After graduating from Duke University in 2021, Madison Dunk began a career in health care starting as a clinical researcher for the Center for Women’s Mental Health at Massachusetts General Hospital. More recently, Madison began medical school at UNC-Chapel Hill. Madison notes how her ACE experience in China in 2019 influenced her approach to medicine. She continues to reflect on the differences between the Tibetan medical practices she experienced in China and the Western medical practices she studies today. In addition to her studies, Madison hopes to use her experiences in China to become a more thoughtful and emphatic healthcare provider.
What are you doing now? How has ACE influenced your career pathway?
Following graduation in 2021, I spent several years working in clinical research with a group at Massachusetts General Hospital called the Center for Women’s Mental Health. This multidisciplinary team works at the intersection of clinical care, research, and educational efforts related to psychiatric care across the reproductive lifespan. It was a privilege to work alongside this team conducting such important work. Earlier this summer, I moved back to North Carolina and began medical school at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. My ACE experience remains influential in my ongoing academic journey. To this day, I cherish the relationships built with my teammates and the community members in China, and value the importance of community engagement efforts.
Share one lesson from ACE that still holds today.
During my time in China, I had the opportunity to conduct a small research project and chose to study traditional Tibetan medical practice. I often find myself reflecting on some of the differences between these practices and the Western medical practice that I am now studying. My experiences with ACE in China have very much shaped my understanding of the role of a physician in our society, as I begin to work towards becoming an empathetic and thoughtful provider.
Describe your ACE experience in as few words as possible:
Inspiring, collaborative, and perspective-broadening adventure
What’s one thing you want people to know about ACE?
ACE was one of the most meaningful experiences from my four years at Duke. This experience helped me to grow into a more confident leader and teammate and taught me lessons in open-mindedness and adaptability that I carry with me to this day.