Since Losing Her Hair at 13, Senior Helps Others With Alopecia
Rutgers School of Nursing student Stephanie Yuen juggles coursework with volunteerism to support others who have the autoimmune condition
Stephanie Yuen remembers the moment she realized she was losing her hair.
The Marlboro, N.J., resident was in middle school, nearing seventh grade, just before summer break.
It started with “little spots on my head,” said Yuen, a senior who is wrapping up her bachelor of science degree at Rutgers School of Nursing in New Brunswick, which is part of Rutgers Health. After graduation, Yuen plans to work in a hospital setting as a registered nurse after passing her nursing exam and receiving her license.
“I didn't realize it until I was doing homework one day,” Yuen said. “I just ran my hand through my hair, and then that's when I noticed it. And it varies from person to person, but mine fell out completely or 95 percent in two months. So, I decided to shave it off and gain that control.”
Diagnosed with alopecia, an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss, when she was 13, Yuen said it was a challenging time. She also remembers going to numerous dermatology appointments at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia – “and all those nurses, those are the people I could confide in.”
It was a sign.
“I wanted to follow in those footsteps, essentially advocate for my patients, give them a voice and just be there for people,” the 22-year-old said. “And if I can make their day a little better, it's worth it to me.”
When not in class or working as a maternity technician for the Saint Peter’s Healthcare System in New Brunswick, N.J., Yuen volunteers for organizations supporting people with alopecia. She is a mentor and speaker for the Children's Alopecia Project, a Wyomissing, Pa., nonprofit, and a youth mentor for the San Rafael, Calif.-based National Alopecia Areata Foundation. Her volunteer work involves helping children navigate the emotional peaks and valleys of having the condition.
“I'm talking to the kids as well as their parents and mentoring them through that journey,” Yuen said. “So, they reach out, we get connected and we just FaceTime or meet in person if that's possible. Sometimes it's hard conversations when they're struggling in school or they just lost their hair. Sometimes the hair’s coming back and they're losing it again. And it's hard in my situation, too, to give them that advice.”
Yuen, who served on the board of the Rutgers Student Nurses' Association, has been a peer mentor at the School of Nursing for four years (and a campus coordinator for three).
“She really took on a leadership role there,” said Laura Stone, the associate director for student engagement and well-being at the School of Nursing and a mentor of Yuen. “A lot of her mentees ended up becoming peer mentors themselves because they really loved the experience of working with her and all the advice and help that she provided them. She's really been such an inspiration for the students and so involved in community service.”
In addition to starting her own awareness organization (which raised funds and sought to educate the community about alopecia), Yuen spent much of the COVID-19 pandemic writing a memoir, Stronger Together, which was published in December 2021 and details her experiences with alopecia.
“I think writing it out helps my emotions,” said Yuen, who raised more than $8,000, exceeding a $5,000 fundraising requirement, to publish the book. “I'm able to convey what I want to say, I think, better in text sometimes.”
Stone recalled being concerned about Yuen and her considerable workload.
I wanted to follow in those footsteps, essentially advocate for my patients, give them a voice and just be there for people. And if I can make their day a little better, it's worth it to me.
Stephanie Yuen
Rutgers School of Nursing senior
“She was taking 16-, 17-credit semesters and was writing a book and was involved as a student leader,” Stone said. “I was really worried about her because I wanted her to be able to balance everything. In the end, she gave me her book and it was just such a wonderful experience.
“I'd never seen a student be that engaged and then also go and write a book. And I was like, this is such an incredible experience that she's having and she's really making the best of it.”
Stone added Yuen has “such a passion for helping others” and is “always so engaged in reaching out to her mentees.”
Yuen offered some advice to those who haven’t experienced alopecia firsthand.
“I would definitely say appearance isn't everything – and I know that that's a very cliche statement,” said Yuen, stressing it’s better getting to know someone before reaching conclusions. “Don't judge a book by its cover.”
She smiled before adding, “My personality shines through, but also I think I'm beautiful.”
“I think it'll be such an inspiration for her patients to see someone who's overcome these health challenges and very much embraces who they are,” Stone said.
