Cristal Ortiz
2025
Clinton, North Carolina
Neuroscience & Chemistry
My name is Cristal Ortiz (she/her/hers) and I am 21 years old. I am from Sampson County with proud Mexican roots. I am majoring in Neuroscience with a chemistry minor and I aspire to a medical career that combines her passion for neuroscience. I am committed to overcoming language barriers in healthcare.
As a researcher at the Duke Lemur Center's Drea Lab for over two years, I study Comparative Neuroendocrinology of Maternal Care in Strepsirrhines. I have also conducted brain imaging and mapping research with the Boyer Lab. My role as Director of Patient Advocacy with Duke Help Desk involves screening Emergency Room patients for social disparity resources.
My academic involvement extends to the Duke Minority Association for Pre-Medical Students and the Spine Surgery Recovery Navigators Team via Bass Connections. In the latter, I interacted with spine surgery patients and contributed to a systematic review on the relationship between spine surgery and social support.
At Duke, I has served as a Summer Tour Guide and will be co-president of the Duke QuestBridge Chapter for 2024–2025. I have been a graphic design intern for Duke Student Affairs for two years and participated in study abroad programs like Duke in Rome. My engagement with Duke Engage led me to an internship in Boston focused on children's education.
Beyond campus, I am a certified community translator and maintain a blog covering topics from social disparities to fitness. My diverse experiences reflect my commitment to bridging cultural gaps, advancing medical research, and serving my community.
“Being a Cardea Fellow has shown me the importance of support at Duke. I have also been blessed with beautiful friendships through Cardea which I am very thankful for.”