Andrea Augustine, a 2025 Pisacano Scholar, is a fourth-year medical student at Duke University School of Medicine on the Primary Care Leadership Track. Born in Kerala, India, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia during early childhood.

Growing up as a low-income, first-generation immigrant, uninsured for much of her life and intimately familiar with the fear of needing medical care, shaped Andrea’s path to medicine. It also drives her commitment to being a fierce advocate for underserved and historically marginalized communities, both within and beyond health care.

Andrea attended Rice University in Houston, Texas, on a full-ride scholarship through QuestBridge. There, she pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience with a minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and investigated molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease. Inspired by her own limited access to costly extracurricular opportunities, she founded NeuroCamp, a free summer program mentoring socioeconomically disadvantaged high school students in exploring neuroscience and attaining higher education.

Driven to address health determinants on a broader scale, Andrea earned a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and a Certificate in Global Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. As an Albert Schweitzer Fellow, she collaborated with Culture of Health-Advancing Together to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and with FAM Houston to empower refugee youth through storytelling. This work equipped her with tools to advance health equity and guided her toward family medicine as the field to integrate her passions.

At Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, Andrea first engaged with family medicine through the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Foundation Emerging Leader Institute. Empowered by this experience, she founded the Primary Care Student Alliance, an interprofessional organization that highlights the role of primary care across clinical practice, advocacy, community engagement, research, and education. At an institution where primary care has historically lacked visibility, she envisioned a supportive space for students to cultivate their interests and connect with impactful mentors.
This work laid the foundation for her leadership in organized medicine. Andrea served on the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians Foundation Board of Trustees, honing her skills in fundraising and strategic planning. This experience ultimately led to her election to the AAFP Foundation Board of Trustees, where she continues to advocate for building a stronger, more diverse pipeline into family medicine.

Andrea also furthered her passion for developing community-engaged public health initiatives that promote wellness and inclusivity. She founded Dance For Our Health, a program supporting neurodiverse learners at a partner school through dance and nutrition to foster physical and mental well-being.

In her free time, Andrea enjoys exploring local restaurants and coffee shops, and sharing her reviews. She is an avid reader of historical fiction and loves going to concerts.

As a future family physician, Andrea envisions integrating clinical care, public health and policy, and community engagement to improve health outcomes and expand access to care for all. She is committed to serving as a compassionate clinician, dedicated advocate, and leader who empowers her colleagues, patients and communities, continuing the mission of equity, health promotion, and mentorship that has guided her journey thus far.