Hello!!! My name is Paula and I am a 3rd year medical student at Duke Med and a proud Co-President of Duke’s Medicine in Motion! I am originally from Brazil but grew up in Naples, Florida, where I played competitive soccer for many years. I went to undergrad at the University of Chicago where I ran cross country and track & field. Now that I am in Durham, I stay active in a variety of different ways. I still do distance running and play soccer, but have also added hiking, cycling, swimming, weightlifting, team sports, and any event Medicine in Motion puts together! The community created through fitness and sports has greatly enriched my life, and so I was very excited to learn about Duke Med’s Medicine in Motion chapter. I am super stoked to be part of the Medicine of Motion team and continue creating a community that helps others be healthier and happier versions of themselves!

Hey everyone! I’m Ryan, a second-year medical student at Duke. I grew up in Jacksonville Beach, FL where most of my time outside of school was spent playing soccer or out surfing. In college, I got into climbing (indoors only, I’m a fraud) and ran a few half-marathons, which confirmed I don’t need to try a full one. Lately, I’ve been learning to play tennis now that the pickleball courts are always full. One of my favorite Medicine in Motion memories was helping lead the first surf trip and watching a few people catch their first waves (the best feeling!). Movement is like my reset, and I’m glad to be part of a community that keeps that spirit alive.

Hi all! I’m Sara, a third-year medical student at Duke. I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and grew up in Florida playing soccer and wrestling. In college, I was part of the Latin dance team and slowly got into running. It wasn’t until after college that I caught the running bug though, and for a few years I volunteered as a Girls on the Run coach. Now, I enjoy attending a variety of fitness classes, fusing dance with jump rope, and aimlessly walking. I’m a huge proponent of moving your body, learning new skills, team activities, and inclusivity – excited to be a part of MM!

Hi everyone! I’m Sophia Zhao, currently a nursing student in the ABSN program! I’m originally from San Diego, California, and I went to UCSD in La Jolla for Psychology. I love to stay active and keep my body moving. I enjoy skiing, running, hiking, and rock climbing. I am a mother to a very cute cat named Yuki who complains loudly if I don’t take him on walks, so you’ll catch us walking around the neighborhood before sunset on most days. Some of my bucket list items are climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and exploring Son Doong cave in Vietnam! I’m very excited to meet new people and make memories working with Medicine in Motion!

Hey there! I’m Trevor – an anesthesia resident at Duke and a native of Seattle. By elementary school, I’d caught the running and backpacking bugs and have since enjoyed the camaraderie that goes hand-in-hand with exercise. As a cross country and track athlete in college, I dealt with a lot of recurrent injury that has shaped my appreciation for holistic health and balanced approaches to training. I’m still a runner at heart, but I now love all things endurance sports – biking, rowing, skiing, mountaineering, CrossFitting and swimming (that is, when I don’t drink half the pool while attempting a freestyle!) Plant-powered and sweat-showered, exercise is my refresh button and I’m thrilled to bring Medicine in Motion to support wellness, community building, and social change in the Duke Health community. Come move with us!

Hi my name is Kate Cobain and I am a first semester Master’s in Nursing student! I am from Tacoma, Washington and I went to undergrad at Occidental College in LA where I played volleyball and threw javelin. I love hiking, running, pickleball, and watching or playing just about any sport! I love being outside, and in the past year have come to enjoy lifting and walking with friends as one of my favorite ways to decompress from the stresses of school. I am looking forward to being a part of a community that finds fun and enjoyment in physical activity just as much as I do and am excited for all the things in store for the program this year!