From medical assistant to environmental advocate 

BY CRISTINA SMITH

Through MADE FOR THIS, Duke University’s most ambitious campaign in its history, the Duke University School of Nursing is shaping nursing leaders not only for traditional clinical work but also for any environment where they can address the intersections of healthcare and climate challenges, technology and more.

This certainly is the case for recent graduate KC Ward B.S.N.’25, whose journey to Duke’s nursing school was driven by her desire to be part of bigger solutions.

During the pandemic, KC Ward B.S.N.’25 was working as a medical assistant in an endocrine practice in Columbia, S.C., when she noticed how some patients had better access than others to safe places to be outside and practice healthy living.

She began to wonder how much that affected health outcomes.

During that time, Ward also discovered the East Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA), a nonprofit group in Durham that helps transform how people live though the development of trails and walkways in more than 400 communities from Maine to Florida. Ward left her job in health care to work for the environmental group. 

“The ECGA gave me the space to feel like I was advocating for people to have a safe space to commune and recreate,” Ward said about her time there. “The ECGA work allows for re-imagining and investing in the infrastructures of communities to allow people to thrive. It’s transformational work that ultimately addresses the climate and public health crises.” 

So when Ward decided to take the next step in her journey helping others, Duke School of Nursing was an easy choice.

“When I visited Duke University School of Nursing, I found that the facilities were tremendous, the staff were incredibly brilliant and kind and the students seemed so happy,” she said. But what sold her was the comprehensive curriculum that included a holistic view of health care.

“I feel the School of Nursing walks the walk and talks the talk. They educate us on what being a nurse is: the integrity, the focus on addressing health inequities, collaboration and truly, excellence.” —KC Ward, B.S.N.’25

Now as a nurse, Ward wants to combine her passions for health care and climate advocacy.

Struggling with her own serious medical issues at age 14, Ward was inspired to pursue health care after watching how nurses, anesthesiologists and surgeons worked together to dispel fears and build confidence in their young patients. “It made it clear to me that I wanted to pursue nursing to gain the tools to comfort and heal others the way the nurses did for myself and the other children that day and every other day.” 

Ward says her experience at Duke has been moving and empowering. Aspiring to practice in critical care, Wards hopes to remain in Durham, doing patient advocacy work and addressing health inequities. 

 “Advancing health equity is woven into the fabric of the curriculum with such intentionality, and it guided most of our class work,” she said. “Our professors spent a tremendous amount of time ensuring we had holistic teaching and addressed current events in our ever-changing political and health care climate.”