Duke Orthopaedic Surgery faculty member Dr. Erica Taylor, MD, MBA, served as the keynote speaker and a judge for the Duke School of Medicine Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Martin Luther King Jr. Research Symposium, held on January 15—coinciding with Dr. King’s birthday, which Taylor proudly shares.
Her keynote address, titled “Uncharted Waters, Uncommon Favor: What We Owe the Dream Through Scholarship,” drew a powerful connection between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and the contemporary charge of health equity researchers and leaders. Speaking to students, faculty, and community members, Taylor challenged attendees to view their scholarship not only as an academic pursuit but as an act of service.
“Dr. King’s dream was never meant to be admired from a distance. It was meant to be continued through courage, discipline, and action.”
Honoring Dr. King Through Purposeful Scholarship
Throughout her keynote, Taylor emphasized that access to education, mentorship, expertise, and opportunity is not merely a privilege but a responsibility.
“Uncommon favor is not about being chosen instead of others. It is about being positioned for others. When you have access, your role is to steward it forward.”
She urged attendees to consider how their work can directly shape the health systems, communities, and futures they aim to serve—framing scholarship as an essential instrument for justice and transformation.
The moment carried special significance, Taylor noted, because the symposium took place on January 15, the shared birthday of both herself and Dr. King.
Introducing the 4S Framework for Navigating Uncharted Waters
Taylor unveiled her “4S Framework for Navigating Uncharted Waters”—a leadership and scholarship model designed to help learners and leaders turn insight into sustainable impact.
SEE — Recognize systems, structures, and risks
“Seeing inequity does not make you cynical. It makes you honest.”
STUDY — Build expertise to sustain change
“Passion initiates change, but expertise sustains it.”
SPEAK — Translate scholarship into action
“Knowledge unused is unfinished work.”
SHAPE — Create sustainable impact
“The goal of research is not publication alone. It is transformation.”
This framework provided a unifying lens for the day’s presentations and encouraged emerging scholars to view their research as part of a broader moral and scientific continuum.
Showcasing Emerging Leaders in Research
This year’s symposium highlighted a diverse range of focused studies across clinical care, education, public health, global systems, translational science, and maternal‑child health.
Presenters included:
- Angelina Nasthas - The Educational Impact of CT Interpretation in the First-Year Medical School Gross Anatomy Curriculum
- Sophia Kocher - Referral Outcomes and the Role of Social Determinants in Post-Fracture Osteoporosis Care
- Clara Dartey-Hayford - Advancing Prescribing Practices in Pediatric Obesity Care
- Mia Grayson (Winner) - Leaving an Impact? PACT Score Association with Post-Transplant Outcomes
- Sonia Lin - A Core Outcome Set for Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Caregivers of Older Adult Trauma Patients
- Sagnik Das (High School student) - A Comparative Study of the Cuban Healthcare System: Lessons for Accessible and Humane Medical Care
- Lian Folger - LATCH (Lactation Advocacy To Cultivate Health) Study: A Qualitative Study to Investigate Lactation Support for Black, Latinx, and Southeast Asian Birthing Parents
The participation of high school presenter Sagnik Das stood out as a clear marker of the strength of Duke’s early pipeline for future health equity researchers—a theme Taylor celebrated during her remarks.
Supporting the Next Generation
Taylor also served as a judge for the symposium alongside Olga Gupta, MD, DHIP pediatric endocrinologist and clinician‑scientist. Together, they engaged directly with students whose work reflects the future of scientific leadership and equity‑centered innovation.
“It was an honor to witness the brilliance, rigor, and commitment of these emerging scholars,” Taylor said. “Their work reminds us that progress is both possible and already unfolding.”