My name is Savannah Fulton. I am a first-year sophomore at North Carolina A&T, majoring in pre-nursing and minoring in psychology. I am from Windsor, CT and I am dedicated and passionate about my mission. I’m driven by a commitment to improving health outcomes in underserved communities. As a pre-nursing student, I have developed a strong academic foundation, being on the chancellor’s my first semester, while actively seeking opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. My desire for nursing is rooted in both personal values and lived experiences. Growing up, I’ve witnessed how access to quality healthcare can shape outcomes for certain individuals and families. Specifically, when I was in middle school and my older sister had gotten terribly sick. She had gone to her physician multiple times expressing this pain, but they dismissed her every time. It wasn’t until she was admitted to the hospital with severe pain in her abdomen and was throwing up blood, when they had decided to take her seriously. She had an infection in her uterus which led her to develop sepsis. Had doctors taken her seriously the first time, they would've discovered the infection and treated it properly—but instead, my sister is left with lifetime disabilities to her extremities and she will never be able to bear children. In high school, I did a social justice project on maternal mortality in African American Women, in which I plan on using the knowledge and experience I gained from that project to build my organization. This project was inspired by my sister's story. Although she was blessed to make it out alive, there are countless of Black women whose stories were cut too short. Conversations that I had with my community often highlighted concerns about being unheard or overlooked in medical settings, particularly among Black women. These experiences were eye opening and showed the importance of having culturally competent care. I realized that early on that I wanted to be part of the solution. I want to be someone that not only provides medical care but also advocates for patients and ensures that their voices are heard and respected. Although I am in my first year of school, I do plan on starting campus initiatives and giving back to my community, whether that be at home or at school, to fuel my passion and to serve. Next semester, I plan on starting an organization that focuses on improving health outcomes in underserved communities especially in black women when it comes to reproductive health. In addition to these influences, I have always been drawn to service. Whether through school organizations, community involvement, or leadership opportunities, I’ve always known that putting myself and my mission out there was the right thing to do. Through my medical career, I plan on making a positive impact by addressing healthcare inequities, particularly in maternal and reproductive health. The United States continues to face a maternal mortality crisis, with Black women being the target of higher rates of complications and death during pregnancy and childbirth. Ultimately, I hope to use my education and future leadership roles to influence policy and promote systemic change. Whether that means working in community clinics, hospitals, or eventually in advanced practice roles, I am committed to being a voice for those who are often overlooked. I am motivated not only by the desire to succeed academically and professionally but also by the responsibility to give back and to uplift others. By combining my passion for healthcare with my commitment to advocacy, I hope to create positive change in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

My name is Savannah Fulton. I am a first-year sophomore at North Carolina A&T, majoring in pre-nursing and minoring in psychology. I am from Windsor, CT, and I am dedicated and passionate about my mission. I’m driven by a commitment to improving health outcomes in underserved communities. As a pre-nursing student, I have developed a strong academic foundation, being on the chancellor’s list my first semester, while actively seeking opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. My desire for nursing is rooted in both personal values and lived experiences. Growing up, I’ve witnessed how access to quality healthcare can shape outcomes for certain individuals and families. Specifically, when I was in middle school, my older sister had gotten terribly sick. She had gone to her physician multiple times expressing this pain, but they dismissed her every time. It wasn’t until she was admitted to the hospital with severe pain in her abdomen and was throwing up blood that they decided to take her seriously. She had an infection in her uterus, which led her to develop sepsis. Had doctors taken her seriously the first time, they would've discovered the infection and treated it properly—but instead, my sister is left with lifetime disabilities to her extremities, and she will never be able to bear children. In high school, I did a social justice project on maternal mortality in African American Women, in which I plan on using the knowledge and experience I gained from that project to build my organization. This project was inspired by my sister's story. Although she was blessed to make it out alive, there are countless Black women whose stories were cut too short. Conversations that I had with my community often highlighted concerns about being unheard or overlooked in medical settings, particularly among Black women. These experiences were eye-opening and showed the importance of having culturally competent care. I realized that early on that I wanted to be part of the solution. I want to be someone who not only provides medical care but also advocates for patients and ensures that their voices are heard and respected. Through my medical career, I want to make a positive impact by addressing healthcare inequities, particularly in maternal and reproductive health. The United States continues to face a maternal mortality crisis, with Black women being the target of higher rates of complications and death during pregnancy and childbirth. I hope to enter maternal and women’s health nursing, either by getting my DNP or my CRNA. This area stands out because of the clear disparities in maternal health, especially when it comes to complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care for Black women and other underserved communities. Being able to support women during such a critical time in their lives, while also advocating for safer and more equitable care, is something that aligns strongly with my goals in nursing. Ultimately, I hope to use my education and future leadership roles to influence policy and promote systemic change. Whether that means working in community clinics, hospitals, or eventually in advanced practice roles, I am committed to being a voice for those who are often overlooked. I am motivated not only by the desire to succeed academically and professionally but also by the responsibility to give back and to uplift others. By combining my passion for healthcare with my commitment to advocacy, I hope to create positive change in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

My name is Savannah Fulton. I am a first-year sophomore at North Carolina A&T, majoring in pre-nursing and minoring in psychology. I am from Windsor, CT, and I am dedicated and passionate about my mission. I’m driven by a commitment to improving health outcomes in underserved communities. My desire for nursing is rooted in both personal values and life experiences. Growing up, I’ve witnessed how access to quality healthcare can shape outcomes for certain individuals and families. Specifically, when I was in middle school, my older sister had fallen terribly ill. She had gone to her physician multiple times expressing her pain, but they dismissed her every time. It wasn’t until she was admitted to the hospital with severe pain in her abdomen and was throwing up blood that they decided to take her seriously. She had an infection in her uterus, which led her to develop sepsis. Had doctors taken her seriously the first time, they would've discovered the infection and treated it properly—but instead, my sister is left with lifetime disabilities to her extremities, and she will never be able to bear children. In high school, I did a social justice project on maternal mortality in African American Women, in which I plan on using the knowledge and experience I gained from that project to build my organization. This project was inspired by my sister's story. Although she was blessed to make it out alive, there are countless Black women whose stories were cut too short. Conversations that I had with my community often highlighted concerns about being unheard or overlooked in medical settings, particularly among Black women. These experiences were eye-opening and showed the importance of having culturally competent care. I realized that early on that I wanted to be part of the solution. I want to be someone who not only provides medical care but also advocates for patients and ensures that their voices are heard and respected. Ultimately, I hope to use my education and future leadership roles to influence policy and promote systemic change. Whether that means working in community clinics, hospitals, or eventually in advanced practice roles, I am committed to being a voice for those who are often overlooked. I am motivated not only by the desire to succeed academically and professionally but also by the responsibility to give back and to uplift others. By combining my passion for healthcare with my commitment to advocacy, I hope to create positive change in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

My name is Savannah Fulton. I am a first-year sophomore at North Carolina A&T, majoring in pre-nursing and minoring in psychology. I am from Windsor, CT, and I am dedicated and passionate about my mission. I’m driven by a commitment to improving health outcomes in underserved communities. As a pre-nursing student, I have developed a strong academic foundation, earning a spot on the chancellor’s list in my first semester, while actively seeking opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. My desire to pursue a career in nursing is rooted in both my personal values and my lived experiences. Growing up, I’ve witnessed how access to quality healthcare can shape outcomes for certain individuals and families. Specifically, when I was in middle school, my older sister fell terribly ill. She had gone to her physician multiple times expressing this pain, but they dismissed her every time. It wasn’t until she was admitted to the hospital with severe pain in her abdomen and was throwing up blood that they decided to take her seriously. She had an infection in her uterus, which led her to develop sepsis. Had doctors taken her seriously the first time, they would've discovered the infection and treated it properly—but instead, my sister is left with lifetime disabilities to her extremities, and she will never be able to bear children. In high school, I completed a social justice project on maternal mortality in African American Women, which I plan to use as a foundation to build my organization. This project was inspired by my sister's story. Although she was blessed to make it out alive, there are countless Black women whose stories were cut too short. Conversations that I had with my community often highlighted concerns about being unheard or overlooked in medical settings, particularly among Black women. These experiences were eye-opening and showed the importance of having culturally competent care. I realized that early on that I wanted to be part of the solution. I want to be someone who not only provides medical care but also advocates for patients, ensuring their voices are heard and respected. Although I am in my first year of school, I intend to start campus initiatives and give back to my community, whether at home or at school, to fuel my passion and serve. My organization will focus on improving health outcomes in underserved communities, especially among black women, when it comes to reproductive health. In addition to these influences, I have always been drawn to service. Whether through school organizations, community involvement, or leadership opportunities, I’ve always known that putting myself and my mission out there was the right thing to do. Through my medical career, I will have a positive impact by addressing healthcare inequities, particularly in maternal and reproductive health. The United States continues to face a maternal mortality crisis, with Black women being the target of higher rates of complications and death during pregnancy and childbirth. My goal is to leverage my education and future leadership roles to influence policy and drive systemic change. Whether working in clinics, hospitals, or advanced practice, I am dedicated to advocating for the unheard and improving healthcare outcomes. By combining my passion for healthcare and advocacy, I strive to create meaningful change in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

The sterile, fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting long, eerie shadows across the hospital room as I walked into the hospital waiting area. We waited in the hall, the snapping sound of latex gloves and the beeping of machines, anxious to enter her room. There were only a few people allowed in at once. When it was my turn, I kept walking but mentally I was frozen. I didn’t know what to expect, “Was it that bad?” “Was she going to get better soon?” I thought to myself. My sister, a bundle of vibrant energy, lay still and silent, prisoner to a hospital bed. At 12 years old, I couldn't grasp how serious the situation was; all I saw was a door, a barrier between my sister and the care she needed. As I went to grab the handle, a sense of dread washed over me. What was supposed to be a portal to healing, was now a battleground. I sat and watched a fierce fire awoken within my mother. She fought relentlessly to ensure that my sister was properly taken care of. She challenged doctors and nurses, demanded answers and advocated for my sister’s well-being. Even then, a wave of helplessness had hit me, a silent observer to my sister’s pain. In those moments, I was too young to understand the severity of the situation and the discrimination that has historically perpetuated over the years. With years of development and a new role in society, I've begun to see the cracks in the system. It was tough to swallow, but I realized that my sister's experience was not unique. The same fire that fueled my mother's advocacy has ignited in me. My path to understanding is involved with consuming books and articles, each statistic and historical account deepening my grasp of the healthcare bias and discrimination that has for too long harmed many Black women. I learned that Black women have some of the worst maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the developed world, with far too many Black women suffering and dying, thanks to both overt and covert racism that infects the healthcare system. This realization fueled my desire to become a nurse, a role that would allow me to bridge the gap between patients and the healthcare system—allowing me to be a helping hand for those in need, and open ears to those who need to be heard. I dedicated my Social Justice Project, aiming to educate young Black women about the disparities that hide behind closed doors. My foot, standing between the doors of equity, envisioning a future where everyone receives the care they deserve regardless of race or ethnicity. My love for the sciences has also empowered me. My dedication to memorizing equations and specific parts of the human body and my inquisitive nature of asking questions all fuel my curiosity. They allow me to think critically and delve deeper into subjects. This passion has driven me to excel in my studies, particularly in biology and chemistry. My love for science and my desire for systemic change has drawn me to medicine. As I embark on my career in labor and delivery nursing, I want to make sure I am greatly involved with the resources that surround me. For example, I want to attend workshops and seminars that demonstrate new research in current best practices regarding maternal healthcare. I am also thinking about joining a student organization and volunteering at local community health events for health advocacy so that I can team up with and educate fellow students interested in equity in health services.