Barry Goldwater junior Makena Jordan uses unique experience to empathize with others

Barry Goldwater High School junior Makena Jordan has a passion for serving others, and it all stems from a unique personal experience she endured.

Jordan suffered from a serious MRSA infection that led to hospitalization and surgery. She said the experience flipped her perspective on health care.

“It isn’t just about prescribing medications but how you can emotionally connect with your patients,” Jordan said. “And I knew I wanted to be that person for someone else.”

Jordan has organized multiple volunteer events, including those where she has helped provide home-cooked meals and treats for more than 150 families at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

She has also volunteered with Ronald McDonald House Charities, where she has solely organized and led volunteer groups to prepare meals for more than 150 families of hospitalized children.

“My passion for service, combined with my curiosity for how I even got this infection, how the doctors were treating it and how it progressed in my body, inspired me to apply to a really competitive program,” Jordan said.

Jordan was selected as one of 20 Arizona students for the TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy, an intensive bioscience and leadership program.

When Jordan was at TGen, she was able to interact with Dr. Von Hoff and learn about the rise in pancreatic cancer among young women. Von Hoff told her the increase in pancreatic cancer among young women could be due to sedentariness, so Jordan knew she wanted to make a difference.

“Two important things to know about me is that I’ve always had a calling for healthcare and activity from a very young age,” Jordan said.

Jordan also serves as the captain of her varsity soccer team and as a “Girls on the Run” volunteer, an organization that empowers young girls to be active and courageous while training for a 5K.

“Now I’m working with (Von Hoff) on research in pancreatic cancer,” Jordan said. “I’m a part of the projects that have the potential to transform patient care in the future.”

The high school junior maintains a 4.87 GPA and is one of 10 finalists for the Arizona Sports’ Character Counts Scholarship, presented by Parker & Sons, because of the impact she makes around the classroom and in the community.

“I’m so grateful (to be selected) as a finalist for this scholarship, because it will allow me to continue my health career through research, compassion and service,” Jordan said.

The aspiring orthopedic surgeon said, “I want to be the person that gives people their freedom back.”

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