Natalie Ezem’s journey into healthcare began with a nudge from her mother during her teenage years. Initially skeptical that the field was for her, Natalie’s perspective shifted after volunteering at a local hospital in South Florida. Working in the geriatric unit and emergency department, Natalie engaged directly with patients, many of whom were from migrant ethnic backgrounds and/or low-income families. These experiences, coupled with managing chronic health conditions within her own Nigerian family, sparked a deep curiosity about the health challenges faced by vulnerable populations.
This curiosity led Natalie to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with minors in Global Health and Chemistry at Duke University. As a rising senior, she discovered the Building Research Inclusion & Diversity in Graduate Education (BRIDGE) Program in the university’s Department of Population Health Sciences (DPHS). Natalie saw it as an opportunity to deepen her understanding of population health sciences and to prepare for a career as a physician-scientist.
During her time as a BRIDGE scholar, Natalie worked under the mentorship of Hayden Bosworth, PhD, on the RAndomized Cluster Evaluation of Cardiac ARrest Systems (RACE-CARS) Trial. This project aims to improve survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in North Carolina by integrating community-based interventions with existing health systems. Given her emergency medical technician background (EMT-B) background, this project was a perfect fit for Natalie’s professional skills.
Natalie’s tenure as a BRIDGE scholar significantly enhanced her qualitative analysis skills. After completing the program and graduating from Duke in May 2022, she was offered a full-time position as a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Duke Department of Population Health Sciences. In this role, she continued her work on the RACE-CARS project and presented a poster at the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting in June 2023. Additionally, she published her initial first-authored paper on community-based OHCA interventions.
Currently, Natalie is a second-year student in the Master of Science in Global Health and Population program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She plans to pursue medical school after obtaining her master’s degree in May 2025. Her research interests include the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases (particularly cancer and cardiometabolic diseases) in primary care settings and addressing barriers to care among vulnerable populations. She is also passionate about implementation science, health systems innovation, and health communication.
“As a future physician-scientist, I will be equipped with a robust foundation to tackle health disparities,” Natalie said. “I am eager to integrate my research and clinical skills to address my patients’ conditions, implement innovative solutions that improve quality of life, and increase patient survival individually and on a population level. Ultimately, my unique background will enhance my ability to minimize poor health outcomes in my family and every other family I encounter.”
For Natalie, the most impactful aspects of the BRIDGE program were the connections she made and the support given to her by other DPHS scholars, faculty members, and staff. Her mentor played a crucial role in her development, providing patient and thorough guidance that helped her grow professionally and personally.
Natalie’s advice to those considering the BRIDGE program? Apply, apply, apply!
“If you are offered the opportunity to join the BRIDGE program, seize it,” Natalie said. “You will engage with faculty and staff members who genuinely care about you, your goals, and your future. It is a fantastic opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in population health sciences.”
Outside of her professional pursuits, Natalie enjoys catering to her plants and is passionate about public speaking. She has written and directed a short film and co-directed the female-identifying monologue showcase “All of the Above” at Duke. She also loves spending time with friends and family.