Shalin Patel

UConn School of Dental Medicine

I was born in India and raised in Amherst, Mass. I graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a B.A. in biology. Previously, I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the Sterile Supply Unit at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Mass. While growing up, I had many friends from underserved communities who had a difficult time accessing quality, affordable health care. This was my major motivation for joining UST. Through this experience, I want to be able to understand the public health aspect of achieving health care coverage in underserved communities, and how to gradually change the underlying problems. I am also looking forward to working with students from the other professional schools, and being able to observe the inter-professional dynamics. I think that all of these experiences will further enhance my perspective on not only delivering accessible health care to underprivileged communities, but also allow me to gain an appreciation for the logistics behind solving a complex issue.