Student: Kendall Pixley

Kendall Pixley, a Brinkley-Lane Scholar majoring in biology and public health at East Carolina University, has found purpose at the intersection of research, service and global experience.

MedPals co-presidents Trisha Rangaraju and Kendall Pixley won the ECU Student Organization Award for Outstanding Educational Program of the Year. (Contributed photo)

Pixley is deeply involved in health disparities research, which has shaped her approach to both public health and medicine.

“Being involved in health disparities research allows me to be a more empathetic person. As an aspiring health care professional, I want to understand my patients not only as an individual, but to also understand how other factors may influence their health,” Pixley said.

This perspective, she says, is crucial in understanding how living in certain areas or being born into specific circumstances can impact a person’s health.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Pixley also offers advice to incoming students looking to get involved in research.

“Ask questions! The best opportunities I’ve received have come from conversations I’ve had with students and faculty. If you’re interested in research, go to research fairs. That’s how I found my first research position. Just really getting out there and talking to people can be nerve-wracking, but it can and will be extremely rewarding,” she said.

Her enthusiasm extends to her study abroad experience, which helped her broaden her horizons. She studied through ECU’s Tuscany campus in Italy in the summer of 2024.

“It was probably the best experience I’ve ever had. I’ve always wanted to go to Italy. My mom’s a flight attendant, and she always talked about her adventures in Rome. When I learned about ECU’s Tuscany program, I knew it was the perfect fit for me,” she said.

The connections Pixley made with her peers during the trip remain important to her.

“Now I’m able to have those friendships I made during study abroad back at ECU, which is fantastic,” she said.

Pixley’s dedication extends beyond her studies to her leadership role in MedPals, an ECU student-run organization focused on supporting underserved K-12 youth in Pitt County through mentorship, tutoring and guidance.

“We won the Outstanding Educational Program of the Year award for ECU’s student organization awards. This award meant so much to my co-president, Trisha Rangaraju, and me, because our organization works incredibly hard to educate underserved students about science and medicine. This award is a testament to the dedication that our members have to serving eastern North Carolinian students,” she said.

As her time at ECU continues, Pixley is looking forward to the next chapter of her academic and professional journey.

“I’m very excited to continue my research at the Center for Health Disparities. It’s probably the most meaningful research I’ve done, and I can’t wait to continue it,” she said. Additionally, Pixley is working on gaining clinical hours in preparation for her goal of applying to physician assistant school.

While Pixley’s career goals have evolved over the years, she remains passionate about helping others.

“I came into ECU as a biology major, pre-med, and I thought I wanted to be a doctor since I was 5 years old. But after a few career changes, I ultimately decided that being a physician assistant is what I want to do. I would love to go into something related to women’s health or family medicine,” she said.

Pixley’s favorite memory from her time at ECU is one that captures the spirit of the university.

“My favorite memory was on my 20th birthday when I was studying abroad in Tuscany. It was the first time I spent my birthday away from my family, but the ECU Tuscany staff went out of their way to make it special. They bought me a cake, wrote ‘Happy Birthday’ in Italian, and sang to me. It was a complete surprise, and it made me feel incredibly special. It truly reflects what ECU embodies by showing that they care about their students,” Pixley said.

Pixley’s journey at ECU continues to be defined by her commitment to learning, helping others and striving for positive change. As she moves forward in her academic and career path, she is eager to continue making a difference both locally and globally.