Nikkie Dutta is a first-year Master’s student in the Department of Population Health Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University, where she majored in Cognitive Studies and Medicine, Health & Society, with minors in Data Science and Scientific Computing.
Nikkie is currently a Research Assistant in Clinical Operations & Quality at the Duke University School of Medicine, working under the guidance of Dr. Michael Pignone, Vice Chair for Quality and Innovation in the Department of Medicine. In this role, she is working with interdisciplinary teams to apply Quality Improvement (QI) principles, such as process mapping, Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, and data visualization, to enhance clinical care. Her current collaborative projects include optimizing anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) testing rates at Duke Rheumatology and enhancing asthma control for high-risk, minority patients at the Duke Asthma Allergy & Airways Center.
Driven by a passion for improving patient access and outcomes, Nikkie aims to leverage data-driven solutions to address healthcare disparities and advance population health. Her interests include disease forecasting, predictive modeling, and epidemiology, with a focus on infectious diseases.
Originally from Dallas, TX, Nikkie enjoys exploring nature, strength training, and traveling with friends in her free time.