Makyla Pirtle BA ' 27

Makyla Pirtle is a junior from Central Arkansas majoring in Global Health and Medical Sociology, with a minor in African & African American Studies. At Duke, she serves as President of the Black Student Alliance, an Abele Ambassador for the Mary Lou Williams Center, and Chief of Staff for the Black Women’s Union. She is also an undergraduate researcher with the Bass Connections Disruptive Innovation and Policy in Healthcare team, focusing on strategies to improve access to cervical cancer screening in underserved U.S. communities through innovative technology and policy solutions. As a Margolis Scholar, Makyla is dedicated to advancing health equity by developing innovative solutions that improve health outcomes and rebuild trust between underserved communities and healthcare providers. She plans to pursue a Master’s in Public Health focused on health policy and is interested in exploring health justice to better address systemic barriers. Ultimately, she aims to work at the intersection of health policy and practice to reduce disparities and improve access for minority populations.