Kaelyn Griffiths

Academic Interests: Chemistry majorr, African and African American Studies minor, Medical Sociology minor

Alongside the Cardea Fellows Program, I am a member of Duke's Nakisai African Dance Ensemble, serve on the Executive Board for the Black Women's Union, and serve on the Content Committee of ‘The Amber Room’, which is a project initiated by my friend Ikenna Nebo at Columbia University working to create a safe space and platform where black college students can talk about black issues. Outside of this, my academic interests lie in Sociology with a focus in medical sociology, specifically social determinants of health disparities and African & African American Studies, specifically black popular culture, the studied black experience, and the sociology and anthropology of racism and colorism internationally. While studying abroad in Chile, I interned for a start-up that created surgical models using 3D printers and another start-up that worked to link STEM curriculum in Chilean universities with innovation & entrepreneurship. These experiences, along with volunteering at Durham Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and a local children's hospital, has prompted my interest in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, as well as cosmetology. On campus, I also am a member of Duke's Hoof 'n' Horn where I was recently on the production council of their spring show 'The Wiz' as the the Hair and Makeup Director. Alongside this, I style hair and nails and plan to enroll in a program to become a licensed technician in certain cosmetic techniques, and I also plan to enroll in an EMT program in the coming year to determine if emergency medicine is the right path for my interests. This summer, I had the opportunity to work on the Duke Bass Connection's Open Design+ research program where we developed designs and prototypes to innovate the online learning experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for the incoming freshman class. This combination of academic and non academic programs grant me the opportunity to study the things that fascinate me, while keeping me critical of the issues of the healthcare system and my responsibility as a prospective health professional.