John Purakal, MD, an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and core faculty at the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, was honored to attend the White House’s Celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. This prestigious event, held in the Rose Garden, brought together leaders from various sectors, including business, film, and healthcare. Recognized for his initiatives and advocacy related to health equity, Dr. Purakal’s work earned him this prestigious invitation. The celebration took place in the Rose Garden, featuring speeches from President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and actress and advocate Lucy Liu. During the event, Dr. Purakal had the opportunity to meet Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy (photo above). This is Dr. Purakal’s 2nd visit to the White House in 2 years, as he was invited to take part in a roundtable of health equity leaders in 2022.
Since returning from Washington DC, Dr. Purakal has continued to address the health implications of restricted access to reproductive healthcare in North Carolina. In June, he was invited to speak alongside Governor Roy Cooper at an event in Raleigh, emphasizing the critical need for accessible reproductive services.
He has been a vocal advocate through numerous speaking engagements, roundtables, and media interviews on this pressing issue this year. His dedication to advocating for improved health policies recently led to an invitation to meet Vice President Kamala Harris during her campaign stop at Westover High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina this July. The Vice President has prioritized reproductive freedom as one of her main areas of focus as VP and as a pillar of her candidacy for president in 2024.
