Anita Luxkaranayagam

UConn School of Medicine

I was born in Waterbury, Connecticut and primarily raised in Newtown, Connecticut. I received my B.S. in physiology and neurobiology with minors in healthcare management and insurance studies and psychology from the University of Connecticut in 2019.

I was frequently involved with Alternative Breaks at UConn, and served as a trip director for a trip to New Haven focused on food insecurity in urban environments. As a trip director, I had the opportunity to introduce my peers to novel ways of thinking about social justice and service to local communities. I was inspired to apply to be a trip director after participating in other trips focused variously on urban poverty, homelessness, civil rights, education, healthcare access, and political action. I have also been a tutor at Windham High School and given public health lessons to members of my community through Collegiate Health Service Corps.

The Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program will supplement my medical education with lessons on how to incorporate the experiences of patients specifically from urban underserved communities into my practice. There are particular difficulties associated with the treatment of underserved populations; these difficulties are best obviated by working closely with patients themselves and with other members of the health care team, two practices central to the UST/AS Program’s curriculum. I want to learn how to advocate for my patients so systemic barriers to health are not ignored, to provide care that improves my patients’ lives rather than simply curing their illnesses, and to treat all patients with the highest respect through cultural humility.