Brett Chen

UConn School of Medicine

I was born on Long Island and spent my childhood in Yorktown Heights, New York. I earned a Pharm.D. degree at the University of Connecticut, as well as Bachelors of Science degrees in Biological Sciences and Pharmacy Studies.

While at the UConn School of Pharmacy, I volunteered at several UConn Health clinics for underserved populations. During my final graduate year, I interned at the Brownstone Outpatient Clinic of Hartford Hospital, which specializes in treating vulnerable populations. I performed most of my intern and volunteer work as part of interprofessional care teams, and we challenged ourselves to help patients overcome obstacles posed by health disparities. I’ve also previously provided tobacco cessation counseling as part of a program that assists low-income patients quit tobacco use.

Through professional and volunteer interactions with members of underserved communities, I learned how they must often work exceedingly hard to obtain a quality of health care commensurate with that of others. I want to be able to help patients from such communities obviate the many disadvantages our health care system puts in their way. I believe that in order to provide care for patients from all backgrounds, I must work to better understand the daily lives of individuals from all backgrounds. As a member of the Urban Service Track, I can work towards these goals while directly benefiting underserved communities. I believe the UST will make a significant contribution to my journey towards becoming an excellent provider.