Health at Duke is a topic that at best can be described as ephemeral in the minds of graduate and professional students. One could rightfully assert that most graduate students understand the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between their personal health and their academic pursuits. However, to assert that the vast majority of graduate and professional students know their options in the face of illness proves more difficult. As I enter my third year as a graduate student, and seventh year overall, I have found myself in the position of directing people to student health, helping my peers find clinics where they can receive primary care, and searching for places to get good dental care. 

Duke University offers a decent health care plan (SMIP) for graduate students and their family members, but at times, the lapses in coverage, particularly around dental procedures, can prevent students from getting the services they need. I am interested in serving on both the Student Health and Student Health Insurance Advisory committees because I would like to be an advocate for student needs. As a medical and business student, my academic pursuits match up well with the skill set required to be an effective member of these committees. If selected, my two goals on the committee would be to one increase the student access to health services by helping the committee develop better outreach initiatives targeted to graduate and professional students; and two push for a dental insurance option for graduate and professional students. By meeting these two goals, Duke University can begin to be intentional about helping its graduate and professional students maintain a work life balance.

I did not sit on a University Committee last year due to academic commitments; however, I have sat on the President's Council on Black Affairs for the 4 years prior to last year. As part of this committee, I have help develop numerous reports and recommendations on how we can improve both black life and diversity at Duke. Thus I am intimately familiar with the way university committees work and the time requirements and preparation that goes with the job. 

MD/MBA Candidate, Duke University

President's Council on Black Affairs, Committee member 

Duke Annual Fund Executive Committee, member

Duke Police Advisory Committee, member

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The committee has not yet met this semester.