Riana Coffman

Psychology & Global Health

We’re all stained glass windows. When looking closely at only one part, you miss everything else. It’s not until you step back and see the colors molding together into a cohesive shape that the real beauty shines through. Moving almost every three years as a military child and being biracial have opened my eyes to a range of preconceptions held by others. After years of learning about and reflecting on my cultural identity and listening to the stories of others, I’ve grown to understand and appreciate the world’s diversity. What I initially viewed as a hindrance, I’ve redefined, and I aim to help promote inclusion and understanding in the communities I will serve. As a future healthcare professional, I hope to expand my knowledge of the interconnectedness of health and culture to more effectively meet the needs of patients with different lived experiences.
   
As a DUSON-Trinity Curriculum Bridge scholar, I will start my ABSN journey during my senior year at Duke University School of Nursing. I aim to become a nurse practitioner specializing in pediatrics with a possible subspecialty in oncology. I found my passion for working with kids through Jumpstart, a national early education program for preschool children in under-resourced communities in Durham. Teaching refugee and migrant students English in South Korea through DukeEngage and joining cultural dance teams on campus have also helped me broaden my perspective and enrich my Duke experience.
   
Ultimately, I want to contribute to increasing health and wellness in our communities, challenge myself to be the best healthcare professional I can, and ensure that no one feels like an outsider when receiving the healthcare they deserve. I enthusiastically look forward to all the opportunities for growth and collaboration that I’ll have in my last year at Duke University with the Cardea Fellowship and at Duke University School of Nursing in the coming years.