Ajshe Zulfi

UConn School of Medicine

I was born and raised in Trumbull, Connecticut. I graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2021 with two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in economics and a Bachelor of Science in healthcare management. I also minored in molecular and cell biology.

In 2016, I began working at a dental office in Norwalk, Connecticut where at least half of the patients are on Medicaid and many others are low-income. I was involved in all aspects of their care, from assisting the dentist to presenting treatment plans. There have been numerous instances where patients could not afford treatment not covered by their insurance and so have opted for less effective treatments or ones their insurance covered. This was where I first observed at scale the health disparities and unequal social determinants endemic to our health system. I have since become interested in learning more about the healthcare system and so have helped with research at the UConn Health Disparities Institute and volunteered with the UConn Health Leaders Program.

I wanted to join the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars (UST/AS) Program to become a better physician for my patients. Health care is such a vast field that requires the collaboration of individuals from different disciplines. I am excited to learn from others and to learn more about the health disparities that patients face. I look forward to gaining the skillset I need to provide a holistic and patient-centered approach to health care.