Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and now living in Morgantown, West Virginia, Mckenna Bowes has turned her personal journey with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) into a lifelong mission to advance research, improve patient care, and empower others living with pediatric rheumatic diseases.
A Journey of Strength and Purpose
Mckenna was diagnosed with lupus in 2019 at 16 years old, following a long and complex road to answers. What began as an eyelid droop soon progressed into severe fatigue, joint pain, fevers, and lung complications that required hospitalization. Despite the frightening uncertainty of those early years, she found strength in the care and compassion shown by her medical team, an experience that would ultimately inspire her career path.
Now in remission for over six years, Mckenna reflects on her diagnosis not as a setback, but as a defining moment that shaped her purpose. She remained in Pittsburgh for college, earning a degree in molecular biology from the University of Pittsburgh. During her undergraduate years, she joined Dr. Amr Sawalha’s genetics lab, where she spent four years studying autoimmune diseases and even published her own study. Through research and advocacy, she found a community of people who shared her determination to make life better for those living with rheumatic disease.
Today, she is a first-year medical student at West Virginia University School of Medicine, pursuing her dream of becoming a pediatric rheumatologist and researcher, an ambition fueled by her lived experience and commitment to patient-centered science.
Finding Community and Purpose Through CARRA
Mckenna’s journey with the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) began in 2022 when she met several investigators at a lupus research conference in Tucson, Arizona. What started as a single conversation quickly grew into deep and ongoing involvement with multiple CARRA initiatives.
She currently serves as a member of the CARRA–Lupus and Allied Diseases Association (LADA) Neuropsychiatric Lupus (NPSLE) Taskforce, where she brings the patient voice to the forefront of research design and decision-making. In addition, Mckenna serves as a Stakeholder Advisory Panel Member for the CDC Improving Pediatric Lupus Care and Outcomes Workgroup, where she collaborates with principal investigators, scientists, and other patient advocates to strengthen lupus research and improve the patient experience. She has also served on CARRA’s Scientific Review Committee (SRC) to review and score both clinical and translation research proposals.
Beyond her formal roles, what Mckenna values most about CARRA is the sense of community and equality that defines the organization. She highlights the dedication of CARRA’s leaders and collaborating physicians, whose passion and commitment foster a welcoming, empowering environment. She often notes how their enthusiasm inspires others to bring their best to every project. She describes the collaboration within CARRA not only as professional but grounded in genuine compassion and mutual respect. The network of patients she’s met has provided encouragement, friendship, and understanding that has made an enduring impact on her life.
Her hope for the future is clear and powerful: to see continued progress in diagnosing and managing pediatric rheumatic diseases, and someday, the discovery of a cure. Until then, she plans to stay actively involved with CARRA and helping shape the next generation of pediatric rheumatology research.
Outside of her studies and advocacy work, Mckenna enjoys staying active, whether that means hiking the beautiful trails around West Virginia, going to the gym, baking, or reading. These hobbies help her recharge and maintain balance as she pursues her dream of becoming both a compassionate physician and researcher and an advocate for change.
Through her strength, curiosity, and unwavering dedication, Mckenna embodies what makes the CARRA community so special: collaboration, compassion, and the belief that the patient voice can help drive lasting impact.
– Bailey Parker, Membership Coordinator
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