Olyvia Fan

Biology

Hi! My name is Olyvia Fan, and I'm from Simpsonville, SC. Despite living in one of the most diversely populated counties, my community of ESL students and socioeconomic disparity influences me toward constant improvement within educational, nutritional, and medical accessibility. Food insecurity and healthcare barriers were commonplace in my immigrant family, and these personal yet global issues are what drives me to become a healthcare professional. The connection between self and the community around us has also sparked different mediums of communication, from student-led soup kitchens to music. I have studied the musical arts for 11 years and am a regionally-acclaimed pianist. Other than participating in national competitions, I also founded Saturday Serenade, a volunteer organization that hosts recitals in retirement homes across the county to encourage community service and music appreciation in young musicians.

My motivation is centered around the different aspects of my identity-- i.e. a financial aid student, a Taiwanese first generation immigrant, a musician, a future healthcare worker-- and unique communities I identify with. At Duke, I want to further these varied interests by utilizing the academic support of Cardea Fellows as well as cultivate these distinctions into ways to relate with patients as a healthcare professional.