Spotsylvania County Public Schools

Cora Shields is the elected Student School Board Member for Spotsylvania County Public Schools. A junior at Riverbend High (Class of 2027), she plans to pursue an MD/PhD to advance patient-centered care, health equity, and scientific research. 

Cora ranks in the top 2% of her class and is actively engaged in leadership and service. She acts as Vice President of Service for Riverbend’s Student Council Association and founded the Medical Careers Club to connect students with mentorship and exploration opportunities in the healthcare professions.

Beyond school, Cora volunteers in the Emergency Department at UVA Health–Culpeper Medical Center, where she supports patients and mentors new volunteers. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of Helping Hands in Healthcare, LLC, a charitable organization that engages local high school students in healthcare service initiatives. Through this work, she has built partnerships with community organizations and led fundraising efforts to improve patient experiences for children across rural Virginia. She has also coordinated a menstrual equity project during a medical mission to serve high school girls in rural Peru.

Cora is committed to elevating student voice, strengthening civic engagement, and ensuring that board decisions reflect the needs and perspectives of students.