Katrina Fortes

Biology & Psychology

My name is Katrina Fortes, and my journey into psychiatry, particularly child psychiatry, is rooted in my fascination with the intricate roles of biology and psychology in shaping human emotions and feelings, especially in children of color. Through my lived experience as a person of color, I have witnessed first-hand the disparities plaguing communities like mine in the medical industry, from lacking patient care to disproportionately high unemployment rates. What usually goes unaddressed, but is everlastingly crucial to our community is the ignorance surrounding mental disorders in communities of color, partnered with the lack of accessible resources provided to navigate and address the disorders weighing on our community’s shoulders. The stigma attached to mental conditions in our communities is a direct consequence of generations of miseducation and neglect regarding mental health. Through my role as a Peer Counselor at my high school I have been able to directly educate and spread awareness concerning mental health while simultaneously encouraging expression between myself and my peers, which has been rewarding and encouraging as I continue my path throughout my years at Duke. I am eager to face the diverse perspectives I come into contact with on campus to enrich my point of view while working towards fostering a more inclusive and empathetic environment. As I embark on my academic journey at Duke, I hope to establish myself in not only Duke’s community but Durham’s, working to give voice to the children in communities where their voices are silenced and dismissed.​​ My hobbies include reading and listening to music, two of my favorite forms of expression and communication. I hope to immediately begin contributing to my surrounding community through tutoring to schools in Durham to also provide academic support to children of color, and cease the cycle of miseducation, giving them the resources they need to understand themselves and the world around them.