Tyler Johnson

I am a psychology major and chemistry minor. I decided to study psychology, because it allowed me to have the chance to learn about the biological basis of brain functioning, while also seeing how our psychological experiences are shaped by society and culture. After completing my undergraduate studies, I intend to earn a M.D. and MPH. As an aspiring physician I believe it is important to address health inequities from a holistic perspective. I'm pursuing this course of study, because of my interests in the social determinants of health and the interdisciplinary nature of medicine. My interests in medicine stems from seeing firsthand the implications of health disparities in my own community coupled with opportunities to engage with people that have severe and multifaceted health needs; these experiences have heightened my understanding of health disparities as a critical global issue. As a physician I hope to also pursue clinical research in order to be on both the "care and cure" sides of medicine. The idea of "care and cure" is something that resonates deeply with me because of my passion to not only help people understand and manage their health problems, but also to do research that could potentially shape patients' clinical care.

My experiences and studies have strengthened my aspiration to practice medicine that is focused on treating underserved populations and eliminating health disparities both domestically and internationally. In the beginning of my time at Duke I had the opportunity to engage in basic science research as a BioCoRE Scholar where I conducted research neurobiology and ophthalmology lab, investigating the formation of visual processing circuits in the retina. Since this experience, my research interests have shifted to public and global health. This upcoming year I will be completing a Bass Connections project entitled: Healthcare Provider Education to Reduce Epilepsy Care Disparities in Uganda. This research project aims to develop an Epilepsy treatment curriculum for providers tailored to the needs and resources available in Uganda. I will also be interning for the Duke Center for Personalized Health Care focusing on the development of our diabetes education program. Additionally, I will serve as an Executive Board Member of the Minority Association of Pre-medical Students. On campus, I also serve as the Vice President of Future Is Now which is a mentorship program that serves 4th-6th grade girls in the Durham area. This past summer I participated in a public leadership development program with the Bloomberg School of Public Health and will be conducting public health research next summer as a Johns Hopkins Diversity Summer Internship Scholar. My personal hobbies include dance, photography, and sports.