Serrano, Elina
Elina Serrano, MD, MPH
Hometown:
Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate School:
University of California-Berkeley
Graduate School:
University of California Berkeley School of Public Health
Medical School:
University of California-San Francisco
Bio:
I was born in Los Angeles and completed my undergraduate and medical education in Northern California. My desire to ameliorate the negative social and structural forces that disproportionately affect the health of communities of color has motivated me to pursue a career in academic surgery. Through direct patient care, research, and patient advocacy, I hope to improve surgical care access and delivery for patients with limited English proficiency. As a Latina and first-generation-to-college trainee, I am also passionate about increasing recruitment and retention of medical students and residents who identify as Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM).
Personal Interests:
Cooking, reading Chicano/Latin American literature, drawing, spending quality time with family and friends
Clinical Interests:
Health equity research, quality improvement, advancing EDI in surgery, transplant surgery, endocrine surgery
Professional Activities:
Surgical Outcomes Research Center (SORCE) T32 Research Fellow
American College of Surgeons
Latino Surgical Society
Association of Women Surgeons
University of Washington Department of Surgery Diversity Council
GME Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Subcommittee
FAMED 556A Spanish for Health Professionals, Co-instructor
Why UW?
I completed an away rotation through the Carlos Pellegrini Diversity Visiting Student Internship Program. The attendings and residents who I worked with immediately made me feel at home. Additionally, I was drawn to the variety of clinical sites residents rotate at and the diverse research opportunities. I knew that I could find mentors who were also committed to advancing health equity and promoting EDI in Surgery.
What advice do you have for incoming interns?
Get to know your patients, don’t be afraid to ask for help, take care of one another, and be kind to yourself.
What do you like best about living in Seattle?
Rainy days and coffee.
Publications:
- Glaser J, Coulter YZ, Thompson-Lastad A, Castro-Smyth L, Serrano E, Adler SR. Experiences of Advanced Breast Cancer Among Latina Immigrants: A Qualitative Pilot Study. J Immigr Minor Health. 2020 Dec;22(6):1287-1294. doi: 10.1007/s10903-020-01069-4. PMID: 32876850; PMCID: PMC7886641.
- Serrano E, Liu P, Nwabuo AI, Langness S, Juillard C. The effect of cirrhosis on trauma outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2020 Apr;88(4):536-545. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000002464. PMID: 31389920.