Tanner Mercer
Bachelor of Science in Evolutionary Anthropology, Minors in Medical Sociology and Spanish, Class of 2023
After taking classes that focus on the social determinants of health, I have come to understand that poor health is not always a product of a person’s individual decisions, but rather his or her social context. For this reason, medicine cannot focus entirely on remedying disease and easing symptoms, but also must work to prevent health issues in the first place by mitigating the fundamental causes of illness. As a volunteer at Help Desk, I hope to work with the Durham community to increase access to healthcare by serving as a resource for those confronted by societal barriers. Additionally, my work as an English tutor assisting Hispanic immigrants has inspired me to work with Durham’s Spanish-speaking community to reinforce their system of support, overcome linguistic barriers, and improve overall health outcomes. In the future, I aspire to be a physician who can work directly with vulnerable populations to help reduce health disparities and increase equitable access to healthcare.
