Education
- University of Wisconsin–Madison – BS, Health Promotion and Health Equity
- Certificates in Chican@/Latin@ and Education Policy Studies
Bio
Krystal Akyay, BS, joined DFMCH as a research specialist with the Driving Connections Lab in 2026. She supports research aimed at improving care and transitions for patients with dementia and their families.
Akyay’s professional interests center on community engagement, health equity, and research that creates meaningful impact for underserved communities. Her background includes public health outreach, community partnership development, and academic research, with a particular focus on Latino and Spanish-speaking communities.
Akyay has worked with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Latino Health Council, where she supported community-based initiatives, health education, and partnerships across Wisconsin. She’s also contributed to research projects focused on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia caregiving, and hypertension management.
Research Interests
- Community-engaged research
- Health equity
- Culturally responsive care
- Dementia and caregiver experiences
- Chronic disease prevention
- Qualitative and community-based research
Akyay’s research interests are rooted in her commitment to improving health equity and making research more meaningful and accessible to the communities it serves. Through her experiences in public health, community outreach, and research, she has become particularly interested in community-engaged research and building strong partnerships with communities. She hopes to continue growing as a researcher while contributing to work that can translate research findings into meaningful improvements in people’s health and health care experiences.