My name is Michael D. Green, and I am a heart health researcher, pursuing a Ph.D at the Duke University School of Medicine. I was born in Maryland, but moved 7 times before the age of 18. I am a member of the Dartmouth College class of 2021, where I graduated with Honors in Anthropology and a minor in Environmental Sciences. I additionally was a 4-year varsity athlete on the Heavyweight Rowing team, which I joined without any prior experience during the winter of my Freshman year.

Growing up, many of my family members and loved ones suffered through numerous health ailments. Ever since I was young I was always focused on the “why” questions regarding these ailments. As I matured through my academic career those why questions became more complex. Why is there so much socio-economic disparity in the world? Why are there so many disparities in health outcomes?  Why are environmental conditions deteriorating in certain regions?

Currently, I believe that I need to use the information I gained on “why” issues occur in order to apply them to questions on “how” we can disrupt these issues. I wish to focus on methodology for fixing many of the problems that I spent so much of my early life pondering.

I plan to pursue a career in public health, specifically as a cardiovascular racial health disparities researcher. I hope that I am able to illuminate, and eventually solve, public health issues that are caused by social determinants of health. COVID-19 has demonstrated how human health is strongly influenced by policy and bureaucracy in the United States. Rather than deny this reality, I hope that my career is one that overcomes this barrier to aid marginalized populations.