Natalie Ezem

Academic Interests:  Sociology major, Chemistry and Global Health minors

I am a junior at Duke University pursuing a major in Sociology with minors in Chemistry and Global Health. Despite being born and raised in South Florida, my Nigerian cultural background has inspired my global perspective and is an instrumental part of my upbringing. My current interests include health disparities and emergency medicine. I hope to one day study the patterns and health outcomes of diseases in various populations as well as devise improvements for care. Ultimately, I intend to obtain a medical degree and a master’s in public health. In addition to my pre-medical courses, I participated in the Duke Summer Scholars Program in Genome Sciences and Medicine in the summer after my freshman year to study the expression patterns of Cannabinoid Receptors 1 and 2 in zebrafish embryos and the synergistic effect of alcohol exposure in embryonic heart development. Secondly, I am on the REGAIN (Roadmap for Evaluating Goals in Advanced Illness Navigation) Bass Connections team. We wish to implement a roadmap for goals of care conversations for patients with serious illnesses in Duke Health. My work with the team is in conjunction with the Duke Center for Research to Advance Healthcare Equity in order to reduce racial and ethnic disparities while improving the quality of patient-centered care. On campus, I serve on the executive board of DukeAFRICA, and I am a Head FAC in the Duke First-Year Advisory Counselor (FAC) Program. I have also continued my passion for public speaking and acting through All of The Above, a female-identifying monologue showcase that highlights stories written by women on campus. Outside of my studies, you can find me catering to my plants, training for half marathons, or enjoying the company of my friends and family.