Aleena Thomas

School of Pharmacy

I was born and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut. I will graduate with my Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy studies in 2023, with a minor in biological sciences, and am currently working towards my Pharm.D. degree with an anticipated graduation in 2025. 

I currently work as a pharmacy intern for both Yale New Haven Health and UConn Student Health and Wellness. I have worked with underserved community members since 2014 with my church, and was a volunteer at Hartford Hospital for two years. I have also volunteered in a variety of settings at UConn, presenting health information to both students and the general public. 

I became interested in the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars (UST/AS) program to learn how to care for a wide variety of patients as part of an interdisciplinary team, how to challenge health disparities on a systemic level, and how to advocate for both healthcare workers and our patients. The interdisciplinarity of the UST/AS Program greatly appealed to me, especially as a pharmacy student: there are a number of myths about pharmacists that I hope to demystify. As a professional pharmacist, I also want to collaborate with other healthcare professionals to address health disparities: we all acknowledge their existence, but we rarely have the opportunity to confront them on a societal scale. As an Urban Health/AHEC Scholar, I will strive not only to grow as a professional, but also to provide equitable and inclusive care to all patients.