Kristen Lakis, MDiv, LCSW

Kristen is the Program Manager of Caring for Each Other and the Peer Support Volunteer Program for the Duke Health Culture and Well-being Hub. In her role, she develops and manages initiatives to support Duke Health colleagues involved in adverse workplace events, facing a professional challenge, or grappling with a personal issue. Kristen is passionate about building a community at Duke Health grounded in authenticity, belonging, and equity.

Kristen joined Duke Health in 2017 as a clinical social worker for the Pediatric Quality of Life team.  More recently, she served as a strategic services associate leading an initiative to increase goals of care conversations with seriously ill patients at Duke Health and as the clinical lead of the Palliative Care social work team. Kristen has served on the Duke Health DEI Leadership Council, DUH Ethics Consult Team, and the Professional Advisory Group for Duke Chaplain Services.

Prior to joining Duke, she held various positions including serving as the clinical social worker on the adult and pediatric bone marrow transplant teams at an academic medical center, working in adult community mental health, and completing both a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) internship and residency at UNC Hospitals. Kristen earned her MSW at the UNC School of Social Work, her M.Div. at Duke Divinity School, and her Bachelors in Religion and Psychology at Duke University.

Kristen loves yoga, the NC coast, outdoor concerts, and spending time with her husband, Andrew, and two boys, Abe and Sam.