart University student Sana Mohammad ’24 is taking full advantage of the opportunities and connections SHU has to offer, and that put her on the front lines during the pandemic, helping to administer COVID-19 vaccinations.
Mohammad was the youngest lead volunteer with the Bridgeport VAX Team, which provided immunizations to residents during the pandemic. Her work caught the attention of Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim, who recently presented her with the city’s Making a Difference award.
Her SHU instructors say Mohammad has been making a difference since she arrived at the University. During her first year of college, she joined Sacred Heart’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), which enabled her to create connections in the health care field and discover her passion for health equity. She worked with the Bridgeport VAX Team during the pandemic, aiding efforts to administer more than 22,500 vaccines in under six months at a small city clinic.
“Sana joined the Sacred Heart MRC early in 2021 and since then has been instrumental in supporting the Bridgeport Health Department’s efforts at vaccine clinics,” said Sofia Pendley, former assistant professor and MRC director at SHU. “She was at almost every Saturday clinic. The health department began to request her for more leadership roles because she was a vital part of the team.”
Mohammad is a biology major on the pre-med track. She chose Sacred Heart over other universities because of its broad training in various areas, such as biological, organismal and molecular studies. She also was impressed by the research opportunities and internships available to SHU students, as well as their career aspirations.
“Hearing about the future career plans of students inspired me to pave my own path in the sciences and to continue pursuing a profession focused on health care and the betterment of people’s lives,” said Mohammad.
She plans to attend medical school after graduating from SHU. She has wanted to go into the medical field since elementary school, when she spent a lot of time visiting her grandfather in the hospital. He suffered from heart problems, which piqued her interest in cardiology.
This past year, Mohammad interned with Bridgeport Hospital’s senior cardiologist. The experience strengthened her desire to focus on patient-centered care in underrepresented communities.
Mohammad’s professors say she has made an incredible impact on Sacred Heart’s campus and has been an essential member of the community. During her final year at Sacred Heart, she plans to mentor underclassmen with the hope that they will become active in SHU’s community and beyond.
To download an image, visit SHU’s Photoshelter archive.
###
About Sacred Heart University
As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers nearly 90 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. More than 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Social Work; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 388 Colleges–2023 Edition, and Best Business Schools–2023 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre. www.sacredheart.edu