Kirsten Kenny

Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant Program

I was born and raised in Seattle, Washington where I graduated from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) with degrees in French and kinesiology. For my senior thesis, I researched implicit bias in healthcare providers and how this bias impacts the care received by patients. Since 2010, I have volunteered for the Special Olympics in numerous capacities, but my involvement increased greatly when I founded the PLU Special Olympics Club. As President, I sought to engage with the PLU community and other college-aged young adults with disabilities in the area through unified sports and monthly social events.

Before applying to the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars (UST/AS) Program, I worked for the City of Seattle’s specialized recreation programs in summer and year-round rec programs. During this time, I was also an intern for Seattle Children’s Research Institute where I assisted on numerous public health research projects, including oral health screenings for children from low-income households in King County and a study on purchase habits after the city began taxing sugary beverages.

My service and volunteer experiences have shaped my idea of what constitutes a good healthcare provider: she is one who is caring, culturally competent, and constantly willing to grow and learn. Through the UST/AS Program, I know that I will obtain the skills and further education required to embody this ideal, and will have opportunities to work with underserved patient populations and alongside equally passionate healthcare students.