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Kelli Cain

1x

Finalist

Bio

My name is Kelli, and I am a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in Biology on the pre-health track. I am passionate about community engagement, and I'm an active member of organizations at my school such as the Black Women’s Health Initiative and STEP (Striving Toward Educational Prosperity). Outside of academics and service, I enjoy staying active, whether that’s playing basketball with friends or exploring nature trails with my German Shepherd, Ivy.

Education

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Bachelor's degree program
2022 - 2026
  • Majors:
    • Biology, General

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Hospital & Health Care

    • Dream career goals:

      To serve as both a healthcare provider and community advocate, using my knowledge to improve health outcomes, while also educating and empowering individuals.

      Sports

      Basketball

      Varsity
      2016 – 20226 years

      Awards

      • Player of the Week
      • Varsity Letterman Award

      Research

      • Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences

        UNC Schisler Lab — Volunteer
        2024 – 2024
      • Political Justice

        AP Language & Composition — Research Scientist
        2020 – 2021
      • Global Warming

        UNC Chapel Hill Carolina Admires — Program Researcher
        2018 – 2018

      Public services

      • Volunteering

        Local Start Dental — Volunteer
        2024 – Present
      • Volunteering

        UNC Hospitals — Volunteer
        2022 – Present
      • Volunteering

        Basketball Team — Volunteer
        2019 – 2019
      • Volunteering

        Cary Teen Council — Volunteer
        2017 – 2018
      • Volunteering

        Museum of Life and Science — Volunteer
        2018 – 2019

      Future Interests

      Advocacy

      Volunteering

      Black Students in STEM Scholarship Fund
      I want to be an OB-GYN so I can assist in the most remarkable aspect of life: childbirth. My passion to become a physician started when I was a little girl experiencing a troublesome time when my newborn twin sisters were admitted into NIC-U immediately after their birth. Since then at the age of 12, I have become deeply passionate about becoming an OB-GYN so that I can give the best care to mothers and their newborns. I also aspire to create change and close the margin of prenatal care disparities based on race by creating my own medical practice in a predominantly BIPOC area. Attending an HBCU is significant to me because I wish to pursue my degree in a nurturing environment full of history and culture while interacting with professors who will value me on a personal connection. The supportive atmosphere and close-knit sense of community at HBCUs are unmatched. I am very passionate about my identity of being a double minority and I believe studying with other black women who wish to pursue careers in STEM will help motivate me. Only 5% of physicians are black, and the percentage of those who are black and female is even smaller. Along with becoming an OB-GYN, another ultimate goal of mine is to inspire other girls studying STEM. I want them to know that although we are underrepresented in this rigorous path, we are here making an impact, and as long as we set our minds to it, we can achieve anything.