Lucy Tian

UConn School of Medicine

I was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, in Canada, but raised in six other cities: London, Ontario, Canada; La Verne and Azusa, CA; Charleston, WV; Platteville, WI; and Bemidji, MN, where my family currently resides. In 2022, I graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology.

During college breaks, I worked as a nursing assistant at a hospital serving three indigenous reservations. In my time residing in Providence, RI, I volunteered for a music program in hospitals, at the local free clinic, and in Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, supporting refugees and asylees. I worked with underserved communities by providing free grocery deliveries and mentoring youth.

During my time serving a population in Minnesota, the majority of which was composed of publicly insured and indigenous folks, I’ve seen the direct correlation between how much an institution invests in and advocates for its primarily underserved populations and the health outcomes of those populations. I believe an environment like the UST/AS program that prioritizes underserved populations will yield a medical education and training that is rooted in equitable and empathetic practice. As a student, I treasure this opportunity to learn from a diverse group of students, mentors, and community members. I’m particularly excited about working directly with the communities around us to gain more understanding of the various challenges unique to urban healthcare, but more so to explore creative and effective ways of overcoming those challenges.