About

Marissa grew up as a competitive gymnast and attended UNC where she majored in English, Chemistry, and Biology. She volunteered with the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, served as gymnastics coach and intercollegiate gymnastics clubs officer, and volunteered actively with the National Alliance on Mental Illness. After graduation, Marissa worked as a CNA at Duke in the Pulmonary Step-Down unit and at UNC as an administrative assistant for the UNC Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine programs. As a medical student, Marissa has continued to demonstrate a commitment to service and has been dedicated to the SHAC clinic where she has served as the Social Needs Navigator and clinic co-director. She focused her summer research on a project aimed at understanding various models of respite care for people experiencing homelessness and continues to work closely with the National Alliance on Mental Illness as an Ending the Silence presenter. In her free time, Marissa enjoys the art of hand embroidery.